Friday, October 23rd couldn’t have been a more perfect day. The weather was amazing. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. For me, it was a professional first of all firsts. One month ago, I received an unexpected email from a public relations company. It was an invitation to a travel media luncheon and ship tour aboard Tui Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1. I was so surprised to receive the invitation, I began wondering “How did my name pop up?”. Further, I was thinking, “Is my website that popular?”. I guess it has had its merit. I earned my very first travel media luncheon and ship tour. I emailed the Cindy Tanenbaum, who sent me the invitation. In my response, I proudly accepted the invitation. At that moment, I knew “I’m on my way up”. Everyone’s writing career is going to have its firsts from a variety of angles. I remember doing my very first travel lecture in my home area. This travel media luncheon and ship tour was going to a first of all firsts. I know for sure, that it won’t be the last. October 23rd, my joy of travel writing was blessed with a golden opportunity.
During the Fall, the Mein Schiff 1 has been sailing from the Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ. My part-time work with the cruise lines began at Cape Liberty Cruise Port. Cape Liberty Cruise Port was my home port for nine years. Cape Liberty is currently the home port for Royal Caribbean’s beautiful Symphony of The Seas and the Odyssey of the Seas. During the summer, the Liberty of The Seas and Celebrity Eclipse calls Cape Liberty their home. Cape Liberty Cruise Port, despite being a one-ship cruise terminal, is in fact a busy cruise port. Royal Caribbean partially owns Tui Cruises. Tui, a German cruise line, is aiming to become internationally known very much like its competitors such as MSC Cruises. Upon arrival at the pier, I parked in the shore staff area, next to the old embarkation tent by the old Cape Liberty terminal. Entering the terminal, I couldn’t have felt more “at home”. I presented my passport and invitation email, and I was shown to where the tour group was waiting. As I approached the green archway, I was greeted by Cindy Tannenbaum, who had sent me the invitation. There, I met the other members of the tour group. I was amazed at what walks of life they all came from. Among the group was an editor from a New Jersey based magazine called “Hi Class Living”. Soon, we ascended the escalator to the gangway. Afterwards, we were greeted by the ship’s security team. They were waiting at the gangway. Upon entrance to the ship, we were lead to the ship’s exclusive aft dining room. It was hard to identify what was what, since everything was printed in German. Despite being lost in a slight language barrier, the tour was off to a great start. We were treated to a small continental buffet, along with late morning drinks. I had a cappuccino, while others had champagne or mimosas. Later, the ship’s hotel director, Doreen, greeted each of us and took us through the vessel. The first time I worked Mein Schiff, I wasn’t all that comfortable with the cruise line, nor did I know anything about the passengers’ or the demographics. Once the tour began, I knew I was in good hands.
The tour began in the heart of the ship, the main promenade. I was intrigued by the chandelier, designed to look like a school of fish. It made me feel that I was underwater, swimming with them. Next, the hotel director took us to see the ship’s main dining room, Atlantik. The dining room holds one thousand guests. Having sailed on many cruise vessels in the past, I’ve been so used to being in a dining room that held up to two thousand guests. I have sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of The Seas twice. The Opus dining room aboard the Oasis of The Seas seats five thousand guests. You talk about a night and day difference! If anyone is looking to sail on board a Tui vessel, they won’t have to worry about feeling outnumbered. The next public space we visited was the ship’s theater up forward. The theater looked very much like any ship’s theater, big enough to hold at least one thousand guests. Immediately afterward, we were taken to see the ship’s comedy theater. Now, this was a different public space which I don’t see often on any cruise ship. I remember the Oasis of The Seas having a comedy club, but I never thought of a cruise vessel with a designated comedy theater. I commented to a member of the tour group that I was a comedian in college. I remember being in front of an audience of ninety-one people. Being in the comedy theater on board, I sure felt right at home.
