October 14, 2026 — TUI River Cruises has announced its largest program so far for summer 2028: 10 ships, 43 itineraries, two new ships and its first cruises on France’s Seine. Sales open October 15, 2026.
The details
- Season: March to October 2028, with cruises of 3 to 14 nights.
- New ships: TUI Zora starts on the Rhine on May 7, 2028, and TUI Velara follows on the Danube on August 14, 2028. Each has 94 cabins for 188 guests, with Full Board Plus included and an All Inclusive upgrade available. Both are designed to be able to use alternative fuels such as methanol.
- New river: the adults-only TUI Elara, which joins the fleet in March 2027, sails the Seine from March 20, 2028, on 4-, 7- and 10-night cruises past Paris, Vernon and Rouen. A Normandy excursion includes the D-Day beaches.
- Other changes: TUI Luzia sails 7-night Douro cruises, TUI Maya and TUI Skyla offer solo-traveler sailings on the Danube and Rhine, and TUI Aria moves to the Danube.
- Embarkation points: TBA (not given in the announcement).
What it means for airline travelers
- These cruises are designed for the UK market. Most flights in TUI’s packages leave from UK airports, so if you plan to fly yourself, check whether a cruise-only fare is offered.
- Seine cruises usually start in or near Paris. Once embarkation points are published, compare CDG and ORY with your airline’s network.
- No travel-industry or interline rate changes were mentioned.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News: TUI Launches Biggest River Season with New River and Ships
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