Cruises with TUI
Fancy setting sail to some of the world's most desirable destinations? Turn to TUI for your cruise plans in 2026/2027. With sailings to everywhere from the Canaries to the Caribbean and from Europe to Egypt, you're seriously spoilt for choice when it comes to TUI's world-class ocean and river cruises.
What type of cruises are available?
Thought TUI was only for flop-and-drop beach holidays and last-minute city breaks? Think again. As the UK's leading and most popular travel brand, TUI also offers a wide variety of award-winning ocean cruises and river cruises through its two extremely popular cruise brands, Marella Cruises and TUI River Cruises.
With flights available from over 20 UK airports, and both family-friendly and adults-only cruises on offer, TUI thinks of everything when it comes to making sure both cruise enthusiasts and newbies enjoy an unforgettable voyage. Think delicious food, fantastic drinks, spectacular entertainment, tempting shore excursions and so much more.
Comparing ocean or river cruises
Whether you like the idea of dawdling down the Danube or voyaging the open ocean to Barbados and beyond, TUI offers the perfect ship and itinerary for the task. Discover more about the different TUI cruises available, as well as key destinations, typical trip lengths and board types, below:
| Compare | Ocean cruises | River Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| TUI product | Marella Cruises | TUI River Cruises |
| Fleet | 5 ships | 6 ships |
| Typical trip length | 7 nights | 3 to 15 nights |
| Key destinations | Mediterranean, Caribbean & Atlantic islands | European waterways & River Nile, Egypt |
| Type of travellers | mix of adults only & family friendly | adults only |
| Typical capacity (approx) | 2,000 passengers | 130-200 passengers |
| Sail from the UK | no | no |
| Board basis | all-inclusive | full board plus, all-inclusive |
Information correct as of September 2026
Ocean cruises
Backed by almost three decades of sailing, Marella Cruises is TUI's award-winning cruise line that sails to over 100 ports worldwide with both family-friendly and adults-only options available. Popular destinations include the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Canary Islands, with flights departing from over 20 airports around the UK.
When you book with Marella Cruises, you'll enjoy all-inclusive as standard. This means your flights, luggage, transfers, meals, drinks, snacks, and tips are included, minimising stress and planning before and during your trip.
On board, sea days are kept to a minimum to give you more chances to explore the many amazing destinations en route, and there's a wide choice of tried-and-tested shore excursions to enjoy.
Then, when you are in open waters, there's an array of activities and entertainment to immerse yourself in, including West End-style shows and feel-good sail-away parties. With Marella Cruises, there's never a dull moment.
Marella Cruises operates a total of five different ships: Marella Voyager, Marella Explorer, Marella Explorer 2, Marella Discovery and Marella Discovery 2. Discover some of the many popular destinations they sail to below:
- Canary Islands & the Atlantic - Gran Canaria, Madeira, Tenerife
- Caribbean - Antigua, Barbados, Dominican Republic
- Eastern Mediterranean - Crete, Croatia, Cyprus
- North Africa - Morocco (Agadir & Tangier), Tunisia
- Western Mediterranean - Italy, Majorca, Malta
Marella Cruises also offers a choice of repositioning and transatlantic cruises, which means you can start in one port and end in another.
Repositional or repositioning cruises either start or end in two different ports, generally staying closer to home and usually taking place at the end of the season. Meanwhile, transatlantic cruises follow the sun by crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean for winter or the other way around during summer.
About Marella
River cruises
Exclusively for adults, TUI River Cruises offers the opportunity to sail some of the most notable rivers in Europe and Africa while taking in the many iconic sights and hidden gems along the way.
You'll have the chance to enjoy a variety of delicious food and drink from a choice of bars and restaurants, as well as an irresistible programme of activities and entertainment including live music, silent discos and yoga sessions.
TUI River Cruises currently operates a total of six ships: TUI Bahareya, TUI Aria, TUI Al Horeya, TUI Skyla, TUI Maya and TUI Isla. In 2027, TUI Elara and TUI Luzia will also begin operations. With a maximum of 155 guests on board at any time, each vessel offers a relaxed, intimate feel for total comfort.
Once you reach the shore, you can opt in for one of TUI's many experiences including city tours, wine-tasting and scenic cable car rides. With TUI organising all your key travel details including direct flights from the UK and transfers to and from the ship, the only headache you'll encounter is deciding what you'll do first once you reach each port.
Discover some of the popular rivers you can sail and explore with TUI River Cruises:
- The Danube
- The Douro
- Dutch & Belgian waterways
- Main River
- The Moselle
- The Nile
- The Rhine
About river cruises
Deposit options for cruises
If you book your cruise at least 12 weeks in advance, you may be able to take advantage of TUI's option to secure your booking with a low deposit and then pay your remaining balance at a later date. This option is available on selected cruises and allows you to spread the cost of your holiday to make paying for it more manageable.
The deadline to pay your remaining balance is 12 weeks before departure (unless you book within 12 weeks, in which case you'll need to pay the full amount at the time of booking).
If you decide to cancel your cruise, your full deposit will still be due. Always read the small print before booking a low-deposit cruise to ensure you're fully aware of the terms and conditions that apply.
Read more
Why book cruises with TUI?
With decades of experience, TUI is an established brand you can count on, having won a whopping 16 gongs at the 2025 British Travel Awards. Its average Trustpilot score is also rather impressive at 4.6/5 (Excellent).
Offering 24-hour customer support, TUI reps and onboard teams, TUI is the only UK cruise line that takes care of everything. Its cruise selection is vast, with sailings from the Mediterranean to North Africa and flights departing from over 20 airports across the UK. And with both full board and all-inclusive options available, you get lots of bang for your buck.
When you book a cruise with TUI, you can also rest assured that you're financially secure thanks to ATOL and ABTA protection. So, if something were to go wrong in this unpredictable world, your hard-earned money will always be safe.
What's more, all tips and service charges are included in TUI's prices, meaning one less thing to worry about as you go about your travels.
Looking for deals and discounts on other TUI holidays? Head back to our TUI homepage to find out more, or head over to our full collection of TUI discount codes and deals for more great deals from other leading operators.
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