TUI Group CEO Sebastian Ebel today confirmed the operator is in talks with shipyards for two new-build ships for its UK Marella Cruises fleet.
However, Sebastian said European shipyards don’t have any slots available until 2031. At the same time, he said TUI is exploring ‘partnership options’ for the cruise line.
Describing Marella as a ‘British, British, British’ product, Sebastian said it is ‘doing extremely well’, but he added: “There is one thing that keeps us awake, that is is the age of the fleet because there are only three shipyards in Europe, and they are fully booked out for the next five to 10 years, closer to 10 years.
“We are in discussions with shipyards, and we are currently considering ordering two vessels based on a design customised for the UK market.
“New-build slots are tentatively available from FY31 onwards. We may secure a slot for two new ships, which would be a great step forward if we do it alone or if we do it as a joint venture, which is also something we are in discussion about.
“It may or may not happen, it is not a done deal but we are confident it is good to talk about it.”
Currently, Marella has five ships in its ocean cruise fleet, each carrying fewer than 2,000 passengers.
Sebastian was speaking during TUI’s Capital Markets Day 2025, in which he expanded on TUI’s plan to transform the business from a tour operator into a ‘global curated leisure marketplace’.
He explained that much of its future growth will come from outside Europe, but the UK remains its single biggest market.
Sebastian also revealed that since TUI launched its new commercial terms for independent agents, bookings via third-party retailers had risen to 7% of its total UK business, a share which he said is ‘growing nicely’. “So the 7% share is potentially going to get bigger over time,” he added.
Sebastian reiterated that TUI is also keen to grow sales via its app, which currently accounts for 12% of its UK bookings, while 56% are online.
The operator also sees major growth potential in the dynamic package market, which currently accounts for only 20% of its UK sales. Markets + Airlines CEO David Schelp said: “The UK has a lot of opportunities to grow in a risk-right way when it comes to the dynamic part.”
Citing TUI’s newly-forged relationship with Ryanair, he said it sees the opportunity for growth in city breaks and ‘semi-beach’ destinations, such as Venice.
