TUI Cruises bids welcome to inaugural LNG-powered Mein Schiff Relax cruise ship

German cruise line TUI Cruises, a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises, has taken delivery of Mein Schiff Relax, the first of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel cruise ships being constructed by Italian shipbuilding player Fincantieri.

As disclosed, the red carpet for the inaugural InTUItion-class unit was rolled out on February 7, 2025, at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard. The naming ceremony is anticipated to be held on April 9, 2025, in Málaga, Spain. The sister vessel is scheduled to set sail in mid-2026.

As per Tui Group, the Mein Schiff 5 and the methanol-ready Mein Schiff 7—delivered in June 2024—will accompany the latest addition to the company’s fleet during the christening.

It is understood that the newbuilding features a length of 333 meters, a beam of 42.1 meters, and a gross tonnage of 160,000 tons.

According to Fincantieri, Mein Schiff Relax is set to run on a dual-fuel propulsion system, with the capability of operating on LNG and marine gas oil (MGO). The Italian shipbuilder also underscored that the vessel is considered future-proof, thanks to the possibility for it to use low-emission fuels such as bio- or e-LNG.

The Malta-flagged unit, together with its sister ship, is envisioned to become the ‘bedrock’ of TUI Cruises’ future fleet. As per Fincantieri, the order is based on a prototype project that prioritizes energy efficiency, minimal environmental impact in line with global regulations and reduced operational consumption.

Specifically, much like the second cruise ship, Mein Schiff Relax has been outfitted with a shore power connection system, catalytic converters that are compliant with Euro 6 standards, a waste heat recovery turbine that harnesses residual warmth from diesel generators, as well as a waste treatment system that can convert organic substances into recyclable components through a thermal process.

Owing to these characteristics, the ship will reportedly emit zero emissions while docked, accounting for approximately 40% of its operational time.

As informed, to test the vessel’s operational capability, sea trials were performed in the Mediterranean Sea in late 2024.

To remind, Mein Schiff Relax first touched the water at the end of November 2023. Just one month later, the Trieste-headquartered shipbuilder revealed that it had secured a green loan totaling a whopping €415 million for the construction of this unit.