The joint venture between TUI and Royal Caribbean said in a statement that Mein Schiff 7 and Mein Schiff 8 will join its fleet in 2018 and 2019.

The vessels are options attached to an order last year at the German-owned yard and take the value of the four ships to a reported $2.7bn.

The new ships have 2,500 berths each and will replace the 1,900-berth Mein Schiff 1 (built 1996) and Mein Schiff 2 (built 1997), which are heading to UK sister operation Thomson.

These