TUI River Cruises has announced the launch of TUI Luzia, a purpose-built ship that was floated out in Kladovo, Serbia marking both a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water.
Scheduled for delivery in June 2027, TUI Luzia is set to spend her inaugural season sailing itineraries on the Douro Valley in Portugal.
The ship’s float out took place at Concordia Damen’s partner yard Kladovo Shipyard in Serbia – a location of significance that denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction. The vessel will be Full Board Plus as standard, with guests offered the option to upgrade to all-inclusive.
Katy Berzins, Head of River Cruises at TUI River Cruises, said:The float out of TUI Luzia marks another significant milestone for TUI River Cruises and our longstanding partnership with Concordia Damen.
As our first purpose-built ship, TUI Luzia represents an exciting new chapter for our brand. Her arrival on the River Douro in summer 2027 will not only extend our portfolio into one of Europe’s most sought-after river cruise destinations, but also open up new experiences for both existing and new TUI River Cruises customers.
Once operational, the ship will be capable of accommodating 111 passengers in 56 cabins, including Super French Balcony cabins, Balcony cabins, French Balcony Suites and a single cabin. Customers will have access to four decks, including a top deck featuring a shallow pool, sun loungers and Cinder, as well as a bar and dining area.
Chris Kornet, CEO at Concordia Damen said:We are proud to be partnering with TUI River Cruises on its first purpose-built river ship, TUI Luzia. The new vessel embodies our shared ambition to bring innovative, future‑ready ship designs to the European river cruise market.
By combining Concordia Damen’s engineering expertise with TUI River Cruises’ clear vision for expanding the brand. We look forward to delivering the vessel that will support the river cruise brand’s growth.
