The month of October saw a large group of VIPs, stakeholders, media and workers assemble for the floatout of TUI Cruises' 'Mein Schiff 4' at Finland's Meyer Turku Shipyard.
'Mein Schiff 4' will be very similar to her sister ships 'Mein Schiff 3', and the forthcoming 'Mein Schiff 5' and 'Mein Schiff 6'. The 99,500GT ship measures 294 metres in length, 36 metres in width, and features a passenger capacity of 2,500 and a crew of 1,000.
Amongst the most environmentally friendly and energy efficient cruise ships to be floated, the vessels provide valuable man-hours and supplier contracts for Finland's troubled economy.
Across the vessel's 15 decks, a range of entertainment and leisure options are available for all ages, including a concert hall.
The "Mein Schiff 4' is scheduled for delivery in mid-2015, and will be cruising around both Norway and the Baltic region the following summer. For her winter schedule, the vessel will travel from the Canary Islands to Madeira, as well as possibly Morocco.
John Pagni