by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 4:40 PM ET, Wed December 13, 2023
TUI River Cruises is adding a new ship to its fleet that will sail Portugal’s Douro River starting in the spring of 2025, the company announced today.
The vessel will be named TUI Alma, which means “soul” in Portuguese. This marks the line’s first newbuild ship.
Once completed, TUI Alma will join the cruise line’s existing fleet of TUI Isla, TUI Maya and TUI Skyla. Another ship, a refurbished vessel that will be named TUI Al Horeya, is also scheduled to debut on Egypt’s Nile River in the winter of 2024.
A rendering of TUI Alma (Photo Credit: TUI River Cruises)
“This is a huge moment for TUI River Cruises and a defining moment in our journey,” says Chris Logan, the cruise line’s managing director for specialist business. “Given we only launched back in 2021, it’s a testament to the response of our customers that we’re able to deliver a newbuild ship. We’re so excited to create something amazing for our guests.”
TUI Alma will be purpose-built for the Douro and will be based in Porto. The four-level ship will be able to accommodate 123 passengers in 62 cabins during 7-night sailings on the Portuguese waterway.
The top deck will have a shallow pool with sun lounges, a bar and food service. The ship’s main restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and travelers will also be able to dine al fresco in a Portuguese-inspired dining area.
A rendering of the top deck pool area on the new TUI Alma (Photo Credit: TUI River Cruises)
“We’re designing the ship with true flexibility and choice in mind by making spaces different from day to night to allow the customer a choice of how to spend their day/evening onboard,” says Logan.
After departing from Porto, TUI Alma will visit Entre-os-Rios and Peso de Regua in Portugal, followed by Vega de Terron in Spain. From there, the ship will turn back toward Porto, stopping in Barca d’Alva and Peso de Regua (for a second time) along the way.
The itineraries will include lots of daytime sailing to allow cruisers to take in the views of the region’s terraced vineyards and steep gorges.
Travelers and travel advisors can begin booking sailings on the Douro onboard TUI Alma starting on Thursday, when all of the line’s summer 2025 cruises become available.
In the summer of 2025, TUI River Cruises is offering 21 cruises in 12 countries that range in duration from three to 15 nights. Three of the itineraries are new: the 5-night “Windmills & Waterways” trip in the Netherlands; a 6-night cruise called “Sail the Southern Rhine” that will visit Germany and Switzerland; and “Danube Gems,” a 7-night trip that will visit smaller ports on the Danube.
“We’re so excited that TUI River Cruises are expanding,” says Katy Berzins, who leads the cruise line, which is part of the broader TUI Group. “We’ve gone from the European waterways of the Rhine, Danube, Main and Moselle to our recently announced sailings on the Nile and now we get to offer our customers the chance to experience the Douro.”
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
