TUI Cruises
Tour operator TUI of Germany, already in the ‘70s engaged in the Mediterranean cruise business using chartered ships, was acquired by industrial giant Preussag AG, which bought Hapag-Lloyd in 1997 and entered the Thomson Group of England in 2000, then renaming itself TUI AG. Later the TUI label appeared on the ships of Thomson Cruises (see chapter Startups). After a merger with tour operator First Choice in 2007, TUI Travel was constituted with legal seat in the UK, as world’s biggest tour operator and an emerging airline group, 51% owned by TUI AG. First Choice had acquired Quark Expeditions in the same year. Not amalgamated with TUI Travel was TUI-owned Hapag-Lloyd AG with its mighty container shipping activities and exclusive Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten - see chapter German Tradition.

In 2007 the press informed that TUI had given up the intention to found a TUI Cruise Line in cooperation with Carnival. In April 2008 Royal Caribbean Cruises announced a joint-venture with TUI AG to form Hamburg-based TUI Cruises for the German market, each enterprise owning a 50% interest, completely separated from the TUI Group’s other shipping subsidiaries Hapag-Lloyd and Thomson Cruises.

TUI Cruises’ CEO Richard J. Vogel, engaged already in the success story of AIDA, defined the concept: “Neither a club ship, nor a luxury liner”. First ship to be taken over was the “Celebrity Galaxy” (1996/ 76,998 gt) of the Century class, refurbished by Lloyd Werft, painted white with the TUI label and renamed “Mein Schiff”, what means ‘my ship’, then “Mein Schiff 1”. Cruises were started in 2009, in European and Caribbean waters. Sister “Celebrity Mercury” was introduced in 2011 as “Mein Schiff 2”. For “Mein Schiff 3” (c. 99,700 gt, 2,506 pax, 21.7 knots), order was placed with STX Finland for delivery in 2014, announced to be followed by sister “Mein Schiff 4” in 2015. As the German market has become world’s third-largest, more ships are expected.

“Mein Schiff”, departing from Hamburg, 2009 (Torsten Baetge, via Wikimedia)

“Mein Schiff 3” leaving Kiel harbour, 2014 (HenSti, via Wikimedia)

Island Cruises
In 2002 Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd set up a joint-venture with the British tour giant First Choice Holidays. With the “Island Escape” (1982/40,171 gt, ex “Scandinavia” of Scandinavian World Cruises, “Stardancer” of Admiral Cruises, “Viking Serenade” of RCCL), Mediterranean and Brazilian cruises were started. The white ship with a palm-tree decoration was joined in 2005 by the “Island Star” (46,811 gt) the former “Horizon” of Celebrity Cruises. In 2008 Royal Caribbean decided to sell its interest in Island Cruises to TUI. The “Island Star” was transferred to Pullmantur.

CDF Croisieres de France
Decades ago, French labor unions have prevented the prestigious “France” from cruising for the grand nation. Since that time, France was almost excluded from that successful market. Only Royal Caribbean undertook to build up the first cruise company for the French market with a ship larger than “small size”. In 2008 Croisieres de France, wholly owned by Royal Caribbean, started cruising with the “Bleu de France” (1981/ 37,301 gt, ex “Europa” of Hapag-Lloyd, then “Superstar Europe”, “Superstar Aries”, “Holiday Dream” of Pullmantur). In early 2010 the “Sovereign” of Pullmantur was temporarily employed until the “Bleu de France” returned from her Brazilian service. In 2012 the “Bleu de France” was replaced by the “Horizon” (1990/ 47,427gt) of Celebrity. “In 2014 “Zenith” will be moved to the fleet of CDF Croisieres de France”, has reported www.maritimematters.

“Bleu de France” of CDF, Tunisia 2008 (B. Bignon, via Wikimedia)



“Horizon” of CDF, in the background “Carthage” of CTN, at La Goulette, Tunisia 2013 (Anton Soelch)

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