tui river cruises reviews

TUI River Cruise Ship Review

We took our first river cruise on TUI Isla Cruise Ship. We cruised the Delights of the Danube itinerary and spent a week exploring some fabulous destinations and experiencing life on board a river cruise ship.

TUI Isla River Cruise Ship joined the fleet in 2020, is an adult only ship, and has a maximum of 158 guests in 79 cabins. The other two TUI river cruise ships are identical and are called Skyla and Maya with a new ship called TUI Alma coming in 2025 . Each ship has a Cruise Director and onboard team that are on board for the duration of your cruise.

River Cruising can be notoriously expensive but TUI are currently doing some fabulous prices. We could of booked this cruise for under £800 including flights, transfers and 23kgs of luggage, if we wanted the cheapest standard balcony and just full board. However, we upgraded to an all inclusive fare and a French Balcony Suite and still only paid £1212 each! This also included £120 per person that we can spend on excursions.

You can find out their offers  TUI river cruise prices and itineraries here (affiliate link)

In this TUI Isla River Cruise Ship Review post we cover the facilities throughout the 4 decks of this ship. We include bars, restaurants, lounges, leisure facilities, cabins, dress codes and technology onboard. We hope you find it useful so you can see if a TUI River Cruise Ship would be for you!

Relevant Reading – Find out all about TUI River Cruise Drink prices and Drinks Packages here.

Dining on TUI River Cruise Ships

Just like her sister ships, TUI Isla offers a full board plus package as standard. This means that you get three meals per day and drinks at mealtimes are included in the price.

Times of meals on our cruise were Breakfast 7-9am, Lunch 12-2pm and Dinner 7-9pm. There was also one Gala 6 course Dinner and one afternoon tea during our cruise.

Full board plus also means you can enjoy complimentary tea and coffee anytime, juices with breakfast, followed by soft drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner.

There is also an option to upgrade to a premium drinks package to enjoy your favourite draught beers, branded spirits, cocktails, and premium coffees. You can find out all about drinks prices and the drinks packages here .

Verdastro Restaurant

There are two restaurants onboard, the Verdastro and the bistro, the Verdastro is the more formal of the two which is very tastefully decorated in green and gold. There are tables available for up to six people but if there are less in your party you will be easily accommodated.

As you may have seen in our vlog series dining times are quite fixed with slight leway depending on ports and excursions but are usually breakfast 7am to 9am, lunch 12pm to 2pm and dinner 7pm to 9pm.

Breakfast is essentially a buffet of cereals, cakes and pastries, cold meats and cheeses, fish, plus the usual british fare such as bacon, beans, tomatoes and sausages, there is also the option of cooked to order eggs however you want them and omelettes.

Lunch comes as part buffet part waiter service depending on your given choices with the starters and desserts  laid out in a buffet style and your main courses served to your table, there is usually only two or three different mains on offer with a least one being vegetarian.

Dinner is full waiter service but again there will usually be two starters and two soups, four mains two of which are vegetarian two desserts and a cheese plate.

Even though the menus are limited the standard of the food is very good indeed and there will usually be at least one local to the area you are in dish available every day.

Here are some menu examples and meals we enjoyed on board. To see all the food available on board do watch our vlog series here .

The Bistro can be found next to the Verdastro down a short flight of stairs and is basically just has a slightly less formal feel to it but it serves exactly the same food.

We had lunch in the Bistro and we have to say there is quite a bit of vibration coming from the engines when sailing so do bare this in mind when choosing.

There is also a version of afternoon tea served once per sailing, the reason I say version is that there is no savoury items, sandwiches sausage rolls etc only cakes and pastries with as much tea as you can drink.

Bars on TUI River Cruise Ships

Observatory lounge.

There are two lounges onboard the Observatory lounge and the Club lounge, the Observatory is the main lounge and is the hub of the ship with lots of comfortable seating large windows for unobstructed views and a very well stocked bar.

By day if you are not off exploring you can sit and read, play cards, have a chat with fellow guests or just do nothing.

Early evening is when you will get your talk on the next days port and then at 6-30 its happy hour with reduce price drinks and complementary canapes which sets you up perfectly for dinner.

Once dinner has finished the evenings entertainment will begin which can be anything from interactive quizzes, local artists giving you a flavour of the region you are visiting, or sing along to the resident entertainment team, on our sailing there was even a guest comedian who was extremely funny.

The Club Lounge

The Club Lounge is a smaller more cosy lounge with plush seating,  brass fittings and a roaring digital fire. This is also the home of speciality coffees but this may come at an extra cost depending on your drinks package.

The Club lounge is situated next to the Verdastro restaurant making it the perfect venue for a pre dinner cocktail.

The Atrium is set over two decks 2 and 3, on deck 2 you will find the reception area some glass cabinets displaying handbags and jewellery which are available for purchase, a second reception type desk which is where you will usually find the cruise director and a gentlemen’s toilet.

On deck 3 you will find the complementary tea and coffee station and which in the afternoon also has a small selection of biscuits, a small seating area with tables a games cupboard and a small library.

Outside Space on TUI River Cruise Ships

The views from the top deck are almost worth the cruise fare on its own (especially the evening sail away from Budapest) there is also ample seats and sunbeds. There is also an area reserved for daytime activities including mini golf, shuffleboard, coits, yoga and stretching exercises.

Everything on the top deck is designed to fold down flat allowing you to travel under bridges should the river levels rise even the captains bridge is on a concertina allowing it to retract if required.

On deck 3 at the front of the Observatory lounge is also a small outside area that gives you lovely views over the bow of the ship but unfortunately this is also one of the smoking areas (sorry smokers) but if there isn’t anyone smoking it’s a really nice place to enjoy a morning cup of tea or a afternoon beer, there are even some overhead heaters to take the chill off if the weather is not so good.

Technology on board

Free wifi is available throughout the ship though the speed is a little slow, there is also the Navigate app which tells you the daily programme, port information, excursion details, the local weather forecast and details of all the areas on board the ship. This was very easy to use once it was installed. Any issues go and speak to reception and they will help you access and show you how to use it.

You can also use your cabin television to access everything on the navigate app, plus there is a limited amount of programmes available but for some reason most were in German.

Wellness Area

The wellness area consists of a a sauna and a whirlpool bath and can be found on deck 2 along the corridor from reception towards the front of the ship. Booking early for the wellness area is essential as it is very small and extremely popular.

The dress code throughout the ship is very casual, on gala night people did dress up more than the rest of the week but it was still nowhere near as formal as we have experienced on ocean cruise gala nights.

