18 September 2024 – TUI River Cruises has announced its second newly refurbished five-star ship to set sail down the River Nile in Winter 2025. This launch comes after the river cruise line has seen strong demand on TUI Al Horeya sailing the Nile this winter.
TUI Bahareya will be the sixth ship to join the TUI River Cruises fleet joining the five other adult only ships. The name, which means ‘belongs to the river’ in Arabic, will operate seven-night all-inclusive round-trip sailings from Luxor with two itineraries. The ship will aim to bring together the cultural immersion in destination and on shore through modern Arabic inspired décor and venues onboard.
Accommodating 136 passengers and 68 cabins including standard French balcony cabins and superior cabins, the ship is a similar size to the other ships on the fleet.
There will be two flights per week which will operate from London Gatwick and Manchester to Luxor; a city which is known for its rich history, spectacular architecture, and culture. The TUI route will offer direct, non-stop flights, to Luxor which will operate weekly on a Tuesday from 4th November 2025 until 21st April 2026.
Katy Berzins, Head of TUI River Cruises said: “This ship signifies our continued growth as a relatively new River cruise brand, and we are confident that given sales for our first Nile cruise, the launch of TUI Bahareya will go down really well with current and prospective customers.
TUI Bahareya will offer a different culturally immersive experience onboard and will allow customers to get a taste of Egypt through its modern Arabic inspired décor, cuisine, activities and entertainment onboard.”
Dedicated licenced Egyptologists will be on hand throughout the trip to enhance the customer experience and personalise each sailing onboard the TUI Bahareya. The ship will include a top deck swimming pool, a massage tent, an entertainment area, restaurant, Al Fresco dining, and a boutique shop.
Like the rest of the fleet, TUI Bahareya will include a day and night entertainment programme, tailored traditional activities onboard, and will offer customers a wide range of excursions which have been curated by industry experts, guaranteed to transport visitors back in time and ensure they have unforgettable personalised experiences.
There will be two set excursions included within the sailing package price, this includes the Temple of Horus in Edfu and the Kom Ombo temple. To ensure that customers have as much flexibility within their cruise, a range of excursions will be on offer in Luxor, Kom Ombo and Aswan for them to choose from. Options include the free excursions included onboard:
- Discovering the Temples of Horus with a guided tour where you discover Edfu’s most famous landmark, and the largest most intact pharaonic temple in Egypt
- Experiencing the Kom Ombo temple, which is the biggest sight in the city which is full of unique hallmarks
The new ‘Ancient Gods and famous Pharaohs’ itinerary, with more daytime sailing will set sail on the 4th November 2025, and the second itinerary will be the ‘Legends of the Nile’ itinerary setting sail on the 2nd December 2025, with TUI Bahareya alternating the itineraries each month.
Itinerary: Ancient Gods and famous Pharaohs’
Day 1: Luxor
Day 2: Luxor
Day 3: Kom Ombo / Aswan
Day 4: Aswan
Day 5: Aswan
Day 6: Edfu
Day 7: Luxor
Day 8: Luxor
Itinerary: Legends of the Nile
Day 1: Luxor
Day 2: Luxor
Day 3: Luxor
Day 4: Edfu & Kom Ombo
Day 5: Aswan
Day 6: Aswan
Day 7: Luxor
Day 8: Luxor
Available from £1499 per person based on two adults sharing a Superior French Balcony cabin on an All-Inclusive basis. Price includes flights from London Gatwick airport on the 6th January 2026, two excursions and transfers. To find out more about this holiday or to book go to tui.co.uk/river-cruises, visit your local TUI holiday store or download our app.
