Bonjour, Seine! TUI River Cruises Announces Its Biggest Summer Yet
Two brand-new ships, 43 itineraries and a new river to explore as TUI Elara heads to the Seine.
If your idea of a perfect holiday involves beautiful riverside towns, spectacular scenery, a little culture and someone else doing the sailing while you relax with a drink, then TUI River Cruises might just have something to tempt you aboard!
The cruise line has announced its biggest-ever summer programme for 2028, and it's certainly not doing things by halves. There are two brand-new ships, a brand-new river to explore and an impressive 43 itineraries across its fleet of 10 ships.
That's a lot of rivers to choose from. Anyone fancy booking a holiday to decide which holiday to book?
With sailings ranging from three to 14 nights between March and October 2028, there's plenty to get excited about. And if you've been thinking about trying river cruising, this latest announcement might be the nudge you need.
Two new ships are coming aboard!
Meet TUI Zora and TUI Velara, the two brand-new ships joining the TUI River Cruises fleet for summer 2028.
TUI Zora means “dawn” or “new beginnings”, while TUI Velara means “to shine”. Rather lovely names, aren't they? Let's hope the sunshine gets the memo, too!
Both ships have been purpose-built for TUI River Cruises and designed specifically for the UK market. Each will accommodate 188 guests across 94 cabins.
TUI Zora will make her debut on the Rhine on 7 May 2028, followed by TUI Velara on the Danube from 14 August 2028.
But these aren't simply two more ships joining the fleet. TUI has been listening to what its customers actually want from a river cruise, and the results have helped shape their design.
Bringing the destinations onboard
TUI River Cruises asked existing customers and people considering river cruising what mattered most when choosing a holiday. Both groups agreed that the destinations were the main reason for booking.
And that's inspired something called Cultural Mosaic, a design concept bringing the character of the Rhine, Moselle and Danube onboard.
Expect design details inspired by the food, wine, architecture and folklore of the regions these rivers pass through.
It's all about connecting the ship with the places guests visit, rather than simply having somewhere comfortable to sleep between sightseeing stops.
After all, if you're cruising through some of Europe's most beautiful regions, it would be rather lovely to have a little of that local character around you when you return onboard!
Bigger suites and plenty of choice
TUI Zora and TUI Velara will feature a wider choice of bars, restaurants and cabin types, alongside contemporary interiors and spacious venues.
One particularly interesting addition is the Balcony Suites, measuring up to 25m². These will be the largest suites in TUI River Cruises' European fleet.
That's plenty of room to settle in, unpack and make yourself at home. Although, knowing how much we all tend to pack for a holiday, even a generous suite might not prevent a suitcase from exploding across the wardrobe!
Both ships will include Full Board Plus as standard, with the option to upgrade to All Inclusive.
There's also some forward-thinking technology behind their design. The ships have been built with the foundations in place for the next generation of alternative fuels, particularly methanol.
So, alongside the contemporary interiors and extra choice, the new ships have been designed with future developments in fuel technology in mind.
Bonjour, France! TUI Elara is heading for the Seine
Now, here's a destination that could have plenty of British holidaymakers reaching for their passports.
From 20 March 2028, TUI Elara will begin sailing the Seine, opening up a new river for TUI River Cruises and bringing guests right into the heart of northern France.
The adults-only ship will offer four, seven and 10-night itineraries, with a tempting collection of French destinations along the way.
First up, Paris!
Guests will sail through the French capital, passing some of its most recognisable landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Musée d'Orsay.
And that's before the ship heads further into the surrounding region.
Vernon is on the itinerary, a riverside town known for its connection to Claude Monet and his famous house. Then there's Rouen, Normandy's historic capital, with its impressive Gothic cathedral and links to Joan of Arc.
Le Havre will also feature, where the Seine meets the English Channel.
For those who want to delve deeper into France's history, TUI River Cruises Collections excursions will offer opportunities to discover Normandy, including the D-Day landing beaches.
It's quite a combination: Parisian landmarks, historic towns, artistic connections and the Normandy coast, all wrapped into a river cruise.
And the best bit? You can explore different destinations without having to repack your entire wardrobe every time you move on. Anyone who has ever tried squeezing everything back into a suitcase after a holiday will understand just how appealing that sounds!
