By
Alice Chambers |
TUI River Cruises is to debut a new vessel on the River Nile in Egypt as part of its winter 2024 programme.
The ship, which will be named TUI Al Horeya (‘freedom’ in Arabic) is owned by Egyptian travel company Travco and will be chartered to TUI for an unspecified length of time. It is currently in dry dock in Egypt’s capital Cairo and will accommodate 145 passengers across 74 single and standard cabins and suites and will also feature a top-deck swimming pool, two whirlpools, an entertainment area, a restaurant, al fresco dining areas, a lounge bar, a wellness studio and a boutique shop. Dedicated licensed Egyptologists will also be onboard to deliver historical talks and tours.
TUI Al Horeya will sail seven-night, all-inclusive roundtrip cruises from Luxor between November 2024 and April 2025, visiting locations along the Nile including Efu, Kom Ombo and Aswan. TUI will offer two set excursions within the sailing package price including the Temple of Horus in Edfu and the Temple of Kom Ombo. Additional excursions will be on offer in Luxor and Aswan, enabling guests to visit attractions such as the Temples of Karnak and Luxor with the Sphinx Avenue, as well as the Nubian Village.
As part of the inclusive package, TUI will operate two exclusive charter flights per week from the UK’s London Gatwick and Manchester airports to Luxor. The new routes are exclusive to TUI, which will be the only tour operator to offer direct, non-stop flights from the UK to Luxor.
“TUI River Cruises is going from strength to strength, and we are so excited to introduce this latest offering on the Nile which we are confident our customers will love,” said Chris Hackney, managing director of TUI River Cruises. “A cruise along the Nile offers a serene and unforgettable experience with lush landscapes, traditional villages, and other iconic landmarks such as the Luxor and Edfu Temples. With year-round sunshine, Egypt is the perfect destination for exploring ancient history and allowing guests to immerse themselves in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
To meet demand for winter 2024, TUI River Cruises has also developed two new seven-night itineraries over the New Year period – a ‘New Year Sail Away’ itinerary in Cologne, Germany, onboard TUI Isla and a ‘Sail into the New Year’ voyage in Frankfurt, Germany, on TUI Maya. TUI Skyla will also offer the brand’s existing ‘New Year on The Rhine’ itinerary.
“Customers are at the heart of our brand,” said Katy Berzins, head of TUI River Cruises at an exclusive media dinner attended by CFR, where she discussed some of the changes that have been implemented across the fleet this year to provide flexible onboard entertainment and excursion options for guests.
A few of the updates include developing menus based on the destinations guests are sailing to and traditional English dishes that feel like “home comforts”, as well as expanding excursion offerings to include more options, ranging from traditional walking tours to unique experiences such as kayaking in Venice.