Royal Caribbean has revised its plans to send the newest cruise ship, Star of the Seas, to the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz for final outfitting work, citing concerns over an escalating metalworkers’ strike that has already disrupted cruise operations in the region.
Instead of a two-week stay, Star of the Seas will now spend just three days in Cádiz, from July 24 to July 26, 2025.
The new plan includes an additional seven-day stay in Finland, where much of the final outfitting will take place. The ship was originally scheduled to depart Meyer Turku today, July 10 and arrive in Cádiz for a two week final fitting however, that plan has been scrapped. Star of the Seas will remain in Turku until July 17, with departure expected around 5 p.m. local time.
The news was first reported by La Voz de Cádiz and marks another blow to the troubled Spanish shipyard, which has been impacted by ongoing labor unrest.
Royal Caribbean’s move is similar to a recent decision by Carnival Cruise Line, which was forced to pull Carnival Liberty from Navantia mid-refit due to similar strike-related disruptions. That ship was relocated to Marseille, France, where the work was completed at the Chantier Naval de Marseille. Carnival is now seeking €4.5 million in compensation from Navantia for the drydock disruption and subsequent delays.
The instability has also impacted cruise itineraries. In June, P&O Cruises vessel Ventura with over 3,000 guests, canceled a port call to Cádiz at the last minute, citing security concerns tied to the labor strike.
Labor tensions in Cádiz have escalated further in recent weeks. Although one union reached a tentative agreement with employers, a second union has rejected the deal and continues an indefinite strike, accusing the original agreement of overlooking key worker protections. The unrest has led to property damage and violent protests, with police arresting five individuals linked to the incidents.
With Royal Caribbean now following Carnival’s lead in scaling back operations in Cádiz, the long-term implications for the Navantia shipyard and the broader regional cruise industry remain uncertain.