The Staff and Crew on the TUI Isla Cruise Ship

There were 38 crew members on board TUI Isla during our cruise, and we must say that we had excellent service throughout.

So many to mention, Simon the Cruise Director, Bar Manager Ionut, Hotel Manager Christian and Alina who was so helpful and great fun at reception. We also wanted to mention Kateryna, Julia, Adrian, Leon, Octav, Anastacia and Yar zat!

We also wanted to say a big thank you to Assistant Manager Mercea who took the time to show us around the category of cabins so we could put together the video about the cabins available on board below.

Cabins and Suites on TUI River Cruise Ships

There are cabins to suit all budgets on TUI River Cruise Ship, we have put this video together so you can see each category and book the one that suits your budget and needs best.

View more video blogs on YouTube > > >

Verdict on our TUI River Cruise

Our TUI River Cruise experience was excellent from start to finish. It is really good to see that TUI has opened up river cruising to suit those on a smaller budget, and have a new ship TUI Alma joining their fleet in 2025. We would definitely book another river cruise with TUI and recommend you do too!

We have a full video tour of the TUI Isla Cruise Ship below and so much more TUI and Marella information on our website so go to this page next ⬇️

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TUI River Cruise Cabin Review – (Photos, Deck 1 & 2 Superior Cabins)

If you are considering a river cruise with TUI onboard the TUI Maya, TUI Skyla, or TUI Isla you may be wondering which cabin to pick.

There are a range of cabins available from those below the waterline to much larger cabins on higher decks.

I recently took a cruise onboard the TUI Skyla and spent a lot of time in both Deck 1 and Deck 2 cabins. We will cover if it’s worth upgrading from deck 1 within this post.

Superior Cabin Deck 1

The superior cabins on deck 1 are identical to the superior cabins on higher decks, apart from the fact that because they are lower down, there are porthole windows instead of large sliding doors.

Although these cabins are called superior, they are the most common size on the ship and there are only 4 cabins on deck 1 which are smaller than the ‘superior’ cabins. These are called standard cabins.

I didn’t get a chance to see the ‘standard’ deck 1 cabins during my cruise but deck plans look like these are just slightly thinner cabins with a fixed double bed.

I Had to Change Cabin, Pre Cruise

I originally booked a deck 2 ‘standard’ cabin without realising that the bed didn’t split into twins. As I was cruising with my brother, I had to call TUI to upgrade to a higher category and ended up in a deck 2 superior cabin. The cost of the upgrade was only £59 in total and TUI were very helpful on the phone.

I usually book through an agent but I booked directly this time in order to get 10% cashback.

To learn more about how to use the cashback to get money back when you cruise, check out chapter 2 of the How to Cruise For Less cruise course here .

Initial Impressions of the Superior Cabin Deck 1

Our initial impressions were that the cabin was a good size and that the bed was very large. Although high up, the portholes did provide a lot of natural light and we were surprised how low down in the water we were.

If you’re somebody who likes to watch ducks swim by, this is the perfect cabin!

I liked the decor in the cabin and it felt very clean and modern.

There Weren’t Many Plug Sockets (2 Per Cabin)

It wasn’t a big problem for us during our cruise but it is worth noting that the cabin only has 2 plug sockets and one is taken up by the kettle/excursion boxes (an audio device that lets you listen to your guide) that often need charging.

I did unplug this to charge my phone but the cabin definitely could have done with a few more plug sockets.

There was one plug socket on the right-hand side of the bed and the other was on the desk. There is also a USB in the TV that you could use in theory but this is an extremely slow charge.

Both plug sockets are European sockets, so require adapters if you are from the UK or US.

I’d recommend purchasing an adapter that provides extra USB sockets. The one I currently use goes from European to UK and also has 2 USB sockets. Effectively turning 1 socket into 3. You’ll find my recommendations here: Cruise Essentials .

In the cabin there was also a wall mounted TV, a small desk area, a chair, table and bin.

Storage Wasn’t a Problem

The cabin does have less storage than it first appears to, thanks to the air conditioning unit which is taking up the two cupboards on the right, seen behind the chair in the above photo, and the fridge that’s in the cupboard on the left.

Despite this though, we had plenty of storage.

There is a closet with hanging space and another with shelves. This is where the majority of our clothes went.

Our suitcases fit under our beds without any problems.

The far left cupboard is a mini-fridge with a mini-bar which left us with 2 small drawers with 2 bigger cupboards below. There was also a bedside table on both sides of the bed with shelves.

The Cabin Was Noisey When Sailing

I had been on river cruises before this cruise but I had never been in a cabin on the lowest deck.

I was surprised by how noisey the cabin was when moving.

We didn’t hear specific loud noises like bangs or crashes but there was a constant hum of the engines and the sound of the water outside was much louder than I expected.

For many people (me included) this hum is actually very relaxing and can help you to sleep, if you are somebody who can’t sleep unless it is quiet though, I wouldn’t recommend this cabin for you.

Superior Cabin Deck 2 and 3

The superior cabins on deck 2 and 3 were almost identical to those on deck 1.

The only difference was that the cabins on deck 2/3 had large sliding windows. We loved being able to lay in bed while looking out at the scenery passing by.

It was amazing how peaceful the water was when sailing, if we had the doors open we would hear the noise of the water passing by and it was very relaxing.

As I was cruising with my brother, we had the beds split into two.

Both beds were very comfortable and we slept well here.

The ‘Balcony’ Isn’t Really a Balcony

On most river cruise ships, if a cabin says that it has a balcony what it means is that it has a large sliding door and a balcony type railing outside.

Viking are the excepiton to this as they often have balconies in the more traditional sense.

We sailed through Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia in March so it was quite nice that we could be ‘on the balcony’ while still sat in bed. It was quite cold and rainy during a lot of our cruise.

We did have an issue with our air conditioning not cooling the room. We spoke to reception about it and they were very helpful but unable to make the air conditioning work any better. We usually just had to have the doors open while in the cabin.

Fortunately because the weather on our cruise got colder and colder as the week went on we didn’t need the air conditioning but this would have been an issue if sailing in warmer weather.

We were on the first sailing of the season so thought it was important we reported these things to reception ahead of the summer season.

The Bathroom Wasn’t Exactly Private

By far my least favourite things about the cabin was the glass doors to the bathroom. I don’t know who thought it was a good idea to have glass doors on a bathroom…

During the day you are able to see who who’s in the bathroom and what they are doing (are they showering, on the toilet etc) from the main cabin, it isn’t a big problem during the day but we found that it was far worse at night.

When it was dark in the room and the bathroom light was on you could see what a person in the bathroom was wearing and exactly what they were doing.

