Mein Schiff Relax

The 2025-built TUI Mein Schiff Relax cruise ship (aka TUI Schiff 8) is currently under construction in Italy and has as sistership Schiff Flow (2026). Both liners are from the new InTUItion-Class (originally "TUI XL-Schiff" series).

TUI's Schiff 8 is currently scheduled for delivery in 2025-Q1 (inauguration in March).

The vessel (IMO number 9862657) will be Malta-flagged (MMSI tba) and registered in Valletta. Curiously, during the construction, the vessel was Italy-flagged (MMSI 247500500).

Due to the global impact of the COVID crisis, TUI Schiff 8's construction start was postponed as well as the ship's delivery - from 2024-Q3 (July-September) to 2024-Q4 (December).

TUI's two newbuilds (Schiff 8/Relax, and Schiff 9/Flow) were ordered in July 2018 and their construction started in June 2022. Unlike TUI's sisterships built by Meyer Turku Finland, both new units are Fincantieri-built (at Monfalcone Shipyard near Trieste, Italy). These are TUI's first LNG-powered vessels and also the fleet's largest by design (160000 GT-tons/volume) and passenger capacity (~4100 passengers plus ~1100 crew/staff).

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 RCG-Royal Caribbean Group (fka 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.

Mein Schiff Relax has 19 decks and max passenger capacity ~4000. Around 90% of all passenger staterooms are outside and around 80% of the cabins are with step-out balconies.

In comparison to Schiff 1, Schiff 8 has some improvements in onboard amenities and technology (energy efficiency). The vessel has the most- advanced scrubber/exhaust cleaning system that reduces SOx emissions by nearly 99% and NOx emissions by 75%. The ship also has an Aqua Park (with waterslides) and an Activity Deck (with Rope Course).

Decks and Cabins

Over 80% of TUI Schiff Relax staterooms (2050 total) are outside. All suites and family cabins have Xbox 360 video gaming consoles. The largest cabins are the 2-deck Himmel-Meer Suites with rooftop terraces. For families are the comfort category Verandah Deluxe. Spa Balcony cabin passengers enjoy exclusive spa facilities access.

Schiff Relax is TUI's first vessel offering balcony cabins for singles/solo travelers. The bed is aligned to face the balcony, thus offering a direct view of the sea. The forward-positioned Solo Balcony staterooms are sized 11 m2/120 ft2.

With Schiff Relax, TUI also introduced two new cabin categories - Great Freedom Suite (Grosse Freiheit Suite) and Vision Suite (Weitblick Suite). Great Freedom Suite is a duplex apartment on two levels/floors (sized 88 m2/950 ft2) with max occupancy 6 people. The Great Freedom Suite has two bedrooms, two large terraces, two bathrooms (the upper-level/master bathroom has an infrared sauna). The Weitblick Suite has quad occupancy (max 4 people) and is sized 43 m2/460 ft2.

All 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 19 decks, of which 18 are passenger-accessible and 10 with cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Unlike the previous TUI ships, Schiff 8 has more outdoor space thanks to redesigned interconnected outer decks and an iconic roof - a large open-air structure positioned midship on the top deck. The roof was designed by 3deluxe (Wiesbaden Germany-based architecture and transdisciplinary design firm).

Integrated into the redesigned outdoor space are the main swimming pool (length 25 m / 80 ft, resort-style), the spacious sundeck (with plenty of sunbathing zones and shaded seating for relaxation) and the Jogging Track. At the stern is the aft-facing Infinity Pool (glass-walled) surrounded by a terraced sundeck.

TUI's Schiff Relax has only one Main Dining Room/MDR (aft restaurant on two levels) replacing the "Atlantic" and "Mediterranean" restaurants on the older ships.. The restaurant is with full seating capacity, complimentary, and with table service.

At surcharge or with a-la-carte priced menus are the Alpine Restaurant, the Steakhouse (TBN/Scandinavian design) and a Japanese Restaurant.

Fugu is an Asian restaurant by celebrity chef Tim Raue.

Schiff Relax also has expanded exclusive areas, including the Suite Sundeck fitted with daybeds, a water fountain, an outdoor Jacuzzi/whirlpool), and served by a dedicated Suite Bar offering refreshments as well as premium alcohol drinks (including high-end brand Champagne wines by the glass). Suite-exclusive restaurants are two - one larger (with indoor and outdoor seating) while the other is yacht club-styled. The X-Lounge is also expanded, with an outdoor seating area.

