TUI Cruises
TUI Cruises is the German cruise line behind the Mein Schiff brand, a joint venture formed in 2007 in which the tourism group TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group each hold half. It began sailing in 2009 with the former Celebrity Galaxy, renamed Mein Schiff, and has since replaced its secondhand ships with newbuilds. Since 2020 it has also owned the luxury and expedition line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Page updated
About TUI Cruises
The Mein Schiff fleet now numbers nine ships: seven Blue Motion class ships built in Finland between 2014 and 2024, from Mein Schiff 3 to the enlarged Mein Schiff 1, 2 and 7, and two LNG-powered InTUItion class ships from Fincantieri, Mein Schiff Relax (2025) and Mein Schiff Flow (2026). Two more InTUItion class ships are on order for 2031 and 2032.
The product is built for German-speaking guests: German is the main language on board, and food, entertainment and service are tailored to German tastes. Fares follow a premium all-inclusive model that covers most restaurants and bistros, a long list of branded drinks, tips, an espresso machine in every cabin and German-speaking childcare. Ships sail from German ports to Northern Europe and Norway, from Palma in the Mediterranean, from the Canary Islands in winter, and from the Caribbean and Asia.
What TUI Cruises is known for
TUI Cruises is known in Germany for its all-inclusive Mein Schiff concept and a young fleet, most of it built for the line since 2014. Guest reviews tend to praise the food, the spacious open decks, pools and saunas, and the fact that drinks and gratuities are already in the fare, which makes the final bill predictable. The line's own comparison puts the extras guests would pay on other lines at well over a thousand euros per couple per week, though that figure is its own marketing claim.
The most common complaint from international guests is language: announcements, shows and most activities are in German, and reviewers who do not speak it often say they felt left out of the entertainment. Some find the onboard atmosphere calm rather than lively, with fewer thrill attractions than the big American lines. Specialty restaurants and some services still cost extra, and with the arrival of the 3,984-guest InTUItion class ships the fleet now includes much larger, busier vessels than the original Mein Schiff.
Who it's for
Premium · smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream
- Couples
- Families
- Food lovers
TUI Cruises suits German-speaking couples and families who want a polished, predictable holiday at sea with most food and drink included. Families get German-speaking kids' clubs, and food lovers get a wide choice of included restaurants and bistros. The variety of home ports, from Kiel and Bremerhaven to Palma, the Canaries, the Caribbean and Singapore, makes it easy to build a trip around a flight from Germany.
Travelers who do not speak German should look elsewhere, or at least expect most entertainment and announcements to pass them by. Those who want waterslides, Broadway-style production shows in English or a party atmosphere will find better matches on the large American lines, and guests looking for small-ship intimacy may prefer sister line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 4.3/5
- Dining
- 4/5
- Entertainment
- 4/5
- Service
- 4/5
- Pools & decks
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 9 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where TUI Cruises sails
Ships
Best rated
#14.2 ★Mein Schiff 72024 · 112,982 GT · 2,896 guests · Canary IslandsMein Schiff 7 is the last of TUI Cruises' Blue Motion ships, delivered by Meyer Turku in June 2024 and christened in Kiel later that month. A sister to Mein Schiff 1 and 2, she…#24.2 ★Mein Schiff Flow2026 · 3,984 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsMein Schiff Flow is the second InTUItion class ship of TUI Cruises and a sister to Mein Schiff Relax. Fincantieri handed her over at Monfalcone on 12 June 2026, her first voyage…#34.2 ★Mein Schiff Relax2025 · 160,000 GT · 3,984 guests · Canary Islands · Northern EuropeMein Schiff Relax is the first InTUItion class ship and the largest in the TUI Cruises fleet, built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and delivered in February 2025. She measures…Every ship, by class
InTUItion class
2 ships · 2025–2026 · 160,000 GT · avg 4.2 ★
Blue Motion class
7 ships · 2014–2024 · 98,785–112,982 GT · avg 4.0 ★
- Mein Schiff 72024 · 112,982 GT · 2,896 guests4.2/5
- Mein Schiff 22019 · 111,500 GT · 2,894 guests4.0/5
- Mein Schiff 12018 · 111,500 GT · 2,894 guests4.0/5
- Mein Schiff 62017 · 98,811 GT · 2,534 guests4.0/5