The below is a photo of me pretending to use the toilet (I was posing for the photo, taken from the main cabin).

As I was cruising with my brother we both decided that we would just shower in the dark for the duration of the cruise, not ideal but it was better than us being able to see each other in the shower.

This probably isn’t a big problem for couples but if you’re cruising with friends it’s definitely something to think about.

The larger suites don’t have this bathroom design so it may be worth upgrading.

The Bathroom Was Well Designed

The bathroom is a standard cabin size but well designed. Theres a couple of shelves for storage, a sink, toilet and large shower.

T he shower was powerful and able to get very hot. There is a shower door instead of a shower curtain.

There were two large and two smaller towels. To have your towels changed you should leave them on the floor, if you’re happy to use them again leave them on the rack behind the toilet.

Toiletries are provided in the bathroom and include shampoo, conditioner and body wash. These are Molton Brown toiletries and come in a dispenser on the wall.

A bar of soap is also provided for hand washing.

There is no lock on the bathroom door, but it is easy to see who’s in there thanks to the glass doors…

All Cabins Have Tea and Coffee Making Facilities

Each cabin has a kettle and coffee/tea. This is regularly replenished when your room is made up by housekeeping.

TUI have twinings tea and also provide hot chocolate sachets.

To learn more about what is included in a TUI river cruise, check out this post next: Are TUI River Cruises All-Inclusive?  Your Guide to What is Included.

Would I Recommend Upgrading to a Deck 2 Superior Cabin from a Deck 1 Superior Cabin?

If you are somebody who is able to sleep despite noise, and doesn’t mind sitting in a lounge or on the top deck while sailing to watch the view, a deck 1 cabin can be a great option.

If you would like to spend time in your room watching the scenery go by and would prefer a quieter cabin, I’d recommend upgrading.

It’s worth remembering that all superior cabins, regardless of deck have the same ammenities and space.

To learn more about river cruising, and why river cruises usually cost a premium, check out this post next: Why Are River Cruises EXPENSIVE? – The Truth Behind The Price

Marella have a £300 discount running at the moment for next year and theres no minimum spend, check them out:  Marella Discount . (Affiliate link).

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Tui River cruises - Cruises Forum

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Hi, I'm looking at Tui River cruise over the New Year. Has anyone been on a Tui river cruise that can give me some advise on what there like? I have only been on a Nile River cruise many years ago and expect things have changed a good deal since then. Tui is very good value compared to other companies so not sure on standards etc. Many thanks.

55 replies to this topic

I think I will call TUI tomorrow and voice my concerns about such a late flight on our return. Also as the flight is now 0825 going out instead of 1145 we may have to get an airport hotel.

Hi we are booked on the TUI Maya at the end of April and are having issues with our fight out to Budapest .. we are flying with Ryanair and have been unable to prebook our seats. TUI have been unable to provide a PRN number and Ryanair are wanting a booking ref which TUI can't provide.

Also i have read somewhere that TUI provide £260 towards excursion have others received this? And on days at the port do most people head out and explore alone or on planned excursions? Many thanks

We are going on Maya in June from Budapest. We got £120 each towards excursions but the offer ended a day after we booked. We have booked an excursion/walking tour in each port

Hi did you book the excursions/tours through TUI ?

I went on to manage my booking then clicked the excursions and they were all there to book

Thank you for your comments re the Danube River Cruise with Tui. I have enjoyed sea cruising but not river cruising before. I am booked on Tui's Skyla in August. I was pleased to note that the boat moors close to the City Centres enabling us to make our own choices regarding excursions, so not needing to book in advance with Tui. How does this work, do independent tour operators meet the boats, as often happens with sea cruising, or do you book in advance eg with Trip Advisor? If so do they pick you up from your boat or do you join the tour when you reach the City Centres? Any tips/info would be much appreciated.

TUI RIVER CRUISE SKYLA

MAGICAL DANUBE

Departure Date 24 May 2023

This is the first river cruise I have been on and I would say that it was enjoyable and I would highly recommend it.

The food was good, The room was nice but we were in room 0203 that was under the speakers of the entertainment hall.

The staff were very nice and helpful.

I do highly recommend Tui rep suzi as she was very helpful and friendly and enjoyable to be around with.

THERE IS NO WAY THAT I CAN DESCRIBE HOW FANTASTIC THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY WAS. IT WAS WORTH THE WHOLE CRUISE TO EXPERIENCE. YOU MUST TRY IT THIS YEAR, IF YOU DID NOT GO LAST YEAR.

I must add that the cruise director on the Maya was totally outstanding.

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TUI River Cruise - Mosel Valley

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• Mosel Valley

Being on a river cruise gives a different perspective to life and to a river and its... read more

Sailed along The Moselle on a Scenic River Cruise , together with The Rhine . The scenery is... read more

TUI River Cruise

An outstanding holiday, our first river cruise and won't be our last. But it seems quite possible that we have started our river cruising experiences on a high note, not likely to be matched by most others. That is first and foremost because the scenery is so stunning. As someone who is cautious about the taster snippets you see in adverts and brochures, it was my expectation that the pictures used in adverts would represent a fraction of the holiday experience and some mundane countryside would also be part of the package. Not so on this section of the Mosel, be prepared to be taking hundreds of photos. My rating for this holiday was tempered by a few disappointments at the hands of TUI. Poor communication prior to the holiday, or some customer indifference took a little of the shine off. We were supposed to board at Frankfurt, a 20/25 minute transfer, but we actually boarded at Boppard after a 2 hour journey and were not warned. After queueing and travelling (under current airport disruptions) already for 8 hours, that was an unwelcome surprise despite the fact that TUI knew well in advance this would happen. We can see that circumstances dictated changes and it is easy to imagine that this resulted in some creative adjustment on the fly by TUI, but we felt they could have done better. The indifference extended to not even receiving a feedback email after the holiday. HOWEVER - Our accommodation was fine, the meals average to good, the staff onboard were fantastic (if I had a hospitality business I would have tried to recruit every one of them) and the value compared to other companies seemed very good. Tip - be very subjective about booking guided walking tours, we found some of them were a long list of dates, names and facts rather than an engaging story. In every case the locations we moored at were small enough to do a self-guided tour/explore.

We traveled the length of the Mosel in our own barge, and reckon the views and scenery are best viewed from the water giving a perfectly tranquil setting to see the twists and turns of this lovely river lined with steep banks, pretty villages and vineyards everywhere. Not everyone has the luxury of their own boat but there are plenty of day trip passenger boats that will do the job just as well even if only for a few hours!

