Mein Schiff 2

Two ships have carried the name Mein Schiff 2. A 1997 vessel, formerly Celebrity Mercury, held it from 2011 to 2018 before moving to Thomson Cruises. This assessment concerns the 2019 ship, built at Meyer Turku, delivered on 22 January 2019 and in service from Bremerhaven that month: 111,500 gross tons over 316 metres, 2,534 guests at lower berths and 2,894 at maximum, about 1,000 crew, 16 decks. The design idea is narrow, a large modern ship for German speaking guests with German the working language throughout.

The Atlantik complex splits into Klassik, Brasserie and Mediterran, with Hanami, Richards, Surf & Turf, GOSCH Sylt, Osteria, Backstube and the Anckelmannsplatz buffet around it, plus the Diamant Bar and the Abtanz Bar nightclub. Entertainment divides between a 1,000 seat theatre and the 300 seat Klanghaus concert hall, while outside the Blauer Balkon is a glass floored platform 37 metres above the sea. SPA & Meer holds a Rasul room, a Zen Garden and Finnish, herbal and salt saunas, with a 438 metre elevated jogging track, the enclosed Arena court and a 25 metre outdoor pool. That court, the raised track, an infilled aft deck and expanded forward suites separate this pair from the four ships before them.

Criticism is where the English language record runs dry. TUI Cruises sells to German speaking customers and shapes food, entertainment and amenities to their preferences, so English language coverage that would support a verdict on catering, service or shows does not exist. What the record does show is a fare that stops short of premium spirits, and a layout that follows Mein Schiff 1 closely, so anyone wanting a ship that reads differently should look elsewhere.

The ship suits guests comfortable in German who value heavy wellness provision and a fare that removes most onboard spending decisions. Deployment leans European: Hamburg roundtrips to Iceland, western Europe and the British Isles, Mediterranean seasons from Palma de Mallorca, northern runs from Bremerhaven and Kiel, then a transatlantic repositioning into winter Caribbean roundtrips from Bridgetown and La Romana. It does not suit an English speaker with no German: announcements, entertainment, the daily programme and menus are all in German.

**What this means for choosing a cabin.** Of 1,447 cabins, 953 are balcony rooms, and the 66 Junior Suite Balkon take private outdoor space to roughly seven in ten rooms, making a balcony the default rather than an upgrade. Standard balconies run 17 square metres across decks 6 to 11, with 10 premium rooms at double that and 20 SPA balcony cabins by the wellness block. Inside cabins sit on decks 3, 6, 8, 9 and 11. Deck 11 lies directly beneath the deck 12 pool, lido and spa, deck 14 sits beside the kids and sports areas, and deck 3 shares its level with the lobby and the Atlantik restaurant. Suites cluster forward on decks 14 to 16.