TUI Cruises takes delivery of newest LNG-fuelled ship

TUI Cruises, a joint venture between German shipowner TUI and Royal Caribbean Cruises, took delivery of a new cruise ship in a ceremony in Monfalcone, Italy, on Friday, February 7.

Mein Schiff Relax is the first in a series of two vessels that Italian shipyard Fincantieri is building for TUI Cruises. The ship has a gross tonnage of 160,000, space for 3,984 guests, and emissions-reducing features such as a waste heat recovery system, a shore power charging system, and EU Stage VI-compliant catalytic converters.

Onboard facilities include 14 restaurants, 17 bars and lounges, a spa, a wellness area, and an infinity pool.

Mein Schiff Relax's initial operational sailings will be in the Mediterranean and will include stops at Rome, Barcelona, Marseille, Gibraltar, and the Balearic Islands.

The ship completed a series of sea trials in the Mediterranean late last year. The trials tested the ship's MGO and LNG fuel systems separately.

The second vessel in the series is scheduled to debut in the middle of 2026.