Post Corona, will every ship still sail?

[deliver42]

I can't see Disney, of all the companies cramming 9000 people into what would be a very expensive cruise.

[Biker19]

Disney has announced the acquisition of a partially completed cruise ship as it has come to terms to acquire the unfinished 6,000-guest Global Dream that is sitting at MV Werften.

 

Disney will now work with Meyer Werft to complete the cruise ship in Wismar, Germany. The ship will be renamed and is expected to set sail in 2025 and will be fueled by green methanol.

Disney said it was able secure the ship at a favorable price and within the capital expenditure guidance.

 

This is in addition to two new ships the company will take delivery of in 2024 and 2025, respectively. 

“Our cruise ships give us the unique opportunity to bring Disney magic to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of this ship will make a Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

 

The new ship, to be based outside the United States, will feature innovative Disney experiences along with the dazzling entertainment, world-class dining and legendary guest service that set Disney Cruise Line apart, the company said.

 

The exterior will be adorned in the iconic, Mickey Mouse-inspired colors of the fleet, complete with signature red funnels.

 

The Global Dream, originally under construction for now defunct Dream Cruises, is said to be about 75 percent complete. The ship was designed for the family market and to sail year-round in Asia.  

 

Disney Cruise Line Acquires Unfinished 6,000-Guest Global Dream Cruise Ship - Cruise Industry News

[Biker19]

 

Biker, who wonders if Disney will keep the proposed Flowrider.

[Biker19]

"

One year after the collapse of Genting Cruise Lines, most of its former fleet has now met its destiny. While most of the vessels were sold for further service, other ships ended up being scrapped and one is still waiting for a decision on its future.

Global Dream
Previous Brand: Dream Cruises
Year Built: Unfinished
Capacity: 5,000 guests
Location: Wismar, Germany
Fate: Sold to Disney Cruise Line

After several months of undefinition, the unfinished Global Dream was sold to Disney Cruise Line last November. The U.S.-based cruise line plans to work with the Meyer Werft shipyard to complete the ship ahead of a 2025 debut.

With a new name and innovative Disney experiences, the 205,000-ton ship is expected to sail outside the United States.

Crystal Endeavor
Previous Brand: Crystal Cruises
Year Built: 2021
Capacity: 200 guests
Location: Antarctica
Fate: Sold to Silversea Cruises

The Crystal Endeavor was sold to Silversea Cruises in July 2022. The luxury brand of the Royal Caribbean Group paid $275 million for the expedition vessel, which originally entered service in 2021.

Renamed Silver Endeavour, the 200-guest ship is currently sailing for its new operators in Antarctica.

World Dream
Previous Brand: Dream Cruises
Year Built: 2017
Capacity: 3,400 guests
Location: Singapore Anchorage
Fate: TBD

After nearly a year laid up in Southeast Asia, the World Dream was auctioned by order of the Singapore Sheriff in late 2022.

A result for the process, however, is still to be announced by the auctioneers, who accepted sealed bids for the vessel until December 21.

Genting Dream
Previous Brand: Dream Cruises
Year Built: 2016
Capacity: 3,400 guests
Location: Southeast Asia
Fate: Chartered to Resorts World Cruises

After just a few months laid up in Asia, the Genting Dream was chartered to Resorts World Cruises in May 2022.

Keeping its original name, the vessel is now in service for its new operators – who are tied to the former owners of Dream Cruises – in Southeast Asia.

Explorer Dream
Previous Brand: Dream Cruises
Year Built: 1999
Capacity: 2,000 guests
Location: Port Klang, Malaysia
Fate: Awaiting decision/buyer

Formerly operated by Dream Cruises, the Explorer Dream is set to restart service for Resorts World Cruises in Hong Kong in March. The new brand will charter the ship.

