Mein Schiff 2

The 2019-built TUI Mein Schiff 2 cruise ship is owned by TUI Cruises and has two sisterships – Mein Schiff 1 (2018) and Mein Schiff 7 (2023). The vessels were initially designated as “Mein Schiff 7” and “Mein Schiff 8,” but as the previous namesakes were transferred to Marella Cruises UK (within TUI Group), the newbuilds took their names instead.

The vessel (IMO number 9783576) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 248956000) and registered in Valletta.

History – construction and ownership

TUI Cruises is a UK-based joint venture (50/50) between TUI Group (a British-German travel and tourism corporation) and RCG – Royal Caribbean Group (RCCL – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, USA-based passenger shipping company).

TUI began cruise operations in 2009, focusing primarily on the German-speaking market with a premium vacation product. German and English are the main onboard languages across all TUI ships. TUI’s sister brands include Marella Cruises UK and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

The new Mein Schiff 2 took the name of the original Schiff 2 (launched in 1997). In 2018, the older vessel was sold to “Marella Cruises” (TUI’s UK brand). Initially, it was announced that in March 2019, the old Schiff 2 would transfer to Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson) and operate as Marella Explorer 2. However, in March 2018, TUI later confirmed that the old Schiff 2 would remain in the fleet under the new name Schiff Herz.

TUI Mein Schiff 2 cruise fares include:

• 24-hour dining and snacks
• over 100 branded beverages and cocktails (excluding premium alcohol brands)
• children’s and teens’ entertainment and facilities
• complimentary access to the SPA sauna area
• free gym and wellness classes
• onboard entertainment (shows, concerts, musicals, performances)
• gratuities (all tips included)

Decks and Cabins

TUI Schiff 2 staterooms (1447 total) accommodate a maximum of 2534 passengers (2894 lower berths). Over 80% of the cabins are oceanview. All suites and family cabins feature Xbox360 gaming consoles. The largest accommodations are the two-deck Himmel-Meer Suites with private rooftop terraces. Family options include the new “Verandah Deluxe at Home” comfort rooms, while Spa Balcony cabins offer exclusive spa access.

All staterooms include standard amenities such as twin beds (convertible to a double), bedside cabinets with reading lamps, sofa bed or Pullman beds, smart HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system, on-demand movies, ship info), direct-dial phone, wardrobe, electronic safe, minibar, Nespresso machine (2 capsules daily), water carafe and glasses, vanity desk with mirror and chair, en-suite bathroom (shower, WC, sink, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers, toiletries), individually controlled air-conditioning, and 24-hour room service.

The ship has 16 decks, of which 14 are accessible to passengers and 10 contain cabins.

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

The “Anckelmannsplatz” buffet restaurant is included in the cruise fare and features a complimentary bakery serving freshly made tarts and paninis. The Atlantic restaurant is divided into three themed venues offering Asian, Mediterranean, and 5-course meals – all included in the fare. Gosch Sylt specializes in seafood, while smaller bistros serve light snacks. Specialty venues (at surcharge) include Hanami (Japanese cuisine), Richards Restaurant, and Surf & Turf Steakhouse.

Complete list of Mein Schiff 2 restaurants and food venues:

• Atlantic Classic (main dining room; buffet breakfast, waiter-served lunch and dinner; some menu items at surcharge)
• Atlantik Brasserie (French cuisine, à la carte and healthy options)
• Atlantik Mediterran (Mediterranean-themed dining; some “family meals” options)
• Hanami (Japanese restaurant – sushi and traditional dishes; surcharge)
• Tag & Nacht Bistro (open 24 hours)
• Richards Fine Dining (reservation required; surcharge per person)
• Surf & Turf (seafood and steakhouse specialty restaurant)
• Backstube/Bakery (complimentary)
• Anckelmannsplatz Buffet (self-service with al-fresco area)
• GOSCH Sylt (complimentary seafood à la carte restaurant with outdoor seating)
• Aussenalster Bar & Grill
• Thalia Leselounge (reading lounge) and Nespresso Bar (deck 3 lobby area)
• Schmankerl-Entspannt (Austrian restaurant)
• Ganz Schön Gesund Bistro (“Very Healthy” restaurant)
• Manufaktur Kreativ Küche (Creative Kitchen)
• Osteria (pizzeria)

