TUI Isla, the third and final ship to join the TUI River Cruises fleet, set sail today on its first itinerary, Rhine Explorer 2, after its christening a few days ago.
The cruise departs from Basel, Switzerland, before heading to Strasbourg, France, and then to some of Germany's best-known cities, such as Rudesheim, Koblenz and Cologne, before ending its itinerary in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The christening ceremony took place on March 28th, during a special voyage for TUI staff, prior to the ship's first sailing with clients. TUI employee Courtney Smith, the godmother, performed the traditional bottle tap. Courtney has been with TUI for five years and was appointed godmother in 2020, but due to the pandemic, she has only now been able to fulfill her duties.
Courtney Smith, godmother of the TUI Isla, said: “It is an honor for me to be the godmother of the TUI Isla. It is incredible to finally be able to christen her, and the fact that she is the last ship in the fleet makes it truly special.”.
The river cruise company has expanded its offerings for summer 2022 with two new itineraries and a new port of call. The new Treasures of the Main itinerary features the new port of call in Aschaffenburg, a city that blends tradition and modernity. Legends of the Rhine is a new seven-night round-trip voyage to Frankfurt with stops in Cologne, Bonn, and Koblenz. Guests sailing on this itinerary departing on August 12, 2022, will also experience the Rhine in Flames festival, Germany’s largest and oldest fireworks display.
Chris Hackney, Managing Director of Cruise TUI UK & I, said: “We are delighted to complete our TUI River Cruises fleet with the departure of TUI Isla. Its addition allows us to visit ports of call and destinations we haven't previously served. We have received incredible feedback from guests who have sailed on board TUI Maya and TUI Skyla since their launch last year, so we are thrilled to be able to offer even more itineraries to our guests.”.