Crystal Serenity
Previous Brand: Crystal Cruises
Year Built: 2003
Capacity: 980 guests
Location: Trieste, Italy
Fate: Sold to A&K Travel Group

The Crystal Serenity was acquired by the A&K Group after an auction in June 2022. The new owners, who also bought the Crystal Cruises brand and other assets, plan to relaunch the luxury company in 2023.

Currently in a shipyard in Italy, the 2003-built vessel is set to resume service this year, offering a series of worldwide itineraries.

Crystal Symphony
Previous Brand: Crystal Cruises
Year Built: 1995
Capacity: 848 guests
Location: Trieste, Italy
Fate: Sold to A&K Travel Group

Following a judicial auction, the Crystal Symphony was sold to the A&K Travel Group in June 2022.

The travel conglomerate also acquired the Crystal Cruises and the Crystal Serenity and plans to relaunch the traditional luxury brand in 2023.

SuperStar Aquarius
Previous Brand: Star Cruises
Year Built: 1993
Capacity: 1,529 guests
Location: Alang, India
Fate: Scrapped

After spending several months laid up in Sri Lanka, the ex-SuperStar Aquarius was beached for scrapping in November 2022.

Previously operated by Star Cruises, the 1993-built cruise ship is now being dismantled at the Alang Shipbreaking Yard.

SuperStar Gemini
Previous Brand: Star Cruises
Year Built: 1992
Capacity: 1,472 guests
Location: Alang, India
Fate: Scrapped

Like its sister ship, the former SuperStar Gemini ended up being beached for scrapping in November 2022.

The former Star Cruises ship is now being recycled, with its building materials and fixtures being sold off or repurposed.

Star Pisces
Previous Brand: Star Cruises
Year Built: 1991
Capacity: 1,384 guests
Location: Alang, India
Fate: Scrapped

The Star Pisces was beached for scrapping in mid-2022. One of Star Cruises original vessels, the former cruise ferry ended its cruising career at the Alang Ship Breaking Yard in India.

The Taipan
Previous Brand: Star Cruises
Year Built: 1989
Capacity: 64 guests
Location: Singapore
Fate: Sold to OM Ships

The Taipan was sold to OM Ships, a German religious organization, in May 2022. The new owners plan to transform the 1989-built vessel into a missionary ship and floating bookshop.

Previously serving as Genting’s smallest cruise ship, the 32-cabin ship was used for charters and upscale cruises in Southeast Asia.

SuperStar Libra
Previous Brand: Star Cruises/MV Werften
Year Built: 1988
Capacity: 1,494 guests
Location: Aliaga, Turkey
Fate: Beached for scrapping

The SuperStar Libra is being dismantled in Turkey. After being sold to local scrappers, the vessel arrived at the Aliaga Ship Breaking Yard in May 2022.

Previously operated by Star Cruises, the 1988-built cruise ship was serving as a floating hotel at the MV Werften – a Genting-owned shipyard in Germany – since 2018."

 

One Year Later, Here’s What Happened to Genting Cruise Lines’ Ships - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News

[Biker19]

The Astoria, a storied cruise ship with a rich and varied history, has reached the end of its journey as it will set sail one last time to a ship-breaking yard in the European Union. Currently docked in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, the ship will soon be sailing on her last voyage. 

 

The 16,144-gt ship, which has served as a transatlantic passenger vessel, a cruise ship for the German Communist party, a barracks for asylum seekers, and a modern cruise ship, among other things, has been sold for recycling by a company based in Puerto Rico. 

 

Astoria to be Scrapped After 75 Years of Service

The world’s longest-serving cruise ship, Astoria, will be scrapped in the coming weeks or months. The sale of the Astoria to a European Union-approved shipbreaking yard, most likely the Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility in Turkey, marks the end of a long and eventful life for this floating piece of history.

 

TradeWinds reported the sale of the vessel by The Roundtable LLC of Puerto Rico for an undisclosed amount. S&P Global’s International Ships Register lists its status as “to be broken up.”

