Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has secured a contract to build two new cruise ships for Marella Cruises. This marks Marella’s first venture into commissioning newly-built vessels and establishes a fresh strategic partnership for Fincantieri.
The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2032, corresponding to TUI’s financial years 2031 and 2033. TUI had previously announced its plans for these new builds for its UK cruise division.
Fincantieri emphasised that the vessels will be tailored for the British market, focusing on “environmental sustainability, elegant design, high-quality materials, and spacious accommodation,” aiming to elevate the premium cruise experience. There has been no confirmation on size of vessel or how many passengers the new ships will cater for.
The order represents a value exceeding €2 billion that will see the new ships replace some of the line’s older fleet, which includes Marella Discovery, Marella Discovery 2, Marella Explorer, Marella Explorer 2 and Marella Voyager.
The Italian shipbuilder already maintains a strong relationship with TUI Cruises, a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises. Fincantieri recently delivered Mein Schiff Relax in February, the first of two next-generation dual-fuel (Liquefied Natural Gas and Marine Gas Oil) cruise ships for the German brand. The second vessel, Mein Schiff Flow, is currently under construction and is expected to be delivered in 2026.
Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri’s chief executive and general manager, stated, “We are proud to welcome Marella Cruises as a new customer and to support its vision as it enters the newbuild segment. This agreement is a testament to Fincantieri’s ability to forge strategic partnerships with an expanding client base, reinforcing our long-term visibility and ensuring a high level of capacity saturation for our shipyards. The project will bring together our expertise in ship design, innovation, and sustainability to deliver vessels that meet the evolving expectations of modern cruise passengers.”