TUI Cruises has announced the promotion of Günter Batzner to Captain of Mein Schiff 4, marking a significant milestone in his maritime career. Having joined the Mein Schiff fleet as a Staff Captain in 2022, Batzner now takes full command of the ship for the first time.

Batzner’s career with TUI Cruises has seen him serve on Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 1, before playing one of the key roles in the launch team for the new Mein Schiff Relax. Now, as the newly appointed captain, he will be responsible for navigating the Mein Schiff 4 on a series of exciting itineraries.

His first voyage as captain will take the ship on a 21-day journey from Cape Town to Antalya, where it is scheduled to arrive on April 9, 2025. From there, Batzner will kick off the Mediterranean season, leading 9-night cruises from Antalya to Heraklion, followed by 7- and 14-day sailings across the Eastern Mediterranean. In May, Mein Schiff 4 will transition to the Western Mediterranean before heading north in the summer. The ship will then embark on a long-haul voyage from Mallorca back to Cape Town on October 1, 2025.

TUI Cruises shared the news on social media, congratulating Captain Batzner on his new role:
"He is the new captain of Mein Schiff 4: Günter Batzner is now in command. In the summer of 2022, he joined the Mein Schiff fleet as a staff captain. After stints on Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 1, he was most recently part of the start-up team on Mein Schiff Relax. In his debut as captain, Günter Batzner maneuvers the freshly renovated Mein Schiff 4 from the Orient around Africa to Antalya—and starts the Mediterranean season there. We send you our best wishes: Congratulations and all the best!"

As Captain Batzner embarks on this new chapter, we wish him calm seas, steady winds, and smooth sailing ahead.