TUI River Cruises Unveils New Douro-Bound Jewel: TUI Alma for Spring 2025
TUI River Cruises has revealed plans to expand its fleet with the addition of a brand-new ship, TUI Alma, set to navigate Portugal’s Douro River starting in the spring of 2025. This marks a significant milestone as TUI Alma becomes the cruise line’s inaugural newbuild vessel. The name “TUI Alma,” translating to “soul” in Portuguese, adds a cultural touch to the fleet alongside existing ships TUI Isla, TUI Maya, and TUI Skyla.
Managed by Chris Logan, TUI River Cruises’ managing director for specialist business, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “This is a huge moment for TUI River Cruises and a defining moment in our journey.” Despite the cruise line’s launch in 2021, the positive customer response has empowered the delivery of this purpose-built ship designed exclusively for the Douro, anchored in Porto.
TUI Alma, a four-level ship, boasts 62 cabins accommodating 123 passengers during 7-night sailings. The top deck features a shallow pool, sun lounges, a bar, and food service. Flexibility and choice are prioritized in the ship’s design, with spaces transforming from day to night, offering passengers various options for their onboard experience.
The ship’s itinerary includes visits to Entre-os-Rios and Peso de Regua in Portugal, Vega de Terron in Spain, and stops in Barca d’Alva and Peso de Regua on the return journey to Porto. Daytime sailing allows cruisers to soak in the breathtaking views of terraced vineyards and steep gorges along the way.
Bookings for sailings on TUI Alma along the Douro open on Thursday, coinciding with the release of TUI River Cruises’ summer 2025 cruise offerings. The summer lineup includes 21 cruises across 12 countries, featuring new itineraries such as the 5-night “Windmills & Waterways” trip in the Netherlands, a 6-night “Sail the Southern Rhine” cruise in Germany and Switzerland, and “Danube Gems,” a 7-night exploration of smaller ports on the Danube.
Katy Berzins, leader of TUI River Cruises within the broader TUI Group, expressed excitement about the expansion, stating, “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.”
