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Your essential guide to river cruising

Clueless about river cruising? We’re here to help. From dress codes to Wi-Fi, our essential guide to river cruising will get you clued up.
Our TUI River Cruises are adults-only and set sail on some of the world’s most famous waterways. You can explore Europe while sailing along the Rhine, the Main, the Moselle, the Danube, the Douro and the Dutch and Belgian waterways, or check out Egypt’s ancient history while sailing along the River Nile. We've even got Christmas sailings on offer. So, you can discover everywhere from big-name cities like Budapest, to tucked-away gems such as Koblenz. So, what are you waiting for? Read on for the answers to your most commonly asked river cruise questions.

Then, when you’re ready to set sail, check out our river cruise deals.

1. Why go on a river cruise?

River cruises offer a fantastic opportunity to explore more than one destination in a single trip, all while only unpacking once. With TUI River Cruises, you can discover everywhere from The Netherlands’ tulip fields to Germany’s Medieval castles and port cellars in Portugal. Plus, we've lined up under-the-radar spots that you might not have even heard about – a cycle ride through Rudesheim’s vineyard-filled countryside? Yes, please…

Find out more about our river cruises.
View of cathedral, Colongne

2. What are the river cruise ships like?

Think of our eight adults-only ships – TUI Isla, TUI Maya, TUI Skyla, TUI Luzia, TUI Elara, TUI Bahareya, TUI Aria and TUI Al Horeya – as floating hotels that’ll transport you from world-famous cities to lesser-known towns. Each ship flaunts modern interiors, plus multiple restaurants and lounges for wining and dining. Oh, and did we mention you won’t find any inside cabins, so waterfront views are guaranteed? Some cabins have French Balconies, too, so you can slide open your floor-to-ceiling doors and let those scenic vistas and the refreshing river breeze in. The ships are small and intimate – with a relaxed atmosphere and a maximum of 190 guests onboard at any time – which means you can get to know your fellow passengers, while still having your own space. And, with one crew member to every four guests, you’ll be on first-name terms with our friendly team in no time.

Get more clued up on our river cruise ship facilities.
Lady looking out her room on the French balcony

3. Can I reserve a cabin ahead of my cruise?

Yes, you can pre-book a cabin up to 14 days before your departure, either online or in a TUI Store, from only £75. Take a look at the deck plan of your ship to see the range of cabins and pick your favourite.

Check out the cabins on our river cruise ships.
A double bed cabin room decorated with blue fabrics.

4. What's included on a river cruise?

On our TUI River Cruises, your flights – which are always direct from UK airports – transfers, three meals with drinks per day as a minimum, your tips and your luggage allowance are all included as standard. You can enjoy soft drinks, tea, coffee, beer and wine at mealtimes as part of your standard Full Board Plus package. But, if you fancy a bigger selection of drinks or want a coffee or a glass of wine outside mealtimes, you can upgrade to our All Inclusive drinks package. You can add this during the booking process, or after your booking by calling 0204 578 0993. And outside mealtimes, complimentary tea and coffee is available from the self-service station in the Atrium. You’ll also be able to tuck into a gala dinner once during your sailing, as long as you’re sailing for five nights or more. And, you can enjoy the happy hour every evening in the Observatory Lounge, as well as a buffet afternoon tea.

All Inclusive comes as standard if you’re sailing along the Nile on TUI Al Horeya or TUI Bahareya. So, all your food and drink at the ship’s two bars, the main restaurant and the al fresco dining area is included.  

You can read more about the onboard experience or call us on 0204 578 0993.
A self-service hot drink station in the Atrium, TUI Aria.

5. Tell me more about your river cruise experiences...

Our cruise experiences have lots to offer for every type of traveller. You can go wine-tasting in the Moselle Valley, or watch an opera in Vienna, for example.

Because we know everyone’s tastes are different, it’s up to you to decide which experiences are included with your cruise. You can pack in as much as possible with guided daytrips to UNESCO-listed forts and even a sound and light show at a temple in Luxor, or you can stick to bus and walking tours in each port. If you’d rather explore at your own pace, we can also sort out self-guided tickets to top attractions, too.  The choice is yours. When you’re ready to book your shore experiences, just enter your ship and departure date on our experiences website to browse the selection of experiences available for each day of your itinerary.

Read more about our best river cruise shore experiences.

Two ladies, walking around a local town

6. What's life like onboard a river cruise ship?

Like ocean cruises, our river cruise ships are cashless – so, if you want to buy anything extra onboard it’ll be charged to your onboard account. You’ll then settle your account at the end of your trip, with the option to pay using credit card, debit card or cash. And, you’ll get free, unlimited Wi-Fi throughout the ship, so you can keep in contact with your friends and family as much as you'd like. Just so you know, internet speeds may vary.

Check out our onboard experience video.

Onboard brochure and information

7. Are special diets catered for?

Yes, in our onboard restaurants, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and diabetic-friendly meals are available on request. If you have a dietary requirement, please let our Assisted Travel Team know on 0204 578 0993 when booking your trip. Then, once you're onboard, you can meet with the Maître D' to discuss your requirements further.

For more information about dietary requirements, please visit our FAQs page.

8. What should I pack and is there a dress code?

With every river cruise, you’ll get up to 23kg luggage allowance, depending on which airline you’re flying with. It’s entirely up to you what you pack, however we suggest comfortable clothing for sightseeing. There’s a dress code onboard our TUI River Cruises – it’s smart-casual. During the day, the rules are quite relaxed, however beachwear can’t be worn in the restaurants. In the evenings, the dress code is smarter. Men will need to wear long trousers or smart tailored shorts, a shirt or polo shirt and closed shoes. You might choose dressier clothing for our Gala Dinner, available once per cruise on durations of five nights or more, but there's no requirement to do so.
Ladies dressed up in evening wear drinking champagne

9. Are river cruise ships suitable for wheelchair users?

There are no lifts onboard most of our river cruise ships, and they’re not wheelchair-friendly. Getting on and off the ship can also be tricky because of the steep ramps. If you find stairs a challenge or have another disability, please give us a call for more details before you book on 0204 578 0993.

Find out more about accessible holidays.
TUI retail staff member with phone and laptop

A few facts you might not know about river cruising…

  • To clear low bridges, the wheelhouse – where the captain sails from – lowers into the deck so that the ship can pass through.
  • Europe’s waterways are home to locks – used for raising and lowering ships between stretches of water on different levels – so you might sail through one, or a few, on your TUI River Cruises sailing.
  • ‘Double docking’ or tethering is common in river cruising due to limited berth space in some ports of call. This is when river cruise ships berth side-by-side at a port, meaning you might need to cross another ship to reach your TUI river cruise ship.
A TUI River cruise ship sailing on the river.
Ready for a river cruise?

Browse all our river cruise deals.

Plus, check out the best European river cruises and best river cruise shore experiences, then take a look at our first-time river cruiser’s guide.

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.

Author: Jessica Houtby and Karl Taylor

Last updated: 30.06.2026

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Destination

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