The Celebrity Galaxy will become TUI Cruises’ first ship when it enters service for the German cruise line in May 2009.

TUI Cruises, a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and German travel conglomerate TUI, will operate the ship under a new name. The ship will sail in the Baltic during its first summer season and in the Caribbean the following winter.

Celebrity said that the 1,870-passenger Galaxy would complete its scheduled sailings through March 2, 2009. The ship will spend this summer in the Mediterranean and its final winter with Celebrity in the Caribbean.

The new line is targeting German-speaking guests. TUI Cruises CEO Richard Vogel said that the ship would be customized for its German customer base.
 
Celebrity President and CEO Dan Hanrahan said that much of the crew from the Galaxy would be transferred to other ships in the Celebrity fleet.

The Galaxy, which entered service in December 1996, underwent $4 million in upgrades this month, including new carpeting, upholstery and lighting in a variety of public spaces and staterooms.