On February 7, Mein Schiff Relax, the first newbuild in the InTUItion class, was officially handed over to TUI Cruises at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.
Representatives from both companies, including Wybcke Meier and Frank Kuhlmann, CEO and CFO of TUI Cruises, and Cristiano Bazzara, Director of Fincantieri, attended the formal handover ceremony. Luca Ciriani, Italy’s Minister for Parliamentary Relations, was also present and welcomed by Biagio Mazzotta and Pierroberto Folgiero, Chairman and CEO of Fincantieri, respectively, and Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division.
”This is a very special moment for us as we welcome the first ship in our new, innovative InTUItion class,” says Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises. ”Eleven years ago we took delivery of our first new-build ship. With Mein Schiff Relax, we are now opening a completely new chapter in premium cruising.”
A new standard for premium cruises
Mein Schiff Relax takes the experience to a new level with exclusive dining concepts, impressive wellness areas and carefully designed cabins and suites with the needs of passengers in mind, ensuring a unique holiday experience. For the first time, inside, outside and balcony cabins are offered for solo travelers. The exclusive suite guest area has been moved to the stern and includes new premium suites with spacious terraces.
The wellness concept is redefined with a panoramic sauna on deck 19 and a cryotherapy chamber for recovery and health. There is also an interactive dining experience on board at the Asian restaurant Fugu with dishes by star chef Tim Raue. The first preview voyages will begin in March 2025.
Sustainable innovation
Mein Schiff Relax is TUI Cruises' first LNG-powered ship and can use both bio-LNG and e-LNG, which is an important step towards climate-neutral cruising. Advanced catalytic converters and shore power connection significantly reduce emissions.
Advanced waste management
Mein Schiff Relax is also equipped with an innovative waste management system, which processes organic waste for reuse on land through thermal treatment. The Hydro-Treat system uses heat and pressure to separate liquids from the biological waste, which is then processed in the ship's modern sewage treatment system - where the water is purified to a quality comparable to the most advanced sewage treatment plants on land.
With the launch of Mein Schiff Relax, TUI Cruises continues to set new standards for sustainable premium cruises, offering its guests a groundbreaking experience at sea.
About TUI Cruises
TUI Cruises GmbH is one of the leading cruise operators in the German-speaking market. The joint venture is owned by TUI AG and the US-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and has around 750 employees in Hamburg and Berlin. The Mein Schiff fleet consists of seven ships (Mein Schiff 1 to Mein Schiff 7) and offers a total of 18,800 beds. Mein Schiff Relax will join the fleet in 2025, followed by Mein Schiff Flow 202c. The Mein Schiff brand will offer modern, high-quality cruise holidays in the premium segment.
From 2020, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will also be part of TUI Cruises GmbH. Its
The fleet consists of five ships, including the luxury cruise ships EUROPA and EUROPA 2 and the research ships of the HANSEATIC class. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is the leading brand for luxury and research cruises in the German-speaking market with a history stretching back 130 years. TUI Cruises operates one of the world's most modern, environmentally friendly and climate-friendly fleets.
According to the press release.
