Topic: Mein Schiff 2 christened in Hamburg

TUI Cruises’ second ship was named in Hamburg yesterday.



Nearly 2,000 guests watched godmother, Olympic fencing champion - Anja Fichtel, give the thrust that sent the bottle of Champagne crashing against the hull.



Entertainment included James Last and the band Unheilig who performed a new arrangement of the hit ‘Larger Freedom,’ and aerial acrobats.

Excerpts of a novel inspired by the themes of Hamburg, cruising and the longing for the sea were presented. Six Hamburg writers—Michael Jürgens, Manfred Bissinger, Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt, Stefan Aust Karina Lübke and Hellmuth Karasek—contributed chapters in the novel.

Hosting the ceremony were tv celebrities Bettina Tietjen and Yared Dibaba.

Speakers included Richard Vogel, ceo of TUI Cruises; Richard Fain, chairman and ceo of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; and Michael Frenzel, chairman of TUI AG. TUI Cruises is a joint venture between Royal Caribbean and TUI AG.

Mein Schiff 2 [previously the Celebrity Mercury] was given a €50m refit at Lloyd Werft.

I'm sure it's very nice, but if I wanted to travel accompanied by graffiti I'd probably choose one of the UK's many rail networks. This vessel has a sister ship with the word Fahrtwind sprayed in 20ft high letters right down the hull. Very entertaining when seen from a hotel at Dover.
Liz

QUOTE:

TUI Cruises’ second ship was named in Hamburg yesterday.



Nearly 2,000 guests watched godmother, Olympic fencing champion - Anja Fichtel, give the thrust that sent the bottle of Champagne crashing against the hull.



Entertainment included James Last and the band Unheilig who performed a new arrangement of the hit ‘Larger Freedom,’ and aerial acrobats.

Excerpts of a novel inspired by the themes of Hamburg, cruising and the longing for the sea were presented. Six Hamburg writers—Michael Jürgens, Manfred Bissinger, Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt, Stefan Aust Karina Lübke and Hellmuth Karasek—contributed chapters in the novel.

Hosting the ceremony were tv celebrities Bettina Tietjen and Yared Dibaba.

Speakers included Richard Vogel, ceo of TUI Cruises; Richard Fain, chairman and ceo of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; and Michael Frenzel, chairman of TUI AG. TUI Cruises is a joint venture between Royal Caribbean and TUI AG.

Mein Schiff 2 [previously the Celebrity Mercury] was given a €50m refit at Lloyd Werft.

In case anybody has not seen it, here is a photo I took of Mein Schiff 1 in Bergen, the yellow funnel belongs to a Costa ship moored behind it

Mein Schiff 1 is home porting in Malta these season. Some friends went on it and were impressed by the high standard of the food. They said it far surpassed that of most lines.
Everything is in German but there are English menus and English newsletters plus an English speaking Tour Leader for those non-German speaking boarding from Malta.
It is AI and cabins and public areas were also praised.

Hi HAT
So where does one find the website that advertises these cruises?
NARDOUX

Link - Orange Cruises Malta They are the local agents for Costa Cruises and Tui Cruises

With the German reputation for towels on sunbeds I wonder what the situation will be on here?

QUOTE:

With the German reputation for towels on sunbeds I wonder what the situation will be on here?

I have stayed in hotels that were mainly German guests

There were no towels or books left on sun beds, you only needed to turn up 10 mins before the show to get a seat as Germans don't waste hours reserving seats.

They also know how to complain if things are not correct, they don't just stand in a que muttering to each other hoping someone else will complain for them

We went on this ship when it was Celebrity Mercury to Alaska on its last voyage before going to TUI. It was then an excellent ship with well laid out areas and lovely balcony cabins. I hate what they have done with the graffitii down the side, maybe the guys who spruce up the paintwork at every stop with paint rollers on long poles can just paint over the writing and do everyone a favour?

QUOTE:

With the German reputation for towels on sunbeds I wonder what the situation will be on here?

I believe on the top deck it is also topless sun bathing!