​TUI Cruises Orders Two LNG-Powered Cruise Ships

TUI Cruises has announced that it has placed an order for two new 161,000 gross tonne cruise ships from Fincantieri. The ships will be powered by LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) and will launch in 2024 and 2026.
 
The new ships will be the largest cruise ships ever built for TUI Cruises and will be constructed at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

Fincantieri said the ships would be around 161,000 tons, making them the largest in TUI's fleet, which is getting new 110,000-ton ships in 2019 and 2023 as well.
 
Wybcke Meier, CEO, TUI Cruises, said: “With the new class of ships we are responding to the wishes of our guests and creating offerings that will also inspire new cruise passengers. As with the other ships in the fleet, the passenger/space ratio remains generous. The decision to run the two additional low-emission new builds is a logical continuation of our environmental strategy. With the new class of ship we are responding to the wishes of our guests and creating offerings that will also inspire new cruise passengers to spend a holiday on board with us. As with the other ships in the fleet, the passenger/space ratio remains generous.”
 
Giuseppe Bono, CEO, Fincantieri, said: “These will be the largest ships ever built in Italy: we proved once more we can provide the market with the best mix of reliability and innovation, pillars of Made in Italy and distinguishing features of Fincantieri in the global shipbuilding landscape.  The project we developed and offered to the client allowed us to achieve this outstanding commercial record, which is not just about adding a new brand to our client portfolio, but also a confirmation of the absolutely cutting-edge technological content of our products.  All of these factors consolidate our leadership in the field and further extend the workload horizon of our shipyards, which has no comparables in any other industrial sector."