Mein Schiff Cruise Review for English Speakers: What You Need to Know Before Booking
If you’re an English speaker thinking about booking a Mein Schiff cruise, you’ve probably asked one big question: will this actually work if we don’t speak German? We had the same concern before sailing — and this article is the honest, no-nonsense answer based on our experience onboard.
TL;DR: Mein Schiff is doable for English speakers, but it’s quiet, German-first, and not a great fit if you want lively entertainment, social vibes, or English-led kids activities.
We’ve wanted to sail Mein Schiff for years. We’d seen the ships docked alongside us in so many ports and we’d built it up in our heads as a kind of German version of Celebrity Cruises: stylish ships, good food, premium feel, and a relaxed atmosphere without constant upselling.
So did it live up to that reputation? In some ways, yes. But overall, we came away disappointed — and surprisingly, the language wasn’t the biggest problem. We also travelled with our nephew Oscar on his first “solo cruise with his uncles,” so we’ll cover what Mein Schiff is like for families too, especially if your child doesn’t speak German.
We paid €3,000 for all three of us for a 7 night cruise on Mein Schiff 4 departing from Dubai visiting Oman and Abu Dhabi.
Read our guide What to Do in Abu Dhabi on a Cruise
Quick Verdict: Mein Schiff works for English speakers day-to-day, but it’s a German-first experience. We could handle the language, but we wouldn’t cruise it again because of the atmosphere, slow service, and food.
- English-friendly for basics? Yes (crew communication was generally easy)
- Announcements & schedule? Mostly German (translation tools help)
- Entertainment? Limited and mostly German
- Family-friendly for non-German kids? Mixed (kids club was tough)
- Would we cruise Mein Schiff again? No (not because of language)
What Is Mein Schiff?
Mein Schiff is a German cruise line operated by TUI Cruises. It’s built primarily for German-speaking guests, which affects everything from announcements and entertainment to the daily program and the general onboard vibe.
The line is marketed as a premium inclusive cruise experience. In practice, that typically means many drinks are included as standard (not as an optional package) and tips are included too. A lot of people compare Mein Schiff to Celebrity: modern, relaxed, and grown-up, with fewer gimmicks than some mainstream cruise lines. That reputation is what made us want to try it.
Read our recent review of the Celebrity Xcel to compare
Is Mein Schiff English Friendly?
In short: yes. But there are a few important caveats.
Booking was straightforward and the website was in English. Our confirmations and follow-up documents arrived in German, but a quick translation through Gmail made them easy enough to understand.
Once onboard, we found crew communication was generally not a problem.
Most staff spoke English well, including guest services and the shore excursions team.
Dining and housekeeping staff were often international and, in many cases, spoke better English than German.
The biggest challenge wasn’t the crew. It was the passengers.
The vast majority of guests onboard were German, and every time English came out of our mouths we got a lot of stares. It genuinely felt like we were aliens.
So yes, Mein Schiff can work as an English speaker in a practical sense. Socially, it can feel isolating.
What Language Is Spoken Onboard Mein Schiff?
German is the default language onboard. All announcement are in German, with the exception of safety announcements were heard in English.
The paper daily planner delivered to the cabin each day was in German. The app does have an English option, but we found it slow, clunky, and sometimes missing information compared to the German version. It also tended to flip back into German on certain pages.
TIP: What worked best for us was downloading German offline in Google Translate and using the camera translation feature.
This is also where the language side can become more than just “a mild inconvenience.” We had one moment in Abu Dhabi where we didn’t realise we needed to get off the ship by a specific time to have passports stamped. We missed it in the German materials and only caught it when an announcement came through in English with 10 minutes to spare. We ended up abandoning breakfast and running.
That’s the risk: you’ll be fine most of the time, but missing one instruction can throw your whole day off.
Menus, Dining, and Ordering Food as an English Speaker
Ordering food and drinks was usually easy because staff spoke English. Understanding menus without constantly translating was more annoying.
Most menus were in German. In the main dining room, they tried to find English menus for us for quite a while. The app had menus in English too, but it wasn’t always complete.
TIP: Again, We often found it easier to translate the paper menu using our phones and point to the dishes in the menu. This helped the crew match what we were asking for to what was listed in their tablet.
The buffet was the simplest option as an English speaker because allergen icons helped, and you can visually choose what you want. The selection felt very German/European, with lots of bread, salads, meats, cheese, and pasta. We noticed fewer Asian options than many mainstream cruise lines.
