By
Rebecca Gibson |
German singer Helene Fischer christened TUI Cruises’ first newbuild Mein Schiff 3 in Hamburg’s HafenCity on 12 June.
Floating up to Mein Schiff 3’s bow in a pearled balloon, Fischer named the vessel according to maritime tradition in front of 1,700 invited guests and spectators.
“My biggest fear was that the bottle wouldn’t break,” said Fischer. “But everything worked out well and I’m very proud of my new goddaughter.”
Among the invited guests taking part in the line’s ‘Diamond meets Pearl’ ceremony on the pier of the Hamburg Cruise Center were officials from the city of Hamburg and figures from Germany’s cruise industry, entertainment and sports sectors.
“It makes me and the whole of TUI Cruises very proud to name our first newbuild in Hamburg,” said Richard Vogel, CEO of TUI, who is set to leave the company soon. “The feedback we are receiving about the ship is consistently positive, which indicates the success of our product.”
TUI also held a free open-air concert, which included performances by a soul band and Fischer, as well as a fireworks display outside the St Pauli fish market.
Although Mein Schiff 3 has already made several short cruises, mainly for travel agents, she departed Hamburg for her official maiden voyage on 13 June, embarking on a nine-day itinerary to Palma de Mallorca in Spain. She will call at Le Havre, France, Lexioes and Lisbon in Portugal, and La Coruña and Cadiz in Spain.
This summer, the ship will operate itineraries from Malta to the Western Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea. On the Adriatic route, Mein Schiff 3 will make the line’s first calls at the Italian port of Brindisi.
In mid-November, Mein Schiff 3 will homeport in Gran Canaria, and offer alternating weekly itineraries to Madeira in Portugal and the Spanish islands of La Palma, Tenerife and Fuerteventura, or Agadir in Morocco, La Gomera and Lanzarote.