Papenburg / Geneva – 24.06.2026
MSC Cruises and MEYER WERFT have issued the following joint statement regarding the current status of negotiations on the major contract for MEYER WERFT to build four next-generation cruise ships, plus two options.
“In December 2025, MEYER WERFT and MSC Cruises announced a letter of intent for the construction of four innovative cruise ships, plus two options, at MEYER WERFT. In the meantime, concrete planning for the ships’ design and negotiations for the conclusion of the relevant contracts have reached an advanced stage. This involves an extensive and complex set of contracts, for which at least six months is typically required. MEYER WERFT and MSC Cruises are confident that they will successfully conclude the negotiations in the coming weeks. The partners will then inform the public accordingly.”
Additional information: The cruise ships will form part of a new class of vessels to be known as the ‘New Frontier’. The contract would ensure the shipyard’s capacity well into the next decade. With a maximum passenger capacity of 5,400 and a gross tonnage of around 180,000, the ‘New Frontier’ ships are due to be delivered annually from 2030 onwards.
Papenburg – 15.12.2025
MEYER WERFT delivered its latest cruise ship, Disney Destiny, today. The handover to Disney Cruise Line took place on schedule in Eemshaven, the Netherlands. Disney Destiny features the most complex and innovative entertainment facilities in the cruise industry. The first passengers will board in November.
“We are delighted to deliver the Disney Destiny to Disney Cruise Line today. It is the latest milestone in our long-standing partnership with Disney Cruise Line. I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved,” said Bernd Eikens, CEO of MEYER WERFT. Eikens signed the delivery documents together with Joe Schott, President of Disney Signature Experiences.
Mythical adventures await families aboard the Disney Destiny, where iconic Disney, Pixar and Marvel heroes and villains come to life. Exclusive to the Disney Destiny is Disney Hercules. Larger-than-life characters, spirited comedy and legendary music from Walt Disney Animation Studios are brought to the stage. Fun and action can also be found on the upper deck, where there are ten pools and water play areas. Several imaginative restaurants are available on board, including the ‘Pride Lands’, where singers and dancers perform a musical retelling of ‘The Lion King’ during dinner.
The Disney Destiny is the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and the sixth ship that MEYER WERFT has built for the shipping company. MEYER WERFT and Disney Cruise Line have a long-standing partnership that began with the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, which were delivered in 2010 and 2012. In 2022, the Disney Wish, the first ship in the Wish class, was delivered. Another sister ship is currently under construction in Papenburg and will be delivered in autumn 2027.
MEYER WERFT’s order book thus consists of eight cruise ships and two offshore converter platforms and extends into 2031.
