Continuing strong growth expected: TUI Group continues to expand its cruise fleet

Fleet enlargement with two further new builds meets increasing demand

• Two cruise ships ordered from Italian shipyard Fincantieri, due for delivery in 2024 and 2026
• Ship operation with low-emission LNG propulsion

Hamburg, 13 July, 2018. TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) are continuing the expansion strategy for the TUI Cruises joint venture: The Executive and Supervisory Boards of TUI Group and the Board of Royal Caribbean Cruises have decided to order two additional new builds. Subject to financing the order was closed on 12 July, 2018. All contracting parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details.

The two ships will be built at the Italian Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone; commissioning is planned for 2024 and 2026. As a result, the Mein Schiff fleet will grow to nine ships by 2026. TUI Cruises is thus significantly developing its already strong and dynamic position in the German cruise market.

Evolution of the premium concept with a new ship class
The two identical cruise liners will have the size of 161,000 gross registered tons (GRT). “With the new ship class we are responding to the wishes of our guests and creating offerings that will also inspire new cruise passengers to spend a holiday on board with us. As with the other ships in the fleet, the passenger/space ratio remains generous,” says Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises. “Further details of the ships will be announced at a later date.” Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, adds: “We at Fincantieri have once again demonstrated to offer to the market with the best equation of reliability and ability to innovate, pillars of the ‘Made in Italy’ products and which identify Fincantieri in the world shipbuilding scenario. The project allows us to add TUI Cruises as a new and outstanding brand to our customer portfolio. Furthermore, it is also a cutting-edge reference to our products from a technological point of view.”

Decision for sustainable growth
TUI Cruises already has one of the most modern and environmentally friendly cruise fleets in the world: All existing new builds are characterized by their energy efficiency and consume around 30 percent less fuel than ships of comparable size.

They are also equipped with a combined exhaust after-treatment system consisting of a scrubber and catalytic converters, which reduces sulfur emissions by up to 99 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 75 percent and particulate emissions by up to 60 percent. “The decision to run the two additional new builds of the fleet planned for commissioning in 2024 and 2026 on low-emission liquefied natural gas is a logical continuation of our environmental strategy,” explains Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises.

Cruise Special Presentation - Capital Markets Day on 9 May 2018:

• Introduction to TUI's cruise business