Mein Schiff 6

The 2017-built TUI Mein Schiff 6 cruise ship is owned by TUI Cruises and built by Meyer Turku Shipyard (Finland). TUI Schiff 6 has all 5 sisterships (from the same series) - Schiff 3 (2014), Schiff 4 (2015), Schiff 5 (2016), Schiff 1 (2018) and Schiff 2 (2019).

The vessel (IMO number 9753208) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 249660000) and registered in Valletta.

History - construction and ownership

TUI Cruises is a UK-based joint venture cruise company (50-50) of TUI Group (British-German travel and tourism corporation) and RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (USA-based passenger shipping company). TUI started cruise shipping operations in 2009, targeting predominantly the German-speaking market with a premium travel vacation product. German and English are the main onboard languages on all TUI Schiffs (ships). TUI's sister-brands are Marella Cruises UK and Hapag-Lloyd-Cruises.

The assembly of the 2500-passenger ship Mein Schiff 6 started on April 25, 2016, at Meyer Turku with the first grand block that was laid in the building dock. It took only 7 months until the new ship was fully assembled from the grand blocks. This was the 4th TUI cruise vessel built in Turku. Coins were placed under the ship's keel block, which according to tradition, should bring luck for the newest Mein Schiff. Representatives of Meyer Turku, RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and the classification society Det Norske Veritas were present at the event.

Mein Schiff 6 has 15 decks and capacity for 2534 passengers. 90% of all cabins are ocean views, and 82% have a private balcony. In addition, the new build has a number of improvements in passenger amenities and energy efficiency, even over her sister ships Mein Schiff 3, 4 and 5. Due to the advanced exhaust cleaning system using a catalytic converter and a scrubber, sulfur emissions are reduced by nearly 99% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 75%.

TUI Mein Schiff 6 cruise deals are ticket-price inclusive of:

• 24-hour food and snacks on the ship
• over 100 brand beverages and cocktails (excepting premium brand alcohol)
• facilities and entertainment for children and teens
• complimentary access to SPA's sauna area
• complimentary Gym and wellness courses
• onboard entertainment (shows, concerts, theatrical and musical performances)
• gratuities (all onboard tips).

Decks and Cabins

TUI Schiff 6 staterooms (1267 total) include 80 Suites, 963 Balcony (80% of all cabins), 97 Oceanviews and 127 Interior, in total 23 cabin categories and with 2534 lower beds. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 4, all located on Deck 3 and each with wider entry and bathroom doors, emergency phone, special handrails and location close to the passenger lifts. All Suites and Family cabin categories have Xbox gaming consoles. Exclusive Suites-only amenities are free Internet, complimentary mini-bar, concierge service, priority services, in-room dining, access to the ship's X-Lounge and private sundeck.

Schiff 6's special cabin categories include the 2-deck Himme und Meer suites (2-story maisonette apartments with private rooftop terraces), comfort cabins for families, Spa balcony cabins with exclusive spa facilities access.

All Schiff 6 staterooms offer as standard amenities 2 single beds (1 double bed), bedside cabinets (with drawers and reading lamp), sofabed (or 1-2 Pullman beds), smart HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system with on-demand movies, Internet, ship info channel), direct dial phone, wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), minibar, Nespresso coffee machine (2 capsules are included per day), water carafe with glasses, mirrored dressing table (writing desk) with chair, en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers, bath products - shower gel, shampoo, conditioner), individually controlled air-conditioning, 24-hour room service.

The boat has 15 decks of which 12 are passenger-accessible and 9 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The food in the large “Anckelmannsplatz” buffet restaurant is all included in the fare. Mein Schiff 6 also boasts a bakery offering freshly prepared tarts or paninis for free. The Atlantic restaurant is divided into 3 themed restaurants and guests may choose to eat Asian, Mediterranean food or 5-course meals (all also included). Gosch Sylt offers fish, and another Bistro – smaller snacks. For an additional charge, enjoy the Hanami – exquisite Japanese restaurant, visit the Richards Restaurant or the Surf und Turf Steakhouse.

Follows the complete list of Mein Schiff 6 restaurants and food bars.

