TUI Cruises’ newest ship licenced for relaxation

The vessel is centred on relaxation offering a feel-good factorPHOTO: TUI CRUISES

With a capacity of 3,984 lower berths it's the largest ship in TUI Cruises’ fleet.

In winter 2025/26, Mein Schiff Relax sets sail for the Canary Islands on 7 day sailings with changeover days in Las Palmas/Gran Canaria or Santa Cruz/Tenerife.

Centred on relaxation and a feel-good factor, with a design brief of spaciousness inside and views of the sea at every opportunity, the ship does just that.

Food and beverage is integral to Mein Schiff Relax’s ethos. There are 14 restaurants and bistros and 17 bars and lounges, spread across the ship’s 19 decks. Nearly all meals and drinks in most restaurants, bars and bistros are inclusive in the price, including specialist coffees, wines, beers, cocktails and brand-named spirits.

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Mein Schiff Relax. PHOTO: TUI CRUISES

F&B for all

Highlights include the Harbour Market buffet restaurant and adjacent Osteria - Pizza and Pasta restaurant with table service, running two-thirds the length of Deck 16. The buffet offers an endless selection of food with international dishes, wok station and specialty tastes from early morning to 21.30 each day.

New for TUI Cruises are the French Sur Mer Bistrot and the Greek Taverna Dionysos, two inclusive restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating, added from past guest feedback. The Greek officers onboard give it the thumbs up for the authentic menu.

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The new Greek dining venue, Taverna Dionysos PHOTO: MARY BOND

Extremely popular is the outdoor Ice Cream Bar located on Deck 17 serving ‘ice-cream in a waffle’ as well as a variety of sundaes such as spaghetti ice cream; fruit, chocolate and nut sundaes; shakes, iced coffee and iced chocolate. Also on this deck the Pane e Sole – Bar & Bistro is located close to the pool serving filled rolls, sandwiches and panini as well as a range of vegetable salads and an adjoining bar. At the stern is a new Bar 17 and then high up on Deck 19 is the Mistral Bar.

Barista Bar located on Deck 3 offers high-quality coffee and chocolates (not inclusive) in a relaxed atmosphere and is a popular spot, close to the Library.

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EisBar ice cream bar on Deck 17 PHOTO: MARY BOND

Atlantik crossing

The signature main restaurant Atlantik has a new location on Mein Schiff Relax on Deck 4 and Deck 5 aft, offering table service and multi-course menus, with deck to ceiling windows and sweeping views of the path just sailed. With the adjoining Atlantik Bar, this inclusive restaurant provides lunchtime and evening meals on two decks.

Populated throughout the day is Mein Schiff Bar & Bistro on Deck 4 in the Atrium. Snacks and meals are available, from breakfast to midnight snacks including currywurst and burgers. The D4 – Club & Lounge transforms into a club late at night.

A new bar high up on Deck 16 above the bridge, the Captain’s Bar has huge window fronts that extend over two decks and is close by the Høfde steak house designed with Scandinavian décor and ambience and offering fish and meat dishes for lunch and dinner.

Asian cuisine is available in Fugu on Deck 5 in co-operation with Berlin-based chef Tim Raue combining Japanese cuisine with technology and visual entertainment. Guests can enjoy a five-course meal whilst being taken on an immersive journey through Japan. From themes such as the Sea of Japan to calligraphy, from geisha and samurai, kentsugi and cherry blossom to Tokyo City.

Adjacent is the new Street Art Bar furnished in industrial style and decorated with graffiti. Served here are sushi variations by Raue as well as two signature dishes as exclusive highlights, wasabi prawn and tuna pizza – familiar from the Hanami on Mein Schiff 7.

Accommodation

The Suites area is located at the stern of the ship: In X-Lounge on Deck 7 at the stern, guests of the junior suites and suites have exclusive access, the X-Bar on Deck 16 is also available to relax in and chill out in the outside areas. New for Suites guests: The X-Coast restaurant is located on Deck 6 and is accessible via the X-Lounge on Deck 7.

During the day, guests can enjoy a buffet, while in the evening there is an à la carte menu with table service. The X-View is a further area for suites guests. The new suites restaurant offers a buffet during the day and Mediterranean dishes are served à la carte according to the recipes of Michelin-starred chef Theodor Falser.

Balcony cabins, a hallmark of the Mein Schiff fleet, have been increased again to 85% for the InTUItion class.

In addition to both inside and outside cabins for solo travellers, which are already available on Mein Schiff 7, Mein Schiff Relax now also offers balcony cabins for solo travellers.

Also debuting for TUI are two Loft Suites, which extend over two decks and have two large terraces, and also new is X-Sundeck available to suites guests at the stern with a shallow pool. From here, guests can access the X-Bar and X-View.

Spa and wellness

The spacious Spa and Wellness area on Deck 15 is located on a higher deck than other Mein Schiff vessels with a wider range of services and spa innovations including Horizon sauna, steam bath, herbal sauna and a salt sauna and a relaxation area which has a view across the sea and spacious terrace area. Exclusive is a cold chamber for cryotherapy treatments, which can help with regeneration, weight loss or improvement of the skin structure with temperatures as low as -110 degrees.

Other exclusives include the Barrel Sauna, with a sideways view across the sea, is on Deck 19 for up to five people and three innovative wellness loungers, the Satori wellness lounger, the Hydromassage and the Brainlight lounger. It is also possible to add an oxygen treatment while lying down. Inhaling oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich air trains the cells, breaks down damaged mitochondria and forms new, healthy mitochondria. The result: more energy and increased vitality.

A 220mtr long jogging track is available on Deck 18 for walking and running enthusiasts. The classic fitness area with strength and endurance equipment is located on Deck 17. In the Gym class room on Deck 18, guests can work out with a varied programme of classes.

In the bow is Arena, a covered area for sports including play football, volleyball, basketball and indoor cycling. This space can be turned into a techno-night club for special events.

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Barrel Spa PHOTO: TUI CRUISES

Entertainment

A newly designed, multifunctional Theatre spans three decks with first season shows including ABBA Thank You For The Music, the Rock Factory, which debuted on Mein Schiff 7, or the new Varieté Voyage.

The red décor of the intimate La Cage – Burlesque, Bar, Casino transports guests back to the Golden Twenties with sophisticated burlesque performances, pole dancing and live music. Workshops, lectures and various culinary tastings take place there in the day. Also specially developed for Mein Schiff Relax, Blaue Flora – Stage & Bar offers a small but fully equipped stage to suit plays, readings and lectures.

Tech spec

Mein Schiff Relax is powered by LNG and in future will also be able to run on low-emission organic LNG and E-LNG. The ship is fitted with improved catalytic converters (Euro 6 standard for nitrogen oxide reduction) and a shore power connection.

HydroTreat for the treatment of biological waste enables the liquid parts of the waste to be separated using heat and pressure, and channelled into the ship’s own wastewater treatment system. The solid parts of the waste are transformed into BioChar, which can be used in agriculture – for example to improve the soil or as a feed additive.

Mein Schiff Relax will be named in Malaga on April 9 when Mein Schiff 5 and Mein Schiff 7 will also be in port.

In the first summer season, itineraries of 8- to 10-day cruises feature the western Mediterranean from/to Palma de Mallorca, including overnight stay at the beginning or end of the cruise.

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