TUI River Cruises unveils new European ship amid soaring demand
TUI River Cruises has announced plans to deploy a newly refurbished ship on the Rhine and Moselle from Amsterdam, Basel and Frankfurt in summer 2026
TUI Ria, which will be the line’s highest capacity vessel, will accommodate 190 passengers and offer new flight routes from Newcastle to Frankfurt and Bristol to Amsterdam.
The addition comes after the river cruise operator reported strong demand for itineraries on the continent, with a 17 per cent uptick in bookings year-on-year.
The ship will be the latest to join the TUI River Cruises fleet and fourth in Europe, joining the line’s three other adult only vessels: TUI Isla, TUI Maya and TUI Skyla.
It will operate six, seven, eight and nine-night sailings from Amsterdam, Basel and Frankfurt with three new itineraries making nine itineraries in total.
TUI Ria will be the first TUI River Cruise vessel in Europe to include a pool with panoramic views – which will double as a secondary dining area – a sauna, sun loungers, a putting green and a shuffleboard on the upper deck. There will also be a selection of restaurants, lounges and entertainment spaces.
The 190 passengers will be accommodated across 96 cabins including standard French balcony cabins and superior cabins, housing more travellers than ever before to sail through the European waterways with the river cruise line.
The two new direct flights will depart on selected dates and itineraries. Flights from Bristol to Amsterdam will operate on 4 May, 1 June and 28 September 2026 and Newcastle to Frankfurt will operate on 4, 11 and 25 April 2026.
TUI River Cruises continues ship launch programme
Katy Berzins, head of TUI River Cruises, said: “We’re thrilled to be expanding our fleet with the addition of the latest ship to sail the European waterways. 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, all with convenient access from UK regional airports.”
Like the rest of the European fleet, TUI Ria will be Full Board Plus, as standard with the option for guests to upgrade to all-inclusive and will include a day and night entertainment programme.
The three new itineraries include the Moselle & North Rhine itinerary sailing from Frankfurt, and the North Rhine & Moselle Explorer and Dutch Delta Discovery itineraries from Amsterdam sailing.
The Dutch Delta Discovery starts from £1,649pp based on two adults sharing a Deck 1 cabin on a Full Board Plus basis. Price includes flights from Heathrow on the 1 June 2026, tips and transfers included.