 

Astoria With Cruise & Maritime Voyages Look (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock)

Astoria has had a long and storied history, serving as a transatlantic passenger vessel, a cruise ship for the German Communist party, a barracks for asylum seekers, and a modern cruise ship. 

Despite its many lives and names, Astoria will be remembered as a unique and unforgettable ship with a rich history spanning nearly 75 years, more than any other cruise ship in history.

 

A Floating Piece of History

The Astoria, then called the Stockholm, was ordered by Swedish American Line in 1944 and was completed in 1948. In February 1948, the ship set sail on her maiden voyage as a transatlantic passenger vessel, offering luxury voyages between Sweden and the United States. 

Stockholm’s early years were marked by a major disaster when the ship collided with the Italian liner Andrea Dorea in 1956, causing the latter to sink. It earned the vessel the name “la nave della morte,” or the ship of death. Although Stockholm was severely damaged, it managed to limp to New York for repairs.

 

The MN Stockholm

Between 1960 and 1985, Stockholm served as a cruise ship for the German Communist party under the name Volkerfreundschaft. 

 

In 1970, the ship made the headlines again when a machinist jumped overboard to defect, followed by three medical researchers who wanted to escape Communism. Astoria had been sailing past Key West on the way to Cuba. All four were picked up by a small boat, which had come out in rough seas to the Communist ship to meet the machinist.

 

After a change in ownership, the ship was renamed Fridtjof Nansen and was chartered by the Norwegian government as a shelter for asylum seekers in Oslo.

 

The End of the Line for the Astoria

In 1989, Italy’s Starlauro took ownership to convert it into the cruise ship Sorrento. However, before renovations, the company Nina di Navigazione acquired the liner and transported it to a shipyard for a complete overhaul. The result was the Italia Prima, which could accommodate up to 580 passengers.

 

Italia Prima Refit (Photo: Creative Commons)

Over the next few years, the Italia Prima changed hands and names several times, becoming the Athena, the Azores, and finally the Astoria when it joined the Cruise and Maritime Voyages fleet in 2015.

Astoria’s journey ended when Cruise & Maritime Voyages went bankrupt in 2020 due to the global pause in operations. While there was some hope that a cryptocurrency billionaire would restore Astoria in mid-2021 with the intention of using it as a cruise ship, these plans have since been put on hold. 

 

The World's Oldest Cruise Ship Will Be Scrapped (cruisehive.com)

[Ocean Boy]

12 hours ago, Biker19 said:

The Astoria, a storied cruise ship with a rich and varied history, has reached the end of its journey as it will set sail one last time to a ship-breaking yard in the European Union. Currently docked in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, the ship will soon be sailing on her last voyage. 

 

The 16,144-gt ship, which has served as a transatlantic passenger vessel, a cruise ship for the German Communist party, a barracks for asylum seekers, and a modern cruise ship, among other things, has been sold for recycling by a company based in Puerto Rico. 

 

Astoria to be Scrapped After 75 Years of Service

The world’s longest-serving cruise ship, Astoria, will be scrapped in the coming weeks or months. The sale of the Astoria to a European Union-approved shipbreaking yard, most likely the Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility in Turkey, marks the end of a long and eventful life for this floating piece of history.

 

TradeWinds reported the sale of the vessel by The Roundtable LLC of Puerto Rico for an undisclosed amount. S&P Global’s International Ships Register lists its status as “to be broken up.”

 

Astoria With Cruise & Maritime Voyages Look (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock)

Astoria has had a long and storied history, serving as a transatlantic passenger vessel, a cruise ship for the German Communist party, a barracks for asylum seekers, and a modern cruise ship. 

Despite its many lives and names, Astoria will be remembered as a unique and unforgettable ship with a rich history spanning nearly 75 years, more than any other cruise ship in history.

