According to a report by German cruise news outlet Schiffe und Kreuzfahrten, rumors have surfaced that the future of TUI Cruises' fleet could see a significant shift by the early 2030. At the start of last week, TUI placed an order for two new cruise ships with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, slated for delivery in 2030 and 2032.

While these additions could bring the Mein Schiff fleet to 11 vessels, speculation suggests that the newbuilds may not represent expansion but rather replacement. Specifically, the two new ships might be intended to phase out Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4, the oldest vessels in the fleet, potentially transferring them to Marella Cruises, TUI Group's British cruise brand.

Marella Cruises, which currently operates older vessels previously used by Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Mein Schiff, may be looking at fleet renewal in the early 2030s. By then, all five of its ships will be over 30 years old. Transferring Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4, which will be over 15 years old at that time, seems plausible but not without challenges.

These ships were designed specifically for the German market, and converting them to meet British market would require extensive refitting. Other options for Marella include acquiring second-hand ships from Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises as those vessels phase out of their current fleets.

Still, industry norms typically see cruise ships staying with their original operator for 20 to 30 years. A transfer in the early 2030s would be considered early, especially given the popularity of Mein Schiff 3 and 4 among German tourists.