TUI Cruises to Expand Fleet with Celebrity Mercury

One of Celebrity Cruises ships, the Celebrity Mercury, is to become the second ship in the fleet of TUI Cruises, a cruise brand established in 2008 through a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises and TUI, tailored for the German market.

 The new ship, to be named Mein Schiff 2, will become sister ship to Mein Schiff (the former Celebrity Galaxy), which set sail in May 2009.

Celebrity Mercury joined the Celebrity Cruises fleet in November 1997, and was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany - builder of Celebrity's widely heralded, new Solstice Class fleet. The 77,713-ton ship carries 1,898 guests (double occupancy) and 909 crew.

"The timing for expanding the TUI Cruises fleet could not be better," said TUI Cruises CEO Richard J. Vogel. "Mein Schiff has firmly established its place in the German market, and now, it is time to broaden and further develop the concept. The cruise industry has shown its resilience in the midst of the economic crisis, and we look forward to growing it further, with our expanded fleet and our unique 'premium all-inclusive' concept."

Celebrity Mercury will enter service with TUI Cruises in May 2011, as Mein Schiff 2, following an extensive refurbishment resulting in additional verandas, an expanded spa and fitness area, inclusion of a teen bar, and a host of design elements and other attributes consistent with those found on Mein Schiff.

Mein Schiff 2 will spend her first cruising season in the Baltic and Nordic regions. Full itinerary details will be published when bookings open 1 June 2010.

Celebrity Mercury will complete its scheduled sailings through the 14 February 2011, itinerary. Guests with individual bookings and named group bookings on Celebrity Mercury on or after 26 February 2011 have the option to either cancel their booking or move to any Celebrity Mercury sailing from Baltimore from 18 October 2010, through 14 February 2011, with the exception of the 20 December 2010 itinerary.

Guests who pursue this option will receive an onboard credit of $75 per stateroom for inside or ocean-view accommodations; $100 per stateroom for veranda or Concierge Class, and $200 per suite.

Talking of the Celebrity Mercury's crew, Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan said, "With the rapid growth and momentum of the Celebrity brand, and the fourth member of our five-ship Solstice Class fleet, Celebrity Silhouette, launching in July 2011, we have abundant opportunities for the fine crew on Celebrity Mercury to transfer to another Celebrity ship."

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