 

A Floating Piece of History

The Astoria, then called the Stockholm, was ordered by Swedish American Line in 1944 and was completed in 1948. In February 1948, the ship set sail on her maiden voyage as a transatlantic passenger vessel, offering luxury voyages between Sweden and the United States. 

Stockholm’s early years were marked by a major disaster when the ship collided with the Italian liner Andrea Dorea in 1956, causing the latter to sink. It earned the vessel the name “la nave della morte,” or the ship of death. Although Stockholm was severely damaged, it managed to limp to New York for repairs.

 

The MN Stockholm

Between 1960 and 1985, Stockholm served as a cruise ship for the German Communist party under the name Volkerfreundschaft. 

 

In 1970, the ship made the headlines again when a machinist jumped overboard to defect, followed by three medical researchers who wanted to escape Communism. Astoria had been sailing past Key West on the way to Cuba. All four were picked up by a small boat, which had come out in rough seas to the Communist ship to meet the machinist.

 

After a change in ownership, the ship was renamed Fridtjof Nansen and was chartered by the Norwegian government as a shelter for asylum seekers in Oslo.

 

The End of the Line for the Astoria

In 1989, Italy’s Starlauro took ownership to convert it into the cruise ship Sorrento. However, before renovations, the company Nina di Navigazione acquired the liner and transported it to a shipyard for a complete overhaul. The result was the Italia Prima, which could accommodate up to 580 passengers.

 

Italia Prima Refit (Photo: Creative Commons)

Over the next few years, the Italia Prima changed hands and names several times, becoming the Athena, the Azores, and finally the Astoria when it joined the Cruise and Maritime Voyages fleet in 2015.

Astoria’s journey ended when Cruise & Maritime Voyages went bankrupt in 2020 due to the global pause in operations. While there was some hope that a cryptocurrency billionaire would restore Astoria in mid-2021 with the intention of using it as a cruise ship, these plans have since been put on hold. 

 

The World's Oldest Cruise Ship Will Be Scrapped (cruisehive.com)

Thanks for posting. Having grown up on Nantucket the history of the Adrea Doria and the Stockholm is well known to me. 

 

So the Stockholm will have outlived the Doria by about 67 years. Wow. 

[Biker19]

"

World Dream, previously part of Genting Hong Kong's Dream Cruises, has been sold to an unnamed buyer that multiple sources identified as Cruise Saudi.

 

Neither Cruise Saudi nor KfW IPEX-Bank responded to requests for information on Monday. 

The 2017-built World Dream measures 150,695gt with capacity for 5,000 passengers.

 

The Singapore Sheriff's Office listed the ship as sold on Friday. The buyer and price were not disclosed. 

 

Arrested in March

The sheriff had put World Dream up for auction following its March 2022 arrest by KfW IPEX-Bank in Singapore. Bids were due Dec. 21. World Dream reportedly drew little interest and sources said KfW had submitted a protective bid.

A sale to Cruise Saudi has been rumored for many weeks.

With this, all the former Genting HK vessels — those that sailed for Dream Cruises, Star Cruises and Crystal Cruises — have found new owners or been demolished. (Look for a recap of where they all went in the March issue of Seatrade Cruise Review, the official publication of Seatrade Cruise Global.)

 

Sister Genting Dream sails for Resorts World Cruises

World Dream is the sister of 2016's Genting Dream, currently sailing for Resorts World Cruises on charter from a consortium of Chinese banks that acquired the ship for $900m in 2020, before Genting HK's collapse.

The former Dream Cruises ship Explorer Dream is also being chartered to Resorts World Cruises and is due to start service from Hong Kong as Resorts World One in March with Kaohsiung, Taiwan to be added as a transit port and homeport in early April. 

 

Global Dream to Disney

The giant, unfinished newbuild Global Dream went to Disney Cruise Line, which plans to complete it at MV Werften, with the help of Meyer Werft. Part of the work will reduce capacity from the 9,000 passenger count to approximately 6,000. The ship will be renamed and is expected to begin sailing in 2025 for new markets outside the US."

