TUI to Add Mein Schiff 6 Back in September, Cruising From Crete

Posted on 16 August, 2020 by Spacejunkie2

The TUI Cruises restart is going so well the company is expanding to three ships as the Mein Schiff 6 will sail round-trip cruises from Crete in September with port calls.

The first week-long sailing will depart on Sept. 13.

Guests will be allowed to take company-organized shore excursions in Athens, Crete and Corfu.

TUI said it will dramatically expand shore excursion capacity so all guests can partake. The ship is expected to operate at 60 per cent occupancy.

The Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 will continue with their “Blue Voyages” (no port calls) in the North and Baltic Sea, offering five- and seven-day cruises in September, according to the company.

For the time being all departures of the Mein Schiff fleet (departures from September) will require a negative COVID-19 test result (PCR test). The costs for this are already included in the travel price.

Before the new crew comes on board, they are tested for COVID-19 shoreside. Only crewmembers who have tested negative can come on board and then they also go into 14-day individual isolation on a balcony cabin before they begin working.

Keel Laid for Mein Schiff 2

Posted on 8 October, 2017 by Spacejunkie2

Jan Meyer and the new crane at Meyer Turku

Meyer Turku shipyard

The keel for the new Mein Schiff 2 was laid today at the Meyer Turku shipyard. This important production milestone marks the beginning of the hull assembly, the yard said.

She will be a sixth ship build by Meyer Turku for TUI Cruises. Delivery is scheduled for early 2019.

The new Mein Schiff 2 will be a sister ship to new Mein Schiff 1, which will be delivered from Meyer Turku in the spring of 2018.

The new class will be 20 meters longer (315m) than Mein Schiff 6. Both ships will have space for 2,894 guests.

TUI Cruises CEOs Wybcke Meier and Frank Kuhlmann were present at the keel laying and were one of the VIP guests to weld coins under the keel of the ship.

“It is always great to visit the shipyard and to see the progress with our coming ships. With new Mein Schiff 1 and 2 we will get two great new ships to lead our fleet in the coming years. We are very happy to see how these ships are taking form,” said Meier.

Of note hte yard is also adding a new massive gantry crane to help speed up cruise ship production times.

“We have just floated out the newly developed New Mein Schiff 1 and will now begin directly assembling its sister, New Mein Schiff 2, from pre-produced grand blocks. It shows the increasing pace that we are working at, while at the same time implementing our large investment program with the large goliath gantry crane being only one example of it. Working on our ships and our capabilities will prepare us for the increasing international competition,” added Jan Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku.

Mein Schiff 6 Christened

Posted on 3 June, 2017 by Spacejunkie2

TUI Cruises welcomed the Mein Schiff 6 into its fleet with a Thursday night ceremony in the German port of Hamburg.

Latvian organist Iveta Apkalna christened the ship.

The Mein Schiff 6 left the Altona cruise terminal around 9 p.m. on Thursday night and slowing sailed up the Elbe to Elbphilharmonie (concert hall), where it positioned itself for the evening’s music programming, including a custom symphony composed just for the christening.

The music show was complimented by a light show, with the Meyer-Turku-built ship being the center piece.

Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, explained: “The Elbphilharmonie provides extraordinary experiences, and at TUI Cruises we strive to do the same. For us it was important to design an event that reflects these shared values. So even with the Elbe between them, the Elbphilharmonie and the Mein Schiff 6 became one.”