TUI Cruises is expanding its presence in South Africa for the 2027/28 winter season, with a series of round-trip itineraries from Cape Town as part of its new program. Starting in November 2027, the Mein Schiff 5 will operate a full winter season in the region, marking the first time the brand has focused its operations on a sustained basis in southern Africa.
The ship will operate a series of 14-day itineraries departing from and returning to Cape Town, connecting South Africa with Indian Ocean islands and coastal destinations.
The voyages will include stops at ports such as Gqeberha, Durban, and Richards Bay, as well as international stops in Mauritius and Réunion. Additionally, some itineraries are expected to incorporate Namibia as part of repositioning and longer voyages.
This deployment reinforces Cape Town's role as a homeport, further solidifying its position as a key hub for international cruise operations during the Southern Hemisphere summer. The South African program is part of a broader plan for winter 2027/28, in which TUI Cruises will position several ships in seasonal markets such as the Caribbean, the Canary Islands, Asia, and Northern Europe.
In the Caribbean, several ships will offer round-trip and repositioning itineraries. The Mein Schiff 1 will operate extended voyages connecting North America with the Caribbean, including routes via Miami and Puerto Rico to the ABC islands. The Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4 will also sail in the region, with itineraries including destinations such as Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Martinique, and Antigua.
The Mein Schiff 2 will begin the season in Northern Europe before moving to warmer destinations, combining short itineraries with longer voyages, including a 35-day trip connecting Northern Europe with the Caribbean via the Canary Islands and Madeira.
The company is also continuing to expand its presence in Asia. The Mein Schiff 6 will be repositioned via Africa before operating a series of two-week cruises in Southeast Asia, with itineraries including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, as well as longer voyages in the Far East.
In the Canary Islands, the Mein Schiff 7 and the Mein Schiff Relax will offer a variety of cruises ranging from seven to eleven nights starting in late October 2027, focusing on island-hopping routes to destinations such as Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Madeira and Fuerteventura, with additional stops in Morocco, the Azores and Cape Verde.
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