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

The main onboard language is German. Almost all food, beverages, and gratuities are included in the cruise fare. Evening entertainment in the theatre includes plays, musicals, operas, variety acts, concerts, acrobatics, and magic shows. The theatre features a revolving stage and dynamic LED screens.

List of Mein Schiff 2 lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for all ages:

• Theatre (1000-seat main show lounge with revolving stage and LED walls)
• Sturmfrei (Teens Lounge with gaming consoles, dance floor, foosball, karaoke, cooking classes, movies, and parties)
• The Playground (Internet corner and video games; free Wi-Fi for suite guests, paid shipwide access)
• Atelier (art studio for workshops)
• Klanghaus (Sound House – 300-seat concert hall with perfect acoustics for classical, jazz, cabaret, and theatre performances)
• Shopping Arcade “Neuer Wall”
• Bars: TUI Bar, Coffee Lounge, Diamant Bar, Abtanz Bar (nightclub), Rauchersalon (Cigar Room), Schau Bar, Champagner Treff (champagne bar), Uberschau Bar (wellness bar), Unverzicht Bar (poolside), Eis Bar (ice cream bar), X-Bar, Hoheluft Bar, and Ebbe & Flut Bier Bar (beer bar)
• Grosse Freiheit (aft-located complex with restaurants and a two-deck glass façade)
• SPA area (Finnish, Herbal, and Salt saunas, Tea Lounge)
• Himmel & Meer Lounge and X-Lounge (suite guests only)
• SPA & Meer (SPA complex with Rasul room, Zen Garden, beauty salon, and saunas)
• Sport & Gesundheit (Fitness Center with personal trainers and classes at surcharge)
• Aussenpool (25 m outdoor pool with sun deck and grill bar)
• Innenpool (two-level indoor pool area with whirlpool)
• Outdoor LED movie screen
• Insel der Seeräuber (Pirates Island Kids Club)
• Nest (baby room; babysitting services at surcharge)
• Arena (open-air sports court); spinning and jogging tracks (438 m/1437 ft)
• Blauer Balkon (“Blue Balcony” – glass-floor platform 37 m/120 ft above sea level)
• Tattoo Parlor – the first tattoo studio at sea in the TUI fleet, introduced in May 2019 in partnership with Tattoo Studio B. Liberty (Hamburg). Prices start from EUR 100.

The ship’s Casino operates only during sea days. In 2018, TUI partnered with “Merkur Casino Mare” (Gauselmann Group) for onboard gaming on Schiff 1 (2018), Schiff 2 (2019), and Schiff 3 (2021). The casino features electronic roulettes, gaming machines, and a blackjack table. Gauselmann AG reported EUR 2.56 billion (~USD 3B / GBP 2.2B) in revenue for 2020 and also owns the UK-based Cashino arcade chain.

TUI Schiff shopping

TUI Schiff SPA and Sports

TUI Schiff sundeck and pool areas

Itineraries

TUI Schiff 2 operates European and Caribbean cruise programs, with Transatlantic repositioning voyages (Europe–Caribbean–Europe) in spring and autumn.

• 14-day Canary Islands roundtrips from Gran Canaria, including Madeira (Funchal overnight).
• Palma de Mallorca roundtrips to ports in France (including Corsica), Italy (including Sicily), Malta, and Ibiza.
• 14-day Caribbean roundtrips from Barbados and La Romana (Dominican Republic), visiting ports in Martinique, Antigua, Dominica, St Lucia, Grenada, Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba.

