Mein Schiff Herz

Mein Schiff Herz cruise ship is the renamed old "Mein Schiff 2". The liner was built for Celebrity Cruises, renamed to "Celebrity Mercury" in 2008 and joined TUI fleet (as "Mein Schiff 2") in 2009. In 2019, the newbuild TUI Mein Schiff 2 took the name "Schiff 2".

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 1900-passenger ship Celebrity Mercury debuted in 1997 as the last of all three Century-class vessels. The sisterships (Celebrity Galaxy and Celebrity Century) are currently named Marella Explorer (formerly Mein Schiff 1) and Marella Explorer 2 (formerly SkySea Golden Era).

The vessel was delivered on November 2, 1997, to Celebrity Cruises as Celebrity Mercury. It was decommissioned in February 2011 and transferred to TUI in March 2011. In March-May 2011, the ship was in drydock (at Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven) and officially christened (Mein Schiff 2) on May 14, 2011. The 2011 rebuilding project cost the shipowner around EUR 50 million The liner entered service for TUI with passenger capacity 1912 (double occupancy) and 956 staterooms (652 outside, of which 427 with balconies).

After starting operations for TUI, Mein Schiff 2 offered cruises from homeports Hamburg and Kiel to ports in Northern Europe (2011-2012). In Fall 2012 through November 2013 was deployed in the Mediterranean. During winter were operated Caribbean cruises. For winter season 2014-2015, the ship was deployed to Middle East (Arabian Sea) for roundtrips from homeport Dubai UAE.

In May 2015, RCCL decided to transfer the liner to Thomson Cruises (now Marella, within TUI Group) in 2019 under the name "TUI Explorer 2". Initially was announced that in March 2019, the old Schiff 2 (Herz) will be transferred to Marella as "Marella Explorer 2". In March 2018, TUI announced that it will stay in TUI fleet. The new name "Mein Schiff Herz" was announced in late-April.

Cruise itinerary program

Mein Schiff Herz itinerary program is based on Mediterranean cruises with roundtrip departures from homeport Palma de Mallorca (Spain) during summer and to Canary Islands (during winter) from homeport Tenerife.

Mediterranean itineraries visit ports in France (Corsica Island), Italy (also Sardinia and Sicily), Spain (overnight in Barcelona), Malta, UK (Gibraltar), Greece (also the Greek islands Crete and Santorini).

The roundtrip Canary Islands cruises also visit Madeira Island (Portugal). Roundtrip Tenerife itineraries visit Cape Verde (western Africa) and Azores (Portugal).

For winter 2020-2021 season (November through March), TUI Herz ship cruises in South Africa on 14-day itineraries roundtrip from homeport Cape Town. The itinerary visits Port Elizabeth and Walvis Bay (Namibia) as overnight stays. The season starts on December 2 (2020) with pricing from EUR 3,100 pp (inclusive of the roundtrip flight Germany-South Africa).

Cabins

Most Mein Schiff 2 staterooms are sized 185 ft2 (17 m2) and have private balconies (376). The ship has a total of 956 staterooms in 17 cabin categories. The largest cabins are the Design Suites (530 ft2 / 49 m2).

All Schiff Herz 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.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Follows the complete list of Mein Schiff 2 restaurants and food bars.

• “Atlantic Classic” (950-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.
• “Richards” (“Fine Dining” 65-seat dinner restaurant, reservations required, at surcharge PP)
• Dinnerzimmer (private dining annexe to ship's Steakhouse restaurant)
• Surf und Turf (speciality seafood and steakhouse restaurant)
• Blaue Welt Bar (45-seat sushi bar at a surcharge, dinner-only 6:30 - 11:00 p.m.)
• Anckelmannsplatz buffet restaurant (412-seat, with partially covered outdoor area for al-fresco dining; complimentary, self-service, with various food stations)
• GOSCH Sylt (80-seat complimentary seafood restaurant, a la carte menu; with outdoor seating area)
• Cliff Grill 24 (24-hour, 40-seat complimentary Grill Bar, serving the pool deck area)
• La Vela (66-seat complimentary bistro)
• Aussenalster Bar (97-seat complimentary al fresco dining and sports bar with 153-seat outdoor seating area).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Almost all beverages, food and gratuities are included in cruise ticket prices. The aft-located “Diamond Bar” (at the rear) offers classy evening entertainment. The Show Lounge presents musicals, acrobatics, magic and stand-up comedy shows. Disco dancing in “AbtanzBar” in the evenings is among the most popular onboard activities.

