Another luxury cruise ship has called at the French Quay in the Port of Gdynia as part of this year’s cruise season. Today’s visit is a special one: Mein Schiff Flow, the newest addition to the German cruise line TUI Cruises’ fleet, is calling at the port for the first time.

To mark the maiden call, a traditional plaque exchange ceremony was held on board, with representatives of the port and the ship’s captain taking part. The symbolic gesture marks the significance of a vessel’s first visit to a port.

Morska Agencja Gdynia is acting as the ship’s agent during its call in Gdynia, while CTL Logistics is responsible for solid waste collection. These services form part of the logistical support required to handle large passenger ships efficiently during their stays in port.

Three godmothers

Mein Schiff Flow was built at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and delivered to its owner in June 2026. The naming ceremony also took place that month. In a first for TUI Cruises, the ship had not one but three godmothers: Julia, Annabelle and Karin, who jointly smashed a bottle of champagne against the vessel’s bow.

The ceremony took the form of a spectacular event entitled “Go with the Flow”. It featured an approximately 20-minute show combining live music, acrobatics, lighting effects and audiovisual installations. The entire ship was transformed into a large stage for the artistic performances.

A new-generation cruise ship

Mein Schiff Flow was built to a design developed by Fincantieri, with the aim of combining innovative solutions with a reduced environmental footprint. Energy efficiency was one of the main priorities, intended to reduce energy consumption during operation and limit emissions.

The ship is designed to run on LNG, while its design also allows it to use lower-emission alternative fuels such as bio-LNG and e-LNG. It is also equipped with a shore power connection, allowing it to draw electricity from the land while in port. This can reduce emissions generated by the vessel during port stays, which account for approximately 40 per cent of its operating time.

The ship is also fitted with a modern waste treatment system. Using a thermal process, it is designed to convert organic materials into components suitable for reuse.

Mein Schiff Flow is the second of four next-generation InTUItion-class vessels. It is approximately 333 metres long and 48 metres wide. The ship is scheduled to call at Gdynia twice more this year, on 17 November and 4 December.

Its sister ship is Mein Schiff Relax, which also makes regular calls at the Port of Gdynia. During this year’s cruise season, it has visited the port six times. The delivery of two further ships in the class is scheduled for 2031 and 2032.

A captain with an artistic soul

Mein Schiff Flow is commanded by Jan Gustaf Rautawaara. He knew he wanted to go to sea from the age of ten. Growing up on the Finnish coast, he was fascinated by the ships passing by.

His maritime career has taken him aboard a wide range of vessels, from cargo ships and tankers to sailing ships, yachts, expedition vessels and cruise ships. He has sailed in waters around the world, but his interests extend beyond navigation. For many years, he lived aboard a freighter converted into residential accommodation and was also involved in the preservation of traditional sailing ships.

Rautawaara’s other great passion is music, which has been part of his life since childhood. He grew up in a family with a musical tradition and later took up the bass guitar as his favourite instrument. To this day, he enjoys taking opportunities to perform on stage alongside other musicians.

Photos: GospodarkaMorska.pl