TUI River Cruises is poised to initiate the construction of its inaugural newbuild riverboat, starting revenue services (Douro River cruises) in the summer of 2025.
Named TUI Alma, the vessel will join the fleet as the 5th ship, offering 7-night journeys accommodating up to 123 guests. Chris Logan, TUI's Managing Director for specialist businesses, views this development as a pivotal moment in the company's trajectory, attributing it to the positive response from customers since its launch in 2021.
TUI Alma ("Alma" translates to 'soul' in Portuguese) is purpose-built for the Douro, with a focus on daytime sailing. The ship's design includes four decks and 62 cabins, with an emphasis on providing flexible dining options for guests.
Katy Berzins, TUI's Head of River Cruises, highlighted the importance of flexibility in the ship's offerings, emphasizing its distinctiveness compared to competitors. TUI Alma's itineraries, while featuring the scenic beauty of the Douro, are tailored to provide guests with a level of flexibility unique to TUI River Cruises.
TUI's airline will operate one weekly flight to Porto City for the roundtrip voyages, enabling end-to-end control over the journey. Berzins emphasized the crucial role of independent travel agents in driving sales for TUI River Cruises, highlighting the invested efforts in building relationships with agents for the expertise they contribute to customer satisfaction.
Looking ahead, Berzins stated the strategic and deliberate growth plans for TUI River Cruises, aiming to bring more individuals into the river travel experience. The brand's expansion includes Nile sailings commencing in November 2024, utilizing the refurbished ship TUI Al Horeya.
TUI's existing river fleet comprises the sisterships TUI Isla, TUI Maya, and TUI Skyla.
TUI Alma's construction is currently scheduled to start in 2024-Q1.