• “Atlantic Classic” (530-seat, complimentary main dining room (of all three) for buffet-style Breakfast and waiter-served Lunch and Dinner. Some menu inclusions are at extra charge
• “Atlantik Brasserie” (265-seat main dining room; offers French cuisine specialties, a la carte menu and healthy choices)
• “Atlantik Mediterran” (266-seat Mediterranean themed main dining room. Some items in the menu are marked as “family meals”)
• Hanami (62-seat Japanese restaurant for sushi and traditional specialties at surcharge)
• Tag und Nacht (Day und Night 24-hour 88-seat bistro)
• “Richards” (“Fine Dining” 70-seat dinner restaurant, reservations required, at surcharge PP)
• Surf und Turf (specialty seafood and steakhouse restaurant)
• Backstube / Bakery (120-seat, complimentary)
• Anckelmannsplatz buffet restaurant (745-seat, with partially covered outdoor area for al-fresco dining; complimentary, self-service, with various food stations)
• GOSCH Sylt (133-seat complimentary seafood restaurant, a la carte menu; with outdoor seating area)
• Außenalster Bar und Grill (Outer Alster Bar und Grill).

In comparison to TUI ships 3 and 4, new features on ships 5 and 6 are:

• Thalia Leselounge (reading lounge) and Nespresso Bar (both on deck 3 / the ship's lobby area was redesigned)
• Hanami (Asian restaurant by Tim Raue, deck 5)
• Schmankerl-Entspannt (Austrian restaurant, deck 5)
• Osteria (pizzeria, deck 5)
• Lagune (outdoor pool, deck 12).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The main language on board TUI Mein Schiff 6 is German. Almost all beverages, food and gratuities are included in the cruise price. The evening entertainment program in the theatre includes theatrical performances, opera, musicals, varietes, music shows like Beatles, Sketch Parade, flying acrobatic artists and magicians. The theatre features dynamic LED screens and a revolving stage.

Follows the complete list of Mein Schiff 6 lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Theatre (1000-seat main show lounge for grand-style show productions; with a revolving stage and eight dynamic LED screens)
• Sturmfrei (Teens Lounge featuring video gaming consoles, dance floor, foosball table, activities like karaoke, cooking classes, teen parties, movies, etc.)
• The Playground area (with Internet corner and Spielplatz/video console games. Internet access is complimentary for all Suite guests. Wi-Fi is available shipwide, prices are per minute, 1 hour or 3 hours)
• Atelier (Workshop/art studio for painters)
• Klanghaus (Sound House - the first-ever chamber music room at sea, 300-seat with concert hall simulating acoustics; hosts events like opera, classical concerts, chamber music, jazz, cabaret performances, theatrical readings, comedies, media presentations)
• The Neuer Wall shopping arcades
• TUI Bar; Coffee Lounge; Diamant Bar (Diamond Bar); Abtanz Bar (100-seat disco nightclub); Rauchersalon (Cigar Room); Schau Bar (249-seat Show Bar); Champagner Treff (Champagnes Match; wine bar); Uberschau Bar (50-seat wellness bar with a “healthy drinks” menu); Unverzicht Bar (poolside bar); Eis Bar (40-seat Ice Bar)
• Casino (20-seat; open only during sea days)
• Grosse Freiheit (one of the most special places onboard, located at the aft of the ship and including various restaurants; features an 1800 ft2/167 m2 glass wall / diamond-shaped facade which spans on 2 decks)
• SPA Sauna area (with a Finnish Sauna room, Herbal Sauna, Salt Sauna, Tea Lounge)
• Himmel und Meer Lounge (Suite Guests only); X-Lounge (Suite-guests only lounge)
• SPA und Meer (SPA und Sea complex with a Rasul Room/mud bath, Treatment Rooms, Zen Garden, saunas; Beauty Salon)
• Sport und Gesunheit (Sport und Health Fitness Centre; Fitness classes/personal trainers provided at surcharge)
• Aussenpool (outdoor pool area with a 25 m long swimming pool named Lagune, extensive sunbathing area, Aussenalster Bar und Grill)
• Innenpool (indoor, 2-level pool area with 1 swimming pool and 1 whirlpool)
• Outdoor large-size LED Movie Screen
• Insel der Seerauber (Pirates’ Island Kids Club complimentary lounge)
• Nest (baby room; offers babysitting services at surcharge)
• Arena (open-air combined sports court); Sport und Gesundheit Kursraum (spinning room for sports classes); Power Walking / Jogging Track
• Blauer Balkon (Blue Balcony) the “walk on water” spot features 11 m2 (140 ft2) glass-floor platforms positioned 37 m (120 ft) above sea level.

