Tui considers Marella new-build – from 2025

Fritz Joussen, chief executive, was speaking during the christening of the line’s new flagship, Marella Explorer, in Majorca last week.

“If we could we would get more ships, but shipyard capacity for new vessels is limited,” he said. “Most likely it would be 2025, unless we somehow trade a slot with someone… but unless it [an order] goes to the shipyard today, it would not be delivered before then.

“I think new-build ships could be something attractive to the UK market. That said, it is all hypothetical [at the moment].”

Joussen said he believed Marella, which rebranded from Thomson Cruises last October, had become a trusted brand in the UK cruise market.

Explorer will homeport in Palma this summer and is the first ship to be launched under the Marella brand, which the line’s managing director Chris Hackney said was “a fantastic opportunity” to raise awareness of the line within the trade.

Features onboard the ship – formerly Tui Cruises’ Mein Schiff – include the first Champneys spa at sea and bar, nightclub and casino space, Indigo, which features an interactive touchscreen DJ deck and cocktail range created by Britain’s Got Talent finalists Bar Wizards. Explorer will also offer 12 new Broadway-style entertainment shows and fine dining restaurant, The Dining Club.

Hackney said the line would “definitely look at” giving agents the chance to visit the ship during its ex-UK season split between Newcastle and Southampton next summer, revealing it had seen 60% growth in third-party sales in the past two years.

“Our proposition has developed a lot over the last couple of years,” he said. “I would encourage all third-party agents to come and take a look at us and hopefully we can sell a bit more through third-party.”

When asked by TTG if he supported Hackney’s approach, Joussen, who has long pushed Tui sales towards its own distribution channels, said: “If [Marella] decides to do it that way [sell through third-party agents] then that is OK as long as they are as successful as they are today.”