The ship's large selection of bars and lounges includes a new Greek-style outdoor bar (Osteria), a poolside Ice Bar (at the main swimming pool, roof-covered, offering beverages and snacks), an urban bar(TBN/industrial-style decorated, with graffiti art), and a bow-facing Bar (TBN/with a 2-floor/2-deck-high frontal window wall).

The main language on board all TUI ships is German. Almost all beverages, food and gratuities are included in TUI's fares.

Next are listed all onboard facilities by deck.

On Deck 2 (Anker/Anchors) is the tender-access area/midship-starboard.

On Deck 3 (Welle/Wave) are the Theater (lower level), Infirmary (Bordhospital), Reception (Rezeption), Tour Office (Bordreiseleitung), the Reading Lounge (Leselounge).

On Deck 4 (Atlantik/Atlantic) are the Theater (mid-level), New Wall shopping arcades (Neuer Wall – Einkaufspassagen), Shore Excursions, Golf & Biking (Landausflüge, Golf & Biking), Studio (Atelier), My Travel World (Meine Reisewelt).

On Deck 5 (Pier) are the Theater (upper level), and the Casino & Lounge.

On Deck 7 (Seestern/Starfish) is the X-Lounge.

Forward on Deck 15 (Perle/Pearl) is the wellness complex grouping the SPA & Sea (SPA & Meer) and the Sauna.

On Deck 16 (Horizont/Horizon) are the Osteria/Pizza & Pasta (Greek restaurant), X-Bar, Towels & Blankets Station (Ausgabe Handtucher & Kuscheldecken).

On Lido Deck 17 (Aqua) are the Arena Sports Complex, the Nest/Baby Room (Baby-Raum), Pirates Island/Kids Club (Insel der Seerauber), Sports & Health (Sport & Gesundheit), Water Playground (Wasserspiele), Ice Bar (Eis Bar), Outdoor Swimming Pool (Aussenpool), Towels & Blankets Station (Ausgabe Handtucher & Kuscheldecken).

On Deck 18 (Dune) are the Course Room (Kursraum) and the Jogging Track (Jogging-Strecke).

On Deck 19 (Brise/Breeze) are the Mistral Deck (sundeck) with the Barrel Sauna (Fass-Sauna) and the Mistral Bar.

On Deck 20 (Mowe/Seagull) is the navigation equipment (antennas, radars, etc).

Passenger staterooms spread across 10 decks - 3 (Welle/Wave), 6 (Koralle/Coral), 7 (Seestern/Starfish), 8 (Muschel/Shell), 9 (Krabbe/Crab), 10 (Wal/Whale), 11 (Delfin/Dolphin), 12 (Robbe/Seal), 14 (Kompass/Compass) and 15 (Perle/Pearl).

The navigation Bridge/Wheelhouse is forward on Deck 14.

The evening entertainment program (in the Hexagonal Theater) includes theatrical performances, opera, musicals, varietez, 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 Relax lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Hexagonal Theater (1000-seat main show lounge for grand-style show productions; with a revolving stage and eight dynamic LED screens)
• Casino Burlesque (cabaret-style bar lounge)
• 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)
• X-Bar, Hoheluft (High Air) Bar, Ebbe und Flut Bier Bar (Low Tide Beer Bar)
• Casino (20-seat; open only during sea days)
• Grosse Freiheit (one of the most special places onboard, located aft and including various restaurants; features a huge diamond-shaped facade spanning 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)
• SPA und Meer (SPA and Sea complex with a Rasul Room/mud bath, Treatment Rooms, Zen Garden, saunas; Beauty Salon)
• Sport und Gesunheit (Sport and Health Fitness Centre, gym classes/personal trainers provided at surcharge)
• Aussenpool (Deck 12, outdoor pool area with a 25 m long Lagune swimming pool, sunbathing area, Aussenalster Grill Bar)
• 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
• Thalia Leselounge (reading lounge)

The wellness complex features a higher-deck position and new facilities - including a Cold Chamber (operated with 3-minute sessions at -110 C/-166 F), an outdoor Barrel Sauna (protruding over the superstructure), and a Spa Lounge (relaxation area at the spa's entrance).

The top-deck's outdoor activity area is positioned forward and with soft flooring to allow activities like yoga/meditation sessions and gymnastics. The zone is also fitted with comfortable loungers for relaxation.

The Hexagonal Theater has a multifunctional revolving stage large enough to accommodate even sporting activities (aerial performances).

