TUI River Cruises has unveiled its program for winter 2027, which will include the first winter season of the TUI Elara and bring the number of ships operating on the Rhine River to three, as well as adding new ports in Belgium. Meanwhile, the TUI Luzia will offer itineraries on the Douro River, while both the TUI Elara and TUI Aria will feature sailings specially designed for solo travelers on the Rhine. This is the company's largest winter launch to date.
The program will go on sale on July 2, 2026, and will include 37 departures between October 2027 and April 2028, with cruises of three, four, five, and seven nights across the fleet.
The TUI Elara, the cruise line's most intimate ship, will sail the Rhine, offering passengers the chance to discover different Belgian Christmas markets on the "An Enchanting Christmas Journey" itinerary. This route will include new ports such as Maastricht, Liège, and Roermond, where the ship will be docked on Christmas Day 2027.
Meanwhile, the TUI Luzia, the first ship built specifically for the river cruise line, will undertake its inaugural winter season on the Douro River with four departures on the “Douro Discovery” itinerary. The journey will depart from Porto and stop in Entre-os-Rios, Peso da Régua, Vega de Terrón, and Barca d'Alva, before returning to Peso da Régua and concluding back in Porto. The first departure is scheduled for November 5, 2027. These operations will include flights operated by third parties from London Stansted and London Gatwick airports to Porto.
The TUI Maya and TUI Isla ships will continue sailing the Danube, including special New Year's cruises. Among them is the "New Year on the Eastern Danube" itinerary aboard the TUI Maya, departing on December 30, 2027, and stopping in Budapest for New Year's Eve celebrations.
The company will also expand its regional flight program with a third TUI Airways connection between Birmingham and Düsseldorf, adding to the existing routes from London Gatwick and Manchester for the TUI Skyla, TUI Aria, and TUI Elara ships. These flights will support itineraries such as Mistletoe & Rhine on board the TUI Aria and A Christmastime on the Rhine on the TUI Skyla.
In addition, TUI River Cruises will offer two cruises specifically designed for solo travelers. The TUI Elara will sail the southern Rhine on a seven-night itinerary called “Rhine Châteaux & Gâteaux,” with stops in Basel, Mannheim, and Koblenz, departing on October 31, 2027. Meanwhile, the TUI Aria will explore the northern Rhine on the four-night “Northern Rhine Highlights” cruise, visiting Amsterdam, Cologne, and Mainz, departing on November 17, 2027.
Katy Berzins, Head of River Cruises at TUI River Cruises, said: “Winter 2027 marks an exciting step forward for TUI River Cruises as we expand both our fleet and our offering.
With the addition of the TUI Elara for its first winter season, new Rhine itineraries, winter Douro cruises, and calls at new Belgian ports, we offer our customers more choice and flexibility than ever before, from Christmas market trips to solo cruises and a wider range of regional air connections.”
Follow cruise news at Cruisesnews.es