The wonderful valley of the Mosel river delights in its entire length. A wonderful cruise on the Mosel river allowed us to see wonderful small towns, a sprinkling of castle (Burg Eltz is tops), impossibly steep huge vineyards, taste excellent Mosel wine! The most scenic piece of the valley lies between the towns of Cochem and Bernkastel-Kues. We have chosen Cochem as the handiest home base and a good port to explore the different directions for cruise down and upstream. Thanks to its many locks, Mosel cruises feel more like canal-boat rides. The Kolb Line has the most frequent departures and departs from almost any town in the entire valley, and cruises the most scenic stretch of the Mosel. A simple and fun outing is the one-hour cruise between Cochem and Beilstein, passing through the Fankel lock. By Car: Two-lane roads run along both riverbanks. While these riverside roads area delight, the river valley is very windy.

We truly fell in love with Mosel valley! The river following, beautiful, scenic drive peppered with romantic vistas and interesting, spectacular sights is unforgettable. Historic charming towns and villages. Nice local churches. Rich nature. Vineyards covering the slopes of every hill - and wine, tasty local wine! The microclimate is gentler than in neighboring provinces. You can spend a day but really you should spend a week and explore!

This area is romantic, scenic, historic, relaxed and has a few of the cutest towns and splendid panoramas. Highlights for us were Traben-Trarbach, Bernkastel, Burg Eltz and Cochem.

Mosel is a river and a district in Germany - and a must-see if you love high quality white wines. Moseltal or Mosel Valley is a beautiful area with fine old cities. You should at least visit Bernkastel-Kues, Cochem, Zell and Traben-Trarbach. There are many ways to do Mosel Valley: By car, by bike (also electrified), by foot (many, many fine trekking paths) and by boat (eat, drink, sleep on board). Most important is tasting the fine wines of Mosel. Most famous grape is Riesling, but also try Weisser Burgunder and Grauer Burgunder. If you fancy the elegant sweet dessert wine, try auslese and beerenauslese. In every little city you’ll find signs on houses saying: Weingut (vineyard). Here you can often try wine for free. ‘Probe’ or ‘probieren’ means try. ‘Verkauf’ means for sale. Of course the nice people of Mosel hope that you buy a bottle or two when you have tried their wines for free - but you don’t have to buy. Foodies will love Mosel Valley, too. Best restaurant in the area is Restaurant Schantz (2 Michelin stars). Book at least one month in advance to be sure. Prices are reasonable considering that the chef is a genious. Best wines - in Restaurant Schantz and in the Mosel Valley as such - comes from Weingut Peter Lauer. World class!

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TUI Maya river cruise review: What's it like onboard TUI River Cruises' first ship, from cabins to dining?

Author: Colette Doyle

Published on: 19 September 2021

Updated on: 10 July 2023

Back in 2021, TUI River Cruises welcomed TUI Maya as its first of three new cruise ships - perfectly timed with restrictions finally easing and river cruising on the rise

TUI River Cruises was due to launch its first river cruise ship in 2020 but its delay proves good things come to those who wait

Christened TUI Maya, she was expected to sail in March 2020, together with her sister ship TUI Skyla , but Covid put a stop to that.

So when she finally made her debut in mid-August in 2021 with an inaugural cruise down the Rhine , there was a lot to celebrate.

TUI is clearly serious about its entry into the popular river cruise market. The line has spent millions refurbishing the fleet (originally owned by German and Swiss tour operators), and it shows in both the charming public areas and the smartly appointed cabins.

Save £300 on Marella Cruises and TUI river cruises with these new booking codes

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According to the company’s river cruise MD, Chris Hackney, these ships are all about "flexibility and choice" – and there’s certainly plenty of both when it comes to the onboard culinary options.

The dining area on TUI Maya is divided into the elegantly designed Verdastro, where the art deco lighting lends a delightfully Agatha Christie effect, and Bistro, which is a more casual eatery. Both serve buffet breakfasts before turning à la carte for lunch and dinner.

But the alfresco dining up on deck 4 is surely what river cruising is all about. After all, who doesn’t love browsing on barbecued treats as the sights drift by?

A range of complimentary drinks is offered with meals, though customers who want a wider choice can either upgrade to the all-inclusive drinks package or pay as they go.

Tui River Cruises review

For diversion, sporty types can enjoy mini-golf, boules and shuffleboard, and there is also the chance to watch movies under the stars – something more usually associated with big, ocean-going cruise ships.

In the Observatory, guests can admire panoramic views through picture windows, and the outdoor terrace is ideal for sunning yourself in warmer climes (with the added attraction of a happy hour each evening, including complimentary canapés, plus afternoon tea once every trip).

- READ MORE: TUI River Cruises launches winter holiday 2022 sale -

There’s evening entertainment on offer as well – cruise director Jamie was displaying his crooning skills to good effect when I visited – and quizzers are catered for too.

The sophisticated surroundings of the Club Lounge – all plush chairs, brass fittings and mirrored tables – offer another enjoyable place to relax, especially in front of its remarkably convincing digital fireplace.

As on any cruise ship worth its salt, the Atrium is the hub of life on board. Here you’ll find the cruise director, ready to help with any queries, and on Maya it’s also home to artwork by painter Simone Van Den Berg (the lights are designed to resemble tulips in a nod to her Dutch heritage).

There’s a wellness centre, too, small but perfectly formed, with a sauna and whirlpool bath making it a cosy spot to unwind.

The cabins are thoughtfully designed, and for those happy to splash out on an upgrade, the wonderfully spacious 24m2 French Balcony suites offer a whole host of tempting extras, including a Molton Brown toiletries set, dressing area, continental breakfast in bed and priority luggage delivery.

- READ MORE: Why should you go on a river cruise holiday? -

River cruising has been on the rise for some time now, and Chris Hackney believes he knows why: "It’s such a great way to see a number of different places in a short period of time, from small towns like Rudesheim on the Rhine to capital cities such as Vienna and Budapest."

He also notes that, post-Covid, TUI is seeing a surge in demand for itinerary-heavy cruises – and of course that’s exactly what a good river journey delivers.

With an average of 14 trips available on each seven-day itinerary there’s plenty of choice, and most trips are in the £20 to £40 range, with headsets included so you can hear the guide’s commentary while exploring at your own pace.

Maya’s sister ship Skyla will be launched November 2021, just in time for the Christmas market season, while a third vessel, Isla, completed the family in Spring 2022.

