Mein Schiff Relax is an InTUItion class ship being built for German cruise line TUI Cruises. The ship is the first in a new class for the cruise line, with a debut in March of 2025. It is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.[1]
 Mein Schiff Relax under construction in Monfalcone, Italy
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mein Schiff Relax |
| Operator | TUI Cruises |
| Port of registry |  Italy (pre delivery)
Valletta,  Malta (upon delivery) |
| Ordered | July 2018 |
| Builder | Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy |
| Yard number | 6312 |
| Launched | November 2023 |
| Maiden voyage | March 2025 |
| Identification | 9862657 |
| Status | Under Construction |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cruise ship |
| Tonnage | 160,000 GT |
| Length | 333 meters (1,093 ft) |
| Beam | 42.1 meters (138 ft) |
| Decks | 19 total |
| Speed | 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) |
| Capacity | 3,984 passengers |
| Crew | 1100 |
Design & Construction
editThe ship was ordered by TUI cruises in 2018 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.[2] The design was based on a the Project Mille prototype platform developed by Fincantieri.[2] This new prototype would be TUI cruises first new design since the Mein Schiff 3 debuted in 2014.
The first steel was cut in June of 2022 with the bow section being constructed at the VARD shipyard in Tulcea, Romania.[3] The section was later towed to Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard where the ship would be assembled and completed. In October of 2023, it was announced that the ship would be named MeinSchiff Relax, a departure from TUI's numbering convention of their past ships.[4]
Mein Schiff Relax was floated out in November 2023 with honorary godmother Elena Sperti, an employee of the shipyard.[5] The ship embarked on it's first sea trials in October of 2024, traveling form Monfalcone to Palermo, where she was dry-docked prior to returning to the shipyard for completion.[6]
Service History
editThe Mein Schiff Relax is scheduled to debut in March of 2025, with a series of Mediterrean cruises from Palma de Mallorca. It was announced that British singer Robbie Williams would be the feel-good ambassador of the Mein Schiff Relax.[7] A special christening ceremony will be held on April 9, 2025 in the port of Málaga, Spain, where the ship will be joined by Mein Schiff 5 and Mein Schiff 7.[8]
References
edit- ^ "TUI Cruises goes bigger with a pair of LNG newbuilds at Fincantieri". Seatrade Cruise News.
- ^ a b "Fincantieri | FINCANTIERI: CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CLASS OF ULTRA-ECO-FRIENDLY SHIPS FOR TUI CRUISES BEGINS". www.fincantieri.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ "First Steel Cut for TUI Cruises' LNG-powered Cruise Ship". MarineLink. 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ "TUI Cruises' Eighth Newbuild Named Mein Schiff Relax - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News".
- ^ "MEIN SCHIFF RELAX launched in Monfalcone". Shippax. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ Klostermann, Jan (2024-10-08). "Mein Schiff Relax fährt erstmals aus eigener Kraft – Sea Trial auf dem Mittelmeer". Schiffe und Kreuzfahrten (in German).
- ^ "TUI Names Robbie Williams Feel-Good Ambassador for Mein Schiff Relax - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News.
- ^ "Christening of the Mein Schiff Relax". TUI Cruises.