By
Alex Smith |
TUI River Cruises is to introduce a newly refurbished ship, TUI RIA, to its fleet in summer 2026.
TUI Ria will sail along six, seven, eight and nine-night itineraries along two rivers, the Rhine and Moselle, from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Basel in Switzerland and Frankfurt in Germany. It will be the fourth TUI vessel to sail in Europe, joining TUI Isla, TUI Maya and TUI Skyla.
The ship will be the highest capacity ship in TUI River Cruises’ fleet, accommodating 190 passengers across 96 cabins. It will be the first TUI vessel to include a pool with panoramic views, a sauna, sun loungers, a putting green and a shuffleboard on the upper deck. During the evenings, the pool floor will rise to close off the water, transforming the space into a secondary dining venue and entertainment area. The pool will also be the first in the fleet to have a retractable roof, allowing guests to use it year-round. The ship will have a modern interior design and will feature venues including restaurants, lounges and entertainment spaces.
The launch of the new ship comes following the cruise line’s third year of operation, with a 17 per cent increase in bookings year on year.
“We’re thrilled to be expanding our fleet with the addition of the latest ship to sail the European waterways,” said Katy Berzins, head of TUI River Cruises. “This marks another significant step in the growth of TUI River Cruises, following our second newly refurbished ship announcement in just one month. TUI Ria will provide more customers than ever the opportunity to explore Europe’s stunning rivers, offering new routes and alternatives.”