TUI Cruises

TUI Cruises is a cruise line based in Germany. It was formed in 2007 as a joint venture between the German tourism company TUI AG and the American cruise line operator Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, both of whom hold a 50% stake in the company.

The company started operations in 2009 and competes with AIDA Cruises for the German market. It targets German-speaking customers who opt for a premium cruise experience. The onboard product, including food, entertainment and amenities, is custom-tailored for German tastes and German is the main language used onboard its ships.

In February 2020 TUI announced the purchase of the German owned luxury cruise operator Hapag-Lloyd. This takeover was completed in July 2020 when TUI sold 50% of the shares in Hapag-Lloyd to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd with Hapag-Lloyd being integrated into the TUI Cruises business.

TUI Cruises is often confused with its British counterpart Marella Cruises (ex Thomson Cruises). Marella Cruises is 100% owned and operated by TUI UK and caters for the British market.