By
Elizabeth Robinson |
TUI Cruises christened its newest ship, the new Mein Schiff 1, at Germany’s Port of Hamburg on 11 May.
Mein Schiff 1 was named by godmothers Kira Walkenhorst and Laura Ludwig, two of Germany’s Olympic and World Champion beach volleyball players from the Hamburger SV team. The christening ceremony took place at the HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai.
“After the christening next to the Elbphilharmonie last year, we decided again this year for a baptism in front of an impressive backdrop,” said Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises. “The container gantries are pure in Hamburg – our christening staging connects the port industry with cruise enthusiasm.”
The ceremony took place on the ship’s pool deck and featured with performances from aerial acrobats, dancers and German entertainer Yared Dibaba who performed on a walk-on LED surface that covered the 25-metre pool. A fireworks display concluded the celebrations.
Guests to the christening included football manager, presenter and author Reiner Calmund; former World Championship gymnast Philipp Boy; former rhythmic gymnast and national champion Magdalena Brzeska; presenters Sabine Christiansen, Annabelle Mandeng, Nova Meierhenrich and Ruth Moschner; actress Natascha Ochsenknecht; and Circus Roncalli co-founder Bernhard Paul.
The ship has embarked on its maiden voyage, the six-day trip will take guests to southern Norway with stops in Bergen, Stavanger and Copenhagen.