By
Rebecca Gibson |
TUI Cruises’ new flagship Mein Schiff 3 made her inaugural visit to the German Port of Kiel on 4 June.
The 99,500 gt newbuild was welcomed with a water fountain display from a port tug when she entered the Kiel Fiord. To commemorate the event, Richard Vogel, CEO of TUI, and the ship’s captain Kjell Holm, were presented with the port’s ‘First Call’ plaque by Dirk Claus, managing director of the Port of Kiel, and Robert Vollborn, Kiel’s First Deputy City President.
Mein Schiff 3 then departed for a short trip towards the Danish Island of Bornholm and will return to Osteekai on 6 June. The next day, TUI will host a ‘Day of Discovery’ onboard the ship before she embarks on a cruise to Hamburg for her 12 June christening.
“We are very proud to be able to welcome this splendid new ship to Kiel,” said Dirk Claus, managing director of the port. “We are also very pleased that she is introducing herself here even before her official naming ceremony.”
In another first, all three of TUI’s ships called in Kiel over a four-day period. Mein Schiff 2 visited the port on 1 June, while Mein Schiff 1 berthed at Ostseekai the following day. Both ships will participate in the Kieler Woche regatta at the end of June, while Mein Schiff 2 will embark on 12 cruises from Ostseekai this summer. In total, TUI’s ships will visit the German cruise port on 18 occasions this year.
“The fact that all three TUI ships are calling at Kiel this season underscores the close partnership enjoyed by the port and the shipping company”, said Dirk Claus.
In summer 2015, Kiel will also become the homeport of Mein Schiff 4, which is currently under construction at STX Finland’s shipyard in Turku, Finland.