Key cruise vessel drydockings in January 2024
Five refits of cruise ships will take place at DDW-Dubai in January (Source: DDW-Dubai)
The start of any New Year is always a busy one for those ship repair yards that have a good reputation in the cruise vessel repair and refit market as owners and operators prepare vessels for the coming cruise seasons. 2024 is no exception with January seeing five major drydockings taking place and it looks like that there is a “new kid on the block” when it comes to cruise ship repairs – Drydocks World Dubai (DDW-Dubai).
The Arabian Gulf has never been a key area for cruise ship refit work, although DDW-Dubai has handled a small number of drydockings in recent years. At the beginning of December last year, it successfully completed the twelve-day scheduled drydocking of German cruise lines TUI-owned 98,755gt 2018-built Mein Schiff 5 and has now followed up this contract with the contract for the 13-day scheduled drydocking of fleet mate Mein Schiff 2.
The 111,544gt 2019-built Mein Schiff 2 will be in drydock from 15 to 30 January for scheduled repairs, including class work, as well as the fitting of a new shore power system. A similar work package was carried out on Mein Schiff 5 last December.
Meanwhile, other cruise vessel refits taking place in January include the following:
- Maud – 16,151gt 2003-built expedition vessel, owned by Norway’s HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions). This vessel is undergoing a 39-day emergency drydocking (27 December to 3 February) at Bremerhaven’s Bredo Drydocks after being struck by a rogue wave while on a Christmas Cruise in the North Sea and suffering a major power outage.
- Diamond Princess – 115,906gt 2004-built vessel, owned by Princess Cruises, undergoing a 19-day drydocking at Singapore’s Sembcorp Marine Yard, Sembawang, which will be completed on 6 February. Work includes scheduled maintenance, technical overhauls, and class inspections.
- Norwegian Joy – 167,725gt 2017-built vessel, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line. In drydock at Damen Shiprepair Brest, northwest France, 21 January to 13 February. The vessel will undergo a major refit, which includes the transformation of part of the existing Observation into new passenger cabins with balconies, and the transformation of the existing virtual reality games centre, the Galaxy Pavilion, into a new thermal suite for the ship’s Mandara Spa.
- Costa Firenze – 135,157gt 2020-built vessel. Being transferred from Costa Cruises to Carnival Cruise Line and renamed Carnival Firenze. The vessel’s transformation will take place at the Cadiz yard of Spain’s Navantia between 21 January to 25 April. Navantia will rebrand the vessel to Carnival Fun Italian Style concept which combines Costa’s Italian atmosphere with Carnival’s signature features and experience.