With the whole trio up and running, TUI offers a wide choice of itineraries on the Main, Danube , Moselle and Rhine, as well as the Dutch and Belgian waterways, with excursion options including winery outings, a classical concert in Vienna, a trip to see the windmills of Kinderdijk, and a walking tour of Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities.

- READ MORE: Six of the best Rhine cruises for spring and summer 2022 -

Previous TUI ship godmothers have included the likes of Dame Judi Dench, but for Maya and Skyla the company has gone in a different direction, selecting two "everyday explorers" – a college administrator from Barnsley and a London-based illustrator.

That’s just one sign of the fresh thinking that TUI is bringing to Europe’s river-cruising scene – and with ships as appealing as these, I’m sure there will be many more to come.

Get onboard

Seven-night ‘Treasures of the Main’ cruise aboard TUI Maya, sailing from Frankfurt to Nuremberg via Aschaffenburg, Wertheim, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Forchheim, departing August 18, 2023, from £1246 per person.

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TUI Al Horeya

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Freckle and Curl

TUI Danube River Cruise Review

We completed our 7 Day Tui ‘East Danube Explorer’ river cruise in July 2022. In this article we will look to give you a better idea on what to expect if you were to book a TUI river cruise or similar. We will provide you with insight into both the good and bad.

We booked our cruise only a few weeks before the cruise itself. As a result, we got ourselves a great deal. This appears to be usually the case with Tui packages. As you get closer to the time and if there is available space, the price will dramatically decrease. In our case it was around a 50% price reduction. At the time of writing, if you were to book the same river cruise 1 year out, you would expect to pay £1449 per person (excluding any sort of room upgrade). We paid £798 per person, and paid an additional £364 as a room upgrade. We did not opt to have the all inclusive drinks package which was £20pp per night (£280 for a couple for the week).

The price includes:

• Full Board  – breakfast, lunch and dinner at two restaurants and a range of drinks are included; standard tea, coffee and juices with breakfast, as well as soft drinks, beer and wine with lunch and dinner.
• £120 per person as credit towards daily excursions (eg: tours)
• Transfers to and from the airport

2. The Ship

Our tour was on the TUI Skyla. This ship features:

• 2 Restaurants (one formal, one buffet)
• Spa (spa pool, loungers, sauna)

We found the ship to be great and challenge the other cruise companies that target a more luxury market. All rooms and facilities appeared to be new and modern. Most importnatly when travelling it is quiet, and all you could hear when moving was the sound of the water.

Free WiFI is onboard but we found it to be fairly patchy and non-existent in our room. As a result, we had to rely on mobile data.

see here for more specifics

We paid an additional £364 for the room (cabin) upgrade and we are thankful we did. If you do not opt for an upgrade you will be placed in a standard room at the deck 1 level.. Whilst the room itself is much like the others available, what you lose is the view. You’re effectively below the water level and have two port windows to peak out of at the top.

We selected the ‘Deck 2 French Balcony Cabin’ the great benefit of this option is the sliding doors that open up. You can relax in the comfort of your own room looking out at an unencumbered view as the world passes by.

The room featured a large double bed that was very comfortable along with equally high grade pillows. A TV with a few English channels (BBC, Euronews, Comedy Central – some shows in english and some not). Unfortunately the casting feature on the TV did not work in our room, I think because of the poor WiFi. Mini fridge was a great feature that allowed you to pickup your own drinks/foods from the towns and store these away. We purchased beer, coca-cola and a bottle of bourbon on day one which allowed us to sit nicely with a drink at our french balcony.

Plenty of storage spaces to unpack you’re personal items and clothes. The bathroom was fairly standard with a sink, toilet (like on an airplane), and comfortable sized shower. Pressure on the shower was not a problem at all. All tap water on the boat was filtered which allowed you to drink from the tap without buying any sort of plastic bottle alternatives.

All three meals are inclusive every day and in many occasions have the opportunity to decide whether to eat at the port location or onboard. Spotted around the ship were also Coffee machines with treats such as biscuits.

Breakfast time is between 7am-9am. There is a buffet option where standard breakfast foods are available. This includes full english breakfast items (beans, bacon, scrambled eggs, mushrooms, hashbrown etc), cereals, yoghurt, continental breakfast, and pastries. In addition to the buffet you have the option to order from the Chef. Through the Chef you can order eggs cooked to your preference, eggs benedict, and omelettes. For drinks you will be served standard coffee, tea or you can grab yourself a juice. We aren’t the biggest breakfast eaters and usually don’t bother eating breakfast, however on the cruise we did every single day in order to fill up before the activities shortly following. One downside we found with the breakfast was there was a lack of fruit options. We are fairly healthy eaters and between the meals we felt we were missing some of the standard nutrients we expect in our daily diets. Therefore when the option for fruit was there, we stocked up when we ordered. For snacks, we also grabbed a couple pastries at breakfast to take with us in our bags during the excursions.

Lunch/Dinner

Both Lunch and Dinner and three course meals with an appetiser, main, and desert. For each part of the meal you were usually presented with 3-4 various options including at least one vegetarian option. In terms of taste we were pleasantly surprised for most of the options we selected. There was always a standard chicken or salmon option but we tried our best to try the more unique options when they were available.

One of the nights had a special ‘Indonesian’ menu that was considered experimental. This was by far the best meal we had aboard the ship. So much so that we ordered two mains each (staff were more than happy to oblige!). This makes sense as much of the cooks are Indonesian or from other Southern Asian countries, allowing them to flex their traditional dishes. What we were disappointed to see was the turnout for this option from the other passengers. What we noted was that a majority of passengers aren’t the most adventurous when it comes to their meals. We certainly hope this continues in the future and hope TUI really push this option to passengers as I think they could have done a better job to recommend it.

For drinks the Beer and Wine was flowing. It was unlimited and in most cases your waitress/waiter could not wait to supply you with an more drinks (very handy when you didn’t pay for the unlimited drinks package). There were a few different Beer options with a light and dark beer variation. For Wine you had both White and Red with each night having a different bottle from a new region. The quality was very good, and much better than what we expected (we expected the cheap stuff – it was not).

During the long cruise day where we were moving from Belgrade to Budapest, we had to be onboard for more than 24horus. As a result, they planned a gala night to make things a bit more interesting. This included a 6 course meal where you only had to make one decision regarding the main. This felt quite fancy with the little beautifully presented dishes. Bon appetite (I think staff are told they have to say this, and you will hear it so often it will become quite funny).

Our criticisms of the food are limited to a few different areas. The meat options usually didn’t hit the spot in portion size and the vegetarian options (like pasta) sometimes felt like it was a bit bland and missing ingredients. We would have also hoped for a bit more international flavour to mix things up. However, you can still eat off ship when you’re at the ports if you’re a very picky eater.

