TUI River Cruises has announced plans to expand its European fleet with the addition of a 5th riverboat, scheduled to enter service in the summer of 2027.
The new ship, to be named TUI Elara, will operate a series of itineraries across major European waterways with departures planned from Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Basel.
The vessel, whose name derives from the Greek word for “bright,” will be configured as an adults-only ship and will operate voyages of 5-, 7- and 14 nights.
In total, the ship is expected to sail 15 itineraries, including several new routes along the Rhine, Moselle, and the Dutch and Belgian inland waterways.
Among the new itineraries planned are the Grand Rhine Delights, Rhine Delights, and Dutch & Belgian Gems voyages departing from Amsterdam, as well as the Rhine Delights 2 itinerary from Basel and the Splendours of the Rhine & Moselle sailing from Frankfurt. The vessel will also mark a first for the company by including a call at Brussels within its schedule.
According to comments attributed to Katy Berzins, the introduction of TUI Elara forms part of TUI's continued fleet development as it approaches its fifth year of operations. She indicated that the expansion reflects sustained demand for immersive and experience-focused travel, noting that the company aims to provide passengers with greater flexibility to explore multiple rivers and destinations during a single voyage.
Berzins further indicated that the cruise line’s performance in recent seasons, supported by strong occupancy levels and high customer satisfaction ratings, has reinforced its position within the river cruise market and supports the company’s strategy to continue modernising and expanding its fleet.