The line confirmed the order during the christening of Tui Aria in Frankfurt on Thursday (26 March), with the two new vessels scheduled to enter service in 2028.

The additions will expand Tui's fleet from six vessels in 2026 to 10 by 2028; they will operate across Europe's waterways, including the Rhine and the Douro, as well as the Nile.

A key feature of the new-builds is their propulsion system, with both ships constructed "from the outset" to accommodate next-generation alternative fuels, particularly methanol.

"Sustainability and improving our carbon footprint is such an important thing for Tui," Katy Berzins, head of Tui River Cruises, told TTG. "We're really conscious of future-proofing our fleet, and these new ships are a great step towards that."

Each vessel will carry 188 passengers across 94 cabins and is being designed specifically with the UK market in mind, marking the first time the brand has commissioned "purpose-built" ships for its river fleet.

This announcement took place during the christening of Tui Aria, which is the largest ship in the line’s river fleet at 190 passengers.

Trade partners, Tui staff and media were invited to the event alongside the ship’s godparents, Tui agent Paula Burgess and Tui River Cruises senior commercial manager Mark Sage.

Berzins described the announcement as a "major milestone" for the brand. "Today marks an incredibly exciting moment for us," she said during the ceremony on Thursday.

"Our five year anniversary, the christening of this wonderful ship, new partnerships, and now, the introduction of two new ships to our fleet. This new order will allow us to design ships from scratch that are totally bespoke to our guests."

Tui insists the additional capacity and fleet modernisation will provide more opportunities for agents to capitalise on growing interest in river cruising, particularly among UK customers seeking "all-inclusive and culturally immersive" itineraries.