A little ship with plenty to offer
TUI Elara is one of the more intimate ships in TUI River Cruises' European fleet, carrying just 138 guests in 70 cabins.
She's also shorter than most of the fleet, measuring 110 metres compared with 135 metres for most of the other ships. That makes her the right size for sailing the Seine.
And while she might be smaller, there's certainly no shortage of features to discover.
The ship will introduce the brand's first French Balcony Junior Suites, each measuring 19.5m². Guests staying in these suites will enjoy nightly turndown service and continental breakfast in bed.
Breakfast in bed while cruising through France? Now that's a way to start the morning. Although we suspect some guests might need very little encouragement to stay under the covers a little longer!
When it's time to eat, Verdastro will serve as the ship's main à la carte restaurant. The Observatory will provide a lounge and bar, with both venues already popular favourites across TUI River Cruises' European fleet.
Up on the Top Deck, guests will find sun loungers, a putting green and space for yoga, deck games and barbecues.
So, whether you're keen to practise your putting, stretch out with some yoga or claim a sun lounger and watch the scenery drift by, there are plenty of ways to spend your time between destinations.
And if your putting skills leave something to be desired, don't worry. At least the scenery should be worth admiring while you retrieve the ball!
Getting to Paris just got easier
There's more good news for British travellers planning a Seine adventure.
For the first time, TUI River Cruises customers will be able to fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle with Air France from Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
EasyJet flights will also be available from London Gatwick, Bristol, Glasgow and Newcastle.
That means a choice of UK departure airports when arranging your Seine river cruise, making it easier to find a flight option that suits your plans.
Now all you need to decide is which French destination you want to explore first. Paris? Rouen? Monet's house? We wouldn't blame you for struggling to choose!
More rivers, more ships and more ways to explore
The new ships and the Seine are the headline attractions, but TUI River Cruises has plenty more planned for summer 2028.
TUI Luzia will continue sailing Portugal's Douro River, with seven-night cruises taking in Porto, the scenic Douro Valley and Peso da Régua.
If you're travelling solo, there's good news for you, too. Dedicated solo sailings will be available aboard TUI Maya on the Danube and TUI Skyla on the Rhine.
Meanwhile, TUI Aria, the largest ship in the fleet, will move to the Danube.
The wider programme will cover the Rhine, Moselle, Danube, Dutch and Belgian waterways, the Douro, the Nile and the newly added Seine.
With 10 ships and 43 itineraries, TUI is offering a broad choice of destinations and cruise lengths, from a quick three-night escape to a longer 14-night adventure.
The company also says capacity will increase by 26% for summer 2028 as it continues to grow its river cruise offering.
That's a sizeable expansion, and it means more choice for anyone who fancies swapping the usual beach holiday for a river adventure.
How much will a TUI River Cruise cost in 2028?
Of course, all these lovely ships and destinations are exciting, but the big question is always the same: how much will it cost?
Prices start from £1,749 per person for the seven-night Danube Treasures sailing aboard TUI Velara.
The price is based on two adults sharing a Deck 1 Standard Cabin on a Full Board Plus basis, with flights from London Gatwick with TUI Airways.
Summer 2028 itineraries went on sale on 15 October 2026, so bookings are now open.
If you're planning ahead, it's worth taking a look at the available itineraries to see which destinations and sailing lengths appeal to you.
So, is summer 2028 the year for a river cruise?
With two brand-new ships, a new river to explore and 43 itineraries to choose from, TUI River Cruises certainly has plenty going on for summer 2028.
There's the Seine for anyone dreaming of French cities and Normandy's history, the Danube for those drawn to its destinations, and the Douro for guests wanting to explore Portugal's scenic river landscapes.
And with options for solo travellers, a choice of sailing lengths and the opportunity to upgrade from Full Board Plus to All Inclusive on the new ships, there's plenty to investigate before deciding which cruise might suit you best.
We're rather tempted by the idea of sailing through France, enjoying the scenery and finishing the day with a relaxing drink onboard. Though, to be fair, we can usually find a reason to be tempted by a cruise!
One thing's certain: with two new ships joining the fleet and the Seine entering the programme, TUI River Cruises has given summer 2028 a whole lot more to talk about.
Now, where's that suitcase?
Until next time, keep dreaming of your next cruise.