Today’s cruise and ferry passengers expect modern accommodation, contemporary dining concepts and an array of onboard wellness facilities and entertainment experiences, as well as reliable connectivity and digital services.
Refurbishment programmes enable operators to refresh their vessels to incorporate these amenities without the capital expenditure associated with commissioning newbuild vessels. Regularly investing in fleet renewal is also essential for operators to remain competitive and compliant with increasingly strict regulations and environmental standards. Scheduled drydocks provide the opportunity to go beyond routine maintenance and install technologies and equipment designed to reduce emissions and lower operating costs.
CFR showcases various refit projects selected shipyards have completed so far in 2026, as well as notable refurbishments taking place in the months ahead.
Completed
Three Carnival Cruise Line ships, Carnival Glory, Carnival Magic and Carnival Legend, spent 12 days, 35 days and 16 days respectively in drydock at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, The Bahamas, in early 2026. Carnival Legend and Carnival Magic became the first ships in the fleet to feature the brand’s new ‘From Sea to Shining Sea’ bow crest, which will be rolled across the fleet (except on Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Tropicale). The crest “celebrates the landscapes and oceans Carnival shares with guests”.
Carnival Legend and Carnival Magic now feature Carnival Cruise Line’s new ‘From Sea to Shining Sea’ bow crest (Photo: Carnival Cruise Line)
In March 2026, Tallink’s ferry Victoria entered drydock at the Naantali shipyard in Finland for scheduled maintenance work, including cleaning and repainting the underwater hull, and renewing seawater pipes and valves. The drydock also included work to construct an entrance on deck seven, which will enable the ferry to change its berth at the newly renovated West Harbour at the Port of Helsinki in Finland.
Windstar Cruises completed an extensive renovation onboard Wind Star at Navantia shiprepairs in Cádiz, Spain, in April 2026. Staterooms onboard the 148-guest yacht now feature new integrated lighting, bedside charging points, upgraded technology and Starlink connectivity, while the signature restaurant Amphora was refreshed with updated furnishings, custom banquette seating, flooring, ceiling treatments and wall finishes. Numerous public spaces, including the Compass Rose Lounge, Yacht Club Café, pool deck, lobby, fitness centre and World Spa by Windstar, were also refurbished. Wind Star is the first of the brand’s three Wind-class ships to be fully upgraded as part of the multi-year ‘Setting Sails’ initiative; Wind Surf and Wind Spirit are scheduled to undergo final updates in December 2026 and March 2027, respectively.
Navantia Shiprepairs also hosted Royal Caribbean International’s Harmony of the Seas from 3 April to 17 May 2026. The project required logistical collaboration between the shipyard, the cruise line and specialised suppliers and subcontractors to carry out maintenance as well as modernisation and refurbishment work on the 5,479-guest ship. The scope of work covered the hull, propulsion systems, stabilisers and technical and exterior areas, as well as deck upgrades, structural extensions, recreational facilities and safety elements. A complex setup of cranes, platforms, industrial tents and support areas ensured the project was safely executed on schedule.
Italian outfitter Gerolamo Scorza successfully completed a refurbishment project onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem at Chantier Naval de Marseille in France in May 2026. The scope of work covered both guest and crew areas, with Gerolamo Scorza managing all design, manufacturing and installation activities in-house. The firm installed approximately 500 square metres of United States Public Health Service (USPHS)-compliant tile flooring in the Garden Cafe, creating a new seating area with custom-designed banquettes, integrated LED lighting and upgraded wall finishes. The team also upgraded crew areas with approximately 455 square metres of vinyl flooring and USPHS-compliant skirting and converted five double crew cabins into single petty officer cabins.
Seabourn completed an interior update onboard Seabourn Quest at the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy, in June 2026. Suites onboard the 458-guest ship now feature new mattresses and wool carpets, while penthouse and premium suites also received updated veranda furniture. Additionally, new carpets featuring patterns inspired by the organic movement of water were installed in the atrium, corridors and stairways. One of the most significant changes was to The Club, which now features an updated bar design and new lighting, as well as a reconfigured layout.