The ship has Sea Spa (with beauty salon and saunas) and a large fitness area (also used for aerobic classes). The wellness area consists of a steam room and a large sea view sauna room. Sport-themed excursions are offered during port days and include scuba-diving, snorkelling, mountain biking, paddle boating.

Follows the complete list of Mein Schiff 2 lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Theatre (main show lounge for grand-style show productions / 2 nightly shows; had a revolving stage and eight dynamic LED screens)
• Internet computers room
• Sturmfrei (Teens Lounge featuring video gaming consoles, dance floor, foosball table, activities like karaoke, cooking classes, teen parties, movies, etc.)
• Atelier (Workshop/art studio for painters); Art Gallery; Fotogalerie (Photo Gallery); Library/Bibliothek
• Meerleben (Sea Life - the first at sea marine life and maritime dedicated area)
• Wein und Wahrheit Vinothek (20-seat fine wine shop)
• Schau Bar (248-seat cocktail bar with outdoor seating area for 18 guests)
• The Neuer Wall shopping arcades
• Blaue Welt (Bar Lounge), TUI Bar; Unschlag Bar (60-seat sports bar); Uberschau Bar (50-seat wellness bar with a “healthy drinks” menu)
• Himmel und Meer Lounge (Suite Guests only); X-Lounge (Suite-guests only lounge)
• SPA und Meer (SPA and Sea complex with a Finnish Sauna, Oriental steam bath, relaxation area, Thalassotherapy centre, Thalasso Spa Suite, Samova Tea Lounge, Beauty Salon)
• Sport und Gesunheit (Sport and Health Fitness Centre; Fitness classes/personal trainers provided at surcharge)
• 2 swimming pools - Aussenpool (outdoor pool area with a 25 m long swimming pool), a smaller pool, 4 Whirlpools, extensive sunbathing area, served by Unverzicht Bar)
• Insel der Seerauber (Pirates’ Island Kids Club complimentary lounge)
• Sun deck area (11,990 m2; the forward section features Entspannungsinseln/Relaxation Islands with mini-balconies, available for rent)
• Outdoor sports area (with a full-size sports court for basketball, volleyball, golf simulator)
• Grune Oase (Green Oasis - outdoor sports area for open-air classes - stretching, relaxation, Yoga, Pilates); Power Walking / Jogging Track.

TUI schiff einkaufsbummel (onboard shopping)

TUI schiff SPA und Sport

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

The 3rd Rockliner concert (with Udo Lindenberg) took place on Schiff 2 in 2014. The previous two rock-themed music cruises were on the sistership Schiff 1 (held in 2010). Schiff 2 also hosted the 5th "Full Metal Cruise" (in 2016). The previous four were on Schiff 1.

Schiff 2's godmother was Anja Fichtel - fence champion at Summer Olympics 1988 (Seoul, South Korea). TUI Herz ship's Captain is Helge Wrage.

Drydock refurbishment 2019 review

Ship's last drydock refurbishment (February 14 - March 2, 2019) in Marseille France resulted in the following updates and deckplan changes:

• hull works (including repainting)
• machinery works (general maintenance)
• overhaul/redesign and renovations of interior spaces - X-Lounge, all Junior Suites, Shore Excursions Office, Anckelmannsplatz (Lido Buffet restaurant)
• new Italian speciality restaurant (La Spezia) via a partnership with celebrity chef Theodor Falser.

Ship's 2013 drydock refurbishment (November 1-7 in Cadiz Spain) resulted in the following deckplan changes:

• Ship's exterior was repainted, including the hull (with new / eco coating).
• New outdoor yoga area (Deck 12) was installed.
• The LED lighting and new carpeting in public places were installed.
• Cliff 24 Bar was renovated.