River cruise entertainment and activities

Day or night, there’s heaps to do onboard our ships. So, when you’re not exploring our destinations and making the most of our shore experiences, there’s still plenty to get your teeth into, from arts and crafts to wellness activities like our Motown Moves sessions. We have e-bikes on our European fleet to hire for when you’re on dry land, too.

If you’re into games, we’ve got lots up our sleeve – there's minigolf, giant Connect Four and giant Jenga, for example. Plus, creative types can join destination-focused activities like mobile photography workshops, and we have a landmark locator app, so you know exactly where to head for the local must-sees. And of course, if you’d rather just kick back and take it easy onboard, you can watch our daytime movies, too.

Evenings onboard come with a jam-packed entertainment programme that mostly takes place in the main bar. We’ve got shows where our entertainment team perform a whole variety of musical numbers, from West End hits to rock-and-roll anthems. Local guest acts are sometimes on the bill, too, as well as interactive quizzes and silent discos. If astronomy piques your interest, we sometimes host stargazing sessions as well.

And the best thing about our entertainment and activities? They’re all included as standard in your TUI River Cruise, apart from the e-bikes.

Just so you know, not all of the entertainment and activities mentioned on this page will be included on every river cruise itinerary.

Daytime activities

Our daytime activities range from creative classes and top-deck games to wellness sessions.

Wellness activities

We’ve got a whole load of wellbeing activities, including ‘Motown Moves’, where you can get the blood pumping to some soulful classics, and yoga classes held on top deck so you can soak up the views as you stretch. Plus, there’s our Wellness Centre onboard TUI Isla, TUI Maya and TUI Skyla, which includes a sauna and a whirlpool.

Games on the top deck

Minigolf, shuffleboard and quoits – where you throw a ring onto a stick – all take place on the top deck of your ship. You can play by yourself or take part in a tournament. We also have interactive activities like virtual reality golf.

Culture, crafts and talks

Craft classes and language lessons are some of our creative masterclasses onboard. We also have daily talks that cover everything from destination information to local traditions in some of our ports. And, we have the likes of documentaries on the areas you’re visiting and mobile photography workshops, so you can up your picture-taking game while you’re away.

Night-time entertainment

Quizzes, live music, and even silent discos feature on our night-time entertainment programme.

Guest acts and special events

Our guest acts are local to the destination we’re in, so as well as top talent, you can expect a small insight into the surrounding area. Dancers, singers, and guest speakers are all on the cards, while other special events include stargazing and film screenings on the top deck.

Live music and discos

Our evening entertainment covers a variety of live music from our entertainment team. Theatre Land showcases some of the biggest hits from the West End, and Il Classico is a mix of timeless melodies from the past and modern hits with a unique twist. There’s also a new disco-themed show called Boogie Wonderland, featuring music from artists like ABBA and Elton John. We also host silent discos where you can choose your own music through wireless headphones.

Game shows and quizzes

Our game shows and quizzes are fully interactive and use the latest technology. You can use our digital handsets to test your knowledge on everything from history to geography.

Entertainment host Q&A

We caught up with our entertainment host to get the lowdown on our entertainment programme…

Tell us a bit about how the entertainment and activities programme is planned for TUI River Cruise sailings.

We try and create a good balance throughout the sailing, building up from relaxing wellness classes each morning to up-tempo entertainment by night. During the day, we’ll also have guest speakers or a cookery demonstration from our head chef.

What’s the most popular activity with our cruise guests?

Our interactive quiz – Quizstorm – is always a hit. Everyone’s given an interactive handset to answer general knowledge questions, ranging from TV sitcoms and geography through to 80s pop music. It’s based on the fastest finger first, which always brings out the competitive side in people.

How can our guests make the most of the entertainment and activity programme?

Make sure to check out our onboard app, Navigate. In the Cruise News section, you’ll find the daily timetable for the week – it includes all activities and entertainment, including our guest acts and speakers.

What are your favourite activities to host for day and night-time, and why?

The silent discos are great – everyone always comments on how much fun they are. And our top deck daytime yoga’s really special, thanks to the beautiful riverside scenery. Our destination-focused activities are good fun, too – we found that customers wanted to learn more about the places we visit, so we weaved this into our entertainment programme. We have things like dance classes, a landmark locator app and local guest acts onboard, although I should point out that the specific activities can vary between itineraries.

FAQs

Should I bring swimwear?

Our Wellness Area includes a whirlpool bath, so you’ll need swimwear if you want to take a dip.

Do I need to book the Wellness Area?

The wellness area is open for everyone to use. However, if you would like to book the area for private use, we have several slots available which can be booked onboard via reception for a small fee.

Do I need to book wellness classes?

There’s no need to book, simply turn up to the session.

What entertainment and activities are onboard the River Nile cruises?

There’s a very similar line-up on our Nile cruises, although some of the specific activities and entertainment may differ slightly from our European cruises. Live music, local guest acts and activities on the top deck all come as standard, and familiar favourites like our silent disco and interactive quizzes are on the cards, too. They also have a couple of extras that you won’t find on our European river cruises – a shallow pool on the top deck and a certified Egyptologist onboard.

Are bikes available to hire onboard?

Yes, we have four bikes onboard our European ships that you can hire for either a half-day or a full day, depending on how long you’re in port for.

You might also be interested in...

Highlights of a Rhine river cruise . . With TUI River Cruises, you can trace the Rhine all the way from Switzerland to the Netherlands. Here, we’ve picked out some of the best bits.

Highlights of a Rhine river cruise

With TUI River Cruises, you can trace the Rhine all the way from Switzerland to the Netherlands. Here, we’ve picked out some of the best bits.

River cruise deals. . We’ve got heaps of river cruise deals, from meanders down the Main to adventures along the Danube. You can also check out our festive sailings and our new Nile cruises.

River cruise deals

We’ve got heaps of river cruise deals, from meanders down the Main to adventures along the Danube. You can also check out our festive sailings and our new Nile cruises.

Essential guide to river cruising. . From dress codes to Wi-Fi, our essential guide to river cruising will get you clued up. Here, we answer all your most frequently asked questions.

Essential guide to river cruising

From dress codes to Wi-Fi, our essential guide to river cruising will get you clued up. Here, we answer all your most frequently asked questions.

Best river cruises in Europe. . Our cruises sail along some of Europe’s most famous waterways, including the Rhine, the Main, the Moselle, and the Danube. Here, we pick out a few of our favourites.

Best river cruises in Europe

Our cruises sail along some of Europe’s most famous waterways, including the Rhine, the Main, the Moselle, and the Danube. Here, we pick out a few of our favourites.