Seabourn Quest underwent numerous upgrades at T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy, in June 2026 (Photo: T. Mariotti)
Although the majority of refurbishment projects take place at a shipyard with the vessel in drydock, smaller refurbishments often take place while the ship remains in service. In July 2026, SD Marine Interiors fitted dedicated sleep lounges for P&O Ferries vessels operating on the Hull, UK, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, route. The design by the UK-based refit and repair firm provides a cost-effective overnight space for solo travellers who do not want to purchase an entire cabin. The work onboard Pride of Rotterdam and Pride of Hull took three weeks and involved flattening a sloping floor before fitting 36 sleep recliner seats. Additionally, new flooring, lighting, lockers, bulkheads and decoration were also installed, all while the ferries remained in service.
SD Marine Interiors fitted dedicated sleep lounges onboard P&O Ferries’ Pride of Rotterdam and Pride of Hull while the vessels remained in service (Photo: SD Marine Interiors)
The Damen Fast Ferry 4212, built by Damen in 2018, returned to the Damen Group for an extensive shiprepair and modification programme before entering service in the Caribbean. At Damen Shipyards Den Helder, the project included structural modifications, new passenger and cargo access systems, interior upgrades and adaptations to meet French flag requirements. The vessel was repainted in FRS livery, with all works completed on schedule for service in Guadeloupe.
Looking ahead
In October 2026, Navalrocha shipyard in Lisbon, Portugal, will welcome Crystal Serenity for a three-week drydock. The work will focus on refitting the Aquamarine Classic suites and public spaces, which includes creating a new pool bar on deck 12 and installing a new marble dance floor and stage at the atrium and Crystal Cove. The shipyard will also complete a series of technical upgrades to reduce the ship’s environmental impact.
Margaritaville at Sea will refurbish its largest and newest ship Beachcomber (formerly known as Costa Fortuna operated by Costa Cruises) during a 12-week drydock project at an undisclosed shipyard. The ship will feature a beach theme and a mix of returning venues alongside more than 15 new experiences. Marine outfitters including MJM Marine and Mivan will transform public and crew areas, such as the central atrium, dining venues and children’s areas.
Celebrity Cruises will refurbish Celebrity Reflection as part of its $250 million investment in its Solstice Series ships. The project will introduce 13 new spaces, including Edge Series favourites the Grand Plaza and the Boulevard Lounge, as well as two new-to-fleet concepts, Orange Peel Bar & Grille and Tacos del Sol. The Celebrity Pool Club on the ship’s redesigned outdoor deck will blend modern design with a relaxed tropical atmosphere, while Sunset Park on the ship’s top deck will be reimagined into a park-like outdoor space.
The Celebrity Pool Club onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection will be redesigned as part of a $250 million investment to modernise the Solstice Series ships (Photo: Celebrity Cruises)
Stena Line has enlisted the expertise of the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, UK, to upgrade guest accommodation and public spaces onboard the 11 ferries in its Irish Sea fleet as part of an approximate £14 million ($19 million) investment. The operator plans include increasing the number of pet-friendly cabins, modernising family entertainment areas and enhancing the Stena Plus lounges.
As part of AIDA Cruises’ AIDA Evolution refurbishment programme, AIDAdiva, AIDAluna and AIDAbella will each spend seven weeks at Chantier Naval de Marseille in France. Outfitters, including UK-based firm Trimline, will carry out the work during phased drydocks until 2028. They will install new suites and restaurant concepts, such as French Kiss and the Lanai outdoor bar, as well as fully refurbishing staterooms, expanding the spa and modernising the Theatrium.
In 2028, Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam will be the second ship to undergo the Evolution fleet enhancement programme. The ship will gain new stateroom categories, including two Bridgeview Suites, while 32 solo veranda staterooms with private balconies will be purpose-built for solo travellers. The Grand Dutch Cafe will also be introduced to the ship.
Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam will feature new Bridgeview Suites with outdoor areas (Photo: Holland America Line)
Discover more insights from the passenger shipping industry in the Autumn/Winter 2026 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review. To get content like this on a regular basis, subscribe to the print editions or free digital editions of our Cruise & Ferry publications.