TUI AG has placed a new order with the shipbuilding company Fincantieri. The newbuilds will sail for the Marella Cruises brand and are to be delivered from 2030. The value of the contract was not specified.
TUI and Fincantieri have announced that both companies have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the design and construction of two new cruise ships.
These are the first newbuildings for Marella Cruises, which currently operates a fleet of five cruise ships. Two of them – “Marella Discovery” and “Marella Discovery 2” – were built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, while the “Marella Explorer”, “Marella Explorer 2” and “Marella Voyager” were built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg. All ships were built in the 1990s and taken over by Marella between 2016 and 2023.
Next Fincantieri order from TUI
The two newbuilds are being built for the British market and place great emphasis on environmental sustainability. “With elegant design, high-quality materials and a wide range of spacious accommodation, they will redefine the concept of premium cruising,” says Fincantieri. Delivery is planned for 2030 and 2032.
“We are delighted to count Marella Cruises among our customers and to accompany them on this new voyage,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri. “This agreement underlines Fincantieri’s ability to build strategic partnerships with an ever-growing customer base, strengthen our long-term visibility and ensure high utilization of our shipyards. The project brings together our expertise in ship design, innovation and sustainability to deliver ships that meet the growing expectations of today’s passengers.”
Fincantieri already has a solid track record of working with TUI Cruises. In February, the group delivered “Mein Schiff Relax“, the first of two cruise ships in the new dual-fuel InTUITion class. The second unit, “Mein Schiff Flow”, is currently under construction at the Monfalcone shipyard and is scheduled for delivery in 2026.
