Ventura Enters Drydock in Rotterdam

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Ventura Enters Drydock in Rotterdam

P&O Cruises’ Ventura is currently undergoing a drydock at the Damen Shipyard in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The vessel wrapped up its regular operations in Southampton on February 7, 2026, before arriving at the facility one day later.

Following the drydock, the Ventura will then welcome guests back on February 27, 2026, to kick off a 35-night cruise to the Caribbean and the United States.

Ports of call set to be visited include Port Canaveral and Miami, as well as New Orleans, where the Ventura is expected to stay two days docked.

In the Caribbean, the Ventura will make visits to Cozumel, Freeport, Belize and Roatán, as well as Freeport in the Bahamas.

The 3,100-guest ship is also scheduled to sail to the port of La Coruña in Spain, as well as Praia da Vitória in the Azores.

In September 2025, P&O cancelled a short cruise that was set to depart soon after the drydock. As Cruise Industry News reported, the vessel was scheduled to offer a four-night cruise on February 23, 2026.

At the time, the company said that the sailing was no longer possible due to an extension to a necessary refit for the Ventura. Cruising to the Netherlands, the itinerary included an overnight call to the port of Amsterdam.

Upon returning to Southampton in early April, the Ventura offers a series of cruises in Northern Europe and the Canaries.

The schedule is highlighted by visits to a wide range of destinations, including Santander, Vigo, Zeebrugge, Funchal and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Ventura features a design based on Princess’ Grand-class series and entered service in 2008.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Orders Three More Ships

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Orders Three More Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line Holding today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Fincantieri for the design and construction of three new cruise ships.

The order includes one ship for each of the company’s brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, with one vessel to be built as a sister ship to Oceania Sonata, one as a sister ship to Seven Seas Prestige, and one as a sister ship to the previously announced Norwegian Cruise Line newbuilds order.

All three ships will be built at Fincantieri’s shipyards in Italy and delivered between 2036 and 2037.

“Together with Fincantieri, a trusted partner for decades, we continue to advance a disciplined approach to fleet growth that builds on the strength of our brands, defines the future of cruising and elevates the guest experience for years to come,” said John W. Chidsey, President and Chief Executive Officer of NCLH. “This agreement secures access to valuable shipyard capacity through the end of 2037, supporting our long-term growth while maintaining financial discipline and driving sustainable shareholder value.”

The company said this new ship order supports the Company’s long-term growth pipeline and competitive position with modest initial capital outlays, allowing it to remain focused on strengthening the balance sheet and reducing leverage.

Following this agreement, NCLH now has a total of 17 newbuilds on order; with Norwegian Cruise Line totaling eight newbuilds through 2037, five newbuilds for Oceania Cruises to be delivered through 2037 and four newbuilds to be delivered through 2036 for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. This newbuild pipeline supports an expected 4 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2026 through 2037, consistent with the company’s measured approach to expanding its fleet while investing in next-generation ships.

YearBrandDetailTonsBerths
Q1 2026Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Luna~156,000~3,565
Q4 2026Regent Seven SeasSeven Seas Prestige~77,000~822
2027Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Aura~170,000~3,880
2027Oceania CruisesOceania Sonata~86,000~1,390
2028Norwegian Cruise LineNext Generation “Methanol-Ready” Norwegian Prima Class~170,000~3,880
2029Oceania CruisesOceania Arietta~86,000~1,390
2030Norwegian Cruise LineNew Class 1~227,000~5,000
2030Regent Seven SeasSeven Seas Prestige Class 2~77,000~822
2032Oceania CruisesSonata Class 3~86,000~1,390
2032Norwegian Cruise LineNew Class 2~227,000~5,000
2033Regent Seven SeasSeven Seas Prestige Class 3~77,000~822
2034Norwegian Cruise LineNew Class 3~227,000~5,000
2035Oceania CruisesSonata Class 4~86,000~1,390
2036Norwegian Cruise LineNew Class 4~227,000~5,000
2036Regent Seven SeasSeven Seas Prestige Class 4~77,000~822
2037Norwegian Cruise LineNew Class 5~227,000~5,000
2037Oceania CruisesSonata Class 5~86,000~1,390

Fincantieri and Generative Bionics Partner on Humanoid Welding Robot

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Fincantieri and Generative Bionics Partner on Humanoid Welding Robot

Fincantieri and Generative Bionics,an Italian company focused on autonomous humanoid robots, announced an industrial partnership to develop a humanoid welding robot designed to operate alongside humans in the shipbuilder’s shipyards.

The collaboration integrates Fincantieri’s industrial expertise with the robotic platform developed by Generative Bionics, with the goal of increasing safety and operational efficiency, improving production quality and enhancing sustainability, according to the companies.

“Advanced robotics and artificial intelligence applied to industrial processes represent a strategic lever for the evolution of shipbuilding and for the competitiveness of the European industrial system,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, chief executive officer and general manager of Fincantieri.

“The collaboration with Generative Bionics is part of the transformation journey we are undertaking to strengthen our operational excellence, enhance the work of our people and address in a structured way the challenges related to growing production complexity and the availability of specialized skills.”

The humanoid robot will support specific welding activities in naval manufacturing.

The robot will be equipped with artificial intelligence, advanced manipulation, perception and vision capabilities for monitoring the welding seam, and optimized locomotion to operate in complex environments.

The collaboration program is expected to span four years.

Initial on-site tests are scheduled by the end of 2026, with operational functionalities available within the first two years.

Development and testing will take place at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard.

The collaboration is part of Fincantieri’s strategy in advanced robotics and innovation.

The adoption of Physical AI systems supports production continuity and assists workers in repetitive, physically demanding or ergonomically challenging tasks.