TUI Cruises Expects Bio-LNG Ships to Cut 50,000 Tons of CO2
The Fincantieri-built InTUItion-class ships are about 333 meters long and carry about four thousand passengers each, with shore-power connections.
TUI Cruises says Mein Schiff Relax and Mein Schiff Flow, the line’s first two InTUItion-class vessels, are operating entirely on bio-LNG during their European summer seasons. The Fincantieri-built ships are the largest in the Mein Schiff fleet at roughly 333 meters, about 160,000 gross tons and capacity for about 4,000 passengers each.
Both ships were already designed for LNG dual-fuel operation and shore-power connection. For bio-LNG generally, lifecycle greenhouse-gas reductions vary by feedstock, liquefaction energy, upstream methane leakage and engine methane slip; reported reductions for liquefied biomethane range from about 55 percent to 80 percent versus fossil marine fuels.
“Thanks to the use of bio-LNG alone, we were already able to save around 26,000 tons of CO2 by July 2026,” TUI Cruises said, adding that the total is expected to reach around 50,000 tons by year-end. The renewable LNG is based on biomethane, the company said.
European deployment covers Baltic and Mediterranean programs
Mein Schiff Relax is sailing from Germany on itineraries to the Baltic and Scandinavia. Mein Schiff Flow is spending its maiden season in the Western Mediterranean, with cruises calling in Spain, Italy, France, Morocco and Portugal.
Flow’s first season has also included a maiden call at Koper, where the port described the ship as the largest cruise vessel ever to visit. The ship is scheduled to move to Hamburg in October before shifting to Kiel and the Baltic Sea at the start of November.
TUI adds bio-LNG to wider shipboard measures
In addition to fuel changes, TUI has retrofitted ships including Mein Schiff 1, Mein Schiff 2 and Mein Schiff 5 with shore-power connections in recent years. The company also cited sustainable textiles, reduced onboard plastics, dedicated environmental officers and a shore-excursion program oriented toward environmentally friendly tours.
Mein Schiff 7 debuted in 2024. TUI described it as the industry’s first methanol-ready cruise ship. Fincantieri is working with TUI on two more LNG-powered cruise ships, scheduled to enter service in 2031 and 2032.
