Ferdinand Strohmeier, Vice President Operations at TUI Cruises for almost nine years and responsible for the entire ship operation, is leaving the cruise company, to start as CEO at the Portuguese expedition cruise operator Mystic Cruises.

Strohmeier joined TUI Cruises as General Manager on board of the former Mein Schiff 1 in March 2011 and looks back on six successful commissions of newbuilds in his new position as Vice President Operations. As part of the management team he has decisively shaped both TUI Cruises and the Mein Schiff fleet in terms of product and service. "We very much regret, that Ferdinand Strohmeier is leaving us, thank him for all the years of trustful cooperation and wish him all the best and much success in his new position as CEO of Mystic Cruises in Portugal," said Wybcke Meier, Chairman of the Management Board of TUI Cruises.

As his successor, Benny Weidacher, currently Vice President Ship Operations at Pullmantur Cruises Lines joined TUI Cruises on the first of July 2020. Born in Austria, he has been in the cruise industry for more than 20 years and held various management positions both on land and on board, including at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Wybcke Meier: "With Benny Weidacher we are gaining an experienced cruise manager. We wish him a sucessful start."