TUI schiff einkaufsbummel (onboard shopping)

TUI schiff SPA und Sport

TUI schiff sonnenbereiche und poolbereiche (sundeck and pool deck areas)

Itineraries

TUI Mein Schiff 6 itinerary program started with Caribbean and Bahamas cruises with roundtrips from NYC New York (homeport Cape Liberty, Bayonne New Jersey). Caribbean itineraries visited ports in the Dominican Republic, Bahamas (Nassau) and USA (Norfolk, Charleston, Miami, Port Canaveral). Cruises from the USA to New England included stops in Boston. Until mid-August 2017, Schiff 6 offered northern Europen and Baltic cruises.

The ship offers Transatlantic repositioning (Europe-Caribbean-Europe) and through Suez Canal (Europe-Asia-Europe).

• During winter, Schiff 6 cruises to the Western Caribbean, on 14-day roundtrips to Jamaica, Mexico (Cozumel), Belize, Honduras (Roatan Island), Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Dominican Republic.
• Mediterranean itineraries visit big-city ports in Spain, France, Italy, Malta. Adriatic Sea cruises visit Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Italy, Greece (Corfu Island), Sicily. Malta roundtrips also visit the Greek isles Rhodes and Mykonos.
• Singapore roundtrips (Southeast Asia) are with longer itineraries (2-week plus) and visit ports in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Schiff 6 is TUI's 4th newbuild by the shipbuilder STX Finland (Turku). The shipbuilding company was bought out by Meyer Werft GmbH in 2015. All the new TUI vessels were built with energy efficient solutions and environmentally friendly power plants that reduce emissions by 30% and consume 30% less energy in comparison to similar-size cruise liners. The advanced scrubber (exhaust cleaning system) uses a catalytic and scrubber converter, which reduces sulphur emissions by 99% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 75%.

Designers of the new TUI liners are Wilson Butler Architects, together with CM Design and Tillberg Design. Fun fact is, that each ship in this new series brings nearly 5000 person-years labour to the Turku shipyard. Each ship's construction engages 800 out of all 1400 workers at the shipbuilding yard. The percentage of German travellers on board TUI ships is around 80%.

According to Meyer Turku, it takes only 7 months for each new Schiff to be fully assembled from the grand blocks. Then follow outfitting, commissioning and testing. TUI Schiff 6 was delivered on May 9, 2017. Following the delivery ceremony at Turku yard, the ship departed for Kiel Germany.

On June 1, 2017, in Port Hamburg was held vessel's christening ceremony. The location was close to the waterfront Elbphilharmonie (concert house). The ship's godmother is Iveta Apkalna (acclaimed pianist and organist from Latvia). The naming ceremony was also attended by over 1950 cruise passengers booked on the inaugural cruise from Hamburg to Kiel. Thousands of spectators watched the show from ashore. Following the ceremony, the ship left Cruise Center Altona at ~9 PM, sailing upstream to HafenCity where two choirs performed live at Elbphilharmonie (concert hall). Followed the premiere of a specially composed for the event musical piece, inspired by Brahms Symphony No.1's 4th movement. The performance was accompanied by a light show.

TUI Schiff 6 started its Caribbean cruise program in September 2017 with an inaugural Transatlantic crossing from Hamburg to New York (Port Cape Liberty Bayonne NJ). The NYC-based itinerary program included Canada, Caribbean and Bahamas cruises leaving roundtrip from Bayonne.

Inaugural itineraries 2017

In November 2015 was officially announced, that with their newest cruise ship Schiff 6 TUI Cruises targets the North American market. The ship's launch is scheduled for September 2017.

Schiff 6's itinerary program started with a very special voyage. This was not only the "Inaugural Cruise" but also a "repositioning cruise" and a Transatlantic crossing. The 15-night crossing itinerary (from Germany to the USA) started from Hamburg and ended in homeport Bayonne (Cape Liberty NJ, New York) in September 2017.

There were two roundtrip Caribbean itineraries out of NYC available for booking. The ship's maiden voyage to the Caribbean started on October 27, 2017 (14-night) visiting the Dominican Republic.

Two Bahamas cruises visited Norfolk VA, Charleston SC, Port Canaveral and Miami (in Florida) and Nassau. The liner also operated on a total of three Canada New England cruises (TUI's first-ever) out of NYC with duration 10-nights.