Once done checking out the ship’s theater and comedy theater, we were shown to the elevator. We headed upstairs to the guests’ buffet, “Backstube”. The buffet was set up in rows of islands. Having sailed on board Royal Caribbean’s Quantum and Anthem of The Seas, I was able to understand the reason behind the design. I’ve seen the buffet on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer and Adventure of The Seas. The buffet was arranged in a horse shoe design. Rows of islands makes it an easier experience for the guests. What really caught my attention were the loaves of artisan bread at the buffet. It turned out to be the same artisan bread each of us were given as a momento. Soon afterwards, we were shown three examples of guests’ staterooms. We shown inside a standard ocean view stateroom, an inside stateroom, an outside stateroom with a veranda, and lastly a family suite up forward. The family suite had two bedroom areas along with a children’s play area. Having seen all of the rooms, I can imagine any guest, regardless of nationality having the time of their lives. Lastly, we were shown the private buffet restaurant for the suite guests. There, I couldn’t felt more at home. Having sailed in MSC’s Yacht Club, it was easy to relate. In MSC’s Yacht Club, we had a private buffet area for breakfast and lunch. Yacht Club guests had their own private dining room as well. On board the Mein Schiff 1, I was able to understand their version of a “ship within a ship”. Staterooms, regardless of motif, are designed to provide that sense of “escape” from the world outside. The staterooms on board Tui’s Mein Schiff 1 showed just that. Tui deserves a perfect ten on stateroom layout and design.
After visiting the staterooms, we were shown the ship’s pool deck. The pool was magnificent. The pool aboard the Mein Schiff 1 was twenty-five meters in length. One can imagine how many swim races or lap exercises that can be done every day. One can imagine the amount of buffet calories burned in just ten laps. The ship’s pool was definitely a perfect ten. Afterwards, we were taken aft to the guests’ all-purpose sports room. It had a basketball court, soccer nets, rock climbing wall, foosball, and ping pong table. When I saw this room, it instantly reminded me of the Sea Plex on board Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships. On the Quantum Class, Sea Plex featured bumper cars. Appreciating the Mein Schiff 1, with Royal Caribbean’s ships in mind, wasn’t. As the tour continued, we were shown the sky walk in the aft part of the ship. Did I feel like I was walking on clouds! Soon enough, it was time for our luncheon downstairs in the specialty dining room. The menu was highly intriguing. Many ordered the veiner schnitzel. I decided to be a bit adventurous. I ordered the Ragout, which was pulled veil fried flat like a pancake. It was garnished by a separate side of mushrooms mixed with shredded beef. In addition, I asked what German beers were available. I was offered a German beer called “Bitburger”. It was fantastic. Hopefully I can find it in the liquor store at home. The Ragout was filling! I asked for the mushrooms to be wrapped up, so I could take it home. It wasn’t any problem for the culinary team to do so. I couldn’t have been happier. At the conclusion of lunch, each member of the tour group was sent home with a loaf of the artisan bread, the same artisan bread we shared at lunch. It was the same artisan bread I saw upstairs at the guests’ buffet. I couldn’t wait to share it at home with my family.
Having been on my very first travel media ship tour and luncheon, “Wow!” was my reaction. Before touring the Mein Schiff 1, I reminded myself to cast all of my past cruising experience aside. From there, I could see what Tui’s Mein Schiff vessels were all about. “Wow!” was the right reaction. The hotel director, Doreen, and the cruise director, Dominik, were tremendously welcoming. I never felt so at home after having experienced such an incredible vessel. The Mein Schiff 1 and her sister vessels are all very special. When the word cruise comes to mind, everyone immediately thinks Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Disney, and MSC. Each and every one of these cruise lines provide a special on board atmosphere, along with a unique first impression. Further, guests are immersed in the overwhelming feeling of being welcomed. Tui is nowhere shy of providing such a first impression. My first impressions of the Mein Schiff 1 were “Awesome!” and “When can I sail on this vessel?”. When it comes to cruising for the first time on any cruise line, it’s important to keep an open mind. At best, it’s vital to be open to new experiences. Each and every cruise line does just that. Tui provides a special atmosphere and a unique flavor for all ages. From an avid cruiser to everyone at Tui Cruises, I say “Hammer!” meaning “Great!” and “Gut Gemacht!”, meaning “Job well done!”.