Celebrity Set to Send Mercury to TUI German Fleet

07 June 2010 4:55pm

Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Mercury will become the second ship in the fleet of TUI Cruises, a cruise brand tailored for the German market.

TUI Cruises was established in 2008 through a joint venture between Celebrity’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and TUI AG. The ship, to be named Mein Schiff 2, will become sister ship to Mein Schiff (the former Celebrity Galaxy), which set sail in May 2009.

Mercury, which joined the Celebrity fleet in November 1997, was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, builder of Celebrity’s new Solstice-class fleet. The 77,713-ton ship carries 1,898 passengers double occupancy and 909 crew.

Celebrity Mercury will complete its scheduled sailings through the Feb. 14 departure. Guests with individual bookings and named group bookings on Mercury on or after Feb. 26 can either cancel or move to any Mercury sailing from Baltimore from Oct. 18 through Feb. 14, with the exception of the Dec. 20.

Guests who transfer will receive an onboard credit of $75 per stateroom for inside or ocean-view accommodations, $100 per stateroom for veranda or Concierge Class, and $200 per suite.

The ship will enter service with TUI Cruises in May following an extensive refurbishment resulting in additional verandas, an expanded spa and fitness area, addition of a teen bar, and a host of design elements and other attributes consistent with those found on Mein Schiff. Mein Schiff 2 will spend its first cruising season in the Baltic and Nordic regions.

Full itinerary details will be published when bookings open June 1. Starting in late October, the TUI Cruises holiday price will include almost all drinks and meals in most of the restaurants and bistros. The “Premium All-Inclusive” cruises will include sporting activities, use of the wellness area and sauna facilities, entertainment, child care, the German-speaking onboard tour rep service and tips.

The companies have not disclosed the acquisition price, but TUI Cruises estimates the refurbishment will cost about 50 million euro (about $61.3 million). RCCL has agreed to provide seller’s financing in the event that alternative financing is not fully available at the time of delivery. It has not yet been decided what shipyard will do the work.