Foreign readers may not be aware that my
present hometown Turku boasts a long
traditions in shipbuilding. There has been a shipyard here since the early 18th
century, not to mention the sailing ships that were built here starting from at
least the 16th century.
Hubby made his whole career in marine
industry and even I had a job inside the gates of the Rauma shipyard for
several years in my late 20s and early 30s – that’s where we met about two
decades before we started dating. With such a background, it is not surprising we
headed to the shore to watch a newbuild leaving its birthplace towards a busy life
at sea.
On June 20, the cruise ship Mein Schiff 5 built at the Meyer Turku
shipyard was handed over to TUI Cruises which is a joint venture of the German
tourist company TUI AG and the American Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The next
day the ship headed for Kiel from where it will serve the German-speaking
luxury cruise guests sailing in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean in the
summer season and in the Caribbean during winter.
Between delivery and now, the vessel has made
a few short ‘pre-cruises’ in the Baltics. The christening ceremony will be held
as a public event in Travemünde, the ferry port of Lübeck, tonight. The maiden
voyage starting tomorrow from Kiel will stop at Tallinn, St. Petersburg,
Helsinki and Stockholm.
The ship measures 295m x 35.8m and has 15 decks. It can accommodate 2794 passengers into its 1267 cabins almost 1000 of which have a balcony. A crew of more than 1000 people will work tirelessly to fulfil the wishes of the guests according to the all-inclusive feel-good philosophy of TUI Cruises. Restaurants, bars, shops, fitness facilities, beauty salon, spa, outdoor swimming pool, jogging track, you name it. I don’t think this is the kind of travel I would ever want to take part in for more reasons than one but it is good to know the newbuilds incorporate eco-friendly technologies minimising both emissions and energy consumption.
Fascination, zest for life, sunshine, holiday,
harmony, peacefulness, wellbeing, inspiration are some of the words painted on the sides of
the vessel. I am sure the Turku shipbuilders also recognise many of these points
feeling happy about their current masters. After a few turbulent decades with financial
problems and several unsuccessful mergers and acquisitions, the German family-owned
Meyer Werft that bought the shipyard a couple of years ago was the best possible saviour you could have wished for to safeguard the future of shipbuilding in
Turku, says hubby who knows.
As the order book is secured until 2020 we will have many
more opportunities to watch brand-new cruise ships gliding by the Ruissalo
island towards the open sea.
What an amazing sight. Cruising is not my thing either but I'm always amazed by the size of these boats. We get very few cruise ships in Jersey but next door in Guernsey they often have ships moored in the small roads as they call the stretch of water between Guernsey and sark. They always look so huge next to a small island. B x
ReplyDeleteToo bad the weather was this gloomy, just like today, but let's hope we'll see some blue sky when Mein Schiff 6 and 7 are leaving.
DeleteThey really are enormous aren't they! Lots of people are going to be enjoying themselves!
ReplyDeleteA cruise will be quite an experience I am sure although not one for me.
DeleteWhat a sight! They are enormous.
ReplyDeleteLike a huge hotel floating on sea with all amenities you could possibly wish for.
DeleteWow! It's humbling when you see something of that size, isn't it? We see pictures of boats and ships, but up until you see one up close you can't really visualize the enormity of their size. Makes my little bass boat feel like I'm playing with a toy boat in my bath tub. Do you think my wife would mind if I buy a bigger boat?
ReplyDeleteThere's a time and place for ships and boats of all types and sizes, I believe. :)
DeleteAwesome content as always. My team and I actually read your blogs, hope u have a look on lakshadweep tourism package
ReplyDelete