Fincantieri and TUI Cruises, a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises, celebrated, at the Monfalcone shipyard, the delivery of “Mein Schiff Relax”, the first of two new-concept dual-fuel (Liquefied Natural Gas – LNG and Marine Gas Oil – MGO) InTUItion class cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for this shipowner. The sister ship will set sail in mid-2026.
The delivery ceremony was attended by the Minister for Relations with Parliament , Luca Ciriani , welcomed by Biagio Mazzotta and Pierroberto Folgiero , respectively Chairman , CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri and by Luigi Matarazzo , General Manager of the Merchant Ships Division of Fincantieri . For the shipowner, Wybcke Meier , CEO of TUI Cruises , Frank Kuhlmann , Chief Financial Officer of TUI Cruises and the ship’s Captain, Tom Roth , were present.
With approximately 160,000 gross tons, this unit will be the backbone of the new TUI Cruises fleet, based on a new-generation project developed by Fincantieri that enhances the modernity and sustainability of the shipowner, which boasts one of the most ecologically advanced fleets. The project, characterized by an innovative product configuration, focuses on energy efficiency with the aim of reducing operational consumption and minimizing environmental impact, in full compliance with the latest regulations. The ship is capable of using LNG propulsion and is future-proof, with the possibility of using low-emission fuels, such as bio- or e-LNG, marking a significant step towards climate-neutral cruising.
“Mein Schiff Relax”, on which over 3,000 people including Fincantieri employees and partner companies have been working tirelessly on board the ship in recent months, is equipped with catalytic converters (compliant with the Euro 6 standard) and a generative turbine that uses the residual heat of diesel generators, as well as an electrical connection system to the dock. All this ensures almost emission-free operation during the stopover in port (about 40% of the operating time). The ship is also equipped with an innovative and efficient waste treatment system capable of transforming organic substances into recyclable components through a thermal process.
