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). Vessels' previously designated names were "Mein Schiff 7" and "Mein Schiff 8", but as the old namesakes went to Marella Cruises UK (within TUI Group), the newbuilds took their names.

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 cruise company (50-50) of TUI Group (British-German travel and tourism corporation) and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group (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.

TUI's new Mein Schiff 2 took the name of the old Schiff 2 (launched in 1997). In 2018, the old Schiff 2 was sold to "Marella Cruises" (TUI's UK brand line). Initially was announced that in March 2019, the old vessel will be transferred to Marella Cruises (fka Thomson) and operated as Marella Explorer 2. However, in March 2018, TUI announced that the old Schiff 2 stays in the fleet - under the name Schiff Herz.

TUI Mein Schiff 2 cruise deals are ticket-price inclusive of:

• 24-hour food and snacks on the ship
• over 100 brand beverages and cocktails (except 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 2 staterooms (1447 total) provide max passenger capacity 2534 (2894 lower beds). Over 80% of all cabins are outside. All suites and family cabins have Xbox360 video gaming consoles. The largest cabins are the 2-deck Himmel-Meer Suites with private rooftop terraces. For families are designed the new comfort rooms "Verandah Deluxe at home". There are also Spa Balcony cabins with exclusive spa facilities access.

All Schiff 2 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 16 decks, of which 14 are passenger accessible and 10 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The food in the large "Anckelmannsplatz" buffet restaurant is all included in the fare. Mein Schiff 2 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 2 restaurants and food bars.

• Atlantic Classic (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 (main dining room; offers French cuisine specialties, a la carte menu and healthy choices)
• Atlantik Mediterran (Mediterranean-themed main dining room. Some items in the menu are marked as "family meals")
• Hanami (Japanese restaurant for sushi and traditional specialties at surcharge)
• Tag & Nacht (Day & Night 24-hour bistro)
• Richards Fine Dining (dinner restaurant, reservations required, at surcharge PP)
• Surf & Turf (specialty seafood and steakhouse restaurant)
• Backstube / Bakery (complimentary)
• Anckelmannsplatz buffet restaurant (with partially covered outdoor area for al-fresco dining; complimentary, self-service, with various food stations)
• GOSCH Sylt (complimentary seafood restaurant, a la carte menu; with outdoor seating area)
• Ausenalster Bar & Grill
• Thalia Leselounge (reading lounge) and Nespresso Bar (both on deck 3 / the ship's lobby area was redesigned)
• Hanami (Asian restaurant by Tim Raue)
• Schmankerl-Entspannt (Austrian restaurant)
• Ganz Schon Gesund (Very Healthy) Bistro
• Manufaktur Kreativ Kuche (Creative Kitchen)
• Osteria (pizzeria)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The main language on board TUI Mein Schiff 2 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 boasts dynamic LED screens and a revolving stage.

Follows the complete list of Mein Schiff 2 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)
• X-Bar, Hoheluft (High Air) Bar, Ebbe & Flut Bier Bar (Low Tide Beer Bar)
• Grosse Freiheit (one of the most special places onboard, located at the aft of the ship and including various restaurants; features a 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 & Meer Lounge (Suite Guests only); X-Lounge (Suite-guests only lounge)
• SPA & Meer (SPA & Sea complex with a Rasul Room/mud bath, Treatment Rooms, Zen Garden, saunas; Beauty Salon)
• Sport & Gesunheit (Sport & Health Fitness Centre; Fitness classes/personal trainers provided at surcharge)
• Aussenpool (outdoor pool area with a 25 m long swimming pool, extensive sunbathing area, Aussenalster Bar & 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 & Gesundheit Kursraum (spinning room for sports classes); Power Walking / Jogging Track (438 m/1,437 ft)
• 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.
• Tattoo Parlor - TUI fleet's first tattoo studio was introduced on Schiff 2 in May 2019, via a partnership with the Tattoo Studio B. Liberty (located in Hamburg on Hoheluftchaussee 70). Prices start from EUR 100.

