TUI River Cruises orders two methanol-fuelled river cruise ships

TUI River Cruises has ordered two 188-passenger river cruise ships to grow its European fleet to 10 vessels by 2028. A spokesperson for the river cruise company confirmed that Concordia Damen will construct the new vessels, but released no further technical details.

The ships were announced during the naming ceremony for the company’s newest river cruise vessel, TUI Aria, in Frankfurt, Germany. TUI Aria is an adults-only cruise ship that will begin sailing along the Rhine, Main, Moselle, and Dutch and Belgian waterways from the European summer season in 2026. The vessel is outfitted with 96 cabins to accommodate 190 guests per sailing. TUI Aria will offer a range of itineraries from six to nine nights and enhanced accessibility from UK regional airports, including two new direct flights: from Bristol Airport to Amsterdam and from Newcastle Airport to Frankfurt, providing more choice and flexibility for customers.

When delivered in 2028, TUI River Cruises’ two newbuild ships will be capable of operating on methanol. Each well-appointed vessel will have 94 cabins to accommodate 188 passengers and will be designed specifically for the UK market.

Two previously ordered newbuilds will join TUI River Cruises’ fleet this year. By 2028, the fleet will have grown to 10 ships operating across Europe, the Rhine, the Nile, and the Douro.

Commenting on the contract, TUI River Cruises’ head of river cruises, Katy Berzins, said, “These new ships, purpose-built for our customers, reflect our ambition for growth and our commitment to delivering an elevated, modern river cruising experience. They will embody the flexibility and choice TUI River Cruises represents in modern river cruising, allowing culturally immersive holidays to come to life on the river.”

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