Preparing for your TUI River Cruises sailing

• If you’ve booked through a TUI Store or online, you can check in for your flight via Manage My Booking, or on our Flight Extras page. You can also use this link to add any additional luggage on top of your allowance and select your seats.

• If you’ve booked through a third-party travel agent, you can check in at the airport. Contact your booking agent if you’d like to add any extra luggage allowance or select your seat.

• You can check in at the airport or online.

• You can add additional luggage when you check in online or at the airport.

• Online check in opens 23 hours before departure.

• Booking references for your flight are available five days before you're due to depart, we'll send this to you via email.

• You can only check in at the airport.

• You can add additional luggage when you check in at the airport.

• You can check in online.

• You can add additional luggage when you check in online.

• Online check in opens 30 days before departure.

• Booking references for your flight are available 28 days before you’re due to depart, we’ll send this to you via email.

• You can check in online or at the airport.

• You can add additional luggage when you check in online or at the airport.

• Online check in opens 30 hours before departure. You can only check in on an individual basis.

• Booking references for your flight are available 14 days before you are due to depart, we’ll send this to you via email.

• You can check in online or at the airport.

• You can add additional luggage when you check in online or at the airport.

• Online check in opens 47 hours before departure.

• Booking references for online check in are available eight days before you’re due to depart, we’ll send this to you via email.

• You can check in at the airport.

• You can add additional luggage when you check in at the airport.

• You can check in at the airport.

• You can add any additional luggage at check in.

• Your luggage allowance is 20kg.

• You can only check in at the airport.

• You can add any additional luggage at check in.

• You can check in online or at the airport.

• You can add additional luggage when you check in online or at the airport.

• Online check in opens 23 hours before departure.

• Booking references for your flight are available five days before you're due to depart, we'll send this to you via email.

If you’re a British passport holder, visit the FCDO website to check if you need a visa. If you hold a different type of passport, you should check the consulate of the embassy of the countries you’re travelling to.

A tourist visa is required for visitors to Luxor. You can apply for an e-visa online through our visa partner, Sherpa. You can also purchase a visa on arrival in resort if you hold a full British Passport. The current visa cost is $33 USD per person if purchased from the local authorities, or £25 GBP if purchased from our destination management company. Just so you know, visas purchased on arrival can only be paid for in cash, not on card.

We recommend you buy your visa before you travel to avoid queues. Online visas should be applied for at least 10 days before departure.

Before you go, you’ll need to visit our cruise control website and submit your passport information, emergency contact details, any dietary requirements and anything else you want to let us know about in advance. If you do this before you travel, it’ll save some time at check-in when you arrive at the ship. Please note, this only applies to our European river cruises.

Generally speaking, the dress code on our ships is casual. There are just a few things you’ll need to bear in mind.

In the restaurants:

• Beachwear isn’t to be worn.

• In the evening, men will need to pop on a pair of long trousers or smart tailored shorts, with a shirt or polo shirt and closed shoes.

• Jackets and ties aren’t essential, but go ahead if you’re feeling fancy.

• There’s one gala night on each sailing longer than five nights – you’re more than welcome to pack a dressier outfit for this, but it’s not obligatory.

Out and about:

• It’s worth packing comfy shoes if you’re planning to do lots of walking.

• Make sure you bring something to cover your shoulders, in case you visit a religious site when you’re sightseeing.

• If you’re sailing on one of our Nile river cruises, you may want to bring closed-toe shoes, as some of the temples have dusty and uneven floors.

On the ship:

• We recommend bringing a light jacket or cardigan to wear during the evening.

• Bring swimwear with you if you’re planning to use the wellness area on our European fleet, or the pool on our Nile ships.

Yes, all the plugs on our ships are European, so you’ll need to bring an adaptor to use in your cabin.

Everything on our European ships is priced in euros. On our Nile ships everything is priced in Egyptian pounds.

There isn’t a currency exchange onboard our ships, so if you’d like to exchange cash, you’ll need to do so before you board, or use an ATM when we’re in port.

We operate a cashless system on our ships, so anything you buy will be charged to your onboard account and settled at the end of your cruise. You can settle your account using euros in cash, a debit card, or a credit card.

Certain sections of the rivers we sail on have low bridges. In order to sail under these bridges, we are required to collapse the top deck down to pass through. During this time, the top deck will be out of use and can be for some time, particularly on sailings along the River Main. You can still make the most of the views from the panoramic windows in our lounges.

Itineraries that sail under low bridges include:

• Majestic Main & Rhine – top deck closed for up to five days

• Treasures of the Main 2 – top deck closed for up to seven days

• Icons of Europe – top deck closed for up to six days

• Danube Delights – top deck closed for up to four days

On occasion, we may be required to dock alongside another ship. So, to get on and off the ship, you’ll need to walk through the ship that we’re berthed next to, or vice versa. This is very common in river cruising.

On our Nile river cruises, it’s fairly common to be docked next to two ships, so you’ll just have to walk through a second ship to get back to ours.

We'll always dock as close to the town we're visiting as we can. There may be locations where we need to dock further out, and you'll therefore need to walk, use public transport or book one of our transfers where available to get into the centre of town.

There won’t be a TUI River Cruises rep to meet you at your departure airport in the UK. If you need any help, chat to a representative from whichever of our partner airlines you’re flying with.

When you arrive and make your way through the airport, keep an eye out for a TUI River Cruises rep in the arrivals hall. They’ll be holding a TUI River Cruises sign, and will direct you to your transfer.

