TUI Cruises’ Wybcke Meier – a year full of anniversariesTUI Cruises’ Wybcke Meier – a year full of anniversaries

By 2030, TUI Group's cruise businesses will reduce CO2 emissions by more than a quarter (27.5%) compared to 2019. Emissions reduction targets for climate protection have been independently verified by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The main levers for the decarbonization program are the use of low-emission fuels such as green methanol and sustainable bio-fuels, the use of green shore power in ports, and energy efficiency measures on board the fleets.

Mein Schiff 3

Next month sees the 10th anniversary of the keel-laying for TUI’s first newbuild, Mein Schiff 3. With its exhaust gas cleaning, recycling and energy efficiency measures, it became the model for the cruise company's newbuild and retrofit projects. 

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Environmental protection also has a long tradition at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Europa 2 was one of the first cruise ships to be equipped with a shore power connection back in 2013.

In the expedition newbuilds of the Hanseatic series, investments were made in environmental technologies as standard, such as catalytic converters and shore power connections. 

Said Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises: ‘For us, this anniversary year is one full of anniversaries. Not only are we celebrating our 15th anniversary as a company. Ten years have also passed since we laid the keel of Mein Schiff 3. With the ongoing sustainability work on all our newbuilds and conversions since then, we have created the youngest and cleanest fleet on the German cruise market.’

Climate-neutral cruises

Construction has just begun on Mein Schiff 7, the first TUI ship that will be able to run on green methanol and thus, in perspective, almost CO2-neutral, she added.

‘It will embark on its maiden voyage next spring, exactly ten years after Mein Schiff 3. We are keeping our sights firmly set on being able to offer our first climate-neutral cruises in 2030,’ concluded Meier.

Newbuilds

TUI Cruises employs around 750 people in Hamburg and Berlin. A fleet of seven ships sail under the Mein Schiff brand and there are three newbuilds under construction - Mein Schiff 7 at Meyer Werft and two at Fincantieri for delivery in 2025 and 26. Since end 2020, the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises brand has been part of TUI Cruises GmbH, with a fleet of currently five ships.

1H 2023 results

In addition to TUI Cruises in Germany, TUI Group's cruising operations also includes Marella Cruises in the UK.

In Q2, the full fleet of 16 ships were in operation and saw the division's underlying EBIT improved significantly to €14.8m from a loss in the previous year (Q2 2022: - €73.5m). Occupancy of the ships of the three brands ranged between 67% and 95%. Available passenger days rose by 47% to 2.4m.

The cruise business continues to recover and achieved its fourth consecutive positive quarter in terms of earnings, with TUI Cruises generating after-tax earnings of €18m for TUI Group in the first half. For the second half of financial year 2023, the average daily rate for TUI Cruises is currently 1% up year-on-year, with occupancy 23 points higher than in the same period last year.