Megaliner in Riga: "Mein Schiff Relax" Celebrates Historic Maiden Call

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On May 22, 2026, Riga will write maritime history: The brand-new "Mein Schiff Relax" by TUI Cruises is expected in the Latvian capital for its highly anticipated maiden call. With an impressive length of 333 meters and a capacity of nearly 4,000 passengers, the megaliner replaces the "Costa Pacifica" as the previous record holder for size. An extra-long docking time of 13 hours is scheduled for the vacationers on the 7-day "Timeless Baltic Sea" cruise, allowing for extensive exploration tours in the port city.

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The lead ship of the new InTUItion class sets new standards not only in terms of size but also regarding sustainability. Thanks to a state-of-the-art propulsion system primarily powered by environmentally friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG), emissions at sea and in port are drastically reduced. Across 16 passenger decks, travelers can expect an enormous variety of amenities, including 14 different restaurants and numerous retreats that live up to the ship's name and ensure pure relaxation.

However, the gigantic dimensions of the "Mein Schiff Relax" pose real nautical challenges for the port of Riga. Since the turning radii and water depths near the old town are insufficient for a vessel of this magnitude, the cruise giant has to divert to the Krievu Sala industrial terminal, located 13 kilometers away. To transport guests comfortably into the center regardless, a massive fleet of shuttle buses will be deployed. In the long term, Riga is already planning major restructuring measures in the harbor basin to offer ships of this dimension berths closer to the city center in the future.

For the Latvian metropolis, the call is an enormous economic windfall. In the record-breaking 2026 season, over 100 ship calls and around 135,000 cruise passengers are expected—a boom that is also due to the fact that Riga is benefiting as a new premium destination in the Baltic Sea following the omission of St. Petersburg. The high importance of maritime tourism is also reflected in the official protocol: Riga's Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs and Port CEO Ansis Zeltiņš will personally welcome the ship's command on board on Friday morning for the traditional plaque exchange.