 

Former Genting Hong K ship World Dream reported sold to Cruise Saudi (seatrade-cruise.com)

[Biker19]

This may peel away some RCI/Spectrum customers:

 

"

Disney Cruise Line plans to deploy the former Genting Hong Kong newbuild Global Dream, which it acquired and is going to complete, in Singapore, starting in 2025.

 

The 208,000gt ship is planned to be finished at MV Werften, under the management of Meyer Werft, to carry approximately 6,000 passengers and 2,300 crew. It will be renamed and is expected to be among the first cruise ships powered by green methanol.

 

Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, and S. Iswaran, Singapore’s minister for transport and minister-in-charge of trade relations, announced the news in Singapore today.

 

'We are incredibly excited to make Singapore the home port to our seventh-launched ship, which will sail from here year-round starting in 2025,' D’Amaro said.

 

Five-year agreement

Under a memorandum of understanding, Disney Cruise Line and Singapore Tourism Board agreed to collaborate to homeport the ship exclusively in Singapore for at least five years. More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date.

'This is an important milestone for STB and reflects Disney Cruise Line’s strong confidence in Singapore and Southeast Asia,' said Keith Tan, chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board. 'The new Disney cruise ship will be an attraction itself and is expected to boost the tourism sector in Singapore for many years to come.'

 

Economic impact

The addition of the Disney ship has the potential to add millions of local and foreign cruise passengers across the five-year period, including fly-cruise passengers who arrive in Singapore by air. It also is expected to bring about significant spillover benefits for the wider economy. These include greater demand for port and ship-related services, as well as on-ground spending in Singapore for the lifestyle and hospitality sectors.

The ship is planned to feature innovative Disney experiences along with the entertainment, world-class dining and guest service that distinguish the Disney brand. Its occupancy will be reduced from the 9,000-passenger capacity planned by Genting HK for the Asian family market with many four-berth cabins. 

There will be dedicated spaces and activities for passengers of all ages and characters such as Capt. Mickey Mouse and Capt. Minnie Mouse, Disney princesses, Marvel super heroes and more. "

Disney Cruise Line expanding to Singapore with Global Dream ship (seatrade-cruise.com)

[Biker19]

"

While almost all of the global cruise ship fleet is back in service coming out of the pandemic, some vessels continue to sit in limbo around the world. From coastal and expedition vessels to large contemporary cruise ships, Cruise Industry News gathered the latest on some of these vessels.

 

Braemar
Last Operator: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Year Built: 1993
Capacity: 977 guests
Tonnage: 25,000
Location: Rosyth, Scotland

The Braemar continues to look for a new operator after recently completing 30 years. Out of the plans of Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, the 977-guest cruise ship has been out of service since 2020 and is currently laid-up in Rosyth, Scotland.

 

Ocean Atlantic
Last Operator: Albatros Expeditions
Year Built: 1985
Capacity: 198 guests
Tonnage: 12,798
Location: Las Palmas, Spain

Part of the SunStone Ships’ fleet, the Ocean Atlantic is looking for a new operator. Out of service since mid-2022, the expedition ship was more recently operated by Albatros Expeditions as part of a long-term charter contract.

 

Ocean Diamond
Last Operator: Quark Expeditions
Year Built: 1986
Capacity: 189 guests
Tonnage: 8,282
Location: Las Palmas, Spain

In a similar situation, the Ocean Diamond is currently anchored off Las Palmas, in Gran Canaria. Last operated by Quark Expeditions, the expedition vessel – which is owned by SunStone Ships – is waiting for a new operator after the conclusion of all of its previous charter contracts.

 

Dream Goddess (Ex-Berlin)
Last Operator: FTI Cruises
Year Built: 1980
Capacity: 352 guests
Tonnage: 9,570
Location: Perama, Greece

Sold after the closure of FTI Cruises in 2020, the former Berlin continues to sit in limbo. While the owners planned to convert it into a private yacht, the 352-guest vessel remained docked in a Greek shipyard, with no further plans or updates on its future known at press time.

