Mein Schiff Flow makes first call in Palma: around 4,000 guests on maiden voyage

Mein Schiff Flow makes first call in Palma: around 4,000 guests on maiden voyage

First stop in the early morning, two-day passenger transfers and short itineraries in the western Mediterranean

On Thursday, 25 June 2026, the new Mein Schiff Flow berthed in the Port of Palma in the very early hours. Those strolling along Passeig Mallorca heard the deep hum of the engines, saw the lights along the hull and smelled a mix of salty air and diesel – typical harbour, typical summer in the city.

The ship belongs to the TUI Cruises fleet and can accommodate almost 4,000 guests. On board are 14 restaurants, 17 bars and an infinity pool, areas that passengers will explore in the coming weeks. For Palma this is more than just a photo stop: the Flow will remain in the city until Friday for a planned two-day passenger transfer. Guests from the current maiden voyage disembark and new passengers come on board – a model that has become more common recently because it gives travellers a bit of time to visit the island.

In the days after Palma the route continues to Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, with further calls in Ajaccio on Corsica and Marseille. This marks the start of the ship's first summer season in the western Mediterranean. Previously the Flow visited Monfalcone, Trieste, Koper and Palermo – Palma is therefore only the fifth port on its short first voyage.

Maritime tradition for a maiden call also includes the presentation of a port plaque; one was expected for Mein Schiff Flow, as happened with the Giant at Moll Vell: the "Star Princess" in Palma — fascination and open questions. The captain on board is Jan Rautawaara. The coming weeks are packed: after two one-week welcome sailings, regular cruises of nine to eleven days will follow, and in the coming months the ship will call at further ports along the coasts of France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain, a busy season noted in the Cruise Awards 2025: Palma in Focus — More Parties Onboard, More Questions Ashore.

For Palma the two-day embarkation model has a practical advantage: until mid-October the Flow will regularly call for two-day passenger transfers. This allows travellers genuine time windows to visit the old town, enjoy a café con leche at Plaça Major or stroll along Avinguda Gabriel Roca, rather than everything being just a quick port stop. For local shops, restaurants and excursion providers this means additional customers over several hours – not just a half-hour for a quick walk, similar to the effect seen during the A Day of Luxury on Palma's Shore: Marella Discovery Makes a Port Call.

Summer is already in full swing on Mallorca: the city centre is full of languages, bus tyre tracks and the clatter of rolling suitcases along the Passeig. In moments like these you notice how much tourism shapes the city – and how procedures must adapt so that port operations, guests and locals can coexist. This trend is reflected in analyses such as the Cruise Boom 2025: Numbers Celebrate, Residents Take Stock.

For those who are curious now: Mein Schiff Flow will be in Palma more often in the coming weeks. In autumn she will leave the Mediterranean to operate in more northerly waters, before routes towards the Baltic are planned for the end of the year. For the city this means a summer season with many opportunities to show visitors a good side of Palma – and to enjoy a bit of harbour atmosphere on the side.

Conclusion: A brand-new ship, a maiden call in the early morning and the two-day transfer model – for Palma this is more than just a snapshot. It is an invitation to guests to experience the island without rushing, to stay a few hours longer and enjoy genuine Mallorcan life.