Mein Schiff 4 (My Ship 4) is a cruise ship owned by TUI Cruises. Built by Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland, she was floated out on 10 October 2014, delivered to TUI Cruises on 8 May 2015,[2] and christened by former Olympic swimmer Franziska van Almsick in Kiel, Germany, on 5 June 2015.[3]

Mein Schiff 4 in Rostock, 2021
History
NameMein Schiff 4
OwnerTUI Cruises
OperatorTUI Cruises
Port of registryValletta,  Malta
Ordered27 September 2011
Builder
Yard number1384
Laid down6 April 2013
Launched10 October 2014
Sponsored byFranziska van Almsick
Christened5 June 2015
Acquired8 May 2015
Maiden voyage6 June 2015
Identification
StatusIn service
Notes[1]
General characteristics
TypeCruise ship
Tonnage
Length293.2 m (962 ft)
Beam42.3 m (139 ft)
Draft8.27 m (27 ft)
Installed power2 × Wärtsilä 8L46F
2 × Wärtsilä 12V46
PropulsionDiesel-electric
Two shafts; fixed pitch propellers
Three bow thrusters
Two stern thrusters
Capacity2,506 passengers
Crew1,030
Notes[2]

For the most part, Mein Schiff 4 is a copy of her sister ship, Mein Schiff 3.[2]

Service history

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On 14 May 2015, Mein Schiff 4 entered her first port, Kiel, from where she was scheduled to operate a series of short inaugural cruises. She returned to Kiel on 5 June 2015.[4]

That afternoon and evening, TUI Cruises held a ceremony at Kiel's Ostseekai [de] cruise terminal, to celebrate the ship's entry into service. Around 1,000 guests were present inside Mein Schiff 4's theatre; an estimated 25,000 spectators watched the event from outside. At 9 pm, following performances by a number of singers, the ship's sponsor, Franziska van Almsick, was raised above the foreship, wearing a 15 m (49 ft)-long christening robe weighing 300 kg (660 lb) and with a diameter of 20 m (66 ft). Van Almsick then christened Mein Schiff 4, by smashing a bottle of Pommery champagne against the ship's side. The ceremony later concluded with a late-night fireworks display, accompanied by an electro and house set from DJ Tanja La Croix.[3][5]

The following day, 6 June 2015, Mein Schiff 4 departed from Kiel on her maiden voyage, to the eastern Baltic. She was home ported in Kiel for the 2015 summer season, and operate seven-day voyages to the Canary Islands, Morocco and Madeira during the winter.[3][5]

References

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  1. ^ "Name ship:Mein Schiff 4". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "MEIN SCHIFF 4 Delivered". 14 May 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Gibson, Rebecca (9 June 2015). "Mein Schiff 4 becomes first TUI ship to be christened in Kiel". Cruise&Ferry.net. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. ^ Gibson, Rebecca (15 May 2015). "Mein Schiff 4 makes her first port call after delivery". Cruise&Ferry.net. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Swimming legend Franziska van Almsick names Mein Schiff 4 at Kiel". Seatrade Cruise News. Seatrade Communications. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.