5. Port Time and Excursions

One thing that this cruise does is organise optional excursions for you to pick. Included in your ticket price we were given £120 each to use towards excursions. This paid for around 4 excursions. If you wanted more, then it was pretty reasonable priced at around £10-40 depending on how much is involved. There was usually 1 or 2 different excursion options available each day, one in the morning and then one afternoon/evening based excursion.

In all ports a historical walking tour was an option. The guided were local and would provide a wealth of knowledge and answer any questions that you may have. In our rooms we were provided with ‘Vox boxes’ which were little frequency radios with earpieces which allows you to hear the guide from a good distance away.

Each excursion had a rating on how hard the physical activity was (ie Walking). This allowed an individual to decide what they could and could not do. We are young (30) and fit so none of the walking was difficult for us, but for some of the older folk, they did struggle. So it’s best to fully understand the amount of walking that is involved.

If you’re not wanting to do an excursion and instead want to do your own thing that you can do that. That’s what we did in a number of ports. Maps are provided at the front desk which does highlight some key sights which was helpful, but in most cases we just opted for google maps and trip advisory to plan our day. When leaving the boat pay attention to the time you must be back onboard, otherwise you might be left behind.

We did 3 TUI excursions on our cruise:

Wine & History In And Around Novi Sad – Novi Sad, Serbia

Overview: Fortresses, ancient cities and wine houses are all part and parcel of a sightseeing tour in Serbia. This four-hour tour starts in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city. Follow your guide on foot to the mighty Petrovaradin Fortress, perched right on the banks of the Danube. You’ll have an hour to explore and find out how this stronghold became a centre for art and music. Then you’ll hop on a coach and drive to the ancient city of Sremski Karlovci. Take a 30-minute guided walk through its pretty streets before arriving at a wine house – a winery. This city has a rich history of wine production, and you’ll have an hour-long tasting session to find out more about it before heading back to your ship at Novi Sad.

Bohemian Belgrade – Belgrade Serbia

Overview: You can see Belgrade’s bohemian side on this tour. For starters, you’ll be taken to one of the city’s music halls for a folklore performance. This hour-long show gives you a taste of Serbia’s mish-mash past, with songs played using traditional Slavic instruments and dancers kitted out in authentic outfits. After, you’ll be dropped in Skadarlija, AKA the Bohemian Quarter. This place is more of a street than a quarter, but its cobblestone lane is brimming with some of the city’s oldest restaurants and bars. There’s the option of snapping up a traditional snack at one of the eateries – like grilled Serbian sausages or meat skewers, washed down with wine. Then you’ll hop on the bus back to the ship.

Lepenski Vir Archaeological Site and Golubac Fortress – Donji Milanovac, Serbia

Overview: This tour ticks off a pair of Serbia’s must-see antique attractions. After a 15-minute drive from the port, you’ll arrive at Lepenski Vir – an 8,000-year-old archaeological site that’s been dubbed ‘the first city of Europe’. In the museum here, you’ll watch a video presentation about the history of the area. Then you’ll head into the main hall to see what’s left of the old settlement. These remains were discovered in 1960, and historians believe they date as far back as 6500 BC. You’ll see where the old huts used to stand, as well as artefacts like carved stone heads and tools. When you’re finished, you’ll travel to the town of Golubac’s waterfront fortress. This giant stronghold was built in the 14th century, and sits on the shore of the Danube. During a riverside stroll, your guide will tell you about the battles that took place here between Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. And before you start the journey back to the port, you’ll have some free time to explore the castle on your own.

6. Onboard Entertainment

An itinerary is set for each day with a number of different hosted and self hosted events throughout the day. Generally each evening the onboard musicians will provide a few hours of music whether it be a DJ set of 80’s classic hits or cranking out a ballad. On the first night in Budapest there was traditional dancers who put on a show for the guests in the main function room. During the day there was the odd Yoga session and some small games on the top deck (shuffleboard and a homemade mini golf course). Throughout the ship there was various board games, card games, and chess/checkers boards. We honestly didn’t do much of this, and rather entertained ourselves on top deck or in our own room, however people certainly did enjoy all of these.

What we did enjoy was the first night when we left Budapest, the tour manager Tony gave a fact session as we first left the port along the Danube river in front of the beautiful lit up buildings including the parliamentary building. The same was also done when we were passing through the ‘Iron Gates’ which was absolutely stunning first thing after breakfast.

7. Demographics

If I asked you to imagine the type of people on a river cruise what do you imagine?…. well you’re probably spot on. River cruises in general do market and attract an older crowd and because TUI is British company you will end up with 95% of White British people above the age of 60. We are a 30 year old couple and we did stand out as a very strange sight to the rest of the passengers. Some other passengers would jokingly ask what us young people are doing and were very interested to get our thoughts on the trip, as we were an anomaly. Honestly we did expect to be much younger than the others but did expect to see maybe one or two couples of similar age (or below 45) but that certainly was not the case. It did not ruin the trip, but it did detract from the social side of things as it was always going to be a bit harder to fit in. Whilst we do live in the UK we are also still not British so that did add another component to feeling a bit like outsiders. Regardless we did not go into this trip expecting to meet a bunch of new friends or party it up. It was planned to be relaxing and fairly calm which it most certainly was. The crowd are fairly calm and level headed, so if you are used to a trip to Benidorm where you drink and party yourself into a coma, then look elsewhere, you won’t get what you’re looking for here. Same with if you’re under 55 and looking to make a bunch of mates on the trip, it’s going to be unlikely unless you do get along with much older people (eg: there was a lovely deaf couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary onboard). We must say though, that everyone we did talk to were really nice and certainly went out of their way to say hello. Our boat only had about 70 people onboard (max ~150) so you will see the same people and you will be on excursions with them (which has some forced mingling). Because of this, if you’re used to a normal big ocean cruiser where you can hide in the crowd, you won’t get that here. Many passengers are elderly and have mobility issues, so when on excursions or doing anything as a group just be prepared that it will be slower than what you’re used to.

8. Conclusion

Overall, the river cruise was a great value for money. It also ticked off a number of new places we had never been to before. There are a lot of different river cruise options, so definitely pick one where you prioritise the ports that sound interesting to you. TUI has done a fantastic job to have a more entry level cost to river cruising. In comparison to other companies running, TUI has undercut them by a hefty margin and I can’t see how others could really rationalise the extra cost. Would we do it again?…. at this stage probably not. It does feel like a one time thing for now (a once and done). However, that is not TUI’s fault, i think that’s more to do with the target demographic that this industry caters to. So until a river cruise company goes after working age people, we will give it a miss for now….. unless financially it makes more sense to do a river cruise to see new spots we want to get to. Are we glad we did it? certainly, definitely a novelty experience.

