TUI River Cruises celebrates launch milestone for first purpose-built ship - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

TUI River Cruises has reached a major milestone in the development of its first purpose-built vessel. The new ship, TUI Luzia, has successfully completed her float-out at the Kladovo Shipyard in Serbia, marking the first time the vessel has entered the water and the beginning of the final stage of construction.

Scheduled for delivery in June 2027, TUI Luzia will spend her inaugural season sailing on Portugal’s Douro River, expanding the company’s presence in one of Europe’s fastest-growing river cruise destinations.

New chapter for the river cruise brand

Katy Berzins, Head of River Cruises at TUI River Cruises, described the float-out as an important step in the company’s expansion strategy.

“The float out of TUI Luzia marks another significant milestone for TUI River Cruises and our longstanding partnership with Concordia Damen.

“As our first purpose-built ship, TUI Luzia represents an exciting new chapter for our brand. Her arrival on the River Douro in summer 2027 will not only extend our portfolio into one of Europe’s most sought-after river cruise destinations, but also open up new experiences for both existing and new TUI River Cruises customers.”

The vessel is being built by Concordia Damen in cooperation with its partner yard in Kladovo. The float-out signifies that construction is entering its final phase before the ship’s delivery next year.

Designed for the Douro

TUI Luzia will accommodate 111 guests in 56 cabins, including Super French Balcony cabins, Balcony cabins, French Balcony Suites and a dedicated single cabin.

As with the existing TUI River Cruises fleet, Full Board Plus will be included as standard, while passengers will also be able to upgrade to an all-inclusive package.

Guests will have access to four decks, including a sun deck with a shallow pool and loungers overlooking the Douro scenery.

Portuguese-inspired onboard experience

The ship’s dining and lounge concepts have been designed to reflect both the destination and contemporary river cruising.

The top-deck venue, Cinder, will serve drinks throughout the day alongside self-service lunches. Novo will be the ship’s main lounge bar, while Retreat will combine a juice bar during the day with a quieter lounge for evening drinks.

The main restaurant, Sorriso, will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, while Vinha will offer Portuguese-inspired outdoor dining and à la carte evening meals in an alfresco setting.

Partnership focused on future growth

Chris Kornet, CEO of Concordia Damen, said the project represents a shared ambition to introduce innovative new vessels to the European river cruise market.

“We are proud to be partnering with TUI River Cruises on its first purpose-built river ship, TUI Luzia. The new vessel embodies our shared ambition to bring innovative, future-ready ship designs to the European river cruise market. By combining Concordia Damen’s engineering expertise with TUI River Cruises’ clear vision for expanding the brand, we look forward to delivering the vessel that will support the river cruise brand’s growth.”

Bookings for TUI Luzia are already open. Prices for the seven-night Douro Discovery itinerary, including flights from London Gatwick or Manchester to Porto with third-party airlines, start from £1,219 per person.

Image Credit: © AI generated illustration, with material courtesy of TUI