Fincantieri and TUI Cruises, a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, have signed a contract for the design and construction of two advanced cruise ships. This agreement replaces the earlier Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed in March 2025 with TUI AG for the Marella Cruises brand, marking a significant step forward in their long-term partnership.
Next-Generation Cruise Ships
The newly ordered vessels will be sister ships to Mein Schiff Relax and Mein Schiff Flow of the InTUItion class. Scheduled for delivery in 2031 and 2032, the ships will each measure around 160,000 gross tons larger than the vessels originally envisioned under the Marella Cruises plan. They will be powered by dual-fuel engines capable of operating on LNG and marine gas oil (MGO), ensuring compliance with the latest environmental standards and contributing to the industry’s decarbonization efforts.
Strengthening Strategic Partnerships
The value of the contract, though higher than that initially outlined in the March 2025 MoA, remains within the financial threshold previously communicated. Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, emphasized the importance of the deal, stating: “We are delighted to expand our partnership with the TUI Cruises brand, further enhancing our relationship both with TUI and Royal Caribbean. This contract reaffirms the trust built over the years and the successful cooperation already achieved with the first two InTUItion class ships.”
This agreement strengthens Fincantieri’s role as a global leader in cruise shipbuilding, showcasing its ability to combine innovation, sustainability, and Italian excellence in support of the fleet expansion strategies of some of the world’s most prominent cruise operators. The two vessels will not only enhance TUI Cruises’ growing fleet but also set new benchmarks in environmentally responsible ship design.
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Source: FINCANTIERI
