Star of the Seas Scraps Cadiz Stop Amid Ongoing Labor Unrest
As excitement builds for the arrival of the new Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s second Icon Class vessel delivered by Meyer Turku shipyard on July 10, 2025, one destination is feeling dismayed.
As the ship begins its final outfitting, it was expected to leave its Finnish birthplace at the Meyer Turku shipyard and travel to Cadiz, Spain, for a two-week stay at the Navantia shipyard.
As Royal Caribbean’s CEOs Jason Liberty and Michael Bayley were on hand in Turku, Finland, to receive the new ship from Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm, initial reports revealed the ship was cutting its visit to Navantia to just three days.
Now, it appears the 248,663-gross-ton Star of the Seas will skip the shipyard altogether and instead visit the nearby Algeciras shipyard, according to Diario de Cadiz.
The decision follows growing concerns about a metalworkers’ strike that has disrupted operations at the Navantia shipyard and caused other cruise lines to reconsider their own plans to visit the region.
Star of the Seas now remains in Finland until July 17, 2025, with the crew boarding the delivered vessel to begin preparing the ship for guests.
It will set sail for southern Spain later in the month, spending July 24 through 26, 2025, at the Alegeciras shipyard before beginning its transatlantic sailing to its homeport in Port Canaveral.
Ships Skip Cadiz Due to Protests
The move mirrors a recent decision by Carnival Cruise Line, which pulled Carnival Liberty from Cadiz dry dock because of strike disruptions that took place in mid-June.
On June 18 and 19, 2025, over 26,000 metalworkers across Cadiz launched a strike, led by major Spanish unions.
The workers were demanding better sick-leave, wages automatically tied to inflation, the reinstatement of a “toxic work bonus,” and more regulations of contracts. They also reported excessive overtime, no breaks, and unsafe conditions.
The strike included thousands of workers employed directly or as subcontractors at Navantia, according to World Socialist.
It also forced Carnival Cruise Line to stop dry dock refits early and relocate the vessel to Marseille, France, for completion.
However, even attempting to move the ship was hindered by the strike with reports of protestors preventing the ship from leaving the shipyard earlier than it could.
The delays resulted in Carnival Liberty cancelling its July 6, 2025, cruise to the Bahamas from New Orleans and reimbursing nearly 3,000 passengers.
Carnival Cruise Line has since filed a €4.5-million lawsuit against Navantia for damages.
It has 11 ships scheduled for dry dock through 2028 in the shipyard, which could be at jeopardy due to the strike and pending lawsuit.
A settlement was not reached during the initial days of the strike, also interrupting passenger operations for P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line’s sister company under Carnival Corporation.
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In late June, 5,200 passengers aboard P&O Cruises’ Arvia and more than 3,000 guests aboard Ventura were diverted from a Cadiz call due to security concerns amidst the unrest. It is estimated that the missed calls cost Cadiz over €350,000.
While it is unclear what the future holds for Cadiz, the protests will not delay Star of the Seas‘ big debut.
The ship is set to arrive in North America in early August and will host three preview sailings for media, travel agents, and industry insiders ahead of its August 31, 2025, inaugural voyage.
That sailing will be a 7-night voyage to the Caribbean with a stop at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at Coco Cay for up to 5,610 passengers.
Star of the Seas Scraps Cadiz Stop Amid Ongoing Labor Unrest