TUI has confirmed its first purpose-built ship, TUI Luzia, will sail on Portugal’s River Douro during its inaugural summer season.
Details of the itinerary were included in this week’s launch of TUI River Cruises’ summer 2027 programme, which will be its largest to date.
The summer 2027 itineraries will go on sale on 16 October, when passengers will be able to book from a choice of 35 sailings across the entire European fleet from March to October 2027.
TUI Luzia will accommodate 111 passengers, who will be offered Full Board Plus as standard, which includes tea, coffee, water and wine or beer with meals, with an option to upgrade to all-inclusive.
The four-deck ship will have a top deck with a shallow pool, sun loungers and a bar and dining area open every day. Accommodation will be in Super French Balcony cabins, Balcony cabins, French Balcony Suites and single cabins.
Other venues on the ship include Novo, the main lounge bar; Retreat, a hybrid area offering a juice bar and space for wellness classes, such as yoga, in the day and an intimate lounge bar at night; Sorriso, the main restaurant serving breakfast through to dinner; and Vinha, a Portuguese-inspired alfresco restaurant by day and a relaxation spot in the evening.
It will operate seven-night roundtrip cruises on the Douro from Porto, visiting five destinations: Entre-os-Rios; Peso de Regua; Vega de Terron (for Salamanca, Spain) and Barca d’Alva.
In addition, TUI River Cruises will be offering two new ports of call in the summer 2027 season on TUI Aria with ‘Dutch Delta Discovery’ sailing the Dutch & Belgian Waterways to the city of Zaandam, Netherlands, known for its traditional green wooden houses, and on TUI Maya with ‘East Danube Delights’ visiting Aljmas, Croatia, a picturesque village known for its unique swan-shaped church.
