On Wednesday, 27 May, two cruise ships made their maiden calls to the Port of Gruž in Dubrovnik. These were *Mein Schiff 4*, operated by TUI Cruises, and *Scarlet Lady*, operated by Virgin Voyages.
*Mein Schiff 4* is a premium cruise ship built in Finland in 2015. Its main itineraries include the Mediterranean, the Norwegian fjords, the Canary Islands, the Baltic Sea, and the Middle East. The ship arrived in Dubrovnik from Kotor.
The plaque exchange ceremony was held on board between the ship’s captain, Jan Michael Fortuna, and the representative of the Dubrovnik Port Authority, Assistant Director Jelka Tepšić.
Mein Schiff 4 highlights “wellness and all-inclusive” as the main features of its offer and primarily hosts German passengers. The ship is scheduled to call at Dubrovnik a total of eleven times this year, with its final visit on 14 October, marking the end of its Adriatic cruising season.
Scarlet Lady is the first ship in the Virgin Voyages fleet, built in 2020, although its entry into service was delayed due to the pandemic. The ship features a distinctive “adults only” concept and is also known for its strong focus on sustainable food consumption. Instead of traditional buffet stations, all meals are served individually in order to reduce food waste.
Scarlet Lady was designed as one of the most fuel-efficient ships in the Virgin Voyages fleet and uses technology that converts engine waste heat into electrical energy.
At the plaque exchange ceremony aboard Scarlet Lady, the Dubrovnik Port Authority was represented by Dario Barbaić, Head of the Department for Safety, Development and Maintenance of Port Infrastructure and Environmental Protection, together with the ship’s captain, Matthew Russell Hudson.
