Richard J Vogel News

TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises are substantiating their expansions plans for their joint venture TUI Cruises. The Mein Schiff fleet shall grow from now three to six ships and then 14,000 beds by 2017. TUI Cruises is strengthening its already sound and dynamic position in the German cruise market. Both the Boards of TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises have decided to order the two newbuilds. The Mein Schiff 4 is currently being built and with the now decided new orders of Mein Schiff 5 and Mein Schiff 6 TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises are investing in touristic growth markets. The parent companies of Hamburg-based TUI Cruises expect a sustained high demand in the cruise sector and therefore, in good time, came to the decision to expand further.

New TUI Cruises flagship welcomed at the Ostseekai. Mein Schiff 3 - the new flagship of TUI Cruises, and currently also the biggest cruise ship sailing with any German shipping company, has arrived in the Port of Kiel on her maiden visit. The new 99,500 GT, 294 m long ship was welcomed with a water fountain display from a port tug when she entered the Kiel Fiord. At a traditional on-board reception later Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director of the Port of Kiel (SEEHAFEN KIEL) and Robert Vollborn…

On 25 February 2014, approximately nine months after the keel laying of TUI Cruises’ first newbuilding Mein Schiff 3, TUI Cruises and STX Finland celebrated the keel laying of Mein Schiff 4 in the Turku shipyard. Following the old shipbuilding tradition, the lucky coins were placed under the keel block of the ship. In the lucky coin ceremony, held on the bottom of the drydock, the shipowner was represented by Richard J. Vogel, CEO of TUI Cruises, CFO Frank Kuhlmann, Chief Engineer of Mein Schiff 3 Kostas Kallinikos and the designated Captain of Mein Schiff 3 Kjell Holm.

The float-out of Mein Schiff 3, an environmentally friendly cruise ship being built for TUI Cruises, was performed at STX Turku Shipyard on Friday, November 8, 2013. At the press conference held at STX Finland Oy’s Turku Shipyard earlier the same day, Richard J. Vogel, CEO of TUI Cruises and Jari Anttila, Deputy CEO of STX Finland Oy were pleased to speak about the important milestone Mein Schiff 3 project reached on that particular day. One year ago, the start of production of newbuilding 1383 was celebrated at Turku Shipyard. Mein Schiff 3 is scheduled for delivery in spring 2014.

STX Finland Oy and TUI Cruises signed a contract for the design and construction of a 97,000 GT cruise vessel. The vessel is scheduled to be delivered in spring 2014. The vessel has many environmentally friendly features, with a particular emphasis on the vessel’s energy efficiency. TUI Cruises has an option to order another ship subject to the decision of TUI Cruises shareholders. The vessel will be approx. 295 meters long and approx. 36 meters wide. The ship will have 1,250 staterooms and will serve maximum of 2,500 passengers and a crew of 1,000 persons. High balcony ratio will ensure that most of the passengers will have a possibility to enjoy their own balconies during the cruise.

Cruise ship building will again be a prominent at SMM 2010, the 24th international shipbuilding fair at Hamburg Fair site from 7 to 10 September 2010. The big exhibitors will include the stands of Fincantieri, Meyer Werft and STX Europe. These shipbuilding companies in the cruise vessel segment are coming to the SMM 2010 with well filled order books. SMM 2010, 24th shipbuilding, machinery & marine technology international trade fair hamburg, showcases some 2,000 exhibitors from 60 nations. In this most demanding segment of the shipbuilding industry, the yards had orders for a total of 25 cruise vessels with 2.15 million gt, worth USD 14.8 billion in their books at the beginning of April 2010, according to Seatrade Insider.