TUI River Cruises has announced the signing of two new build ships for the next generation of river cruise ships at recent TUI Aria’s Christening in Frankfurt.
The move signals TUI’s continued commitment to growing its River Cruise brand. The two new‑build vessels will grow TUI River Cruises’ fleet from six ships in 2026 to a program that expands the fleet to 10 ships by 2028, operating across Europe, the Rhine, Nile and the Douro.
These two new build ships have been designed and built from the outset with the foundations in place for the next generation of alternative fuels, particularly methanol. Each ship will have 94 cabins, 188 guest capacity and will continue to define and set new standards for modern river cruising through fresh innovative features, high-quality interiors and a variety of spacious venues whilst keeping the TUI service at the heart of the river cruise product.
This represents a major step for TUI River Cruises, marking its move into two new‑build vessels for the next generation of its river cruise fleet. The investment underlines a clear phase of growth and expansion for the brand, with the new ships increasing the fleet from six vessels in 2026 to a programme that expands the fleet to 10 ships in by 2028, operating across Europe, the Rhine, Nile and the Douro.
The ships will be designed specifically for the UK market and will continue to include flexibility and choice in mind for their customers.
The river cruise line is continuing to deliver strong performances year on year with high customer satisfaction and growing occupancy levels. TUI Group is committing to building its river cruise business in response to rising consumer demand and desire for culturally rich experiences on the river waterways.
