Over 21 million travelers take a cruise on an annual basis. With so many people taking cruises, it may make you curious about where these massive ships are being built, how they are being built, what it costs to build them, and finally, how they get to the water.

The three countries that produce the largest quantity of cruise ships are Italy, Germany, and South Korea. A cruise ship is built in a shipyard. Most shipyards are located on a tidal river or the ocean. There are other shipyards around the world, but these are the most prominent. 

Cruise shipbuilding has evolved immensely since 1900 when the first of its kind was built. Modern technology and luxuries have made seeing the world via cruise ship an extremely popular way to travel. More than 25 million people will travel via cruise ship each year. In this article, we’re going to explore more about the amazing cruise shipbuilding process.

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Where Cruise Ships Are Built

Cruise ships are built in a shipyard, not to be confused with a dockyard. The main difference between the two is that a shipyard is where ships are actually built.

A dockyard is more of a storage facility or place for repairing ships and other water vessels. There are only four shipbuilding companies in the world that are large enough to produce a cruise ship.

The Top Ship Builders

The top four shipbuilders are:

  • Fincantieri  (Italy)
  • Meyer-Werft (Germany)
  • STX-Europe (South Korea, Brazil, Finland, France, Norway, and Romania)
  • Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan)

Fincantieri

Established around 1790, Fincantieri has been building ships for almost 230 years.

The first cruise ship ever built was in the year 1900.  It was called “Prinzessin Victoria Luise” and was approximately 400 feet long and 50 feet wide. The first voyage was in 1905. The vessel held around 1,500 passengers. The Prinzessin Victoria Luise did not have a very long life because it ran aground in 1906 and could not be repaired.

Meyer-Werft

Established around 1795, Meyer-Werft has been a leading competitor in the ship building business. This German-based company’s first cruise ship was built in 1986 and was named the “Homeric,” which they re-named a few years later, the “Westerdam.”

It has a length of approximately 800 feet and 95 feet long and can carry a little more than 1,700 passengers.

STX-Europe

In 2006 Aker Yards and Alstrom shipbuilding companies decided to come together, and thus, STX-Europe was formed to wind up creating high-quality, world-class, luxury cruise ships.

Since its inception, STX has grown to be one of the world’s top builders. Their classy, modern design, luxury, and comfort give the guest a fabulous place to relax and see the world.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was established around the late 1800s and has been producing many different kinds of large ships since.

Due to financial losses in 2006, they discontinued making passenger cruise ships. They are still in operation today, but their primary focus is on cargo ships and naval ships for different countries.

NOT Made In The USA

You may have read through this list and realized that the United States of America is not on the list of where cruise ships are built. The main reason for this is because, in 1920, there was an act of legislation passed referred to as “The Merchant Marine Act,” also known as “The Jones Act.”

Senator Wesley Jones was the creator of this act, and it was primarily put into place to protect the merchant mariners and their jobs. Another reason the United States does not build cruise ships is because it is very costly to build them and requires highly skilled, experienced builders from other countries to help construct them, raising the cost of production.

How Cruise Ships Are Built

On average, it takes about a year and a half to build a cruise ship.

By now, you are probably wondering how they can build such a large ship in dry dock and how on earth do they get into the water?

The second part of that question is easy.

As stated earlier, shipyards are built on tidal rivers or directly next to the ocean to allow for easy entry and access to the water.

Putting the Ship Puzzle Together

Most cruise ships are built in sections or pieces.

The cabins are usually built off location in a factory and brought to the shipyard when they’re ready. When the cabins arrive at the shipyard, a crane and giant magnet are used to install and fit them into the ship

The ship goes together like a set of children’s connecting blocks. The hull of the ship is the first part to be built. It takes extremely large cranes and equipment to put it together.

It is first constructed on dry land and then given multiple water tests. The builders can test it on dry land or in the water, depending on their needs.

How Long Does It Take?

The length of time it takes to build a cruise ship can vary greatly depending on the ship’s size. On average, it takes about a year and a half to build a cruise ship. Some smaller cruise ships may not take that long, but the larger luxury ships can take over two years.

Materials Used in the Building Process

We have discussed how a cruise ship is made and how long it takes to build, but what materials are used to build them? The short answer is a combination of lightweight metals and super strong steel are used, which reduces the ship’s overall weight and helps with balance.

Reducing the ship’s weight also reduces the amount of fuel used, and in return, reduces the emissions, which lessens the ship’s effect on the environment.

The cabins’ interiors are made with high-quality fabric, finishes, and designs to emulate the feeling of being in a 5-star hotel.

Who Builds For Which Cruise Lines?

You may be wondering which shipbuilding company builds for each cruise line.

Some cruise lines use multiple builders; however, the cruise lines listed below are examples of the exclusive builders for certain lines:

  • Fincantieri (Disney Cruise Lines and Holland America)
  • STX-Europe (Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Princess Lines)
  • Meyer-Werft (Norwegian Cruise Lines and Viking Ocean Cruises)

Interesting Cruise Ship Facts

  • In France, “Harmony of the Seas” was built by over five-hundred-thousand builders and had an extensive team of world-class designers to decorate and style the entire ship to make you feel like you are in a 5-star hotel.
  • In Norway, a luxury cruise ship named “The World” was built with around 160 apartments and is owned cooperatively by its passengers who live on it full time.
  • An Australian billionaire named Clive Palmer has privately funded the making of a replica of the original Titanic. It is named the Titanic II and is expected to launch in 2022. The Titanic II will not be built by any of the above-mentioned shipyards; instead, it will be built in China at, Jingling shipyard.
  • South Korea, Japan, and China are the largest shipbuilding countries; however, European shipbuilders are still on top of the market for cruise ships, yachts, and military vessels.

Cruising to the Dock

Although cruise ships are not built in The United States of America, there are many shipyards along our beautiful coasts that do allow tours of their facilities.

If you ever get the chance to tour a shipyard, it’s well worth your time. It is a very cool experience that you will never forget. Standing next to the massive cranes and ships that are being built, you will feel like the tiniest being on earth. Crowley Shipping and Logistics in Jacksonville, Florida, will not disappoint if you take time for a visit. It gives you insight into how things are made and transported globally.

Sources

(https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=3929)

(https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-largest-cruise-ships-ever-built.html)

(https://cruisedeals.expert/how-much-does-a-cruise-ship-cost-to-build/#)

(https://www.thedailymeal.com/travel/20-crazy-facts-about-cruise-ships)

(https://www.crowley.com/)

(https://www.quora.com/Why-are-cruise-ships-not-built-in-the-United-States)

(https://www.jonesactlaw.com/faqs/what-is-the-merchant-marine-act-of-1920/)

(https://www.cruise1st.co.uk/blog/cruise-ships/how-are-cruise-ships-built/#whobuildscruiseships)

(https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-interesting-facts-about-cruise-ships/)

(https://titanicll.wordpress.com/the-jinling-shipyard-what-do-we-know/#:~:text=Right%20from%20the%20outset%20of,built%20in%20China%27s%20Jingling%20shipyard.)

(statista.com/6558/cruise-shipbuilding-industry-worldwide/