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Tui transfers shipbuilding slots from Marella Cruises to sister line in push for more UK passengers

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Tui transfers shipbuilding slots from Marella Cruises to sister line in push for more UK passengers

Tui Cruises is a joint venture between Tui AG and Royal Caribbean Group (Credit: Tui Cruises)

The new-build slots were previously secured earlier this year for Marella Cruises for delivery in 2031 and 2033.

However, Tui AG said this “strategic decision” to move the slots across to Tui Cruises allows the brand to “build on the success of its Tui Cruises joint venture, which has a proven track record across various European markets and possesses the financial capacity for further expansion investments”.

It also stated that the decision was made to strengthen Tui Cruises’ long-term growth platform in Europe and the UK.

Tui Cruises is a joint venture between Tui AG and Royal Caribbean Group.

Marella Cruises’ down payment to Fincantieri will be reimbursed, and it will continue operations with its existing five-ship fleet.

A Tui spokesperson said: “We are pleased to order two further new-build vessels at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. This move strengthens Tui Cruises’ platform for long-term growth and enables us to gradually expand further into other markets, particularly in Northern Europe.

“We look forward to leveraging our solid financial position and proven market expertise to deliver outstanding experiences for our guests.”

The spokesperson added, “As the delivery of the new ships is scheduled for 2031 and 2033, there are currently no further details to share. Over the coming months, we will work on the next steps for this exciting project and will share updates as soon as they are available.”

Norwegian Cruise Line: 16-Year-Old Fleet Average Age by 2030

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Norwegian Cruise Line: 16-Year-Old Fleet Average Age by 2030

Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet is undergoing significant changes over the next few years with the debut of a series of newbuilds and the withdrawal of some of its older vessels.

According to Cruise Industry News’ 2026 Global Cruise Ship Index, the changes will translate into a rejuvenation of the fleet.

Data from the exclusive report shows that the company’s current vessels have an average age of 15 years.

By 2030, Norwegian is expected to operate a 22-ship fleet, which will have an average age of roughly 16 years.

After announcing a record-breaking order in April 2024, Norwegian is set to welcome seven new ships to its fleet by 2036.

Four are scheduled to enter service between 2026 and 2030, including the new Norwegian Luna, which debuts next March.

The company is then set to welcome two additional Prima Class vessels in 2027 and 2028 before introducing a new ship class.

Significantly larger than the company’s current ships, the first vessel in the series is set to debut in 2030, boasting 225,000 tons and capacity for 5,100 guests.

Norwegian also announced plans to retire two ships from its fleet over the next couple of years: the Norwegian Sky and the Norwegian Sun.

Among the oldest vessels currently in service for the brand, the sister ships were built between 1999 and 2001.

Set for a future serving the Indian source market, the vessels will be delivered to Cordelia Cruises in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

The 2026 Global Cruise Ship Index by Cruise Industry News puts the world’s entire cruise fleet at the fingertips of readers with a comprehensive Excel file.

The database was just released and covers all key metrics, such as capacity, tonnage, age, width, draft and much more.

MSC Bellissima Completes 2025 Season in China

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MSC Bellissima Completes 2025 Season in China

The MSC Bellissima recently completed MSC Cruises’ 2025 deployment in China after offering over 30 cruises from the country.

Serving the Chinese market, the 4,500-guest ship arrived in Shanghai in mid-January, offering winter sailings to Japan and South Korea.

The four- and five-night cruises, which continued to be offered through early March, included visits to destinations such as Fukuoka, Sasebo and Jeju.

The Meraviglia-class ship then repositioned to other Asian countries before returning to Shanghai in mid-July.

As part of a summer deployment in China, the vessel offered additional cruises to Japan and South Korea through early September.

The four- and five-night itineraries featured visits to more ports of call, such as Okinawa, Busan and Incheon.

The MSC Bellissima is set to offer cruises departing from Tokyo in October before repositioning to Naha and Keelung.

As part of its interporting operations in the region, the Bellissima offers a series of short cruises to Japan and Taiwan through the end of the year.

In addition to Naha and Keelung, the four-night itineraries feature alternating visits to Ishigaki and Miyakojima.

Similar sailings are set to be offered in early 2026, with departures from the two homeports scheduled through late January.

According to published deployment, the MSC Bellissima is poised to return to China next year, kicking off a repositioning cruise to Shanghai soon after completing its winter deployment in Japan and Taiwan.

As the largest cruise ship in Asia, the 167,600-ton vessel has been sailing year-round in the region since 2023.

Built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, the MSC Bellissima entered service in 2019 as a sister to the MSC Meraviglia.

After spending its inaugural season in Europe, the vessel also offered itineraries in the Middle East and the Red Sea before repositioning to the Far East.