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• TUI Cruises

Former names: TUI Allegra (2011), Excellence Allegra

Cruise line TUI River Cruises (TUI Cruises)

TUI Isla current position

TUI Isla current location is at Europe Inland (coordinates 48.81505 N / 12.97011 E) cruising en route to FRANKFURT. The AIS position was reported 35 seconds ago.

Specifications of TUI Isla

•   Review
•   Wiki

TUI Isla Review

Review of tui isla.

The 2020-built/2022-inaugurated TUI Isla cruise ship, like the sisterships Maya and Skyla , is a riverboat owned by TUI AG and operated by its subsidiary company "TUI UK and Ireland". The new brand "TUI River Cruises" (tui.co.uk/river-cruises) was established in 2019 and targets predominantly the UK's passenger sourcing. The 3 TUI boats were officially launched in 2020 following extensive drydock refit (and complete refurbishment) projects. However, due to the Coronavirus crisis, the brand's inauguration was postponed for ~1,5 years (August 2021 instead of the planned March 2020).

The vessel (ENI number 4809190) was launched in 2011 (originally named "TUI Allegra") being built by P+S WERFTEN GmbH (shipyard in Stralsund Germany ) and with original passenger capacity 188. Its initial owner was Premicon Flussreisen GmbH ( Limassol Cyprus -based river shipowner). When chartered by Excellence River Cruises, the ship was named "Excellence Allegra". TUI Allegra's sisterships were TUI Sonata (now TUI SKYLA) and TUI Melodia (fka Excellence Melodia, now TUI MAYA).

The boat TUI Isla is currently Malta- flagged (MMSI 215441000) and registered in Valletta .

TUI River Cruises (company/brand history and ownership)

TUI River Cruises ( fleet ) is a separate company part (fully-owned subsidiary) of TUI AG (British-German travel and tourism corporation). Part of TUI Group is also TUI Cruises - a UK-based joint venture cruise company (50-50) of TUI AG and RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (USA-based passenger shipping company). TUI started cruise shipping operations in 2009, targeting predominantly the German-speaking market with a premium travel vacation product. German and English are the main onboard languages on all TUI Schiffs (ships). TUI's sister-brands are Marella Cruises UK and Hapag-Lloyd-Cruises .

TUI's newest travel brand offers adults-only riverboat travel experiences with the ultimate flexibility to create luxury sailing vacations with a choice of optional packages. TUI UK's customers are able to add to the shipboard basis shore excursions (land tours), beverages (beer, wine, soft drinks with all meals) or premium drinks package. TUI's new cruise company also provides some of the industry's most spacious staterooms (including Suites with step-out balconies) and the most extravagant Sundeck areas currently available on the European market.

The German corporation TUI AG (shipowner) announced in April 2019 that it had acquired 3 riverboats for its new UK-focused brand "TUI River Cruises". The new company was due to start operations in 2020-Q2 (summer), complementing TUI's UK brand Marella.

Bookings on TUI's riverboats were opened on April 25, 2019.

In December 2019, TUI signed an exclusive partnership with Live Business UK (one of Europe's largest entertainment program developers and suppliers) for TUI River Cruises. By this deal, Live Business UK prepared the onboard entertainment programming for the boats and is also responsible for recruiting cruise directors, hosts, ship musicians, guest performers, local tour guides and other experts.

TUI Isla ship was officially christened on March 28, 2022, by godmother Courtney Smith (retail homeworker, with TUI Cruises since 2017).

Decks and Cabins

TUI Isla staterooms (79 total, on 3 decks out of 4 ) are in 2 types and 9 categories, contemporary decorated, with King-size double beds (convertible to two twins / lower single beds), mirrored vanity tables (writing desks) armchairs, low tables with lounge chairs, modern large slide-opening wardrobes, electronic safe box (in the closet), smart HDTV (satellite reception, ship info channel with daily scheduled activities, real-time camera views), 220 V power sockets, en-suite bathroom (single-sink vanity, WC-toilet, glass shower, hairdryer, slippers, bathrobes), individually controlled air-conditioning.

Most staterooms are double-occupancy. Suites are triple-occupancy (fitted with corner sofabeds) and additionally have mini-bar (fridge) and two French Balconies. All Lower Deck cabins are with porthole windows (two non-opening, round-shaped windows per cabin) located near the ceiling (riverside, at water level). All staterooms on Main-Middle and Upper decks are French Balcony cabins with floor-ceiling (wall-to-wall) windows slide-opening to a railing (false balcony).

• French Balcony Suite (Decks 2-3) are sized 24 m2 (260 ft2) and feature King-size bed (convertible), bigger bathroom, sofabed, separate dressing area.
• Superior French Balcony Cabin (Decks 2-3) are sized 15 m2 (160 ft2) and each fitted with King-size bed (convertible to twins).
• French Balcony Cabin (Decks 2-3) are sized 12 m2 (130 ft2) and have a fixed double bed (non-convertible).
• Superior Cabin (Deck 1) is sized 15 m2 (160 ft2) and has King-size bed (convertible to 2 single beds).
• Standard Cabin (Deck 2) is sized 12 m2 (130 ft2) and has a full-sized window (non-opening) and fixed double bed (non-convertible).
• Standard Cabin (Deck 1) is sized 12 m2 (130 ft2) and has a fixed double bed and two Porthole windows.
• Single Cabin (Deck 1) and French Balcony Single Cabin (Deck 2) are sized 12 m2 (130 ft2) and fitted with a single bed, desk and lounge chair.

Shipboard facilities

Isla Atrium is the ship's main hub. The Lobby area houses the Reception (24-hour Guest Services Desk/assistance, luggage, cashier) and the Cruise Manager's/Director's Office (itinerary information, excursion bookings, future cruise booking). At the Library Lounge can be played popular board games. The Boutique Shop sells TUI-logoed merchandise, handmade souvenirs and premium brand gifts.

Ship's Sun Deck (top deck) is zoned, with dedicated areas for activities, sunbathing and relaxation. This large-sized open-air deck features BBQ (space for barbecues), Herb Garden, premium garden sofas, sunbathing area (with deckchairs, sunbeds and daybeds). The activities' area is dedicated to outdoor group classes, including stretching, pilates, yoga. Also on Sun Deck are ship's Navigation Bridge (called "Wheelhouse" on riverboats and smaller ships) and awnings. All structures are retractable and lowered when passing under low bridges.

