Maiden Call in Le Havre: Mein Schiff Relax Celebrates Premiere in France

Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, this new vessel sets completely new standards. With a gross tonnage of 161,000, the Mein Schiff Relax offers significantly more space per passenger than her predecessors. Alongside an innovative asymmetrical design, the focus is primarily on environmental technology: The ship is powered by lower-emission liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is thus optimally equipped to meet the strict environmental regulations of the European Union. While docked in Le Havre, the mega-carrier can also utilize the local shore power, reducing port exhaust emissions to an absolute minimum.

Le Havre once again proves to be an ideal hub for ships of this enormous magnitude. The deep-water, tide-independent access allows cruise lines highly flexible route planning without disruptive waiting times. Additionally, TUI Cruises' "Slow Cruising" concept significantly streamlines passenger flow: Since guests often spend their mornings relaxing on board, the pressure on local terminals and excursion buses is vastly eased.

Furthermore, May 2026 impressively demonstrates the great diversity at HAROPA Port. Alongside the Mein Schiff Relax, ships such as the AIDAperla (May 19), the Majestic Princess (May 21), and the mega-carrier Liberty of the Seas (May 30) will also be docking here in the coming weeks. On May 24, the river cruise ship Arosa Viva will even meet ocean liners like the Oceania Marina. This not only creates an exciting scene at the quays but also massively boosts the local economy in Normandy through port fees, provisioning, and numerous shore excursions.