Casino Burlesque (New York 1920s-decorated bar lounge/theater) offers cabaret-style performances, pole dancing (including workshops), live music (piano and jazz) performances.

The new Small Theater is a venue themed on arts and culture, with a central stage for live performances (theatrical and radio plays, readings, stand-up comedy acts, lectures, media presentations). The Small Theater is served by an adjacent/directly connected bar lounge.

TUI schiff einkaufsbummel (onboard shopping)

TUI schiff SPA und Sport

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

Itineraries

TUI Mein Schiff Relax itinerary program starts with the Maiden Voyage on March 16, 2023. The new ship's inaugural season will be in the Mediterranean and based on homeporting in Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Spain).

The itineraries are all roundtrips from Palma and themed as 7-night "Bella Italia & Spanische Fiesta" (Beautiful Italy and Spanish Fiesta), 7-night "La Dolce Vita" (Sweet Life), 9-night "Kultur und Natur am Mittelmeer" (Culture and nature on the Mediterranean) and 10-night "Sonniges Iberien und Marokko" (Sunny Iberia and Morocco).

Next are listed the inaugural cruise itineraries (all roundtrips from Palma) along with the lowest prices (cruise-only fares and fly-cruise package fares) in Euro.

• 7-night "Bella Italia & Spanische Fiesta" (EUR 850/1230 with flight) - the itinerary visits Civitavecchia-Rome, La Specia, Barcelona, Valencia.
• 7-night "La Dolce Vita" (EUR 950/1380 with flight) - the itinerary visits Civitavecchia-Rome, Naples, Palermo (Sicily), Cagliari (Sardinia).
• 9-night "Kultur und Natur am Mittelmeer" (EUR 1020/1425 with flight) - the itinerary visits Civitavecchia-Rome, La Specia, Marseilles, Barcelona, Valencia.
• 10-night "Sonniges Iberien und Marokko" (EUR 1250/1680 with flight) - the itinerary starts with an overnight in Palma and visits Malaga, Cadiz-Sevilla, Lisbon, Tangier, Valencia.

Note: The above prices are per person and based on double occupancy.

On July 13, 2018, the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri was awarded an order from TUI Group for the construction of two new-design cruise ships (LNG-powered - by Liquified Natural Gas). The vessels (volume 161000 GT-tons) are the largest and most advanced in TUI's fleet. The order was based on a Fincantieri prototype (Project XL-Schiff) aiming at energy efficiency (via reducing fuel consumption) and minimizing the vessel's environmental impact according to IMO's latest regulations. The order for both units was signed by Wybcke Meier (TUI's CEO) and Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri's CEO).

Like the company's previous shipbuilding orders, the TUI XL-Schiff project (the two-ship InTUItion-Class series) was financed with ~80% debt financing and 20% funding by TUI's own investment funds.

Schiff Relax and Schiff Flow are the fleet's largest as well as TUI's first LNG-fuelled and with shore-power connectivity. The design's added length allows bigger passenger capacity, substantially redesigned indoor spaces, adding new facilities and attractions.

TUI ships' percentage of German travelers is ~80%.

The vessel's construction (Fincantieri Monfalcone yard number/hull 6312) officially started on June 22, 2022, with the steel-cutting ceremony held at the Monfalcone shipyard. The special event was attended by Wybcke Meier (TUI's CEO) and Luigi Matarazzo (Fincantieri Merchant Ship Division's General Manager and New Building Navi da Crociera's Director).

Until October 2023, the vessel was advertised as "Mein Schiff 8". The new name (Mein Schiff Relax) was officially announced on October 17th by Wybcke Meier. Along with the new ship name, TUI also changed the vessel class- from "XL-Schiff" to "InTUItion".

Mein Schiff Relax was launched/floated out from drydock at Fincantieri Monfalcone on November 28, 2023. The ceremony's godmother was Elena Sperti (the shipyard's Deputy Head of Outfitting Workshop).

In December 2023, Fincantieri entered into a "green" construction loan agreement, securing US$461 million loan from two Turin-based banks - Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (2007-founded/Italy's largest banking group) and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA (1850-founded development bank). The money was loaned to support Mein Schiff Relax's construction. The financing was deemed "green" as it aligns with the climate change mitigation objectives outlined in the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities (a classification system that clarifies which company activities are considered environmentally sustainable).

The ship's christening ceremony is currently scheduled for April 9, 2025, to be held in Port Malaga (Spain). The passengers from 3 TUI ships will attend the special event - Schiff 5, Schiff 7, and Schiff Relax.