The cruise ship's Casino is open only during sea days. In 2018, TUI signed a partnership deal with "Merkur Casino Mare" (part of Gauselmann Group) for the onboard gambling on Schiff 1 (since 2018), Schiff 2 (since 2019) and Schiff 3 (since 2021). The ship Casino features 6x electronic roulettes plus 14x other Merkur gaming machines, and a separate gambling lounge with 4x M-Box Buzzer (multi-gaming machines) and a blackjack table for live gaming. For 2020, Gauselmann AG reported revenue EUR 2,56 billion (~USD 3B / ~GBP 2,2B). Since 2012, Gauselmann owns the British company Praesepe Ltd (now Merkur Casino UK) which owns the Cashino brand (street gambling arcade chain).

TUI schiff einkaufsbummel (onboard shopping)

TUI schiff SPA und Sport

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

Itineraries

TUI Schiff 2 itinerary program is based on European and Caribbean itineraries, with Transatlantic repositioning crossings (Europe-Caribbean-Europe) during spring and fall.

• The 14-day Canary Islands roundtrip itineraries (from Gran Canaria) also visit Madeira Island (Funchal overnight).
• Homeport Palma de Mallorca roundtrips visit large -city ports in France (also Corsica Island), Italy (also Sicily Island), Malta and Ibiza Island (Spain).
• The 14-day Karibik roundtrip itineraries (departures from Barbados and the Dominicana) visit Eastern and Southern Caribbean ports in Martinique, Antigua, Dominica, St Lucia, Grenada, Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba.

All newbuild TUI cruise vessels have energy efficient solutions and environmentally friendly power plants that reduce emissions by 30% in comparison to other ships of similar size. 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%.

The onboard powerplant is based on four Wartsila marine diesel engines (total output 48 MW), while the propulsion system is based on azimuth thrusters (total power output 28 MW).

The vessel's physical construction started with the keel-laying ceremony (hull number TUI NB-1393) held on October 5, 2017, at Meyer Werf's Turku shipyard. With the event officially started the hull's assembly. The ceremony was attended by Wybcke Meier and Frank Kuhlmann (TUI Cruises CEOs).

Schiff 2 was the 6th TUI liner built by Meyer Turku (delivered on January 22, 2019) with sistership Mein Schiff 1 (April 2018). When compared to the old version (Schiffs 3-4-5-6), the new Schiff 2 is 20 m longer (315 m / 295 m), 12000 GT tons heavier ( 11500 tons / 99500 tons) and have passenger capacity 2894.

On June 1, 2018, the vessel was floated out from the drydock hall. On September 22 was announced liner's godmother - Carolin Niemczyk (1990-born German singer). The christening ceremony is planned for February 9 (2019) to be held in Lisbon Portugal. On January 22 starts the repositioning cruise from at Kiel to Hamburg (VIP voyage for travel industry representatives only). The "inaugural cruise" (official maiden voyage for general guests) left Bremerhaven on January 29 and included the naming ceremony in Lisbon (Feb 9).

The liner's first Master was Captain Kjell Holm.

At the beginning of the maiden season, Schiff 2 was loaded with oak barrels full of a limited edition of Saltwater’s Gin (a total of 225 L / 59 US gallons). The premium liquor was delivered from Salzburg (Austria) and will travel over 37,000 km / 23,000 miles (January 29 through May 23) when the barrels will be offloaded in Civitavecchia-Rome and transported to Salzburg for bottling. Passengers may purchase the limited edition bottles on the cruise liner after June 5 (2019).

TUI Schiff 2 refurbishments review

The ship's first drydock refurbishment was in 2024 (January 1-14) conducted in Port Rashid (Dubai UAE).

The 2-week drydocking project was for general maintenance works (technical overhaul, regular class inspections, hull cleaning/repainting), renovations of public spaces, as well as for installing shore power connectivity.

Inaugural itineraries 2019

Next tables show new Schiff 2's inaugural cruises as 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!