Innovation Afloat: Bath Fitter’s One-Day Remodel Wins Top Award

HAMBURG, GERMANY – January 14, 2026 – Bath Fitter, a brand synonymous with residential bathroom makeovers, has officially made waves in the high-stakes world of marine design. The company’s innovative PermaFit™ remodeling solution was named Interior Product of the Year at the prestigious Cruise Ship Interiors Awards, a key event held during the Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe.

The award, decided by a panel of esteemed industry judges and over 4,000 public votes, recognizes the unique advantages of a system that allows custom tubs, showers, and seamless walls to be installed directly over existing fixtures in as little as a single day. For an industry where time is quite literally money, this recognition marks a significant validation of Bath Fitter's strategic expansion from homes to the high seas.

“We are honored by this recognition and proud of our Marine Solutions team for their hard work and dedication to excellence,” said Glenn Cotton, President and CEO of Bath Fitter, in a statement. “Our success comes from a strong team and the trust of our customers, which we continue to deliver on.”

A Sea Change in Ship Renovation

The cruise ship refurbishment market is a massive, multi-billion-dollar sector driven by a simple, relentless imperative: keep ships modern, appealing, and sailing. Every moment a vessel spends in drydock is a moment it isn’t generating revenue—at an estimated cost of $2 million per day. This creates immense pressure for renovation projects to be completed on “zero-tolerance schedules,” where efficiency is paramount.

Traditionally, a full bathroom overhaul on a cruise ship involves extensive demolition. This process is not only time-consuming but also creates significant noise, dust, and logistical challenges related to waste removal from the vessel. Bath Fitter’s PermaFit™ solution directly confronts this bottleneck. By fitting a custom-molded acrylic liner and seamless wall system over the existing bathroom structure, it eliminates the need for demolition entirely. This 'tub-over-tub' concept, which has been the company's cornerstone for over 40 years, is proving to be revolutionary in the marine context.

“Cruise ship products must be robust and easy to maintain while meeting the high-quality needs of passengers. In addition, minimal installation impact and rapid turnaround are essential during drydock refits,” explained Justin Heuer, Bath Fitter’s Marine Solutions Manager. The award, he noted, recognizes PermaFit™ as “the ideal solution for cruise ship bathroom transformations, blending aesthetic appeal with durability and practicality.” This blend is critical in an environment where thousands of passengers cycle through cabins, demanding both luxury and resilience.

Charting a New Course for Growth

This award is more than just a product accolade; it represents a major milestone in Bath Fitter's deliberate expansion into the B2B commercial sector. While the company has transformed over two million residential bathrooms, it has strategically leveraged its core technology to serve commercial partners, including hotels and student residences, where rapid, low-disruption renovations are also highly valued.

The creation of a dedicated Marine Solutions team signaled a focused push into the lucrative cruise industry. The global cruise ship interior refurbishment market was valued at approximately $4.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to climb to over $9 billion by 2033. This growth is fueled by an aging global fleet—with an average ship age over 15 years—and rising passenger expectations for modern amenities and luxury experiences.

By successfully adapting its product for this demanding sector, Bath Fitter has positioned itself against traditional marine outfitting companies, which often undertake more complex and lengthy refits, and suppliers of prefabricated modular bathroom pods. While modular pods offer speed, they still require the complete removal of old units. PermaFit™'s overlay method offers a distinct advantage by streamlining the renovation of existing assets, a crucial factor as cruise lines look to “right-size” drydock scopes and control capital expenditures while extending the life of their vessels.

Enhancing the Passenger Experience

Ultimately, the innovations that streamline operations behind the scenes have a direct and positive impact on the consumer. For cruise passengers, the quality of their stateroom is a central part of their vacation experience. A dated, worn, or difficult-to-clean bathroom can detract from the sense of luxury and comfort that cruise lines strive to provide.

By enabling cruise lines to update hundreds or even thousands of bathrooms with incredible speed, solutions like PermaFit™ ensure that even older ships in the fleet can offer a fresh, modern aesthetic. The seamless, non-porous acrylic walls are not only visually appealing but are also inherently easier to clean and maintain, contributing to higher standards of hygiene onboard.

This ability to rapidly and cost-effectively refresh interiors allows cruise lines to remain competitive and meet the evolving tastes of travelers, which now include a growing number of Millennials and first-time cruisers. A well-maintained and contemporary ship enhances the cruise line’s brand reputation, encourages positive reviews, and fosters the customer loyalty that is vital for long-term success. The award from the Cruise Ship Interiors Awards confirms that the industry recognizes this powerful link between operational efficiency and the elevated passenger experience.