16 TUI to boost river cruise capacity in summer 2028 TUI River Cruises will have 10 ships offering 43 itineraries between March and October 2028. Newbuilds TUI Zora and TUI Velara will debut on the Danube, Moselle and Rhine in May and August, respectively. Meanwhile, TUI Elara will offer the brand’s first-ever sailings on the Seine, calling at Paris, Vernon, Rouen and Le Havre in northern France. In addition, TUI Aria and TUI Maya will sail on the Danube, TUI Skyla and TUI Isla will cruise on the Rhine, TUI Luzia will remain on the Douro, and TUI Bahareya and TUI Al Horeya will both operate in Egypt. What five key trends are shaping river cruising? Insights from Cruise Lines International Association’s river cruise members suggest several emerging and continuing trends are driving the sector’s growth, including: 1 Rising demand for long-haul destinations outside Europe, such as in Asia and South America. 2 Shorter sailings are attracting new audiences as an alternative to three-to-five-day city breaks. 3 Guests want immersive experiences that go beyond traditional sightseeing, with greater emphasis on local culture, cuisine and community engagement. 4 Shoulder-season and winter departures continue to grow, with travellers attracted by fewer crowds. 5 There is greater interest from solo travellers looking for smaller ships, included excursions and a range of dedicated solo departures and accommodation. The 120-guest Transcend Connect sailed National GeographicLindblad Expeditions’ first river expedition in Europe in August 2026, taking guests to destinations on the Rhine and Dutch and Belgian waterways. The following month, the ship sailed another Rhine itinerary, with calls including Mainz, Frankfurt and Heidelberg in Germany, plus Strasbourg and Colmar in France. The brand will also offer ‘Christmas Market’ itineraries onboard Transcend Connect’s sister ship, Evolve, in winter 2026-2027. All itineraries feature private tours and curated experiences guided by an expedition leader, field staff and, for the inaugural season, at least one National Geographic Expedition Expert. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions joins European river expedition market MARKETWATCH Photo: TUI River Cruises Photo: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Photo: TUI River Cruises
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