An Introduction to TUI Cruises
TUI Cruises offers a distinctive "Premium All-Inclusive" cruise experience, primarily tailored for the German-speaking market. With its modern "Mein Schiff" (My Ship) fleet, TUI Cruises provides a relaxed, contemporary, and high-quality holiday at sea, focusing on spaciousness, diverse culinary options, and excellent service in a German-speaking environment.
A Brief History
TUI Cruises was established in 2007 as a 50:50 joint venture between the German tourism giant TUI AG and the American cruise line operator Royal Caribbean Group. The collaboration aimed to create a strong cruise brand specifically for the German market, combining TUI's extensive travel expertise with Royal Caribbean's cruise operational knowledge.
The company began operations in 2009 with its first ship, Mein Schiff 1 (formerly Celebrity Galaxy), which underwent significant refurbishment to cater to German tastes. Since then, TUI Cruises has steadily expanded its fleet with purpose-built ships designed for the "feel-good" concept, emphasising large spa areas, numerous dining venues, and a modern, bright ambience. The launch of ships like Mein Schiff 3 in 2014 marked a new era of new-builds, solidifying TUI Cruises' position as a leading premium brand in the German cruise industry. Their newest ships, Mein Schiff 7 (delivered in 2024) and Mein Schiff Relax (delivered in 2025), continue to innovate with a focus on sustainability and enhanced guest experiences.
The Fleet: Modern and All-Inclusive
Mein Schiff 1 | Mein Schiff 2 | Mein Schiff 3 | Mein Schiff 4 | Mein Schiff 5 | Mein Schiff 6 | Mein Schiff 7 | Mein Schiff Relax (newest, first of the "Intuition" class) | Mein Schiff Flow (upcoming, second of the "Intuition" class).
The "Mein Schiff" fleet is characterised by its "Premium All-Inclusive" concept, which typically includes most drinks, speciality restaurants, gratuities, and extensive entertainment and wellness facilities in the cruise fare, appealing to guests who prefer a clear overview of costs.
Current Starting Ports and Itineraries (2025-2026)
TUI Cruises' primary focus is on departures from German ports and other key European hubs, though their itineraries extend globally, offering a wide variety of destinations from short breaks to longer, exotic voyages. Example itineraries for 2025-2026 include:
Northern Europe: From Kiel, Bremerhaven, or Warnemünde, exploring the Norwegian Fjords, Baltic Sea capitals (e.g., Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn), Iceland, and the British Isles.
Mediterranean: From Palma de Mallorca, Heraklion, Trieste, Civitavecchia (Rome), or Malta, covering both Western and Eastern Mediterranean routes, including Greek Isles and Adriatic.
Canary Islands: Often from Las Palmas or Santa Cruz de Tenerife for winter sun itineraries.
Caribbean: Cruises starting from La Romana (Dominican Republic) or Bridgetown (Barbados) for the winter season.
Transatlantic & Repositioning: Connecting Europe to the Caribbean or other distant regions.
Longer Distances: Voyages to Asia, Arabian Gulf, and other exotic destinations are also available seasonally.
Here's a comprehensive list of TUI Cruises' major starting ports:
Germany (Primary Home-ports):
Bremerhaven | Hamburg | Kiel | Warnemünde (Rostock).
Other European Ports:
Barcelona, Spain | Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy | Copenhagen, Denmark | Corfu, Greece | Dubrovnik, Croatia | Heraklion (Crete), Greece | Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain | Leixões (Porto), Portugal | Lisbon, Portugal | Malta (Valletta) | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | Piraeus (Athens), Greece | Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain | Trieste, Italy | Zadar, Croatia.
Caribbean:
Bridgetown, Barbados | La Romana, Dominican Republic.
Other International (for specific longer voyages):
Official Website
TUI Cruises primarily targets the German-speaking market, so their main website is in German:
Germany (Primary Site): TUI Cruises | Mein Schiff - Kreuzfahrten mit Wohlfühlgarantie
For non-German speakers, information may be available through international cruise booking platforms or by utilizing browser translation tools. TUI's UK travel website (tui.co.uk) handles Marella Cruises, which is a separate TUI cruise brand for the UK market, and TUI River Cruises.
A Word of Caution: Cruise Scams
When planning your "Mein Schiff" cruise, it's essential to be extremely vigilant against potential scam attempts that are increasingly prevalent in the travel industry. Be aware of these common red flags:
"Free Cruise" or Unbelievable Discount Offers: Any unsolicited communication (email, text, social media ad, call) promising a free cruise or a deeply discounted fare that seems too good to be true is highly suspicious. These often come with hidden fees or are attempts to steal your personal data.
Fake Websites and Phishing: Scammers create convincing fake websites that mimic TUI Cruises' official site or reputable travel agencies. They also send deceptive phishing emails. Always double-check the URL in your browser for accuracy (ensure it starts with https:// and is the correct domain, e.g., tuicruises.com) and verify the sender's email address.
High-Pressure Sales Tactics: Be wary of any offer that demands an immediate decision due to an "expiring" deal. Fraudsters use this to rush you into a booking without giving you time to research or verify.
Unusual Payment Requests: Never agree to pay for a cruise via unconventional methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency if requested by an individual or an unverified entity. Legitimate cruise lines and their authorised partners use secure, traceable payment methods.
To ensure a safe and secure booking experience, always book directly through the official TUI Cruises website or through a reputable, well-established travel agent specializing in German-market cruises. If an offer feels suspicious, contact TUI Cruises directly using the official phone numbers and contact information found on their verified website, not from the suspicious offer itself. Enjoy your relaxing and premium all-inclusive cruise with peace of mind!
Additional Resources
The following are affiliate links, we will receive a commission for any qualifying orders / bookings at no additional cost to you.
Expedia
USA | UK | Canada | Australia | France | Germany | Mexico | Japan | South Korea | Hong Kong SAR | Singapore | New Zealand.
Hotels.com
UK | Canada | Australia | France | Mexico | Denmark | Finland | Norway | Sweden | Japan | South Korea | Brazil | Taiwan | USA.
Vrbo.com
UK | Canada Eng | Canada Fr | USA.
Bookabach
Stayz.com
Other
AutoEurope Car Hire - Click Here to Book
Compensair - Click Here to Book
Economy Bookings Car Hire - Click Here to Book
GetRentacar.com - Click Here to Book
ntui.Travel transfer - Click Here to Book
Kiwi.com UK flight, train, and bus - Click Here to Book
Kiwitaxi individual transfer services and private car tours - Click Here to Book
Localrent.com - car rental - Click Here to Book
QEEQ.COM car rental - Click Here to Book
Radical Storage luggage storage - Click Here to Book
SEARADAR sailing yacht rentals - Click Here to Book
Tiqets museums and attractions - Click Here to Book
Trip.com one-stop travel booking services - Click Here to Book
WayAway flight aggregator - Click Here to Book
Welcome Pickups airport transfers - Click Here to Book
Yesim eSIM provider - Click Here to Order
