Fincantieri Unveils TUI’s Latest Cruise Ship: Mein Schiff Relax Delivered

On February 7, 2025, TUI Cruises celebrated a significant milestone by taking delivery of Mein Schiff Relax, the first of two new LNG dual-fuel cruise ships, marking the culmination of a 16-year collaboration between TUI and the Royal Caribbean Group. This ship, TUI’s largest yet, boasts a volume of 161,000 GT-tons and is the first in the fleet designed to be LNG-ready, allowing it to operate on either LNG or Marine Gas Oil with potential future upgrades to bio- or e-LNG.

The construction of Mein Schiff Relax, managed by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, signifies a new direction for TUI, as they pivot from their long-standing relationship with Meyer Turku in Finland. The process began with the order placed in July 2018, and the ship was officially floated out from the Monfalcone yard in November 2023. It underwent initial sea trials in October and was the second LNG-powered cruise ship delivered by Fincantieri.

The rapid growth of the Mein Schiff brand reflects TUI’s competitive positioning in the German cruise market, where it started operations in 2009 with a second-hand vessel. Today, the Mein Schiff fleet comprises eight ships.

Mein Schiff Relax features a length of 1,070 ft (326 m), 19 decks, and can accommodate a maximum of 3,984 passengers with 1,535 crew members. It includes 14 dining venues, a new Asian restaurant, enhanced wellness facilities, and the brand’s debut "freedom suites" spread across a variety of cabin options tailored for solo travelers.

In alignment with its environmental goals, Mein Schiff Relax incorporates advanced technologies such as new catalytic converters that meet Euro 6 standards, a generative turbine to repurpose residual heat from its diesel generators, and a shore power connection for port operations. Its waste management system efficiently converts organic waste into recyclable material via thermal processing.

The ship is set to begin operations in early March, initially cruising the Canary Islands before focusing on the German market in mid-2026. TUI has scheduled an innovative christening ceremony in Malaga, Spain, on April 9, where Mein Schiff Relax will be formally introduced alongside its fleetmates, Mein Schiff 5 and Mein Schiff 7. Following the successful launch of Mein Schiff 7 in June 2024, TUI also plans to introduce Mein Schiff Flow in Spain by August 2026.

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