TUI’s newest premium cruise ship, Mein Schiff 7, sets sail with a stunning interior by Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS), a member of the Viken Group. This 316-meter vessel features luxurious details such as authentic mosaic flooring, intimate Asian dining options, and a selection of cozy single cabins, all crafted by the pioneers of the 'cruise yacht' concept.
As a methanol-ready vessel designed for near-carbon neutrality, Mein Schiff 7 not only redefines technical capabilities but also pushes the boundaries of design.
Credits René Supper for TUI
A significant transformation took place around the ship's iconic glass diamond structure, where a two-deck atrium – dubbed Große Freiheit in homage to the famous Hamburg street that launched the Beatles – has been reimagined as an Italian piazza by TDoS.
Credits René Supper for TUI
“The piazza floor features a ceramic mosaic,” explained Malvina Guarnieri, Design Director at Tillberg Design of Sweden. “We designed the tile arrangements in various colors, aiming to evoke the feeling of entering a piazza. Even indoors, we incorporated design elements to create an outdoor ambiance.”
Credits René Supper for TUI
This atmosphere is further enhanced by a golden Vespa scooter in the piazza and comfortable outdoor-style seating that offers La Spezia restaurant an inviting essence of relaxed Italian life. In contrast, the Hideki restaurant presents a distinctly different aesthetic, capturing the spirit of Asian dining through traditional wooden beams, rice-paper lanterns, and a beautifully patterned carpet—creating smaller, intimate dining spaces.
“We aimed to offer varied seating arrangements for diverse dining experiences, from private rooms to cozy banquettes topped with wooden pergolas for added privacy,” added Guarnieri.
Credits René Supper for TUI
With a capacity of nearly 2,900 passengers, Mein Schiff 7 boasts an impressive array of dining options, ranging from the intimate La Spezia to the Japanese-Asian Hideki.
“What we appreciate about our designs is that while each area possesses its unique character, they also transition seamlessly from one to another,” Guarnieri noted. “We believe that achieving a sense of 'flow' is essential to the overall experience, easily felt upon boarding. Our designs are welcoming, featuring engaging architectural elements and a pleasing variety without being overwhelming.”
TDoS has also introduced a groundbreaking feature to Mein Schiff 7 – single staterooms – catering to the rising demand among solo travelers. Located on Deck 4, there are 26 single cabins, each measuring 8 square meters.
These staterooms share the design language of the standard cabins, with muted blues for upholstery, white-stained oak cabinetry, and carpets featuring wavy patterns reminiscent of undulating sand dunes. Beyond their visual appeal, much effort has gone into ensuring these cabins are as sustainable as possible.
“We considered the environmental properties of every material, focusing on local sourcing and emissions,” Guarnieri stated. “For instance, we chose the Dansk Wilton Origin collection for carpets, which utilizes undyed wool. Our design approach encompasses both the standard and single staterooms.”
As part of the Viken Group, Tillberg Design of Sweden collaborates with a network of elite design talent, including Italy’s famous Hot Lab design studio and Thalia Marine. With extensive experience in the luxury cruise ship sector and a wealth of expertise in yacht design, this synergy of ideas and techniques fuels the creativity of this formidable design powerhouse.
The Viken Group includes Tillberg Design of Sweden, Hot Lab and Thalia Marine. It has been established to gather leading and passionate companies, with similar ideas and business ethics, under one umbrella. This enables it to provide a full range of completely aligned and comprehensive design, naval architecture and project management services.
