Making of: Rolf Benz meets TUI Cruises
The new ship category had a clear concept: offer guests an even more varied journey to high-quality worlds where they can enjoy themselves and relax. With ROLF BENZ, TUI Cruises found its ideal partner for the project in 2020: an internationally famous brand-name company that produces custom-made, top-class designer furniture and also employs a skilled Contract Team.
Stefanie Jentz, Design Project Manager at TUI Cruises: “The ROLF BENZ mindset fits in perfectly with ours at TUI Cruises. Their idea of well-being, Made in Germany quality and their sense of aesthetics impressed us from the start. At the beginning of our collaboration, when the pandemic meant that we could only see each other on screen, we could tell even then that we had the right chemistry.”
Jürgen Mauß, CEO of Rolf Benz: “We are incredibly proud of and delighted by the esteem that this order from TUI Cruises has given us. To continue the shipping metaphor, we see this as confirmation that our business and Rolf Benz CONTRACT is on course. Our cooperation with TUI Cruises has been a stroke of luck and an enormous success.”
The project: customizing for Cruise Line Design
Several architecture teams were involved in designing Mein Schiff Relax. The initial design of the standard cabins comes from Tillberg Design of Sweden, the junior suites were designed by JOI Design Hamburg, while the lighting concept comes from Elektra London.
At TUI Cruises, Stefanie Jentz is responsible for everything related to the project. At Rolf Benz CONTRACT, Brian Therkelsen, Head of CONTRACT, was the main contact for this collaboration. Rolf Benz Development Manager Stefan Russ and his team were also actively involved.
Working closely together, TUI Cruises and Rolf Benz CONTRACT have designed three sofa formats for the ship’s cabins: a sofa bed, a double sofa bed and a three-seater sofa on which guests can also take a rest. In line with this concept, the individual sofas can fold up and be fitted with a bed frame. In addition to the 1,900 standard sofas in total, the teams are currently creating another two versions for the ship.
The custom-made Rolf Benz sofas have a linear, modern appearance to match the design of the light and airy cabin interiors. Fitted with a rather firm seating comfort, they suit the needs of cruise guests perfectly. In all other aspects, too, the sofas are perfectly tailored and adapted to the special comfort and safety requirements of the Cruise Line Design – first-class craftsmanship in the familiar Black Forest quality.
