Christening Festival in Trieste: Mein Schiff Flow Meets Mein Schiff 4 for Grand Fleet Gathering

Von Jevgenijs Slihto from Riga, Latvia - Mein Schiff 4, CC BY 2.0, Link
On Saturday, June 20, 2026, the port of Trieste will become the stage for a truly special maritime highlight: TUI Cruises is officially christening the new Mein Schiff Flow. To perfectly stage this event, the cruise line has adjusted the itinerary of Mein Schiff 4. The sister ship will depart nearby Koper, Slovenia, ahead of schedule on the evening of the event, arriving in Trieste at 7:00 PM. This allows two generations of the fleet—the LNG-powered newcomer and its sister vessel, which was modernized in 2025—to dock side by side, port to starboard, along the pier.

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With the launch of Mein Schiff Flow, the cruise line is breaking away from old traditions. Instead of an elite gala for invited VIPs, the launch will be celebrated as a multi-day festival for all passengers on board. There is also a premiere regarding the godmothers: for the first time, three loyal repeat past guests from the community have been chosen to officially name the ship. The festive atmosphere will be enhanced by exclusive events, including live open-air concerts by Rea Garvey and Tim Bendzko, culinary highlights by Michelin-starred chef Tim Raue, as well as art and wellness workshops.

The fact that this gathering can take place at all is thanks to a masterclass in logistics. Due to ongoing tensions in the Red Sea, both Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 had to bypass the Suez Canal in spring 2026 and circumnavigate Africa entirely. Despite this unplanned voyage around the Cape of Good Hope, the ships reached their summer destinations right on schedule. However, the volatile security situation in the Middle East continues to impact future operations: all scheduled winter 2026/2027 itineraries for Mein Schiff Flow in the Orient have been canceled.

In response, TUI Cruises has introduced an attractive alternative schedule in European waters. The brand-new ship will operate out of German ports during its inaugural winter season—a first for a vessel of this scale. Itineraries will include Scandinavian cruises from Kiel, as well as Western Europe and Canary Islands routes from Hamburg. A major highlight of the new winter schedule is a 36-day long-term Caribbean cruise, which will also conveniently start and end in Hamburg.