TUI Cruises

{{Short description|Cruise line based in Germany}}

{{Infobox company

| name = TUI Cruises

| logo = TUI Cruises Logo 2020.svg

| type = Joint venture

| foundation = {{start date and age|2007}}

| location = Hamburg, Germany

| key_people = Wybcke Meier

| area_served =

| industry = Transportation

| products = Cruise ship holidays

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| owner = {{ubl|Royal Caribbean (50%)|TUI AG (50%)}}

| num_employees =

| parent =

| subsid =

| homepage = {{URL|http://www.tuicruises.com/}}

| footnotes =

}}

TUI Cruises is a cruise line based in Germany. It was formed in 2007 as a joint venture between the German tourism company TUI AG and the American cruise line operator Royal Caribbean Group, each of which owns a 50% stake in the company.

History

The company started operations in 2009 and competes with AIDA Cruises for the German market. It targets German-speaking customers who opt for a premium cruise experience. The onboard product, including food, entertainment and amenities, is tailored for German tastes and German is the main language used onboard its ships.{{cite web |date=28 April 2008 |title=Royal Caribbean and TUI AG complete joint venture for TUI Cruises |url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/1214-42508-royal-caribbean-and-tui-ag-complete-joint-venture-for-tui-cruises.html |accessdate=21 April 2010 |work=Cruise Industry News}}{{cite web |last= |date=2020-02-07 |title=Tui bündelt Kreuzfahrt-Geschäft in Gemeinschaftsunternehmen mit Royal Caribbean Cruises |url=https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/industrie/tui-baut-um-hapag-lloyd-cruises-geht-an-tui-cruises-a-1304618.html |access-date= |publisher=Manager-Magazin |pages= |language= |quote= |periodical=}}

Due to lack of new-building capacity, TUI Cruises started by acquiring the cruise ship Celebrity Galaxy, which was built by Meyer Werft and was owned by another RCCL subsidiary, Celebrity Cruises. She left the Celebrity fleet on 16 March 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2730-51809-tui-cruises-mein-schiff-sets-sail.html |title=TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff Sets sail |date=18 May 2009 |accessdate=19 April 2010 |work=Cruise Industry News}} After acquiring Celebrity Galaxy, the ship headed to Lloyd Werft shipyards in Bremerhaven, Germany. She arrived on 27 March 2009, and received a €50 million, 38-day conversion to upgrade her facilities to suit a German-speaking market.{{cite web |url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/1938-111308-tui-commissions-lloyd-shipyards-bremerhaven-with-conversion-of-1st-ship-.html |title=TUI commissions Lloyd shipyards with conversion of 1st ship |date=13 November 2008 |accessdate=21 April 2010 |work=Cruise Industry News}} After the conversion, she was re-christened on 15 May 2009 in Hamburg, Germany bearing her new name, Mein Schiff (My Ship). TUI planned to build two 2,500-passenger, 100,000-GT cruise ships in 2011 and 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/1745-10308-tui-close-to-selecting-shipyards-.html |title=TUI close to selecting shipyards |date=3 October 2008 |accessdate=21 April 2010 |work=Cruise Industry News}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2292-21109-tui-plans-still-intact-.html |title=TUI plans still intact |date=11 February 2009 |accessdate=21 April 2010 |work=Cruise Industry News}}

File:Mein Schiff IMO 9106297 P Kiel 27-06-2009 (1).jpg]]

On May 27, 2010, it was announced that another Century-class ship, Celebrity Mercury, would become the latest addition to TUI's fleet, renamed Mein Schiff 2. Due to this Mein Schiff was immediately renamed Mein Schiff 1. Mein Schiff 2 entered service with TUI in February 2011 after its extensive refurbishment, with the addition of more verandas, an expanded fitness area and design elements which are also found on Mein Schiff 1.[http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/4068-52710-celebrity-mercury-to-become-second-ship-in-tui-cruises-fleet.html Celebrity Mercury to become second ship in TUI Cruises fleet]. Cruise Industry News. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010

= Newbuilds =

File:Mein Schiff 3 leaving Kiel.JPG]]