- Mein Schiff 52016 · 98,785 GT · 2,534 guests4.0/5
- Mein Schiff 42015 · 99,526 GT · 2,506 guests4.0/5
- Mein Schiff 32014 · 99,526 GT · 2,500 guests4.0/5
Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mein Schiff Herz | 2011–2023 | 77,302 | April 2023 |
Where to fly in
- Casa De Campo International Airport (LRM)3 TUI Cruises ships sail from La Romana, Dominican Republic
- Bremen Airport (BRE)1 TUI Cruises ship sails from Bremerhaven, Germany1 lounge on Lounge Frog
- Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM)1 TUI Cruises ship sails from Kiel, Germany4 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)1 TUI Cruises ship sails from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria1 lounge on Lounge Frog
- Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)1 TUI Cruises ship sails from Palma de Mallorca, Spain4 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Singapore Changi (SIN)1 TUI Cruises ship sails from Singapore22 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Tenerife South–Reina Sofía (TFS)1 TUI Cruises ship sails from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain1 lounge on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is TUI Cruises known for?
TUI Cruises is known in Germany for its all-inclusive Mein Schiff concept and a young fleet, most of it built for the line since 2014. Guest reviews tend to praise the food, the spacious open decks, pools and saunas, and the fact that drinks and gratuities are already in the fare, which makes the final bill predictable. The line's own comparison puts the extras guests would pay on other lines at well over a thousand euros per couple per week, though that figure is its own marketing claim.
Who is TUI Cruises best for?
TUI Cruises suits German-speaking couples and families who want a polished, predictable holiday at sea with most food and drink included. Families get German-speaking kids' clubs, and food lovers get a wide choice of included restaurants and bistros. The variety of home ports, from Kiel and Bremerhaven to Palma, the Canaries, the Caribbean and Singapore, makes it easy to build a trip around a flight from Germany.
Where does TUI Cruises sail?
TUI Cruises's ships in service sail Caribbean (4 ships), Canary Islands (4 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships), Mediterranean (2 ships), Norwegian Fjords (2 ships) and Asia (1 ship).
How is TUI Cruises rated?
TUI Cruises's fleet averages 4.1 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 9 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Mein Schiff 7 at 4.2.
How many ships does TUI Cruises have?
TUI Cruises has 9 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Mein Schiff 1, Mein Schiff 2, Mein Schiff 3, Mein Schiff 4, Mein Schiff 5, Mein Schiff 6, Mein Schiff 7 and Mein Schiff Flow, and 1 more.
What ship classes does TUI Cruises sail?
TUI Cruises sails 2 classes of ship in service: InTUItion class (2 ships) and Blue Motion class (7 ships).
Who owns TUI Cruises?
TUI Cruises is part of TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group (50/50 joint venture).
Where is TUI Cruises based?
TUI Cruises is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. It has operated since 2007.
What is the largest TUI Cruises ship?
Mein Schiff Relax is TUI Cruises's largest ship at 160,000 gross tons, carrying 3,984 guests.
Cruising with children
Mein Schiff’s family offer gives different starting points for toddlers, school-age children and teens. Language and parent participation should be checked along with age.
Read the TUI Cruises family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
House wine is included in TUI Cruises' fares, so you may not need a drinks package. If you'd want cocktails or premium wines, enter what they cost.
House wine is included in TUI Cruises' fares, so you may not need a drinks package at all. Mein Schiff bar menu (PDF) ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A typical drink you'd buy on board.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
6drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 5.8 drinks at $13. Over 7 days that's $525, or 41 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $70 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $455
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about TUI Cruises and its ships
- What a glass of house wine costs on cruise lines, and which ones pour it free
From $9 on Royal Caribbean to $14 on MSC, and free on 25 lines. The prices behind Cruise Frog's drinks package calculator.
Cruise lines
- 5 things TUI Cruises does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of TUI Cruises, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
Cruise lines