The TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Cruises are continuing the expansion course for the joint venture TUI Cruises. The supervisory bodies of both companies have decided to commission the construction of two shipbuildings at the Italian Fincantieri shipyard. The contract was closed on July 12, 2018 subject to financing. All contracting parties have agreed to keep the financial details confidential.
The two 161,000 gross registered ton (GRT) ships will be manufactured at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The commissioning is scheduled for 2024 and 2026. The Mein Schiff fleet will thereby grow to nine ships servicing the German cruise market by 2026.
“The decision to operate the two new ships planned for commissioning in 2024 and 2026 with the low-emission liquefied natural gas liquefied natural gas (LNG) fleet is a logical continuation of our environmental strategy”, explained Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises.
The design is based on a prototype developed by Fincantieri, meeting the twofold objective of reducing fuel consumption and minimizing environmental impact, able to comply with the latest industry regulations. Fincantieri CEO Giuseppe Bono noted these will be the biggest ships ever built in Italy.
TUI Cruises is a joint venture between TUI group, the world’s number one tourism business, and the global operating cruise shipping line, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The company was founded in April 2008 and is headquartered in Hamburg.
