Tui River Cruises reveals first look at Douro ship ahead of 2027 debut

Tui River Cruises has revealed details of its first Douro river ship ahead of its debut in 2027.

The new-build Tui Luzia was floated out in Kladovo, Serbia, marking the first time the vessel touched water and a major construction milestone.

The 111-passenger ship is scheduled for delivery in June 2027 and has 56 cabins, with categories spanning Super French Balcony, Balcony, French Balcony Suites and single cabins.

Across four decks, the ship will offer three dining venues and two lounge areas.

Cinder will be a combined bar and dining area open every day for drinks and self-serve lunches, Sorriso will be the main restaurant serving at every meal and Vinah will be a Portuguese-inspired alfresco area for dinner and relaxation in the day.

Meanwhile, Novo will be the main lounge bar, while Retreat will offer a juice bar and another lounger bar area.

Prices start from £1,219 for the seven-night Douro Discovery itinerary with flights from Gatwick or Manchester to Porto via third-party airlines.

Katy Berzins, Tui head of river cruises, said: “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.” 

Chris Kornet, chief executive at Concordia Damen, which is partnering with Tui River Cruises on its first purpose-built river ship, said: “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.”