Our balcony cabin on board the Mein Schiff 3

We set sail from Bremerhaven shortly after Whitsun. On board Mein Schiff 3, we set off on our journey around the UK in our balcony cabin. On our 13-day trip, we will visit Loch Ness from Invergordon, discover the Orkney Islands, explore the cities of Belfast and Liverpool, travel overland from Greenock and enjoy the south of England in Portland and Southampton.

Mein Schiff 3 has been around since 2014. She belongs to the German shipping company Tui Cruises and was christened by the singer Helene Fischer on June 12, 2014 in Hamburg. In 2021, the ship became a TV star, as the RTL series “Der Schiffsarzt” was filmed on board.

Our port of arrival and departure with Mein Schiff 3 is Bremerhaven this time. When checking in online, we had to select a check-in time for the port terminal in advance. The popular 13:00 -14:00 time slot was already fully booked, so we chose 14:00 – 15:00. We currently also need two Covid tests to get on board. A self-test is carried out 72-48 hours beforehand and an antigen test on the same day. We did the antigen test in Bremerhaven. However, as the regulations change frequently, we will not go into more detail here.

We reach the cruise terminal in Bremerhaven by cab shortly before 14:00. Check-in takes place in two stages. At the first stop, the health questionnaire and the negative Covid test are checked. Then we can queue up to go on board. When we see the long queue in the terminal on arrival, we are shocked at first, but everything goes surprisingly quickly. At least we are already on board before 15:00 and can quickly complete our safety exercise before our cabin is ready at 15:00. We go to our sample station for the safety exercise. In small groups, the emergency signal, the use of the life jacket and what to do in an emergency are explained.

Our cabin on deck 7

We booked two balcony cabins as lucky cabins. We were given two PUR balcony cabins on deck seven, which are in the middle. One on the control board side and one on the backboard side. This is very practical, as it allows us to change sides for photos when entering and exiting. As decks six and eight are also cabin decks, the situation is also quiet. They are both 17 m² in size.

The cabins are beautifully furnished in blue, beige and white and generously equipped. The blue and brown striped carpet goes perfectly with the light-colored furniture. The blue and white curtains, the cushions on the sofa bed and the four pictures above the sofa have been chosen to match. You immediately feel comfortable and welcome. There is also a Nespresso machine in every cabin. Two capsules are free of charge every day and are prominently displayed on the coffee caddy, so you can enjoy a coffee together in the morning in your cabin or on the balcony. All other capsules are sealed in the box and must be paid for when used.

There is a water carafe with which you can get still water free of charge. The dispensers are located by the elevators. If you want, you can even make your water even more energetic with healing crystals. These are located directly next to the carafe and can be placed inside. Despite the water carafe, there is a large bottle of still water and a bottle of mineral water, which you can buy for 2.60 euros per bottle.

There is plenty of storage space in many drawers and in the two cupboards. We can hang our jackets on the 4 hooks on the door. On one side of the bed is a bedside table with two large drawers. On the other side of the bed there is only a box next to the bed as a storage surface, but without drawers. We really like the balcony cabin because it is spacious and offers plenty of room. Of course, there is also a hairdryer. It is under the desk in a drawer and the drawer is even labeled accordingly. Of course, there is also a large mirror above the desk and a large flat-screen TV opposite the bed. We really want for nothing.

The bathroom

The bathroom is also decorated in light beige and brown tones. The pebble look on the floor and behind the washbasin is particularly pretty. In the bathroom, there is a drawer in wood look under the washbasin. The drawer in the washbasin is often installed in such a way that there is an edge towards the toilet. In our cubicle, the corner of the washbasin is rounded. That is a great advantage. In addition to the washbasin, there is also a magnifying mirror and two hanging shelves. Cosmetic tissues are also available. In the shower there is a shelf for your own shower utensils and two filled soap dispensers, one with shampoo and shower gel and a second with conditioner. The shower in our balcony cabin is very large compared to many ships and has a door instead of a shower curtain. You can shower without bumping into anything.

The balcony

Our balcony is located directly above the lifeboats. However, this does not restrict visibility. It is a normal size and offers space for two balcony chairs and a small table. The backrests of the balcony chairs can be adjusted backwards so that you can almost lie in them. The ashtray on the balcony is unusual. We haven’t seen that on board for a while.

Our conclusion

We really like the design of the cabin on board the Mein Schiff 3. The fresh maritime colors underline the feeling of being at sea. With the cushions, curtains and pictures, the cabin looks cozy, bright and also very homely. There is also enough space for luggage for two people for two weeks. Perfect for a modern cruise.