TUI and STX Finland announced a contract on 27 September 2011 to build a 97,000-GT vessel named Mein Schiff 3, first of the Blue Motion class, which was delivered in 2014.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-01 |title=TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 7 launched at Meyer Turku |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/shipbuilding-refurb-equipment/tui-cruises-mein-schiff-7-launched-meyer-turku |access-date= |website=seatrade-cruise.com |language=en}} The vessel is approximately {{convert|295|m|ft}} long and approximately {{convert|36|m|ft}} wide. The ship has 1,250 staterooms, most of which have balconies, with a capacity of 2,500 passengers and a crew of 1,000. The ship includes several restaurants, a theatre, spa and nightclub. The contract included an option to build a second ship, dependent on the approval of TUI Cruises shareholders.{{cite web|title=STX Finland Oy Signs Design and Construction Contract for 97.000 GT Cruise Vessel|url=http://shipbuildingtribune.com/2011/09/27/stx-finland-oy-signs-design-and-construction-contract-for-97-000-gt-cruise-vessel/|publisher=Shipbuilding Tribune|accessdate=3 October 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331191523/http://shipbuildingtribune.com/2011/09/27/stx-finland-oy-signs-design-and-construction-contract-for-97-000-gt-cruise-vessel/|archivedate=31 March 2012|url-status=dead|date=27 September 2011}} It was announced on November 5, 2012 that TUI had taken up the second option for the sister ship to the Mein Schiff 3, to be named Mein Schiff 4.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/8180-tui-picks-up-option-orders-second-ship-from-stx-finland.html|title=TUI Picks Up Option – Orders Second Ship from STX Finland – Cruise Industry News – Cruise News|date=5 November 2012|publisher=}} On April 22, 2014, Mein Schiff 3 entered service. In March 2015, Royal Caribbean International announced that they had agreed to sell {{MS|Splendour of the Seas|3=2}} to TUI Cruises in the second quarter of 2016, and that TUI would lease the ship to Thomson Cruises to replace the Island Escape.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/12277-splendour-of-the-seas-sold-to-tui-for-thomson-cruises.html|title=Splendour of the Seas Sold to TUI for Thomson Cruises|work=cruiseindustrynews.com|date=2 March 2015}} In May 2015, TUI Group announced that as part of their modernization strategy, {{ship||Mein Schiff 1|2010|2}} and {{ship||Mein Schiff 2|2011|2}} would be transferred to Thomson Cruises over the next few years, as a result, 2 replacement ships neue Mein Schiff 1 and neue Mein Schiff 2 were ordered.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/12586-tui-thomson-to-get-mein-schiff-1-and-2.html|title=TUI: Thomson to Get Mein Schiff 1 and 2 – Cruise Industry News – Cruise News|date=13 May 2015|publisher=}} On January 15, Mein Schiff 5 was launched.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13570-mein-schiff-5-float-out.html|title=Mein Schiff 5 Float Out – Cruise Industry News – Cruise News|date=15 January 2016|publisher=}} On April 28, Mein Schiff 6's was laid down.{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/14709-meyer-turku-keel-laying-for-mein-schiff-6.html|title=Meyer Turku: Keel-Laying for Mein Schiff 6 – Cruise Industry News – Cruise News|date=28 April 2016|publisher=}}

The new Mein Schiff 1 debuted in 2018, followed by the Mein Schiff 2 in 2019. These were both enlarged version of the previous ships, and included modification in the layout of the open decks, with an enclosed sport court, expanded forward suite area, an infilled aft deck, and a new elevated jogging track.{{Cite web |last=Industry News |first=Cruise |title=Preview: Mein Schiff 1 - Cruise Industry News {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2017/10/preview-mein-schiff-1/ |access-date= |website= |language=en-US}}

File:Mein Schiff 6 Funnel Pier 27 Port of Tallinn 1 July 2023.jpg

In July 2018,{{Cite web |date=2018-07-13 |title=TUI Cruises setzt auf nachhaltiges Wachstum - Flottenerweiterung um zwei weitere Neubauten bedient steigende Nachfrage |url=https://www.meinschiff.com/presse/archiv/tui-cruises-setzt-auf-nachhaltiges-wachstum-flottenerweiterung-um-zwei-weitere-neubauten-bedient-steigende-nachfrage}} TUI Cruises announces th order of two new 160,000 ton LNG InTUItion class ships at Fincanteri.{{Cite web |title=TUI Cruises orders first two LNG ships from Fincantieri |url=https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/tui-cruises-orders-first-two-lng-ships-from-fincantieri |access-date= |website=CruiseandFerry.net |language=en-GB}}

In February 2020 TUI announced the purchase of Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten. The take over was completed in July 2020.{{cite web |date=February 7, 2020 |title=TUI sells 5% of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to Royal Caribbean |url=https://hansa-online.de/2020/02/featured/145205/tui-verkauft-50-von-hapag-lloyd-cruises-an-royal-caribbean/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709215706/https://hansa-online.de/2020/02/featured/145205/tui-verkauft-50-von-hapag-lloyd-cruises-an-royal-caribbean/ |archive-date=9 July 2020 |website=Hansa |language=de}}