TUI Isla boat's deckplan as facilities shows:

• Lower Deck 1: Cruise Cabins, staff and crew cabins
• Main Deck 2: Cruise Cabins, Lobby (Reception), Health and Wellbeing Zone (fore-located, with large whirlpool, Sauna, Gym, treatment rooms for massages)
• Upper Deck 3: Bistro, Verdastro, Club Lounge, Observatory, Terrace
• Sun Deck 4: BBQ, Lounge, Relax, Herb Garden

The Isla ship has two main restaurants - Verdastro (for seasonal dishes and with daily changing menu) and Bistro (casual dining venue) both located aft on Upper Deck.

• Verdastro (Main Dining Room/MDR) has a stylish green-and-gold color scheme. The venue offers buffet-style breakfast and lunch, while dinner is an a la carte, waiter-served affair. All meals are prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local suppliers. Tables are available for two, four or six guests.
• The Bistro (adjacent to Verdastro) is more casual and provides an alternative dining option. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Passengers can choose from a la carte menu or sample the daily buffet food offerings.
• Alfresco dining is available on Sun Deck's BBQ area. Weather permitting, there the crew organizes outdoor dining events, such as light lunches and barbecues. Passengers can get drinks up there, too.

Full Board Plus is standard which means that 3 meals and drinks at mealtimes are part of the cruise package. Premium coffee and cocktails are not included as part of the line's standard dining package. Passengers have to upgrade to a premium drinks package or pay extra.

The Club Lounge is specialized in coffee by day, cocktails by night, and boasts with its digital fireplace, brass fittings, plush navy chairs, and mirrored tables. Alternatively, the Observatory offers a pretty terrace to the table and nightly entertainment ranging from musicians to guest acts, such as comedians. The Observatory lounge features widescreen windows, an outdoor terrace, comfy sofas and heaters.

Itineraries

TUI Isla operates on river cruisetour itineraries in Germany, Holland and also cruises on the Dutch and Belgian waterways. Year-round departures are offered from homeports in Germany ( Passau and Frankfurt ) and The Netherlands ( Amsterdam) .

TUI River Cruises itineraries are themed as:

• 7-day "Bavarian Discovery" cruise (March-June 2020), from Passau to Frankfurt, visiting Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Marktbreit, Wurzburg, Miltenberg, Wertheim. Prices started from GBP 1240 per person.
• 7-day "Bavarian Discovery 2" cruise (March-May 2020) from Frankfurt to Passau visits Wertheim, Wurzburg, Marktbreit, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg. Prices started from GBP 1640 per person.
• 7-day "Rhine Gems" cruise (April-May 2020) roundtrip from Frankfurt visits Koblenz, Mainz, Mannheim, Kehl, Rastatt, Rudesheim. Prices started from GBP 1340 per person.
• 7-day "The Moselle Valley: Vines and Views" cruise (April-May 2020) roundtrip from Frankfurt visits Koblenz, Bernkastel-Kues, Trier, Piesport, Traben-Trarbach, Cochem, Boppard, Oberwesel. Prices started from GBP 1440 per person.
• 7-day "Marvels of the Main" cruise (April 2020) roundtrip from Frankfurt visits Miltenberg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Marktbreit, Wertheim. Prices started from GBP 1390 per person.

Shore excursions range from active tours for adventurers, sightseeing city tours (led by local expert guides) to bicycle tours (with complimentary premium bikes carried on the ship). TUI offers GBP 120 OBC (credit) to any tour bookings, allowing customers the opportunity to tailor their holidays to dates/times and their personal preferences. All gratuities (onboard and ashore tips) and service charges are included in the river cruise fares.

TUI Isla - user reviews and comments

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TUI Isla ship related cruise news

TUI Isla passengers flown home after Danube River flooding incident

TUI River Cruises had to evacuate 140+ passengers from TUI Isla ship due to complications arising from rising water levels on the Danube, which...

TUI River Cruises UK celebrates the maiden voyage of TUI Isla ship

TUI Isla (fka TUI Allegra) - the 3rd and final riverboat to join TUI River Cruises' fleet, began her Maiden Voyage (Rhine Explorer 2 itinerary) after...

TUI River Cruises restart on March 28 aboard the newly-launched TUI Skyla

TUI River Cruises' sailings will restart at the end of March 2022 after winter trips were suspended during the emergence of the COVID Omicron variant...

TUI River Cruises launches first of 3 adult-only river ships, TUI Maya

TUI River Cruises launched the first of its 3 adult-only river ships following the delay due to the COVID crisis. Originally scheduled to commence...

TUI extends suspension of sailings and delays launch of new river ships

TUI announced it is extending the suspension of sailings in 2020. Voyages operated by the brand's cruise line, Marella, will be paused up to and...

TUI River Cruises announces Christmas Markets and New Year itineraries

TUI Cruises began a 100-day countdown to the launch of its brand TUI River Cruises. The riverboats will set sail from November 26 with Christmas and...

TUI River Cruises launch suspended until November

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to block the cruise industry, TUI Cruises UK announced further program changes. In March, the...

Live Business to Become TUI River Cruises' Exclusive Entertainment Supplier

UK-based company Live Business is going to become the exclusive entertainment supplier for TUI River Cruises. The cruise line will launch its first 3...

TUI Buys Three River Cruise Ships

The German corporation TUI AG announced it had acquired 3 riverboats for its new UK-focused cruise brand "TUI River Cruises" - due to start...

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Other TUI River Cruises cruise ships

• TUI Al Horeya

TUI Isla Wiki

TUI Isla (ENI number 4809190) belongs to the TwinCruiser boat type, in which passenger sections are structurally separated from the drive unit. TwinCruiser-class riverboats have two separate hulls linked to each other by clutches. The advantage of such separation is that the transmission of vibrations and noises can be mostly avoided.

The vessel TUI Isla is powered by two MTU marine diesel engines (model 12V-4000 M60) with total power output 1,6 MW. The engine builder MTU Friedrichshafen is a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Power Systems and among the world's largest manufacturers of diesel engines and propulsion systems. MTU produces diesel engines for ships (passenger and cargo vessels), heavy vehicles, military vehicles and trains in the power range 20 kW to 10 MW (up to 13410 HP output) and also sells Mercedes-Benz engines for industrial applications and gas turbines.

The riverboat's propulsion system is based on two 4-wing Veth rudder propellers plus one bow thruster (Jastram Azimuth Jet). Onboard energy supply is provided by three diesel generator sets (310 kVA, model Cummins KT-1150-G).

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.