All newbuild TUI cruise ships feature energy-efficient technologies and eco-friendly propulsion systems that reduce emissions by 30% compared to vessels of similar size. The designers of the new TUI ships include Wilson Butler Architects, CM Design, and Tillberg Design. An interesting fact is that each ship in this series generates nearly 5,000 person-years of labor at the Turku shipyard, with about 800 of the 1,400 employees directly involved in construction. Approximately 80% of passengers on TUI Cruises ships are from Germany.

The vessel’s powerplant consists of four Wärtsilä marine diesel engines with a total output of 48 MW, while propulsion is provided by azimuth thrusters with a combined output of 28 MW.

Physical construction began with the keel-laying ceremony (hull number TUI NB-1393) held on October 5, 2017, at Meyer Werft’s Turku shipyard, marking the start of hull assembly. The ceremony was attended by TUI Cruises CEOs Wybcke Meier and Frank Kuhlmann.

Mein Schiff 2 was the sixth TUI Cruises vessel built by Meyer Turku, delivered on January 22, 2019, following her sistership Mein Schiff 1 (April 2018). Compared to the previous generation (Schiff 3–4–5–6), the new Mein Schiff 2 is 20 meters longer (315 m vs 295 m), 12,000 GT heavier (111,500 GT vs 99,500 GT), and accommodates up to 2,894 passengers.

The ship was floated out from the drydock on June 1, 2018. On September 22, her godmother was announced as Carolin Niemczyk (born 1990, German singer). The christening ceremony was scheduled for February 9, 2019, in Lisbon, Portugal. A repositioning cruise departed from Kiel to Hamburg on January 22 (a VIP voyage for travel industry representatives only). The official inaugural cruise departed Bremerhaven on January 29 and included the naming event in Lisbon on February 9.

The vessel’s first Master was Captain Kjell Holm.

At the beginning of her maiden season, Mein Schiff 2 carried oak barrels filled with a limited edition of Saltwater’s Gin (totaling 225 L / 59 US gallons). The premium gin, produced in Salzburg, Austria, traveled over 37,000 km (23,000 miles) between January 29 and May 23, before being offloaded in Civitavecchia-Rome and transported back to Salzburg for bottling. Passengers could purchase the limited-edition bottles onboard after June 5, 2019.

TUI Schiff 2 refurbishment review

The ship’s first drydock refurbishment took place from January 1–14, 2024, at Port Rashid (Dubai, UAE).

The two-week drydocking project included general maintenance, technical overhauls, routine class inspections, hull cleaning and repainting, renovations of public areas, and the installation of shore power connectivity.

Inaugural itineraries 2019

The tables below show Mein Schiff 2’s inaugural cruises, including destinations, call ports, and port times.

5-day "Inaugural Cruise" from Germany

12-day repositioning cruise from Germany to the Canaries

14-day itinerary "Kanaren Mit Madeira IV"

7-day itinerary "Kanaren Mit Madeira II"

14-day itinerary "Kanaren Mit Madeira V"

7-day itinerary "Kanaren Mit Madeira III"

12-day repositioning cruise from Canary Islands to Mediterranean

11-day itinerary "Mittelmeer Mit Kanaren"

9-day itinerary "Mittelmeer Mit Salerno"

7-day itinerary "Mittelmeer Mit Barcelona I"

10-day itinerary "Mittelmeer Mit Ibiza"

10-day itinerary "Mittelmeer Mit Lissabon"

9-day itinerary "Mittelmeer Mit Salerno"

7-day itinerary "Mittelmeer Mit Andalusien II"

(2019) 14-day (inaugural) westbound Transatlantic repositioning from Mediterranean to Caribbean

14-day itinerary "Karibische Inseln 1" from Dominican Republic

14-day itinerary "Karibische Inseln 2" from Barbados

(2020) 17-day (inaugural) eastbound Transatlantic repositioning from Caribbean to Mediterranean

Godspeed!