January the 14th, 2026 – One well known Croatian shipyard has been contracted to construct two luxury vessels, with further employment also on the cards.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, MKM Yachts has signed a contract with the 3. MAJ 1905 shipyard to build the hulls and partially equip two luxury river vessels, each spanning a length of 80 metres, for the Scenic Group. This is a continuation of a successful cooperation that has lasted for many years now, thanks to which massive two polar cruisers have already been fully built in Croatia. A third is currently under construction in the Rijeka shipyard, and its construction is going according to previously outlined plans. MKM Yachts is also leading two more projects in Romania, involving Croatian manufacturers, which means that local experts are currently working on as many as five Scenic vessels.
Continuing to implement its unique model of construction organisation in the cruise industry, MKM Yachts contracts the construction of the ship with the Scenic Group and then divides the work into two phases. The hull construction and partial equipping of the company is subcontracted to the Croatian shipyard 3. MAJ 1905, while the other more demanding phases are taken over by their highly professional team. This model allows for greater flexibility, efficiency and quality control, while also very significantly reducing the pressure and risk on traditional shipyards, which are then freed up to focus exclusively on what they are most competent at – hull construction.
The aforementioned Croatian shipyard will gain additional work through the construction of these two luxury vessels, which also means hiring additional people. In addition, it will employ local and regional subcontractors for the equipment and decoration of the ships, demonstrating its trust not only in the Croatian shipbuilding industry but also in other related domestic sectors.
MKM Yachts and 3. MAJ jointly expressed their special gratitude to Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the government for their continued support. Thanks to their efforts, this Croatian shipyard has survived, which is why it is possible not only to work on current ships like these two luxury vessels, but also to plan the construction of future ones. The fact that the government recognised the importance of such projects for the positioning of Croatian shipbuilding has led to excellent cooperation marked by mutual trust, which is justified in many ways.
The Croatian shipyard constructing these two large luxury vessels will likely result in further work, with these ships in particular being intended for navigation on the Douro River in Portugal, where the Scenic group already has two ships in operation. Considering the growing demand for this type of travel, there was a need to supplement the fleet, meaning that one will sail under the Emerald brand, while the other will take to the water under the Scenic brand.
Scenic is otherwise a globally recognised luxury cruise brand that offers expedition and river trips of the highest category, known for its innovation, all-inclusive concept and ultra-modern, new generation ships. Emerald is part of their group specialising in boutique luxury cruises on smaller, modern ships, with an emphasis placed on intimate experiences, design and personalised service.
Hull deliveries for the new ships are scheduled for late 2026 and early 2027, while delivery of the completed ships to the client is planned for the second and third quarters of 2027. Senic Ikon, whose keel was laid back in May last year, is already in an advanced stage of construction and remains on schedule to begin sailing in Venice in 2028. MKM Yachts is currently leading the construction of two more river ships, also for the Scenic Group in Romania. One will be delivered in April next year, and the other in early 2027. Just like with Croatian shipbuilding, the construction process in Romania is also being overseen by Croatian experts who manufacture the equipment and then send it to the location.
As touched on above, the well-known Scenic Group is a firm world leader in the luxury cruise segment, and their cooperation with the Rijeka shipyard has proven to be mutually beneficial. The combination of expertise and practice with a new vision has so far brought excellent results – the Scenic Eclipse II was declared the most luxurious polar cruiser in the world, and it was built from scratch in Croatia, not to mention completed and delivered three months ahead of schedule and under the planned budget.
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