Who Owns TUI Cruises

TUI Cruises is owned equally by TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group, split fifty fifty in a joint venture.

The partnership was formed in 2007, with the first Mein Schiff sailing beginning in 2009 for German speaking travelers.

TUI Cruises itself is Germany largest premium cruise brand, built around the Mein Schiff fleet and tailored specifically for German passengers.

Onboard language, cuisine, and entertainment are all designed around German preferences rather than adapted from an English language product.

TUI AG is one of the world largest travel and tourism groups, based in Germany, while Royal Caribbean Group is the second largest cruise operator worldwide.

Together the two parent companies combine German tourism expertise with decades of Royal Caribbean shipbuilding and operations experience.

Have you ever wondered how a German package holiday giant and an American headquartered cruise company ended up running one of Europe most successful cruise brands together?

In this guide we will cover who owns TUI Cruises, how the joint venture was formed, its relationship with sister company Hapag Lloyd Cruises, and how TUI Cruises compares with AIDA.

Lets take a closer look.

What Is TUI Cruises?

TUI Cruises is a German market cruise brand built around the Mein Schiff fleet.

The company was established in 2007 as a joint venture between German tourism group TUI AG and American cruise operator Royal Caribbean Group.

Operations began in 2009, initially using converted former Celebrity Cruises ships before moving to newly built vessels.

The company is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and today operates a fleet built specifically for German speaking guests.

Who Owns TUI Cruises?

TUI Cruises is owned equally by TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group, each holding a fifty percent stake in the joint venture.

Neither parent company controls the brand outright, since major decisions require agreement between both partners.

Both parent companies are themselves publicly traded, with TUI AG listed in Germany and Royal Caribbean Group listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Is TUI Cruises Publicly Traded or Privately Owned?

TUI Cruises itself does not have its own separate stock listing.

It operates as a private joint venture between two publicly traded parent companies, TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group.

Financial results for the joint venture are generally reported within each parent company broader public filings rather than as a standalone company.

How Was The TUI Cruises Joint Venture Formed?

TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group announced their fifty fifty joint venture agreement in 2007.

The partnership combined TUI German market expertise with Royal Caribbean cruise operations knowledge and shipbuilding relationships.

The first Mein Schiff vessel entered service in 2009 as a converted former Celebrity Cruises ship, later replaced by newly built vessels.

Is Hapag Lloyd Cruises Part Of TUI Cruises?

Hapag Lloyd Cruises is a separate luxury and expedition brand, not part of the TUI Cruises joint venture itself.

TUI AG acquired full ownership of Hapag Lloyd Kreuzfahrten directly in 2020, keeping it outside the Royal Caribbean joint venture structure.

Both TUI Cruises and Hapag Lloyd Cruises serve the German market but operate as distinct brands with different ownership arrangements.

TUI Cruises Fleet

TUI Cruises operates its fleet under the Mein Schiff, meaning My Ship, brand name.

Newer InTUItion class and Blue Motion class ships represent the most modern vessels in the fleet, including LNG powered Mein Schiff Relax delivered in 2025.

Older ships in the fleet include converted vessels that originally sailed for Celebrity Cruises before their conversion to TUI Cruises service.

What Is TUI Cruises Known For?

TUI Cruises is best known for tailoring every aspect of the onboard experience specifically to German speaking travelers.

German is the primary shipboard language, and cuisine, entertainment, and service styles reflect German cultural preferences.

The brand positions itself as a premium option within the German market, generally priced above mainstream competitor AIDA.

How Does TUI Cruises Compare With AIDA Cruises?

TUI Cruises and AIDA Cruises are the two dominant brands serving German speaking cruisers.

Compared with AIDA more casual club atmosphere, TUI Cruises tends to skew slightly more premium and adult focused.

AIDA belongs to Carnival Corporation, while TUI Cruises is a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group.

Customer Service And Official Contact Information

Guests with booking questions or onboard concerns should start with TUI Cruises official channels rather than third party booking sites.

The official website is tuicruises.com, which lists current phone support and travel agency resources.

For background on TUI Cruises parent companies, see WhoMakeThis guide to who owns Royal Caribbean Group and the related breakdown of who owns AIDA Cruises.

Frequently Asked Questions About TUI Cruises

Who owns TUI Cruises?

TUI Cruises is owned equally by TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group, each holding a fifty percent stake in the joint venture.

Is TUI Cruises the same company as Hapag Lloyd Cruises?

No. Hapag Lloyd Cruises is a separate brand wholly owned by TUI AG directly, outside the Royal Caribbean joint venture structure.

Cruise industry standards are tracked by the Cruise Lines International Association at cruising.org.

When was TUI Cruises founded?

TUI Cruises was established as a joint venture in 2007, with its first Mein Schiff voyage beginning in 2009.

Is TUI Cruises owned by Royal Caribbean?

Partly. Royal Caribbean Group owns fifty percent of TUI Cruises, with TUI AG owning the other fifty percent.

Additional company history is available on Wikipedia.