56 Mein Schiff 4 operates out of Porto, Portugal, cruising to Morocco and across the Bay of Biscay towards France Photo: Unsplash/K Mithch Hodge PLANNER PERSPECTIVE Putting itineraries in context Marcus Puttich designs itineraries for TUI Cruises, considering the line’s growing fleet of ships, guest demographics and port capacity. Alice Chambers finds out how Itinerary planning has never been more dynamic – and for TUI Cruises, it’s not just about expanding into new regions but also ensuring destinations can cater to its predominantly Germanspeaking guests. “We are at an unprecedented point in our company’s history,” says Marcus Puttich, director of destinations at TUI Cruises. “This is the most significant period of growth we’ve ever experienced, particularly for our Mein Schiff fleet.” Between 2023 and 2025, TUI Cruises added three new vessels to its fleet, increasing capacity by more than 10,000 guests. As the fleet grows, so too does the geographical reach of its itineraries. “For the upcoming winter season, we’ll have two ships in the Arabian Sea, sailing from Dubai and Doha – something we’ve never done before,” says Puttich. “Looking further ahead to 2026–27, we’ll position a third ship across the Atlantic for Caribbean and Central America itineraries. These are exactly the opportunities that come with a growing fleet, paired with strong demand to support it.” The company is using this additional capacity to push into new regions while refining existing programmes. “We can now grow into areas in Africa including Cape Town in South Africa, Mauritius and the Seychelles – destinations we didn’t offer before,” explains Puttich. A larger and more diverse fleet will also offer greater flexibility. “If we see more demand for West Mediterranean cruises, we can position a larger ship there,” says Puttich. “That’s exactly what we did with Mein Schiff Relax this year.” One of the most successful experiments has been basing Mein Schiff 4 in Porto, Portugal, offering itineraries down to Morocco and across the Bay of Biscay towards France. “It was a new addition that the market received very well,” says Puttich. “We’ll repeat the programme next year with even more departures.” That demand is especially strong in TUI Cruises’ home market. “We see very high interest not only in tourism generally, but particularly in cruise,” he explains. “That translates into higher occupancies, higher yields and higher ticket prices – which gives us the confidence to be bolder in our itinerary planning.” Despite this expansion, TUI Cruises’ overall strategy remains consistent. “Our strategy is clear and hasn’t really changed,” says Puttich. “Roughly half of our capacity stays in Europe, split between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.” Designing effective cruise programmes requires careful consideration of each market’s unique demographics and travel preferences, as the challenge lies in tailoring programmes to the right customer groups. “In Northern Europe, we tend to see a slightly older average age, which goes hand in hand with longer cruises,” says Puttich. “In the Mediterranean, the audience is younger, and during school holidays we see more families – so sevenday itineraries are particularly attractive.” Repeat guests also influence planning. “It becomes interesting when we branch out,” says Puttich. “For example, the Porto itinerary appeals to guests who’ve already cruised the Mediterranean multiple times. This winter, we’ll offer a cruise from Hong Kong to Tokyo for the first time, which repeat guests are particularly excited about.”
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