Credits: Tillberg Design
Turkish shipyard Ares Yachts has introduced its first superyacht, the 62-meter ketch-rigged Simena. The steel-carbon composite vessel will debut at the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show (September 24-27) after completing sea trials.Designed to RINA Charter Class C standards, Simena ranks among the world's top 25 largest sailing yachts. Taka Yacht Design developed the exterior, while Design Unlimited created the interior blending classic and contemporary elements. The yacht features teak decks, mahogany joinery, and a hybrid propulsion system enabling silent electric operation up to 6 knots or 14.5-knot top speed with diesel assistance."Simena blends classic ketch elegance with cutting-edge technology," said Piraye Sahinkaya Orhun, Ares Yachts Projects Director. The yacht accommodates 12 guests and 9 crew, with a main-deck owner's suite and transatlantic range of 4,000 nm at 11 knots.Interior materials include walnut cabinetry, textured leathers, and marble-clad bathrooms. Northrop & Johnson holds the exclusive listing. Ares Yachts, situated in Antalya Free Zone on Turkey’s south coast, spans 40,000 square meters of build space across four large sheds. Besides Simena, the shipyard is concurrently working on other projects, including the 50m motor yacht Spitfire and a 54m explorer yacht known as Project Atlas. Additionally, Ares Yachts is developing a 65-85m yacht range in collaboration with Lateral Naval Architects.Credits: Ares Yachts
July 5, 2025
Columbus Yachts has started building its new 48-meter Crossover model at Palumbo Superyachts' Savona shipyard. The steel-hulled explorer with aluminum superstructures follows two previously sold Crossover units (42m and 47m), marking the shipyard's first self-financed project in this series.Designed by Hydro Tec, the vessel features an 8.6-meter beam and 2.75-meter draft, optimized for stability and long-range cruising. The exterior combines explorer-style proportions with a bulbous bow and streamlined stern for ocean-going capability. Key features include a multifunctional aft deck that can store a large tender or convert into a pool and lounge area.Accommodation includes six cabins for 12 guests, with the owner's suite on the upper deck and a VIP cabin on the main deck. The naval architecture was developed jointly by Hydro Tec and the shipyard's engineering team.No delivery date or price was disclosed. The Crossover series targets owners seeking a balance between expedition capability and contemporary yacht design.Founded in 2008 under Palumbo Superyachts, Columbus Yachts combines 50+ years of maritime expertise with modern yacht-building innovation. The brand gained recognition after launching its first 54m superyacht Prima in 2011 and later pioneering hybrid propulsion technology, earning RINA certification for its Sport Hybrid 40m.Specializing in semi-custom and full-custom builds (37m–120m), Columbus offers four lines: Atlantique, Crossover, Sport, and Classic. Its flagship 80m Dragon exemplifies its craftsmanship. As part of Palumbo Superyachts, the brand provides end-to-end owner support alongside sister yards ISA Yachts, Mondomarine, and Extra Yachts.Credits: Columbus Yachts
June 30, 2025
The 34th Monaco Yacht Show will take place from September 24-27, 2025, featuring approximately 560 exhibitors across Port Hercule. The event will display 120 superyachts, including 50 new builds from 2025, alongside 60 luxury tenders.Organizers have introduced a new sustainability program developed with the Water Revolution Foundation, highlighting exhibitors advancing environmental initiatives. The show's thematic zones include the Yacht Design & Innovation Hub for new concepts, the Adventure Area showcasing over 40 luxury vehicles and water toys, and the upper deck lounge for luxury goods and services."The exhibitor list helps future owners identify key contacts for custom builds, refits, or charters within an exclusive, innovation-focused environment," said Gaëlle Tallarida, Managing Director of the Monaco Yacht Show.The current exhibitor roster includes shipyards, designers, equipment manufacturers, and luxury service providers. The list remains subject to updates through summer 2025.Credits: MYS
June 30, 2025
The latest 80-meter Amels Limited Editions superyacht has arrived at Damen Yachting's Vlissingen shipyard in the Netherlands after construction at their Galatz facility in Romania. The vessel will now undergo full outfitting in preparation for delivery in 2027.Project Manager Danker Rijk stated: "After an impressive launch in our Galatz shipyard, we are delighted to welcome this Amels 80 to Vlissingen to commence the outfitting phase. This is an exciting milestone toward delivering another exceptional yacht on schedule."The 2,175 GT superyacht features exterior design by Espen Øino and interiors by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design. With accommodations for 14 guests and 21 crew members, the vessel represents Damen Yachting's combination of custom features with proven yacht-building technology.The Amels 80 follows the Limited Editions series' approach of offering semi-custom superyachts with reduced build times compared to fully custom projects. No further details about the owner or specific custom features were disclosed.Damen Yachting, a division within the Damen Shipyards Group, was created in 2019. The division combines the pedigree and heritage of Amels yachts with a growing portfolio of SeaXplorer yachts and Yacht Support vessels.Credits: Damen Yachting
June 27, 2025
Flexjet and Ferretti Group have introduced Riva Volare, a custom aircraft cabin design inspired by Riva motoryachts. The collaboration brings nautical styling to Flexjet's Gulfstream G650 jets and Sikorsky S-76 helicopters, targeting ultra-high-net-worth travelers.The Gulfstream G650 configuration accommodates 12-15 passengers for flights up to 16 hours, while two Sikorsky S-76 helicopters will operate in Florida and a new Milan-based service covering Italy and the French Riviera. Ferretti Group clients will receive preferential access to the helicopter operations.The design blends elements from Riva's 1960s Aquarama with contemporary Aquariva models, using artisanal materials and distinctive patterns. The interiors were developed through collaboration between both companies' design teams.Kenn Ricci and Alberto Galassi"I have long admired the iconic style of Riva, and seeing this brought to life in our aircraft is nothing short of exceptional," said Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci. Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi added: "Riva Volare is another splendid result of our collaboration with Flexjet, a brand with which we share the same passion for constantly raising quality standards."The design was unveiled June 26 at Milano Prime Linate Airport, with displays of the aircraft alongside a Riva Aquariva Special yacht. No pricing details were disclosed.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
June 27, 2025