Just so you know, if you’re flying in to Frankfurt Airport, you can expect a 10 to 15-minute walk from the terminal to the coach area for your transfer.

If you're flying into Basel Airport there are two exits – one for France and one for Switzerland. You'll need to leave via the Switzerland exit, where our TUI River Cruises rep will be waiting for you.

If you’re flying into Luxor Airport, please note that you may be approached by porters once you’ve collected your luggage. If you allow them to help you, they will expect to receive a tip.

If you’re flying into Amsterdam Airport, you can expect a walk from the terminal building to the coach area for your transfer. From Terminal One this is a five to 10-minute walk, and from Terminal Two it’s a 10 to 15-minute walk.

If you decide that you’d like to make your own way to the ship, rather than take the transfer, please let us know before you fly, or before you leave the airport. You can either call us on 0203 451 2688 or chat to the TUI River Cruises rep at the airport.

When you arrive at the port, a member of the TUI River Cruises team will be there to welcome you onboard and talk you through the embarkation process. You can check in to your cabin from 3pm, or board the ship before this and use the facilities, or head off to explore your first destination at leisure.

Just so you know, you can’t access your cabin until 3pm, so we recommend packing a change of clothes in your hand luggage, in case you’d like to freshen up before exploring or relaxing onboard.

Please note, on our Nile sailings you’ll be required to hand your passport into reception on arrival, so they can complete customs paperwork. You’ll be able to collect it back after 24 hours.

If you’ve got a cruise-only booking, you can check in anytime from 3pm up until two hours before the ship is due to depart. If you’d like to arrive before then, you’re welcome to board the ship and start making use of the facilities. Just so you know, your cabin won’t be available until after 3pm.

We’ll be in touch seven days before your sailing sets off to tell you your ship’s berth location, and the contact number for the ship.

You’ll be able to spot the ship, too, thanks to the TUI River Cruises flags flying at the entrance.

It’s worth knowing that there aren’t any facilities at river cruise ports, so it’s a good idea to make a note of the ship’s departure time.

This package adds a dash of luxury to your sailing. Expect things like priority check-in, an exclusive ship tour, a bag of laundry, plus prosecco and chocolates in your cabin on arrival. And we’ll bring a Continental breakfast to your cabin one morning during your sailing.

Price: From £55 per cabin. Just give us a call on 0203 451 2688 or pop into a TUI Store and speak to one of our Travel Experts to book.

Want to raise a glass to the start of your sailing? We’ll pop a bottle of wine or prosecco on ice in your cabin – it’ll be there ready for your arrival.

Price: From £20. Just give us a call on 0203 451 2688 or pop into a TUI Store and speak to one of our Travel Experts to book.

If you’d like to brighten up your cabin for your arrival with a bouquet of flowers, we can get that sorted for you. The type of flowers you’ll get will vary depending on which port you’re setting off from.

Price: From £30. Just give us a call on 0203 451 2688 or pop into a TUI Store and speak to one of our Travel Experts to book. The cut-off period for ordering flowers is seven days before departure, due to availability.

Upgrading to our All Inclusive drinks package means that you can choose from a bigger selection of drinks – from draught beers and branded spirits to aperitifs and cocktails. Plus, premium Lavazza coffee. If you’re staying in a Superior, Superior French Balcony or French Balcony Suite, you’ll also get a mini bar included.

Log in to Manage My Booking to upgrade, or, if you’ve booked through a third-party travel agent, speak to them to find out more.

Celebrating a special occasion? Our Celebration Package includes a bottle of prosecco, breakfast in bed and a personal card from the Cruise Experience Manager.

Price: From £30. Just give us a call on 0203 451 2688 or pop into a TUI Store and speak to one of our Travel Experts to book.

Book our Breakfast and Bubbles package, which includes a Continental breakfast in bed with a bottle of Prosecco. Prices start from £25, and you can book by calling our Travel Experts on 0203 451 2688.

If you’d like to arrange an airport hotel or parking at the airport, we can help you with that.

Log in to Manage My Booking to arrange this, or, if you’ve booked through a third-party travel agent, speak to them to find out more.

If you’d like to dial up the luxury in your cabin, you can upgrade to a Superior, Superior French Balcony or French Balcony Suite. In these cabins, you can make the most of swanky touches, like extra space, Molton Brown toiletries – which you can take home with you – bigger windows and a French balcony – depending on which cabin type you choose.

Log in to Manage my Booking to upgrade, or, if you’ve booked through a third-party travel agent, speak to them to find out more.

We’ve handpicked an impressive line-up of shore experiences especially for our river cruise customers. From city tours to food-tasting sessions, every excursion in the River Cruise Collection has had glowing feedback from our customers. They all include pick-up and drop-off, so you’ll get from the ship to the sights and back again without any fuss. You’ll also have an experienced local guide on hand to take you around and share the stories behind the sights. It’s easy to tell which experiences are part of this collection, as they’ll have River Cruise Collection in the name, and you can book them before you go or when you’re onboard.

Please note, many of the shore experiences have limited capacity and early cut-off dates for booking, so we recommend you book your trips before you travel to secure your place.

And that’s not all – as well as our guided shore experiences, you can pre-book your attraction tickets for loads of destinations, too, so, you’ll be able to see the sights at your own pace.

If you’ve got any questions, reach out to our dedicated team of TUI River Cruises experts. Call 0203 451 2688 or email riverenquiries@tui.co.uk.