The Mein Schiff Herz left the fleet in April 2023.{{Cite web |last=Industry News |first=Cruise |title=Mein Schiff Herz Sets Sail on Final Cruise for TUI - Cruise Industry News {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/04/mein-schiff-herz-sets-sail-on-final-cruise-for-tui/ |access-date= |website= |language=en-US}}

In 2023 it was announced the new InTUItion class would introduce a new naming convention, with the first ship named Mein Schiff Relax.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-15 |title=Mein Schiff Relax is the name of TUI Cruises' first InTUIition class ship |url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/mein-schiff-relax-name-tui-cruises-first-intuiition-class-ship |access-date= |website=seatrade-cruise.com |language=en}} The ship was floated out in November 2023 at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard in Italy.{{Cite web |title=Fincantieri {{!}} Mein Schiff Relax launched in Monfalcone |url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/media/press-releases/2023/mein-schiff-relax-launched-in-monfalcone/ |access-date= |website=www.fincantieri.com |language=en}}

The final ship of the Blue Motion Class, Mein Schiff 7 debuted in 2024, and will be one of the first methanol ready ships.{{Cite web |last=Maritime |first=Baird |date=2018-02-13 |title=TUI Cruises orders cruise ship from Meyer Turku |url=https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/passenger-vessel-world/cruise/tui-cruises-orders-cruise-ship-from-meyer-turku/ |access-date= |website=Baird Maritime |language=en-US}}

On February 7, 2025, the Mein Schiff Relax was delivered to TUI Cruises. The first new prototype design for the line in over 11 years, it is also the first LNG powered and largest ship in the fleet.{{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=2025-02-08 |website=Cruise Industry News |language=en-US}}

Fleet

= Current fleet =

class="wikitable"

! scope=col | Ship

! scope=col | Built

! scope=col | Builder

! scope=col | in service
with TUI

! scope=col | Gross tonnage

! scope=col | Flag

! scope=col | Notes

! scope=col | Image

colspan="8" |Blu Motion Class
Mein Schiff 3align="Center" | 2014STX Finlandalign="Center" | 2014align="Center" | 99,526align="Center" | {{flag|Malta|civil}}First new build for TUI Cruises200px
Mein Schiff 4align="Center" | 2015STX Finland/Meyer Turkualign="Center" | 2015align="Center" | 99,526align="Center" | {{flag|Malta|civil}}align="Center" |200px
Mein Schiff 5align="Center" | 2016Meyer Turkualign="Center" | 2016align="Center" | 98,785align="Center" | {{flag|Malta|civil}}align="Center" | Modified from previous ships in class by removing the glass roof of the enclosed pool.200px
Mein Schiff 6align="Center" | 2017Meyer Turkualign="Center" | 2017align="Center" | 98,811align="Center" | {{flag|Malta|civil}}align="Center" |200px
colspan="8" |Blu Motion Class (enlarged)
Mein Schiff 1align="Center" | 2018Meyer Turkualign="center" | 2018align="Center" | 111,500align="Center" | {{flag|Malta|civil}}Stretched version previous ships.{{cite web|url=https://www.schiffe-und-kreuzfahrten.de/tui-cruises/mein-schiff-7-mein-schiff-8-werden-die-namen-mein-schiff-1-und-mein-schiff-2-tragen/95391/|title=Mein Schiff 7 & Mein Schiff 8 werden zu Mein Schiff 1 & Mein Schiff 2|language=german|date=2016-06-23|accessdate=2016-06-25 }}200px
Mein Schiff 2align="Center" | 2019Meyer Turkualign="Center" | 2019align="Center" | 111,500align="Center" | {{flag|Malta|civil}}Sister to new Mein Schiff 1{{cite web|url=http://www.meyerturku.com/en/meyerturku_com/media/presseticker/pressemitteilung_detailansicht_11776.jsp|title=Meyer Turku to build Mein Schiff 7 and 8 for TUI Cruises|date=2015-07-01}}200px
Mein Schiff 7align="center" | 2024{{cite web|url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/06/tuis-mein-schiff-7-delivered-by-meyer-turku/|title=TUI's Mein Schiff 7 Delivered by Meyer Turku|date=2024-06-10|accessdate=2024-06-10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.meinschiff.com/presse/archiv/tui-cruises-setzt-wachstumskurs-der-mein-schiff-flotte-fort-mein-schiff-7-feierlich-in-turku-finnland-uebernommen|title= TUI Cruises setzt Wachstumskurs der Mein Schiff Flotte fort: Mein Schiff 7 feierlich in Turku/Finnland übernommen |date=2024-06-10|accessdate=2024-06-10|language=german}}Meyer Turku[https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/ships/mein_schiff_7.jsp Meyer Werft: Mein SChiff 7]align="Center"| 2024align="center" |112,982{{cite web|url=https://vesselregister.dnv.com/vesselregister/details/40108|title=DNV: Mein Schiff 7|accessdate=2024-06-10}}{{flag|Malta|civil}}Sister ship to Mein Schiff 1 and 2
Methanol-Ready propulsion{{cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27681-tuis-mein-schiff-7-will-be-methanol-ready.html|title=TUI's Mein Schiff 7 Will Be Methanol-Ready|date=2022-06-14|accessdate=2022-06-15}}{{cite web|url=https://www.meinschiff.com/presse/archiv/produktionsstart-fuer-neubau-mein-schiff-7-erfolgt-tui-cruises-setzt-auf-nachhaltiges-wachstum|title=Produktionsstart für Neubau Mein Schiff 7 erfolgt: TUI Cruises setzt auf nachhaltiges Wachstum|date=2022-06-14|accessdate=2022-06-15|language=german}}{{cite web|url=https://meltwater.pressify.io/publication/62a882d826f5950004b2107c/598859389637010d006ced92?&sh=false&sb=false|title=Production of Mein Shiff 7 launched at the Meyer Turku shipyard|date=2022-06-14|accessdate=2022-06-15}}{{cite web | url=https://www.nordsee-zeitung.de/Nachrichten/Finnische-Werft-Meyer-Turku-strebt-nach-Fuehrungsrolle-bei-Klimaneutralitaet-207329.html | title=Finnische Werft Meyer Turku strebt nach Führungsrolle bei Klimaneutralität }}

