TUI River Cruises will launch TUI Elara, its fifth ship in Europe, next summer.
The 138-passenger, adult-only ship will operate five, seven, and 14-night sailings from Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Basel.
TUI Elara will sail itineraries on the Rhine, Moselle and the Dutch and Belgian waterways. It will also be the first ship in the fleet to sail to Brussels.
The operator said the launch will be supported by a range of third-party flight routes to Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Basel, which will be available from seven UK airports.
The ship will also feature the company’s first French balcony junior suite cabins.
The cabins will provide extra space with a coffee table and chair, and the bathroom will feature a double sink and upgraded toiletries.
Other cabin types include standard cabins, superior French balcony cabins, French balcony cabins and two single cabins.
Like the rest of the fleet, TUI Elara will be sold on a full-board basis, with the option for guests to upgrade to all-inclusive.
Head of TUI River Cruises Katy Berzins said: “As we enter our fifth year of sailing, we’re thrilled to continue expanding our fleet with the introduction of TUI Elara to Europe’s waterways. Demand for more immersive, experience‑rich travel continues to grow, and TUI River Cruises is all about giving customers the freedom and flexibility to explore multiple rivers and destinations in their own way.
“Our strong performance, high customer satisfaction scores and growing occupancy show the strength of our position in the river cruise market as we continue to modernise and expand the fleet. TUI Elara will open up Europe’s stunning rivers to even more customers, with new routes along the Rhine, Moselle, Dutch & Belgian waterways.”
Itineraries will available to book from Monday 16 March.
