TUI to launch second ship on the Nile, TUI Bahareya

The second refurbished ship joins the fleet after successful sales of TUI’s first ship on the Nile, TUI Al Horeya, with three quarters of the season already sold for this winter.  

Katy Berzins, head of TUI River Cruises, remarked, ‘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.’

Features

She said that the vessel ‘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.’ 

Accommodating 136 passengers and 68 cabins, including standard French balcony cabins and superior cabins, the ship is of similar size to other ships in the fleet. It will feature 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 passengers a wide range of excursions. 

It will be the sixth ship to join the TUI River Cruises adult-only fleet. 

Gods and pharaohs 

TUI Bahareya, whose name means  ‘belongs to the river’ in Arabic, will operate seven-night all-inclusive round-trip sailings from Luxor, alternating the itineraries each month.

The first, ‘Ancient Gods and famous Pharaohs,’ will spend the first two days in Luxor, while day three sees the vessel visit Kom Ombo and Aswan. Days four and five are spent in the latter, before TUI Bahareya sets sail to Edfu for day six, spending days seven and eight back in Luxor. 

The sailing gets underway on November 4, 2025. 

The Nile 

The second itinerary will be the ‘Legends of the Nile,’ setting sail on December 2, 2025. The vessel will spend the first three days in Luxor, sail to Edfu and Kom Ombo on day four, call at Aswan on days five and six, and return to Luxor on days seven and eight. 

Dedicated licensed Egyptologists will be on hand throughout the journeys. 

These itineraries are available from £1499 per person based on two adults sharing a superior French balcony cabin on an all-inclusive basis. The price includes flights from London Gatwick airport on January 6, 2026, two excursions and transfers. 

Excursions

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.

A range of excursions will be on offer in Luxor, Kom Ombo and Aswan for passengers to choose from. 

Options include the free ‘Discovering the Temples of Horus,’ where a guided tour will allow passengers to discover Edfu’s most famous landmark, and the largest most intact pharaonic temple in Egypt. A further free option is ‘Experiencing the Kom Ombo temple.’ 

Flights 

There will be two flights per week which will operate from London Gatwick and Manchester to Luxor. 

The TUI route will offer direct, non-stop flights to Luxor which will operate weekly on a Tuesday from November 4, 2025 until April 21, 2026.