|200px

colspan="8" |Intuition Class
Mein Schiff Relax

|2025

|Fincantieri

| align="center" | 2025

| align="center" | 161,000

|{{flag|Malta|civil}}

|First LNG-fuelled ship and will be the largest ship for the company

|200px

= Future fleet =

class="wikitable"

! scope=col | Ship

! scope=col | Maiden Voyage

! scope=col | Builder

! scope=col | Gross Tonnage

! scope=col | Planned Flag

! scope=col | Notes

! scope=col | Image

Mein Schiff Flowhttps://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/10/tuis-next-ship-to-carry-name-mein-schiff-flow/align=center| 2026align=center| Fincantierialign=center|161,000align="Center" | {{flag|Malta|civil}}inTUItion-class{{cite web | url=https://www.tuigroup.com/de-de/medien/presseinformationen/partnermeldungen/2024/Januar/2024-01-16-tc-mein-schiff-beste-aussichten-auf-ein-sehr-gutes-Reisejahr-2024 | title=Mein Schiff: Beste Aussichten auf ein sehr gutes Reisejahr 2024 }}
Second LNG-fuelled ship and sister ship to Mein Schiff Relax
Construction started in January 2024{{cite web | url=https://www.tuigroup.com/de-de/medien/presseinformationen/partnermeldungen/2024/Januar/2024-01-16-tc-mein-schiff-beste-aussichten-auf-ein-sehr-gutes-Reisejahr-2024 | title=Mein Schiff: Beste Aussichten auf ein sehr gutes Reisejahr 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.crucero-magazin.de/tui-cruises-auf-kurs-in-die-zukunft-drei-schiffe-gleichzeitig-im-bau/100618/ | title=TUI Cruises auf Kurs in die Zukunft: Drei Schiffe gleichzeitig im Bau | date=16 January 2024 }}

|

= Former fleet =

class="wikitable"

! scope=col | Ship

! scope=col | Built

! scope=col | Builder

! scope=col | in service
with TUI

! scope=col | Gross tonnage

! scope=col | Flag

! scope=col | Notes

! scope=col | Image

Mein Schiff 11996align="Center"| Meyer Werftalign="Center"| 2009–2010
2010–2018
align="Center"| 76,522align="Center" | {{flag|Malta|civil}}Previously Celebrity Galaxy, transferred out of the fleet in 2018. Now sails as Marella Explorer.200px
Mein Schiff Herz1997align="Center"| Meyer Werftalign="Center"| 2011–2021align="Center"| 77,302align="Center" | {{flag|Malta|civil}}Previously Celebrity Mercury, Mein Schiff 2, Mein Schiff Herz transferred out of fleet in 2022. Will sail as Marella Voyager.200px

References

{{reflist}}