Labor Unrest Forces Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas to Shorten Cádiz Refit – 13 July 2025

Royal Caribbean International has revised its final outfitting schedule for the Star of the Seas, the latest Icon-class cruise vessel, due to ongoing metalworkers' strikes at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz, Spain. The ship's originally scheduled 2-week port call has been reduced to a brief 3-day visit from 24–26 July 2025, with the remaining outfitting work relocated to Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

The decision reflects broader industry concerns over labor stability at the Spanish facility. Royal Caribbean joins other major cruise operators, including Carnival Cruise Line and P&O Cruises, in rerouting vessels away from Cádiz due to strike-related disruptions and project delays.

Star of the Seas was originally scheduled to remain in Cádiz for 14 days of final outfitting and inspection. The metalworkers' strike, which began formally on June 18–19 and escalated into prolonged industrial action, forced a revision. The vessel will now complete a 3-day port call in Cádiz (July 24–26) before proceeding to Meyer Turku for a 7-day outfitting extension. Departure from Turku is expected on or around July 17 at 17:00 local time, with delays already acknowledged by the line.

The disruption stems from an ongoing strike by metalworkers at Navantia, which began with formal action on June 18–19 and escalated into indefinite industrial action. Key issues include pay equity, industrial protections, and working conditions. While one union has reached an agreement, another remains in indefinite strike mode. Recent protests have included property damage and five reported arrests, raising concerns over project timelines and site stability.

This decision mirrors actions by other major cruise operators. Carnival Cruise Line rerouted the Carnival Liberty mid-refit from Cádiz to Marseille earlier in the summer, resulting in a EUR 4.5 million compensation claim. P&O Cruises' Ventura bypassed Cádiz in June for similar reasons. Royal Caribbean has previously conducted nine refits at Navantia between 2023–2024, including a EUR 100 million project for Allure of the Seas. The trend suggests growing reluctance among cruise operators to rely on Cádiz until labor stability is restored.

Star of the Seas remains on track for service entry despite the schedule revision. The outfitting shift to Finland is aimed at avoiding further delays. Navantia faces increased scrutiny over its reliability as a cruise ship outfitter and may see diminished confidence from major cruise clients in the months ahead.