A TUI river cruise is an excellent way to introduce yourself to cruising, with a variety of destinations to visit, and holiday packages starting from as little as 3 days, it is the ideal escape.

A river cruise generally operates a smaller ship, and on a TUI river cruise there is a maximum of 155 guests, per ship. All TUI river cruises are adult only, and included as standard are; your flights, transfers, luggage allowance (23kg), and 3 meals per day, with drinks.

Fleet information

• TUI Skyla – This ship has 2 restaurants, 2 bars, a wellness area, a top deck. Sailing on the Danube in the summer, and Rhine/Main in the winter season
• TUI Al Horeya – This ship has 1 restaurant and an al fresco dining area, 2 bars, a wellness area, top deck with a pool and hot tubs. Cruising the Nile.
• TUI Isla – This ship has 2 restaurants, 2 bars, and a top deck. Cruising Main, Dutch & Belgian Waterways, Rhine, Danube, and Moselle. We also have a full review of TUI Isla here.
• TUI Maya – This ship has 2 restaurants, 2 bars, and a top deck. Cruising Main, Danube, and Rhine.
• TUI Alma – This is a new build river cruise ship, with 1 restaurant and an al fresco dining area, a shallow pool, and 3 bars. Cruising Douro.

River cruise packages on offer:

TUI Isla, Maya, Skyla and Alma are full-board as standard; this means you get three meals per day, as well as tea, coffee, soft drinks, and wine or beer with meals. Any other drinks would need to be paid for, or upgraded to the all-inclusive drinks package. You can upgrade onboard, on your first day of the cruise.

TUI Al Horeya is all inclusive as standard, and on TUI Isla, Maya, and Skyla, if you upgrade to the all-inclusive drinks package, and are in a suite, or superior cabin, the mini bar will be included.

Cruise destinations:

• Danube; Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia
• Douro; Portugal
• Dutch & Belgian Waterways; Belgium, Netherlands
• Main; Germany
• Moselle; Germany
• Nile; Egypt
• Rhine; France, Germany, Switzerland

Check out the river cruise map here

Cruise experience:

• Festive TUI river cruises
• Cruise only
• River cruise and stay (Nile)

Now you know either which ship you want to cruise on, or which destinations you want to visit. It’s time to think about the type of river cruise you want. Do you want to make the most of your trip by taking part in some shore excursions? Or would you prefer to do your own thing, or even stay on board and explore what the ship has to offer?

Whatever you want to do, TUI can provide the experience to suit you, ensuring you have a memorable and enjoyable river cruise.

On and off the ship:

Exploring onshore;

Booking excursions on your river cruise are a fun way of exploring each place you visit, and can be cancelled free of charge up to 2 days before. There are three levels to choose from, so there is something for everyone, from easy to challenging, so you know what to expect upfront.

From visiting historical landmarks, to exploring cities, there’s a variety of different activities to choose from. So, be sure to check these out when booking your river cruise – we recommend booking these in advance, before sailing if possible.

Entertainment onboard;

The entertainment on a TUI river cruise has been updated in 2024 to provide more choices, and better quality. Onboard you’ll find daytime and evening entertainment, including arts and crafts, wellness classes, live performances, and quizzes. There are also location specific activities, which you can find out more about here.

Once you board the ship, you can view the daily activity timetable via the Navigate app, as each ship may vary.

• All cruises are full-board, with the exception of TUI Al Horeya, which has an all-inclusive drinks package as standard
• There are no set dining times, so there is complete flexibility
• A Gala dinner is available if you’re cruising for 5 days or more
• If you opt for the all-inclusive drinks package, it runs from 10am-midnight every day, right up until you leave the ship to go home
• There is 24/7 support on board
• Free, unlimited WiFi
• Smart-casual dress code, beachwear cannot be worn inside restaurants
• There are no lifts onboard any of the ships, so they’re not wheel-chair friendly unfortunately
• All ships are cashless

Cabins:

All of the TUI river cruise ships come with a choice of cabins, and you can reserve a cabin ahead of time, up to 14 days before you set sail, from £55. They all come with air-conditioning, hairdryer, TV, safe, and tea and coffee making facilities.

Unlike a typical cruise ship, all of the cabins are on the outside of the ship, so come with some form of window. Here is an overview of the cabin types you can find onboard:

• French balcony cabins/suites
• Balcony cabins
• Single cabins
• Standard cabins

Watch our video from our TUI Isla cruise to find out all about the different cabins available

• Are branded spirits included in the all-inclusive drinks package? For all European cruises, yes
• Do I need a Visa? Check here if you have a British passport, otherwise, you’ll need to check with individual embassies
• What is the check-in time? You can board the ship as soon as your transfer arrives from the airport. Official check-in is 3pm, but you can use all of the ship facilities whilst you wait.
• Are pool towels provided? Yes, in the wellness area
• Can I smoke onboard? Only in designated smoking areas on the top deck. You cannot smoke in your cabin or balcony
• Is there a shop onboard? Yes, a small shop selling souvenirs, but no duty-free
• What is check-out time? 9am, but you can use all of the facilities on board until you disembark
• Can I bring a mobility scooter or wheelchair on board? Unfortunately not as the ships cannot facilitate wheelchair users, and if you are unable to walk unaided up and down stairs then a river cruise won’t be right for you. Something to also bear in mind is there are no adapted cabins onboard a river cruise ship.

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser, or just new to river cruising, we hope you’ve found this blog helpful. Embarking on a river cruise with TUI is a great way to explore some great places across Europe and beyond.

With a range of shore excursions, entertainment options to suit all, and award-winning* dining experiences, TUI takes care of every detail, allowing you to focus on creating unforgettable memories.

* Consumer favourite for food and beverages at the 2024 sailawaze excellence awards

Now watch our Vlog series from our TUI Isla cruise. We had such a fabulous time and sure you will too. So book your TUI River Cruise here now!