Meyer Werft unveils cruise ship concept for golden agers

Meyer Werft GmbH is revealing plans for a climate-neutral cruise ship designed for elderly people. A model of the ‘Serenity’ concept, targeting cruise customers of 80 years or more, is on display this week at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami.

The company is capitalising on the changing demographic in the US and Europe which, it claims, will mean that the number of 80-year-old people and above in the US, for example, will match today’s population of 65 years or more by the end of this century. 

Tim Krug, a member of Meyer Werft’s Concept Development Group, explained: “We derived a new target group from this, which we called 80+, and took a look at what needs and requirements such a target group would have. Put simply, today there are ships for young, middle-aged and old, and in future there will be a need for a subdivided older target group.

“However,” he stressed, “it is important to note that we are not talking about a nursing home. Serenity would offer services for people who live in independent-living homes with some additional features from assisted-living homes. Good examples are additional requirements in terms of walking routes on board, for example, corridor widths and social interactions as well as the passenger flow and orientation on board in general.”

The German shipbuilder is displaying a wide range of cruise ship designs at the Miami event. Thomas Weigend, executive vice president, Sales, said: “Meyer Werft is the only shipyard to offer the complete range from river cruise ships to large ocean-going vessels. With a long tradition of innovation and new products, we always create added value for shipowners, port operators and other customers in the maritime sector.”