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A fire on board the cruise ship Harmony of the Seas caused a scare at Navantia Cádiz on Tuesday afternoon, when flames and a thick column of smoke were seen rising from the vessel. Despite the dramatic appearance of the smoke, the quick response from the site meant the incident did not go any further.

 

According to sources at Navantia, the fire broke out during interior renovation work being carried out by foreign companies subcontracted by Royal Caribbean in the area around the funnel. That explains the heavy black smoke that was visible from outside the shipyard. The fire protocol was activated immediately, and the speed of the reaction helped stop the situation from escalating.

 

The ship is currently in dock 4 at Navantia Cádiz, where it is undergoing a full refurbishment both inside and out. Workers from the Cádiz shipyard are handling the exterior work, while the interior refit is being carried out by other companies contracted by the shipping line. More than 1,200 workers are involved in the project.

The work includes expanding the cabins, along with a full overhaul of the hull, shafts, anchors and other machinery. The ship’s presence in Cádiz is not new either. Harmony of the Seas was already in the Navantia dry dock in April 2021, when it underwent technical work on its manoeuvring thrusters, propellers, stabilisers and seacocks, as well as repainting.

 

The vessel entered the shipyard again on April 3, 2026, for a major drydock refurbishment as part of the Royal Amplified programme. The plans include a new casino, specialty restaurants and a refreshed pool deck, with the ship due to return to service on May 21, 2026. It will later offer week-long Mediterranean cruises through late July.

 

For now, though, the only real story at Navantia is how quickly the situation was brought under control. What could have become something far more serious was limited to a scare, a cloud of smoke and a reminder of how busy the work underway on the ship really is.

 

 

Image: wikicommons