TUI Cruises expects bio-LNG operations by Mein Schiff Flow in Northern Europe this winter to cut annual emissions by roughly 50,000 tons of CO2 equivalent, making alternative fuels the centerpiece of its decarbonization strategy.

The German operator's newest vessels, Mein Schiff Relax and Mein Schiff Flow — the first ships of the new Intuition class — run dual-fuel engines and operate primarily on bio-LNG. Relax began using the fuel in September last year with support from the Port of Barcelona. Both ships have run on bio-LNG through the summer season, though marine gas oil remains necessary in some circumstances.

Lucienne Damm, head of sustainability at TUI Cruises, said the new ships consume less fuel per passenger day than the previous generation despite their larger size. The company moved to bio-LNG after questioning the environmental benefit of conventional LNG, which remains a fossil fuel, and worked with suppliers and ports to secure supply.

What comes after bio-LNG?

TUI Cruises has begun testing green methanol aboard Mein Schiff 7. Damm said green methanol and e-LNG could ultimately play a major role in reaching zero-emission targets.

The obstacle is supply. Green methanol remains expensive and production capacity is limited. Damm argues that cruise companies cannot build the necessary fuel infrastructure alone, and that governments, fuel producers and other industry stakeholders must invest in expanding supply.

How is the smaller fleet being handled?

For the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet, TUI Cruises is prioritizing efficiency over new fuels, because those ships operate worldwide and carry a smaller overall carbon footprint. Measures include:

• second-generation biodiesel
• route optimization
• improved hull coatings
• digital tools to reduce consumption

Efficiency is now contractual. Each newbuild must be 5 to 10 percent more efficient than its predecessor, and shipyards must demonstrate compliance during the ship's first year of operation. The company says the latest Intuition-class vessels face even higher standards.

Where does AI fit in?

TUI Cruises has set up an internal fleet-performance department and is developing AI-driven systems to monitor fuel use, voyage planning and onboard operations. A pilot program tied fuel-saving targets for captains and engineers to donations supporting marine-plastic cleanup in Greece.

With additional Intuition-class ships planned for 2031 and 2032, plus efficiency upgrades during upcoming drydock periods, the strategy spans fuels, contracts and software. Yet the company acknowledges that long-term progress depends not only on ship technology but on whether the wider industry can develop affordable, scalable supplies of low-carbon fuels.

By Tom Whitfield