In terms of quality, we found it mixed. Some items were fine if you chose carefully. Desserts were particularly hit-and-miss.
The main dining room was the biggest disappointment for us. Service was consistently slow, portions were inconsistent, and some dishes were genuinely not good. One dinner took nearly three hours, and on another night we eventually walked out because we hadn’t even received our main course and Oscar was hungry. We ended up going to the buffet, which was extremely busy.
Specialty dining was better. We did an Asian meal that was genuinely enjoyable, and the Italian was solid too. Overall, we had our best meals in specialty restaurants, and our weakest experiences in the main dining room.
Entertainment and Activities: Will You Feel Left Out?
All of entertainment is in German, and some of it is language-heavy, like talks, comedy, and magic. We skipped most of those.
We did see a musical-style show that included Disney songs, and even though it was all in German, it still worked because the music was familiar.
What surprised us most wasn’t that it was German — it was how little was happening overall. We were used to live music, trivia, and multiple showtimes. On Mein Schiff, the schedule felt thin, and the ship often felt oddly silent, even when bars were full.
Cruising Mein Schiff With a Child: Our Experience
We travelled with our nephew Oscar, and this part matters because most English-language coverage of Mein Schiff doesn’t really address what it’s like for families who don’t speak German.
The kids club was the biggest challenge. Activities were primarily German-led. Staff were kind and did speak English, but Oscar didn’t feel comfortable, and he didn’t really enjoy going. If your child relies on language-led activities to settle in, the kids club may be a struggle.
Outside of the kids club, things were easier. Pools, deck time, and family spaces worked well, and we actually loved that there were areas where we could play games together, like Pac-Man and arcade games as a group. We wish more cruise lines offered more “family together” spaces like that.
Overall, Mein Schiff isn’t a kids-first cruise line. It’s calmer, quieter, and less structured for families than the big mainstream lines. But that doesn’t mean kids aren’t welcome. There were lots of families onboard — it’s just not designed around constant kid-focused entertainment, especially for non-German-speaking kids.
Share Excursions
Shore excursions were mixed. Some tours included a German guide from the ship translating a local guide’s English into German, and we had to specifically ask to hear the English over the microphone as well. While the guide was happy, other passengers audibly were annoyed.
Other tours which relied less on a guides narration, such as a beach day or boat tour, were hosted by the local guides in English and were straightforward.
The Ship Itself: Design, Decor, and Facilities
We sailed on Mein Schiff 4, which carries around 2,400 guests and launched in 2016. On paper, that should feel fairly modern. In reality, parts of the ship felt older than we expected — and not in a charming way.
The overall design was very white and neutral, and a lot of spaces felt one-tone. Some areas felt a bit cold, almost clinical. A few sections even reminded us of a ferry, especially in the way they were laid out and finished.
It also felt disjointed. You’d walk through a dated area and then suddenly arrive somewhere that felt genuinely modern and lovely, especially toward the back of the ship. It didn’t feel cohesive.
One thing we noticed immediately is how quiet the ship feels. There are lots of lounges, but many of them had little or no music, even when they were busy. It created a strange “silent waiting room” atmosphere in bars that were absolutely packed.
Another thing that slowly wore us down on Mein Schiff was the number of rules. None of them were deal-breakers on their own, but taken together they made the experience feel more restrictive and less “premium” than we expected.
Drinks were included almost everywhere on the ship — except inside the specialty restaurants. That meant paying for the exact same drink you could get included just a few steps away at the bar outside. It felt unnecessary and a bit petty, especially on a cruise line marketed as premium inclusive. This even included water!
No drinks were allowed in the theatre which isn’t something we’ve come across before on most mainstream cruise lines
In the cabin, you’re given a coffee machine, but if you drink more than one coffee per person per day, you’re charged 1 Euro for extra pods. It’s not expensive, but it’s another example of how the experience didn’t feel as carefree as we’d expected.
Even practical things felt slightly unforgiving. If you lose your cruise card, you’re charged for a replacement, which again isn’t the end of the world, but it adds to the sense that you’re being told off rather than looked after.
One rule we genuinely struggled with was the smoking policy. Smoking is allowed on balconies on Mein Schiff, which really surprised us. In all the cruises we’ve done, we’ve only seen this on Costa, and even there it stood out. On most cruise lines, balcony smoking is banned because of fire risk and because smoke inevitably drifts into neighbouring cabins.
On the plus side, the ship was immaculately clean. Surfaces were sparkling, hand sanitiser stations were everywhere, and hygiene felt taken seriously.
