Fincantieri secures order for two newbuilds from TUI for its Marella Cruises brand

Just days after TUI, the parent company of the UK-based Marella Cruises, confirmed that it was considering a newbuild order for the line, Fincantieri has confirmed an order worth more than 2 billion euros.

The Italian shipyard announced Monday that TUI AG signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the design and construction of two new cruise ships for Marella Cruises, with delivery expected in 2030 and 2032.

The agreement represents a major step for Marella Cruises, marking its first-ever newbuild order. The cruise line, which primarily targets the UK cruise market, has until now only ever operated charter and secondhand vessels.

The ships will be designed specifically for the British market and will feature equipment intended to enhance environmental sustainability, according to a statement from Fincantieri. 

While no details were announced, the shipyard said the vessels would occupy the premium segment, with a refined design, high-quality materials, and a variety of spacious accommodations.

“We are proud to welcome Marella Cruises as a new customer and to support its vision as it enters the newbuild segment,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri. “This agreement is a testament to Fincantieri’s ability to forge strategic partnerships with an expanding client base, reinforcing our long-term visibility and ensuring a high level of capacity saturation for our shipyards.” 

“The project will bring together our expertise in ship design, innovation, and sustainability to deliver vessels that meet the evolving expectations of modern cruise passengers,” he added.

Fincantieri has built a solid and successful relationship with the German TUI Cruises brand, a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises. The shipyard delivered the cruise ship Mein Schiff Relax, the first of two InTUItion class ships, in February this year. 

Dual-fuel powered with LNG and marine gas oil, Mein Schiff Relax and her sister ship Mein Schiff Flow, currently under construction at the Monfalcone shipyard, with delivery scheduled for 2026, are designed to enhance TUI’s environmental sustainability.

Marella’s current fleet comprises five mid-sized ships, all built in the 1990s. These include Marella Discovery and Marella Explorer, both launched in 1996; Marella Discovery 2 and Marella Explorer 2, both built in 1995; and the newest addition, Marella Voyager, launched in 1997. 

All five vessels were previously operated by Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruises, both subsidiaries of the Royal Caribbean Group. It’s likely that two or more of these older vessels will be sold off to accommodate the two newbuilds, but this hasn’t been confirmed by TUI or Marella.