TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise shipping company, says it has decided to take medical services in house as its fleet will double in terms of numbers of vessels to four between now and the spring of 2015.

At the same time, the company has decided to terminate a contract with Clinic Im Centrum, the German chain of private surgeries.

The company said in a statement that the move had come timely as the company grows its fleet by the introduction of the 99,300 gross ton Mein Schiff 3 this spring and Mein Schiff 4 that is of the same size a year later. The company will continue to employ German doctors and nurses on board as it takes over the services, it said.