 

Celestyal Crystal
Last Operator: Celestyal Cruises
Year Built: 1992
Capacity: 950 guests
Tonnage: 25,600
Location: Eastern Mediterranean

Currently in service in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Celestyal Crystal is currently facing an uncertain future. Set to be replaced by the new Celestyal Journey, the vessel has no schedule beyond next September and appears to be out of Celestyal Cruises’ plans.

 

Minerva
Last Operator: Swan Hellenic Cruises
Year Built: 1996
Capacity: 350 guests
Tonnage: 12,892
Location: Elefsis, Greece

In service for the original Swan Hellenic Cruises when the company collapsed, the Minerva was sold for a new owner in 2017. While the new proprietor reportedly planned a private yacht conversion, the 350-guest ship remained out of service in Greece to this day.

 

Golden Horizon
Last Operator: Tradewind Voyages
Year Built: 2021
Capacity: 300 guests
Tonnage: 8,770
Location: Split, Croatia

After seeing its entire future schedule cancelled due to sanctions related to the Russia/Ukraine war, the Golden Horizon has been docked in Croatia since mid-2021. With Tradewind Voyages also facing sanctions, the sailing vessel currently faces uncertain times.

 

Aegean Odyssey
Last Operator: Road Scholar
Year Built: 1973
Capacity: 350 guests
Tonnage: 11,500
Location: Lavrio, Greece

One of the oldest active cruise ships, the Aegean Odyssey appears to be looking for a new operator. Laid up in Greece since late 2022, the 1973-built vessel spent the last few years sailing for Road Scholar as part of a three-year charter agreement.

 

Blue Sapphire
Last Operator: Selectum Blu Cruises
Year Built: 1981
Capacity: 750 guests
Tonnage: 37,000
Location: Antalya, Turkey

With its program for 2023 now cancelled, the Blue Sapphire is facing an uncertain future. Originally in service for Hapag-Lloyd as the Europa, the 1981-built is currently docked in Turkey and recently saw its flag changed to St. Kitts and Nevis.

 

National Geographic Islander
Last Operator: Lindblad Expeditions
Year Built: 1995
Capacity: 46 guests
Tonnage: 1,065
Location: La Libertad, Ecuador

Replaced by the former Crystal Esprit, the National Geographic Islander is currently laid up in South America. With capacity to just 46 guests, the coastal cruise ship had been sailing for Lindblad Expeditions in the Galapagos since 2005.

 

Astoria
Last Operator: Cruise & Maritime Voyages
Year Built: 1948/1994
Capacity: 520 guests
Tonnage: 16,100
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands

Contrary to several scrapping rumors, the Astoria remains docked in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. One of the oldest cruise ships in service when the pandemic broke, the 1948-built remains out of service since early 2020.

 

Pacific Venus
Last Operator: Venus Cruise
Year Built: 1998
Capacity: 696 guests
Tonnage: 26,518
Location: Aioi, Japan

After seeing its operator shutting down earlier this year, the 1998-built Pacific Venus is currently sitting in limbo. With no plans announced for its future, the Japanese-flagged cruise ship is laid up near Kobe, one of its former homeports in Japan.

 

Mykonos Magic (ex-Costa Magica)
Last Operator: Costa Cruises
Year Built: 2004
Capacity: 2,720 guests
Tonnage: 103,000
Location: Astakos, Greece

Out of service since 2020, the former Costa Magica is currently laid up in Astakos, Greece. Now named Mykonos Magic, the 2004-built vessel joined the Seajets fleet after being sold by Costa Cruises earlier this year.

