Have you ever wondered how large cruise ships are built? When staying in Papenburg visit the Meyer Werft shipyard to learn all you need to know about cruise ships. After, you might feel like hopping on a cruise across the ocean.
Historical background
Located by the banks of the river Ems, the cruise company started off in 1795 as a small wooden vessels company. Today, it has become a leader in the building industry of luxury passenger ships. It has always been a family business and its currently on its seven generation. Since the beginning, they have been pioneers in the shipbuilding industry. In the late 1800s, they were one of the first companies to develop iron ships with steam machines. By then, Papenburg had 20 shipyards, but the only that survived to this century was Meyer Werft. During WWI and WWII, they built fishing vessels, pilot boats, and lightships, as well as coastal passenger ships. It was not until the past decades that they started working in building cars and passenger ferries, and luxury cruise ships. In this area, they have been highly recognized in the international scene. Five of the ten largest cruise ships in the world have been built in Papenburg.
See it for yourself
The company offers daily tours of the shipyard on site to discover the art of building ships. So, if you are visiting the city of Papenburg or you are in the region, plan ahead and reserve a tour with Papenburg Marketing GmbH – find the details in the company website. The tour includes transportation from the city center to the shipyard with a brief introduction about the history. Once in the visitor center, you'll watch an informative film to get an idea of the company's work along the years. There are also exhibitions about the amazing logistics of the cruises and a fully equipped mock-up cabin to witness the real deal. Seeing how many people take part in the process of building one of these giant ships is fascinating, as well as how the finished product is set out in the open sea. The tour guides in charge of the sightseeing are really knowledgeable about the matter so feel free to ask any question that comes to your mind. By the end of the tour, you can buy some souvenirs in the gift shop and transportation is offered to go back to the city. Make sure to ask for an English tour if required, as they tend to be only in German if not specified. Visiting the Meyer Werft shipyard is an activity that anyone and even children would enjoy a lot.
