Passenger shipping refurbishment is evolving. As vessel design becomes more complex and guest expectations continue to rise, refurbishment projects now require smarter construction methods, longer-lasting and sustainable materials, and turnkey project delivery.
Advances in construction techniques mean it is now easier than ever to prefabricate sections of cruise ships offsite for installation at the shipyard. This modular approach not only shortens refurbishment timelines, it also enhances quality control throughout the project. Beyond this, it allows for the efficient replication of key areas, such as cabins, within a single ship, as well as across multiple vessels within the same class, which ensures consistency in the guest experience while reinforcing brand identity.
At the same time, developments in computer-aided design have improved real-time coordination between the cruise line, the shipyard, designers and outfitters. This enables teams to identify and resolve potential issues before installation. The result is a more streamlined refit process, reducing downtime and restoring revenue-generating capacity sooner.
The three-week refurbishment project onboard Ambassador Cruise Line’s first ship, Ambience, in January 2026 was a typical mid-life overhaul carried out at the APCL A&P Tyne shipyard in North East England. Aimed at extending the life of the ship, work encompassed technical maintenance, such as upgrading the propulsion control system, and guest experience enhancements, including new carpets and furnishings in suites, cabins and public spaces. Extensive pre-planning and coordination between the cruise line, shipyard and contractors made this volume of work possible within the timeframe.
Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience spent three weeks in dry dock in January 2026 (Photo: Ambassador Cruise Line)
Cruise brands are placing greater emphasis on the full lifecycle of materials used in refurbishments. The goal is to ensure interiors remain hardwearing, functional and aesthetically appealing until the next scheduled dry dock. Materials such as recycled metals, reclaimed wood, PET-based fabrics and ocean plastic-derived surfaces are all fully compliant with marine safety standards while also delivering lasting durability. Many second-use materials embody the principles of circular design, as they are either repurposed from previous applications or engineered for reuse at end of life, like the Bloom Back carpet – a collaboration between Aquafil and Radici Marine (read more on page 98). This circular approach extends the value of materials beyond a single lifecycle, enabling more sustainable, resource-efficient ship interiors and supporting cruise lines’ wider sustainability targets.
The three-week dry dock on Crystal’s Crystal Symphony at the San Giorgio Del Porto shipyard in Genoa, Italy, in November 2025 overhauled public and dining areas. A&K Travel Group, which saved Crystal from liquidation in June 2022, aimed to create a more luxurious onboard experience in order to generate a higher yield per passenger. The atrium and restaurants were refitted by Italian outfitter Gerolamo Scorza with wood panelling, stone and glass finishes – materials which can be repurposed at the end of their life onboard Crystal Symphony. The refit also reconfigured selected suites.
Turnkey contractors provide cruise lines with fully integrated refurbishment project management, which includes coordinating hundreds of workers and suppliers simultaneously. Their single, cohesive approach allows them to offer advanced logistics planning, digital planning and simulation of the construction sequence and rapid-install systems to ensure projects run efficiently and are completed on time and within budget. They also deliver real-time tracking of progress and any deviations, allowing for faster decision-making and greater project control.
MJM Marine was among the first single outfitting contractors to manage a cruise ship refurbishment project, as it took charge of work onboard Azamara Cruises’ Azamara Pursuit. The outfitter refreshed the vessel’s public spaces and dining venues at Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2018.
These advances in how ships are built, what they are built with and how projects are managed mean interior outfitting has shifted from a reactive upgrade process into a proactive, strategic tool – one that extends vessel life, advances long-term operational and environmental goals, and enhances the guest experience.
Insider insights
Selected outfitters share how their organisation is adapting to the growing complexity of passenger shipping refurbishment projects
“Value engineering and meticulous planning are central to our approach to major passenger ship modernisations. Through careful evaluation of design, material selection and construction methods, we deliver solutions that optimise lifecycle value. Our turnkey expertise delivers prefabricated integrated solutions including catering areas, restaurants and modular cabins, designed to combine high functional performance with reduced installation time during dry dock. Supported by experienced specialists and advanced digital project management tools, we provide real-time transparency throughout construction, enabling proactive risk management and efficient project delivery. By prioritising sustainable materials, modular construction and responsible sourcing, we create resilient, future-ready interiors that meet both environmental and commercial objectives.”
Jean Pierre Lepage, Vice President of Project Management, Almaco
The HX Expeditions 1896 Heritage Cabin is rooted in late 19th-century expedition design
“At AROS, we are addressing growing project complexity by combining deep research, design precision and turnkey delivery. The HX Expeditions 1896 Heritage Cabin reflects this approach: a concept rooted in late 19th-century expedition design, developed through detailed study of historical materials, lighting and craftsmanship. Working closely with HX Expeditions, our teams translated this vision into a fully compliant, modern onboard environment. By integrating design, engineering and production under one roof, we ensure even highly bespoke concepts are delivered efficiently, meeting today’s technical, operational and sustainability standards without compromising authenticity or guest experience.”
Mantas Lataitis, Head of Design, AROS
“True turnkey outfitting requires control over the supply chain, from the initial rendering to the final onboard weld. Decon has built its reputation on this exact synergy, combining integrated design, in-house manufacturing and specialised installation crews. This unified model was on full display during the rapid three-month refurbishment of Celestyal Cruises’ Celestyal Discovery, where Decon transformed 4,000 square metres of public venues, spanning dining, entertainment and wellness zones. Leveraging experience from outfitting Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-class, MSC Cruises’ World-class, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge Series and the newly christened Orient Express Corinthian, Decon applies advanced planning, certified fire-rated materials, and factory-produced custom joinery to ensure efficient execution under demanding timelines. This enables Decon to support shipowners with reliable, high-quality refurbishment solutions across complex passenger vessel projects.”
