Mein Schiff Relax
{{Short description|Cruise ship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
| display title = ital }} {{infobox ship image | Ship image = Mein Schiff Relax.jpg | Ship caption = Mein Schiff Relax }} {{infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name = Mein Schiff Relax | Ship owner = | Ship operator = TUI Cruises | Ship registry = * Valletta, {{flagicon|Malta|civil}} | Ship route = | Ship ordered = 12 July 2018 | Ship builder = Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = 6312 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 28 November 2023 | Ship completed = | Ship christened = 9 April 2025 | Ship acquired = 7 February 2025{{cite web|url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2025/02/fincantieri-delivers-mein-schiff-relax-in-monfalcone/|title=Fincantieri Delivers Mein Schiff Relax in Monfalcone|date=7 February 2025|accessdate=7 February 2025}} | Ship maiden voyage = 2 March 2025 | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship identification = {{IMO|9862657}} | Ship fate = | Ship status = In service | Ship notes = }} {{infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = | Ship type = Cruise ship | Ship tonnage = {{GT|160,000}} | Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{cvt|333|m|ftin}} | Ship beam = {{cvt|42.1|m|ftin}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship decks = 19 | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship sail plan = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = | Ship speed = {{convert|22|kn|lk=in}} | Ship capacity = 3,984 passengers | Ship crew = 1,100 | Ship notes = }} |
Mein Schiff Relax is an InTUItion-class ship built for German cruise line TUI Cruises. The ship is the first in a new class for the cruise line, with energy efficiency in mind that debuted in March 2025.{{Cite web |title=TUI Cruises goes bigger with a pair of LNG newbuilds at Fincantieri |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/the-orderbook/tui-cruises-goes-bigger-with-a-pair-of-lng-newbuilds-at-fincantieri |website=Seatrade Cruise News}}
Design and construction
The ship was ordered by TUI Cruises in 2018{{Cite web |title=Continuing strong growth expected: TUI Group continues to expand its cruise fleet |url=https://www.tuigroup.com/en-en/investors/news/2018/ir-news/20180713 |access-date= |website=www.tuigroup.com |language=en}} as the first of two new concept LNG-powered ships. At the time of the order, it was to be the largest cruise ship built in Italy.{{Cite web |title= Fincantieri: Construction of New Class of Ultra-Eco-Friendly Ships for Tui Cruises Begins |url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/media/press-releases/2022/fincantieri-construction-of-new-class-of-ultra-eco-friendly-ships-for-tui-cruises-begins/ |access-date=20 October 2024 |publisher=Fincantieri}} The design was based on the Project Mille prototype platform developed by Fincantieri. A sister ship, Mein Schiff Flow, will debut in 2026.{{Cite web |title=TUI Cruises Reveals Mein Schiff Flow’s Maiden Season Itineraries - Cruise Industry News {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/12/tui-cruises-reveals-mein-schiff-flows-maiden-season-itineraries/ |access-date= |website=Cruise Industry News |language=en-US}} This new prototype is TUI Cruise's first new design since {{ship||Mein Schiff 3}} debuted in 2014.
The ship was designed with energy efficiency in mind, with dual-fuel configuration, being able to operate on LNG or marine gas oil, and has the ability to transition to alternatives including bio- or e-LNG when it becomes available in the market.{{Cite web |title=Fincantieri Hands Over Innovative LNG Cruise Ship to Germany’s TUI Cruises |url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/fincantieri-hands-over-innovative-lng-cruise-ship-to-germany-s-tui-cruises |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=The Maritime Executive |language=en}} Mein Schiff Relax also features new catalytic converters meeting Euro 6 standards, a generative turbine using residual heat from the diesel generators that ensures almost emission-free operations while in port, and a shore power connection for ports.{{Cite web |title=Fincantieri Delivers Mein Schiff Relax in Monfalcone - Cruise Industry News {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2025/02/fincantieri-delivers-mein-schiff-relax-in-monfalcone/ |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=Cruise Industry News |language=en-US}}File:Mein Schiff Relax Construction.jpgA team of notable cruise ship designers and architects designed the layout and spaces of Mein Schiff Relax, including 3Deluxe, Wilson Butler Architects, Tillberg Design of Sweden, and JOI-Design.{{Cite web |title=MS RELAX |url=https://www.3deluxe.de/ocean/projects/cruise-ships/ms-relax |access-date= |website=www.3deluxe.de |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Rolf Benz fits out Mein Schiff Relax from TUI Cruises |url=https://presseportal.rolf-benz.com/en/home/press-releases/?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=10258&cHash=27c0644567f17f93ad70e0f143e43a12 |access-date= |website=Press Release - Rolf Benz}}
