TUI River Cruises will add another ship to its fleet, the TUI Al Horeya, which will make a new Nile cruise in the winter of 2024, and for which bookings are now open.
The ship will be fully refurbished to offer all-inclusive, seven-night round-trip cruises from Luxor, catering to British passengers. Two weekly flights will depart from London's Gatwick and Manchester airports to Luxor from November 7, 2024, to April 24, 2025.
The ship has a capacity for 145 passengers and offers 74 cabins. Chris Hackney, CEO of TUI River Cruises, commented: “We are taking the best elements of our product and transferring them to the ship.” The vessel is currently in dry dock and the cabin design is “virtually complete.”.
The name TUI Al Horeya was chosen “to ensure we maintain a local connection with Egypt, as it is our only TUI river cruise that will remain in the country,” Jackney commented. The name means “freedom” in Arabic.
The ship will be owned by Travco Group, an Egyptian travel and tourism company with a long-standing relationship with TUI. It will feature a rooftop pool, two hot tubs, a leisure area, a restaurant, an al fresco dining area, a lounge bar, a wellness studio, and a boutique.
Katy Berzins, director of TUI River Cruises, said the ship will be like a “home away from home,” while continuing the line’s practice of serving dishes that resonate with the destination being visited.
The first "Legends of the Nile" itinerary will depart on November 7, 2024. The itinerary includes Luxor on days one and two, Edfu on day three, and Kom Ombo on day four. Days five and six will be dedicated to Aswan, and the following two days will return to Luxor.
In addition, two excursions are included in the cruise package price: the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the Temple of Kom Ombo. Other excursions will be available for passengers in Luxor and Aswan. These include: the Temples of Karnak and Luxor, with the Avenue of the Sphinx; a sound and light show at the Temple of Karnak, which tells the story of Thebes and the lives of the pharaohs; a visit to a Nubian village on an island and a ride on a traditional felucca; and visits to the High Dam, Obellsk, and the Temple of Phlae.
Throughout the voyage, qualified Egyptologists will be on hand to answer passengers' questions about ancient Egypt. Like the rest of the fleet, the TUI Al Horeya will also feature a daytime and evening entertainment program.
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