Theodoros Kioukas, CEO, Decon
“As refurbishment complexity scales, GMHI Europe tackles the challenge through elite personnel and collaborative problem-solving. We bridge the gap between design and execution by embedding our teams alongside client representatives to develop adaptive installation strategies. Our focus is on mitigating technical bottlenecks before they delay operations. By combining on-site decision-making with rigorous adherence to safety and class standards, we optimise workflows and eliminate unnecessary rework. This proactive approach ensures that even the most sophisticated outfitting projects remain cost-controlled, sustainable and delivered within the narrowest windows of vessel availability.”
Florentina Mitroi, Business Manager, GMHI Europe
“Modern interior outfitting is increasingly defined at the planning stage, where scope definition, trade coordination and logistics sequencing are essential to delivering refurbishment within limited maintenance and dry dock windows. Passenger ship refurbishment programmes are becoming more complex due to compressed maintenance windows, operational pressure and sustainability requirements. Magicman supports operators through a repair-first outfitting model, delivered by highly experienced master technicians, restoring stone, flooring, joinery and sanitary surfaces in-situ to reduce replacement, downtime and waste. This is enabled by Reflex 360 for Marine, coordinating planning, logistics and resource scheduling to support refurbishment programmes and extend asset life.”
Mark Henderson, CEO, Magicman
“The projects we are currently involved in within the marine sector no longer correspond to the traditional cruise concept, but to a new category: five-star and seven-star floating hotels. At Martínez Otero, we have turned this complexity into our strength. Turnkey projects allow us to achieve greater control, efficiency and quality, and require integrated management of the entire process. The extensive expertise of our technical office, with more than 40 engineers trained to implement the best value engineering solutions, facilitates cost and timeline optimisation. Our five factories enable us to operate in the world’s leading shipyards and we focus on helping our clients achieve sustainability and environmental certifications. We also ensure full respect for the design intent and the quality standards defined by designers, from early validation through manufacturing and final onboard installation.”
Beatriz Gómez, Sales Director Marine, Martínez Otero
“Passenger shipping refurbishment projects are becoming more complex because operators are asking for more ambitious upgrades within tighter programmes and more challenging live or operational environments. At Ocean Outfit, we are adapting by strengthening control across the full delivery process, from accurate survey and specification through to procurement, logistics, installation and handover. Greater use of detailed site data, including 3D laser scanning, helps reduce uncertainty early, while our project structure allows multiple work areas and specialist trades to be coordinated under one delivery model. The result is a more controlled, practical and reliable approach to marine interior refurbishment.”
Sean Anderson, Technical Director, Ocean Outfit
SMC Design led refurbishment of AROYA, the first vessel for Saudi cruise line Aroya Cruises'
“Passenger ship refurbishment is no longer a cosmetic exercise; it is brand-making at scale. On Aroya Cruises’ ship AROYA, SMC Design approached one of the largest cruise refits ever undertaken as a holistic passenger experience, shaping interiors, identity, wayfinding, furniture, fixtures and equipment, art and cultural narrative together. Designing for a new Saudi-focused cruise brand meant balancing ambition, heritage and operational reality across multiple decks and stakeholders. Our response to growing complexity is earlier integration: clearer storytelling, faster design alignment and collaborative decision-making that keeps every technical constraint in service of the guest experience, rather than allowing it to define the design itself.”
Alan Stewart, Managing Director, SMC Design
“With newbuild slots at major shipyards being filled earlier than ever, cruise brands are increasingly looking for ways to prolong the lifespan of a ship, often leading to significant investment across an entire class of vessel. This commitment is always carefully curated by brands to ensure their asset is enhanced just as they envision. At SMS Marine, we believe optimising the outfitting process starts at the very beginning. By aligning, genuinely, with our clients’ goals and ambitions and understanding its importance, no matter the scale of a project, can we truly be entrusted to deliver for them. The necessity to embrace new technology, seek greater sustainable opportunities and constantly nurture a reliable supply chain should all come as standard, but only after the client truly feels like ‘we get it’.”
David McCarthy, Operations Director, SMS Marine Interiors
“The constant growth of the market for passenger shipping refurbishment projects requires increasingly careful and detailed technical and operational analysis. This is precisely the vision Stel Marine carries out when developing projects: at first, analysing and suggesting technical solutions suitable for the specific project, then coordinating procurement of materials and finally onboard installation, operated by trusted teams under direct supervision of our managers on site. With the ultimate goal of satisfying our clients, it is our firm belief that only with good planning and project organisation from the beginning can we aspire to an excellent result onboard.”
Tamara D’Arsiè, Sales Manager, Stel Marine
“As passenger vessel refurbishment projects grow in scale and complexity, outfitting specialists are evolving their approach to deliver greater precision, resilience and efficiency. At The Deluxe Group this means leveraging digital design tools, BIM-led coordination and modular, offsite construction to streamline delivery within increasingly compressed dry dock windows.
Close collaboration with owners and shipyards at the earliest stages is key to mitigating risk and ensuring seamless execution. At the same time a focus on lightweight, durable and sustainable materials supports both performance and environmental targets. By offering fully integrated, turnkey solutions – combining design, engineering, procurement and installation – we are redefining how large-scale interior refurbishments are planned and delivered.”
Jonathan Glasgow, Director of Marine, The Deluxe Group