TUI Elara

The 2027-built TUI Elara cruise ship is owned by Scylla AG and and exclusively chartered by TUI River Cruises via the subsidiary company "TUI UK and Ireland". The new brand "TUI River Cruises" (tui.co.uk/river-cruises) was established in 2019 and targets predominantly the UK's passenger market.

TUI Elara is one of TUI's European riverboats.

The vessel (ENI number TBA) will be Switzerland-flagged (MMSI TBA) and registered in Basel.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

The riverboat features an elegant Atrium Lobby (entrance hall on Upper Deck) with Reception Desk (24-hour assistance, information, purser services), Travel Desk/Cruise Director's Desk (tours and excursions information, onboard cruise booking) and Boutique Shop. From the entrance hall, passengers walk into a stylish Observatory/Bar Lounge with bow location, floor-ceiling windows, comfortable seating, and a full-service Bar.

The forward Observatory Lounge & Bar hosts the boat's evening entertainment as part of TUI's onboard enrichment programming. The list of scheduled evening events includes performances by local guests, live music and themed dance parties. During the day, the Observatory functions as a cinema/event venue, hosting port talks, movie screenings, and interactive quizzes. The Observatory also provides TUI's Afternoon Tea service, which includes light sandwiches, sweets (cakes, scones), and a selection of premium teas.

Forward on the Middle Deck is the Verdastro Restaurant, the ship's complimentary Dining Room with open seating (as opposed to pre-assigned tables) and flexible dining times. The Verdastro provides single-seating capacity and waiter-served breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

Sun Deck features an aft deck games zone (Shuffleboard, Mini-Golf/Putting Green), Retractable Awnings (shaded seating areas), a forward sunbathing area (with loungers and deckchairs), and full bar service. The fore-located Navigation Bridge (called "Wheelhouse" on riverboats) is passenger-accessible and telescopic (can be lowered for passing under low bridges). The ship's top deck also hosts outdoor activities, including complimentary yoga sessions, group deck games, and special events, including TUI's signature Top Deck BBQs (barbeque parties) and Ice Cream Party, organized once per voyage.

The Lower Deck lacks the traditional (for large newbuild European cruisers) wellness facilities (Beauty Salon/hairdresser and barber services, nail studio, Fitness/Gym Room, or Spa/treatment room for massages).

Solar panels installed on the Sun Deck provide supplemental onboard power.

One passenger Lift connects all cabin decks, and additional staircases are located forward, midship, and aft.

Laundry and ironing services, bicycle rental, Wi-Fi (WLAN), Internet access, and shore excursions are available at extra cost.

Smoking is permitted only in the designated area on the Sun Deck. Bicycles are carried onboard and can be rented at the Reception Desk.

Decks and Cabins

TUI Elara has a total of 70 staterooms (accommodating max 138 passengers) and 4 decks, of which 3 have cabins.

Most cabins (on decks Middle and Upper) have wall-to-wall and floor-ceiling glass doors opening to a railing (French Balcony). Only Lower Deck cabins lack French balconies and instead have a fixed window (non-opening, quarter-height) located close to the ceiling.

All passenger staterooms as standard amenities offer hotel twin beds (convertible to double), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, towels, bath toiletries, large mirror), 40-inch flat HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system, bow camera real-time views), mini-bar, tea-coffee making facility, glass-top round table with 2 armchairs, mirrored dressing table with pouf chair, wardrobe, electronic safe box, hairdryer, phone, individual air-conditioning, evening turndown service.

All cabin bathrooms have marble tops, glass showers (large rain shower heads) and brand bath cosmetics (by Crabtree and Evelyn).

Some staterooms (Lower Deck's window cabins) are available for single occupancy booking (without a single supplement, subject to availability).

The 8x French Balcony Junior Suites additionally offer (as bonus amenities) larger interior space, step-out balcony (furnished with table and 2 chairs, can be used for al fresco dining), premium cotton bathrobes and slippers.

Cabin sizes vary by type, and range from French Balcony Junior Suite (20 m2/210 ft2), Superior French Balcony Cabin (16 m2/170 ft2), French Balcony Cabin (14 m2/150 ft2) and Standard Cabin/Single Cabin (13 m2/140 ft2).

Itineraries

TUI Elara's itineraries are along the Rhine and Moselle rivers, and on the Dutch waterways, with primary departure ports/homeports being Amsterdam (Holland), Frankfurt (Germany) and Basel (Switzerland).

TUI Elara's maiden voyage is currently scheduled for March 23, 2027 (Tulips & Waterways itinerary).

Next are listed the ship's itineraries scheduled for the inaugural season (2027).

(INAUGURAL CRUISE) The 5-night "Tulips & Waterways" itinerary is a roundtrip from Amsterdam (overnight stay before departure) visiting Hoorn, Arnhem, and Rotterdam. Prices started from GBP 1400 per person.

(May -Oct 2027) The 7-night "Rhine Gems" itinerary (roundtrip from Frankfurt) visits Koblenz, Mannheim, Kehl-Strasbourg, Basel, Breisach, and Speyer. Prices started from GBP 1850 per person.

(Mar-Oct 2027) The 7-night "Rhine Explorer" itinerary starts in Amsterdam (overnight) and ends in Basel, visiting Cologne, Koblenz, Speyer, Kehl-Strasbourg, and Breisach. The reverse 7-night "Rhine Explorer 2" itinerary (from Basel to Amsterdam) visits Breisach, Kehl-Strasbourg, Speyer, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cologne, and ends in Amsterdam (overnight). Prices started from GBP 1600 per person.

(Apr-Sep 2027) The 7-night "North Rhine & Netherlands Explorer" itinerary starts in Amsterdam (overnight) and ends in Frankfurt, visiting Rotterdam, Nijmegen, Dusseldorf, Koblenz, Boppard, and Rudesheim. Prices started from GBP 1650 per person.

(Apr 2027) The 7-night "Rhine & Moselle Adventure" itinerary is a roundtrip from Frankfurt visiting Boppard, Cochem, Riol, Bernkastel-Kues, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Mainz, Speyer, Breisach, Basel, Kehl-Strasbourg, Mannheim, and Aschaffenburg. Prices started from GBP 3050 per person.

(May 2027) The 7-night "Rhine: Chateaux & Gateaux" itinerary (from Frankfurt to Basel) visits Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer, Kehl-Strasbourg, Breisach, and Basel (overnight stay before debarkation). Prices started from GBP 1850 per person.

(May 2027) The 7-night "Rhine Delights" itinerary (from Amsterdam to Basel) visits Nijmegen,Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer, and Breisach. Prices started from GBP 1850 per person. The reverse 7-night "Rhine Delights 2" itinerary (Basel to Amsterdam) visits Kehl-Strasbourg, Mannheim, Boppard, Dusseldorf, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam (overnight).

(May 2027) The 14-night "Grand Rhine Delights" itinerary is a B2B/back-to-back cruise roundtrip from Amsterdam, visiting Nijmegen, Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer, Breisach, Basel, Kehl-Strasbourg, Mannheim, Boppard, Dusseldorf, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam (overnight). Prices started from GBP 3100 per person.