Fincantieri and TUI AG have signed a contract for two new cruise ships to be delivered in 2031 and 2032. Originally ordered for Marella Cruises under the agreement which was signed earlier this year, the ships will now join the TUI Cruises Mein Schiff fleet instead.

The vessels , each about 160,000 gross tons, will be part of the new InTUItion class, sister ships to Mein Schiff Relax and Mein Schiff Flow, and powered by dual-fuel LNG/MGO engines to meet the latest environmental standards.

Fincantieri’s CEO Pierroberto Folgiero hailed the deal as a sign of “trust and successful collaboration” with TUI and Royal Caribbean, while the move underscores TUI’s strategy to strengthen Mein Schiff’s presence in the German-speaking market.

What It Means for Marella Cruises

With the two newbuild slots shifted to Mein Schiff, Marella Cruises will not receive a brand-new ship in the foreseeable future. The originally planned re-fleeting of Marella is thereby postponed or possibly canceled under the earlier timeline.

Instead, the British-focused brand will continue sailing with its aging, second-hand fleet: Marella Discovery (1996), Marella Discovery 2 (1995), Marella Explorer (1996), Marella Explorer 2 (1995), and Marella Voyager (1997).

With vessels approaching 30 years of age, Marella faces mounting pressure. While refurbishments keep interiors fresh, older ships struggle to match newer rivals on efficiency, emissions, and amenities.