Tejal Somvanshi
A TUI Cruises ship collided with two container vessels while departing Bremerhaven, Germany, on Sunday, October 25, 2026, leaving passengers stranded and vessels under port authority scrutiny while investigators establish what happened.
The Mein Schiff 3 was departing the Columbuskaje terminal around 17:30, bound for a 20-night Canary Islands voyage, when strong winds associated with Storm Manja pushed it into the container ships MSC Victorine and MSC Anne F. The MSC Victorine suffered a crack of approximately 10 metres in its hull above the waterline. MSC Anne F was involved in a near-collision and was placed under a sailing ban while authorities assessed whether emergency repairs could be carried out. The Mein Schiff 3 sustained damage to several lifeboats, their davits, and the hull, and was subsequently towed back to the cruise terminal for inspection. Bremen's Water Police — the Wasserschutzpolizei — opened a formal investigation into the ship's captain. Germany's Maritime Safety Authority, BG Verkehr, is overseeing vessel assessments. TUI Cruises stated it was involved in a single collision; Bremen police said the ship struck two vessels. The investigation will establish the sequence of events.
Passengers reported that TUI Cruises delayed issuing the official cancellation notice until Monday morning, leaving people who had already boarded or were preparing to board in a period of uncertainty while the company evaluated the damage.
For those on the canceled voyage: TUI has committed to a full 100 percent refund. The company is also offering a 10 percent discount on rebooking, valid only on new reservations made before December 31, 2026.
The larger uncertainty is for upcoming sailings. The Mein Schiff 3 was scheduled for a series of routes to the Canary Islands, Portugal, and Morocco in the weeks ahead. Those sailings remain in limbo pending the outcome of the structural inspection and any required drydock repairs. TUI has not provided a confirmed date for when the ship will return to service.
Bremerhaven is one of northern Europe's major ports for both cruise ships and container cargo. Wind-related incidents at berth and departure are not unusual during autumn and winter months, when gusts in the region can be strong and sudden. Incidents involving a cruise ship and multiple cargo vessels simultaneously are rarer, and the vessel barring orders make the disruption more significant than a standard single-vessel mechanical delay.
Passengers with upcoming Mein Schiff 3 bookings should contact TUI Cruises directly for status updates. Anyone incurring additional costs — flights, hotels, transfers — as a result of the cancellation should document those expenses for potential claims under their travel insurance policy.
