TUI River Cruises will operate sailings on the River Seine for the first time from 20 March 2028.
Adults-only ship TUI Elara (pictured) will offer four-, seven- and 10-night itineraries with calls in northern France including Rouen, Le Havre, Caudebac and Les Andelys.
The operator also revealed TUI Zora and TUI Velara as the names of its two new river ships, which were first unveiled in March and will bring its fleet to 10.
Despite describing summer 2028 as TUI River Cruises’ ‘biggest launch ever’ at the ABTA Convention in Madeira, Head of TUI River Cruises Katy Berzins said there was ‘absolutely capacity’ for the operator amid growing concern of overcrowding on European rivers.
She said: “There’s a lot of space if you look at the amount of capacity and docking space on the river in general. It’s about clever planning.
“There will be more competition for those docking spaces the more competitors enter the river market, and the more TUI River Cruises grows, but it’s about working cleverly to plan where we dock, and at what points in the year.
“There absolutely is capacity, but we need to work together as an industry to make sure we’re planning the right itineraries in the right places for our guests.”
Katy described TUI Elara as one of the ‘smallest and most intimate’ ships in TUI River Cruises’ European fleet, with a maximum capacity of 138 guests across 70 cabins.
TUI customers will be able to fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle with Air France from a choice of UK airports, including Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh, with easyJet flights also offered from London Gatwick, Bristol, Glasgow and Newcastle.
Meanwhile, TUI has announced that TUI Zora and TUI Velara will sail on the Rhine, Moselle and the Danube from 2028.
TUI Zora makes her debut on the Rhine on 7 May 2028, with TUI Velara following on the Danube on 14 August 2028. Prices start from £1,749 per person for the ‘Danube Treasures’ seven-night sailing on board TUI Velara.
Katy added: “Summer 2028 is our biggest launch ever and marks a major step for TUI River Cruises. We’re continuing to perform well year on year, growing occupancy and strong demand for new rivers like the Douro.
“With capacity up 26% for summer 2028, we’re in a clear phase of growth. Our guests can now sail the Rhine, Moselle, Danube, Dutch and Belgian waterways, the Douro, the Nile and now the Seine.
“TUI Zora and TUI Velara were shaped by what our guests told us they wanted, delivering an elevated, modern river cruising experience that brings the culture and character of each destination onboard. And with the Seine, we’re offering more choice for customers on one of the most requested rivers in our research, from Paris to Monet’s gardens to the Normandy coast.”
TUI River Cruises’ summer 2028 programme goes on sale tomorrow (15 October).