The ship had good gym facilities, large pools (indoor and outdoors) and hot tubs, and a very German-style sauna and spa culture. If relaxation and wellness are your priority, this is where Mein Schiff was great.
Fellow Passengers and Atmosphere
The overall vibe onboard was reserved and very quiet. Noise levels were low, and public spaces often felt silent, even when crowded.
The crew made us feel welcome. Socially, as English speakers, we often felt like outsiders. Not because anyone was openly hostile — but because it was clear we weren’t part of the “default” onboard culture.
What We Loved About Mein Schiff
Included drinks. It genuinely makes the experience feel simpler. The quality of the drinks was also better than we expected with premium liquor brands and espresso coffee all included.
No gratuities or tipping. Tips are included, which means you don’t need to factor in gratuities when booking your cruise.
A calm, non-rowdy atmosphere. Despite the ship being quiet and alcoholic drinks included. We didn’t see drunk or rowdy passengers at all — even with self-serve wine and beer available in the buffet.
Excellent cleanliness. The ship was consistently spotless, with hygiene clearly taken seriously throughout.
Good value shore excursions and specialty dining. Prices felt reasonable and fairly priced compared to what you often see on other cruise lines.
Water Machines on each deck. A small thing but we appreciated this SO MUCH.
What Didn’t Work for Us
Weak food. Food quality was inconsistent, and meals often felt underwhelming.
Slow service across the ship. Dining in particular could be painfully slow at times and getting drinks in bars was very slow.
Limited entertainment. Even for German speakers, there wasn’t much happening.
Too many rules. Several policies felt oddly restrictive and, at times, a bit cheap for a cruise line positioning itself as premium inclusive.
Smoking policy. Smoking areas were numerous, smoking was allowed on balconies, and we could smell cigarette smoke in corridors and cabin areas. If you’re sensitive to smoke, this could easily be a deal-breaker.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Book Mein Schiff
Mein Schiff can be a great fit if you’re looking for a calm, low-key way to get from point A to point B, with longer stays in port and a one-price experience that includes drinks and removes any worry about tipping.
It’s probably not ideal if you want a lively ship, a warm, social atmosphere, or if you’re travelling with kids who need English-led kids clubs and activities to feel comfortable and engaged.
Would We Cruise Mein Schiff Again as English Speakers?
No — but not because of the language.
We could handle the German side of things. The reality is that the overall experience just isn’t for us. The ship didn’t feel as premium as we expected, the food didn’t live up to the reputation, service was slow, rules felt restrictive, and the onboard atmosphere was quieter and less welcoming socially than we personally enjoy.
We paid around €3,000 for all three of us, and when you consider drinks and tips are included, it’s not wildly expensive for what you get. It also wasn’t the worst cruise we’ve ever done. But it wasn’t what we hoped it would be — and we wouldn’t repeat it.
That said, the best part of the cruise was simple: we got to spend a week with Oscar and make some really special memories. And for that, we’re genuinely grateful we tried it.
FAQs: Mein Schiff for English Speakers
Can you cruise Mein Schiff without speaking German?
Yes. In our experience, most crew members spoke English and we were able to order food, book things, and get help when needed. The main difference is that daily announcements, entertainment, and printed materials are primarily in German, so you’ll rely on translation tools more than on an English-first cruise line.
Is Mein Schiff English friendly compared to other cruise lines?
Operationally, yes — the crew made it work. Socially, it can feel less welcoming because most guests are German speakers and the onboard culture is very German-first.
Is Mein Schiff family friendly for English-speaking kids?
Kids are welcome, but it’s not a kids-first cruise line. The kids club is mainly German-led, and our child didn’t feel comfortable joining in. We still had a great family trip by focusing on pools, family spaces, and activities we could do together.
Are menus in English on Mein Schiff?
Mostly no. We occasionally got English menus in the main dining room, but many menus were in German. The app has an English option, but we found it clunky and sometimes incomplete. Taking a photo and translating it with Google Translate worked best for us.
What’s the biggest downside of cruising Mein Schiff as an English speaker?
The biggest downside isn’t ordering food — it’s missing important information in German-only announcements or paperwork, and feeling socially out of place among passengers who mostly speak German.
Would we recommend Mein Schiff for English speakers?
It depends. If you want a calm ship with included drinks and you’re confident using translation tools, you may love it. If you want lively entertainment, a warm social vibe, and English-led activities, it may not be the right fit.