 

Queen of the Oceans (ex-Oceana)
Last Operator: P&O Cruises
Year Built: 1999
Capacity: 2,000 guests
Tonnage: 90,000
Location: Patra, Greece

The former Oceana is also laid up after being acquired by Seajets. The Greek ferry operator bought the 1999-built ship from P&O Cruises in 2020, renaming it Queen of the Oceans.

 

Aegean Majesty (ex-Veendam)
Last Operator: Holland America Line
Year Built: 1996
Capacity: 1,350 guests
Tonnage: 55,819
Location: Aigio, Greece

In a similar situation, the former Veendam was also bought by Seajets in 2020. Renamed Aegean Majesty, the 1,350-guest vessel has been docked in Greece ever since the transaction.

 

Majesty (ex-Majesty of the Seas)
Last Operator: Royal Caribbean International
Year Built: 1992
Capacity: 2,354 guests
Tonnage: 73,941
Location: Piraeus, Greece

Completing Seajets’ fleet of cruise ships, the ex-Majesty of the Seas is also laid up in Greece. Formerly operated by Royal Caribbean International, the 1992-built vessel is presently docked in Piraeus since 2021, with no plans for its future known at press time."

 

Limbo Fleet: These Cruise Ships Are Looking For New Owners - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News

[Biker19]

"

Work on Global Dream's transformation for Disney Cruise Line began this month at MV Werften Wismar under the Meyer Group.

 

This follows months of uncertainty about the project. Completion is expected in 2025, or possibly 2026 at the latest.

 

MV Werften administrator Christoph Morgen handed a symbolic key to the yard to Meyer Managing Director Bernard Meyer a week ago, paving the way for the continuation of work on the vessel.

 

Capacity is to be reduced, and the use of green methanol facilitated. Disney plans to operate the renamed ship from Singapore.

For many months after Disney confirmed it got Global Dream, little happened, and the vessel was merely maintained at MV Werften with some preparations to resume work. 

 

In June local trade union representatives and some regional politicians expressed concern about the shipyard situation. It was unclear whether a contract between Meyer and Disney had actually been signed. A member of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern federal state parliament told journalists in mid-June that she didn't know of a contract.

 

400 workers available

In mid-July, Morgen announced work would soon resume. Meyer Wismar already employed about 280 of its own staff, along with another 100 still engaged through the administrator who were due to transfer to Meyer Wismar. This makes about 400 now available to work on Global Dream.

 

Wismar's shipyard compound was acquired by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems in June 2022, but leased back by MV Werften's administrator to allow Global One's completion. With Meyer Wismar at last ready to start, the administrator sublet the yard to Meyer.

 

Rumors of 2026 completion

In March Disney announced the ship would begin operating from Singapore in 2025 but recent rumors suggest it could take until 2026 to complete the work on the floating vessel. By then, though, Global Dream will have left the covered building dock.

 

In July the dock gate was opened for a while, and the ship was visible, its hull sporting the dark livery in line with a rendering released by Disney last November. A Meyer Wismar flag on the bow heralded the project's continuation. 

 

Naval vessel construction in future

This will be Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's last cruise newbuild.

Once it's been completed, TKMS intends to develop the Wismar yard to manufacture naval vessels, mainly submarines and frigates. The owner hopes for orders from Germany, which has a €100b program to upgrade its armed forces, especially in light of the tense European geopolitical situation sparked by Russia's war in Ukraine.

 

Exactly how the transformation from merchant shipping into military craft will be carried out remains to be seen. TKMS is expected to take over most of the staff now working on Global Dream. So the cruise project helps to preserve shipbuilding knowledge and competence in the Wismar area, preventing a 'brain drain' that a temporary closure of the shipyard would have caused.

 

Depending on Global Dream's progress, it is possible the transformation to naval shipbuilding overlaps, with some of the workforce completing the Disney ship while others switch to TKMS projects.

 

Specifics will be decided later, and the exact procedure also depends on TKMS's order situation by 2025/26. "

 

Global Dream conversion for Disney begins under Meyer in Wismar (seatrade-cruise.com)