The first steel was cut in June 2022, with the bow section being constructed at the VARD shipyard in Tulcea, Romania.{{Cite web |date=22 June 2022 |title=First Steel Cut for TUI Cruises' LNG-powered Cruise Ship |url=https://www.marinelink.com/news/first-steel-cut-tui-cruises-lngpowered-497529 |access-date=20 October 2024 |website=MarineLink}} The section was later towed to Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard where the ship would be assembled and completed. In October 2023, it was announced that the ship would be named Mein Schiff Relax, a departure from TUI's numbering convention of their past ships.{{Cite web |title=TUI Cruises' Eighth Newbuild Named Mein Schiff Relax |website=Cruise Industry News |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/10/tui-cruises-eighth-newbuild-named-mein-schiff-relax/ |access-date=}}
Mein Schiff Relax was floated out in November 2023 with honorary godmother Elena Sperti, an employee of the shipyard.{{Cite web |title=Mein Schiff Relax launched in Monfalcone |url=https://www.shippax.com/en/news/mein-schiff-relax-launched-in-monfalcone.aspx |access-date=20 October 2024 |website=Shippax }} The ship embarked on its first sea trials in October 2024, traveling from Monfalcone to Palermo, where she was dry-docked before returning to the shipyard for completion.{{Cite web |last=Klostermann |first=Jan |date=8 October 2024 |title=Mein Schiff Relax fährt erstmals aus eigener Kraft – Sea Trial auf dem Mittelmeer |url=https://www.schiffe-und-kreuzfahrten.de/news/mein-schiff-relax-fahrt-erstmals-aus-eigener-kraft-sea-trial-im-mittelmeer/323389/ |access-date= |website=Schiffe und Kreuzfahrten |language=de-DE}} The ship held the second sea trials in December.https://www.meinschiff.com/presse/archiv/lng-sea-trial-der-mein-schiff-relax-erfolgreich-beendet-weitere-testfahrt-des-ersten-neubaus-der-intuition-klasse-im-mittelmeer
On 7 February 2025, Mein Schiff Relax was officially delivered to TUI Cruises. A handover ceremony was held at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.{{Cite web |last=Editorial |date=8 February 2025 |title=Fincantieri Delivers “Mein Schiff Relax,” A Dual-Fuel Milestone for TUI Cruises |url=https://www.intrieste.com/2025/02/08/fincantieri-delivers-mein-schiff-relax-a-dual-fuel-milestone-for-tui-cruises/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=InTrieste |language=en-US}} The ship was moved to Fincantieri's Trieste shipyard, and on 24 February 2025 departed for a repositioning pre maiden voyage from Trieste, Italy to her homeport of Palma de Mallorca.{{Cite web |last=Jakubowics |first=Sonja |date=12 March 2025 |title=MEIN SCHIFF RELAX - Longing for freedom |url=https://www.krone.at/3722409 |access-date= |website=Kronen Zeitung |language=en}}
Service history
Mein Schiff Relax debuted on 2 March 2025, with a series of Mediterranean cruises from Palma de Mallorca.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1 March 2025 |title=TUI Cruises: Das ist die neue Mein Schiff Relax |url=https://www.touristik-aktuell.de/nachrichten/kreuzfahrten/news/datum/2025/03/02/tui-cruises-das-ist-die-neue-mein-schiff-relax/ |access-date=8 March 2025 |website=Touristik Aktuell |language=de}} It was announced that British singer Robbie Williams will be the feel-good ambassador of Mein Schiff Relax and perform at the naming ceremony.{{Cite web |title=TUI Names Robbie Williams Feel-Good Ambassador for Mein Schiff Relax |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/09/tui-names-robbie-williams-feel-good-ambassador-for-mein-schiff-relax/ |access-date= |website=Cruise Industry News}} A special christening ceremony was held on 9 April 2025, in the port of Málaga, Spain, with TUI Spa & Sport manager Giuliana Rizzo serving as godmother and Robbie Williams performing a concert.{{Cite web |title=TUI Cruises Spa Manager Named Godmother Of Mein Schiff Relax {{!}} Crew Center |url=https://crew-center.com/tui-cruises-spa-manager-named-godmother-mein-schiff-relax |access-date=16 February 2025 |website=crew-center.com}}{{Cite web |title=“Relaxing rocks”: Spectacular naming of Mein Schiff Relax with Robbie Williams {{!}} news aktuell GmbH |url=https://kommunikasjon.ntb.no/pressemelding/18493938/relaxing-rocks-spectacular-naming-of-mein-schiff-relax-with-robbie-williams?publisherId=17819585&lang=en |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=kommunikasjon.ntb.no |language=no}} The ship was joined by {{ship||Mein Schiff 5}} and {{ship||Mein Schiff 7}}.{{Cite web |title=Christening of the Mein Schiff Relax |url=https://www.meinschiff.com/neubau-mein-schiff-relax/schiffstaufe |access-date= |website=TUI Cruises}}