TUI River Cruises to expand on board menu for summer 2025

TUI River Cruises' menu will be expanded across its European fleet of ships for summer 2025. 

The dishes were developed as part of TUI River Cruises’ ‘Culinary Voyages’ competition. This saw members of the F&B team showcase their creations, inspired by destinations visited personally while river cruising. 

‘Showcasing the personal choice and flexibility of our culinary offering onboard makes us unique as a river cruise line,’ said Katy Berzins, head of TUI River Cruises. ‘We are always looking at ways to enhance our menus and connect the dishes we serve back to the destinations we visit. Our Culinary Voyages competition was all about celebrating the talent of our food and beverage team and these new creations showcase the incredible skills of the staff we have across our fleet. We can’t wait for passengers to enjoy them next summer.’ 

The new recipes, detailed below, will be featured on TUI River Cruises’ menus fleet wide.

German-inspired Zamburinas

Inspired by local restaurants in Passau, Germany the ‘Zamburinas alla Passau’ is a scallop-filled recipe served with fresh vegetables. The creator, executive chef Jerry Rodriguez of TUI Skyla, said, ‘As a chef, I always want to eat more local food at every port I visit. I was able to explore Passau and was amazed by the scallops they served me, and from then, the Zamurinas alla Passau was formed.’

This main course dish is filled with local scallops, fresh celery roots, red radish, asparagus, potatoes, nutmeg and herbs, vinegar and white wine. 

Executive chef Jerry Rodriguez with the Zamburinas. (PHOTO: TUI RIVER CRUISES)

A slice of the Danube 

A further new dish comprises a classic Austrian Kaissechmarrn dessert with a twist. Chef de Pastry, Ramzi Morjme from TUI Maya –  taking homage from the Danube – said the ‘TUI River Cruises’ Kaiserschmarrn’ is inspired by the traditional dessert from Vienna, Austria, which includes all the main ingredients of flour, eggs, sugar, butter and milk with a splash of plum compote, rum and lemon garnish to finish.

Kaiserschmarrn with a twist. (PHOTO: TUI RIVER CRUISES)

A toast to Vienna

‘Sisi’s Secret’ cocktail from TUI Skyla mixologist, bar manager Hannah Michael Nabil Attia, takes inspiration from the 19th century Empress of Austria and from the Danube itineraries. He said, ‘The city of Vienna has so much history, and I wanted to pay tribute to that... in a unique and punchy cocktail with hints of passion fruit.’ It also contains gin and a dash of lime. 

Sisi's Secret. (PHOTO: TUI RIVER CRUISES)