Harland & Wolff wins cruise ship refurbishment project in Belfast

Harland & Wolff's Belfast shipyard has secured a contract to refurbish cruise operator Margaritaville at Sea's flagship Beachcomber, following the successful refurbishment of sister vessel Islander at the yard in 2024. The project is due to begin when the vessel arrives in Belfast in September 2026. The scope of the revitalisation work was not disclosed, but the project will support the ship's planned entry into service from PortMiami in 2027.

The contract adds to Belfast's growing role in the cruise ship refurbishment and revitalisation market. Harland & Wolff said its facilities, together with expertise available through Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia, provide the yard with the capability to undertake large and complex cruise projects. Graham Couser, director of shiprepair at Navantia UK, said the selection of the Belfast yard for a second vessel from the Margaritaville at Sea-fleet demonstrated confidence in its facilities and workforce.

“Belfast has all the ingredients to become one of Europe’s leading cruise refit hubs, buoyed by Navantia UK’s acquisition last year,” he said. “Our unique dry dock capacity, deep-water access and heavy engineering capability, combined with Navantia’s extensive global experience in cruise ship repair, offer operators a compelling option in Western Europe.”

Navantia acquired Harland & Wolff in 2025 and has since invested in the Belfast operation as part of efforts to expand its shiprepair and refurbishment activities. The Beachcomber project forms part of that strategy, with the company aiming to establish Belfast as a long-term cruise refit centre.

The vessel will return to service in 2027, operating from Miami and carrying passengers on cruises from the United States.