TUI Cruises Signs Contract with STX Finland for 97,000-ton Newbuild

TUI Cruises Signs Contract with STX Finland for 97,000-ton Newbuild
By Theresa Norton Masek

TUI Cruises, a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., signed a contract with STX Finland Oy to build a 97,000-ton cruise ship for delivery in spring 2014. The vessel will be built in the Turku shipyard. TUI Cruises has an option for another ship.

The ship will have 1,250 staterooms to accommodate up to 2,500 passengers and a crew of 1,000. The ship will have a several restaurants, a theater, a spa, a nightclub and a large outdoor deck area.

“This is a very important contract for STX Finlands Turku Shipyard and for the entire Finnish maritime cluster,” said Jari Anttila, director of STX Finlands Turku Shipyard. “We are delighted to deliver to TUI Cruises their first newbuilding, which will represent the next generation of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly cruise ship.”

Hamburg, Germany-based TUI Cruises was founded in April 2008 and has been offering cruises for the German-speaking market since May 2009. The company currently operates two ships—Mein Schiff 1 and 2--with a total capacity of 3,836 berths.