Maria Tauschke is the Head of Shore Operations at TUI Cruises, where she leads a team of more than 25 specialists and is responsible for the strategic and operational management of all destination-related processes for the Mein Schiff fleet.

Her areas of responsibility include Port Operations, Ground Operations, and Tour Operations, ensuring smooth and efficient workflows in close cooperation with global partners and local authorities. Since 2021, Maria has also overseen Port Operations for the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet, and in 2023, her role expanded to include full responsibility for Tour Operations within the Mein Schiff brand. This makes her accountable for the entire guest experience in destinations — from port logistics to shore excursions — across multiple international cruise regions.
Maria joined TUI Cruises in 2015 and has been instrumental in shaping and developing the Shore Operations Department into a central hub for destination management. Starting with a focus on Port Operations in the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean, she soon expanded her responsibilities to include Western Europe operations, the establishment of a dedicated Port Cost Accounting Department at TUI Cruises GmbH, and the recruitment, onboarding, and supervision of interns, working students, and dual students within her department. Her leadership has strengthened operational processes, improved efficiency, and enhanced collaboration with international port authorities, ground handlers, and shore excursion partners.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maria played a key role in ensuring operational continuity for TUI Cruises. She developed and implemented comprehensive concepts for safe embarkation and disembarkation procedures, controlled experience ashore, and on-site testing solutions in cruise terminals. These innovations were critical in enabling the safe and successful restart of cruise operations in a challenging global environment.
Today, Maria is also responsible for cross-fleet operational strategies, oversees short-notice itinerary changes, and drives the ongoing optimization of workflows and guest experience within Shore Operations for both TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Tourism Management and a Master of Science in Business Psychology, combining her strong industry knowledge with proven leadership, analytical expertise, and strategic thinking. With her extensive experience in managing complex global operations, she has established herself as a recognized expert in destination management and shore operations within the cruise industry.