Suites & F&B spaces exclusively for Suite guests – TUI Cruises – Mein Schiff Relax
Submitted by: Alicia Sheber
Lead Designer: Barbara Wiethoff
Studio: JOI-Design
Outfitter: Suites: Marine Interiors | X-Lounge and X-Coast: Naval Interior | X-View: TSI – Total Solution Interior
Shipyard: Fincantieri
Completion Date: 07/02/2025
Not only is Mein Schiff Relax JOI-Design’s first large-scale cruise ship project, it’s also the first in TUI Cruises’ new InTUItion class and the fleet’s largest. The brief for this TUI/Royal Caribbean joint venture’s most exclusive areas was to help guests internalise the ship’s motto, “relax”. The studio envisioned an idyllic seaside spirit inspired by beautiful shapes found in nature: placid horizon lines stretching out to infinity; uniquely contoured pebbles on the coast; playfully shaped shells that aquatic creatures call home; and sand ripples echoing tidal ebbs and flows. Palettes, shapes and materials instil elegance yet feel laidback. Horizontal lines symbolise calm landscapes, while fluid textures and patterns evoke tranquillity. The 138 suites come in 5 categories, the grandest being two-storey Great Freedom Suites with 2 large terraces, a master bedroom, a walk-in closet, a bathroom with its own sauna, and further living spaces. In the refined yet calm X-Coast fine dining venue, shades of blue mirror the ocean, while sun-washed shell tones blend with golden touches inspired by waves’ glints of light. Luminous, relaxed and inviting, it serves Mediterranean recipes from Michelin-starred chef Theodor Falser. Fluid shapes and airy openness enhance the sophisticated X-Lounge’s connection between design and nature. Expansive windows blur indoors with outside, while deep berry tones suggest a warm sunset. Casual dining bistro X-View features muted hues and woven textures reminiscent of the ropes and rattan on glamorous Monaco yachts. The project’s sheer complexity pushed the studio to work at the intersection of precision and imagination. Innovating within clearly set boundaries demanded constant creative negotiation but led to unique, deeply-thought-through solutions. Concepts had to remain within the reference ship’s cost, complexity and material frameworks, requiring constant negotiation between the shipyard and the designers. Efficiency is crucial in this high-density setting, so throughout the project the studio consulted with operations to integrate crew workflow and service logistics. This early collaboration prevented costly adjustments later plus aligned aesthetics with functionality. The ship uses residual heat from diesel generators, connects to land-based power in port, transforms organic materials into recyclable components through thermal waste treatment and can transition to alternative energy sources like bio and e-LNG once available.