Tui floats out first Duoro river cruise ship

Tui River Cruises has floated out its first purpose-built river cruise ship for the Douro.

The new ship, Tui Luzia, was tested on the water for the first time in Kladovo, Serbia.

The finishes touches to the interior and exterior of the vessel are now being completed at the Concordia Damen shipyard

Scheduled for delivery in June 2027, Tui Luzia will spend her inaugural season sailing itineraries on the Douro river in Portugal.

It will be the cruise line’s first time sailing in the region.

The ship will sail a seven-night “Douro Discovery” itinerary from Porto. Highlights include the old stone houses of Entre-os-Rios, a chance to explore almond and olive groves, and a visit to the vineyards of Barca d’Alva.

The ship will accommodate 111 passengers in 56 cabins. Passengers will have access to four decks including a top deck complete with a shallow pool and sun loungers. Cinder, a bar and dining area, will be open every day for drinks and self-serve lunches.

Other venues on the ship include Novo, the main lounge bar, and Retreat, a hybrid area offering a juice bar and an intimate secondary lounge for a quiet evening drink.

Guests will also be able to eat at Sores, the main restaurant serving breakfast through to dinner and Vinha, a Portuguese-inspired al fresco dining space where guests can enjoy a la carte dinner.

Similar to the other Tui River Cruises ships, Tui Luzia will be Full Board Plus as standard.

This covers tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine or beer with meals. Any other drinks need to be paid for, or passengers can upgrade to all inclusive.

Cruise fares start from £1,859 per person. Flight are included.

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

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Read more: The best European river cruises