I’m on a River Cruise! - Emma Cruises Weekly Newsletter


Hello from the TUI Aria, currently docked in Antwerp in Belgium! Which is strange to say because this cruise wasn’t meant to go to Belgium. Our original itinerary was Switzerland, Germany and The Netherlands, but I’m very happy with how things have turned out. I’ve never been to Antwerp before and am loving it! 😁🥳

We all got a 20% refund because of the complete change of itinerary, or we could have cancelled for a full refund. Very happy with that! (Due to low water levels) 👌🏼🌊

TUI Aria is TUI’s newest river ship and she is fabulous, I really love her a lot. She even has an indoor pool at the back and a sauna that I’ve been enjoying today. I had the whole place to myself! 🤭👙

My cabin is definitely my favourite that I’ve ever had on a river ship and I love the design of all the public spaces, especially the main lounge and dining room. 🥰⚓️

I’ve only been onboard for a few days but I’m quickly being reminded why I love river cruising and TUI. This is my third river cruise with TUI and they’re definitely my personal river cruise line of choice. 😎⚓️

I have cruised with other river cruise lines but TUI are half the price of most others. That’s not the only reason I like them though, there’s so much included (flights etc) and they have things like kettles in the cabins and little cookies available 24/7… 😅👀

It’s pretty normal to pay £300 ($395 USD) - £500 ($660) per person, per night on a river cruise. But on TUI you can find cruises from around £200 ($265) per person, per night, including flights from the UK, drinks with meals, transfers and all gratuities. Not bad at all! 😇😎

I paid £1,687 ($2241) for this week, £241 ($318) per night, that’s my half based on two sharing. I could have paid less but I wanted to upgrade to the ‘balcony’ cabin. River ships usually don’t have balcony cabins like ocean ships do, it’s more like a big sliding patio door, but I love it. 🤭🚪

If you’d like to try a river cruise, TUI are definitely where I’d recommend you start unless you already know you’d prefer a luxury line like Viking. Next March there’s a cruise on this exact ship for £1,220pp ($1611) or next April we have one for £1,450pp ($1915)! Both prices are through my own agency, The Cruise Globe, and are currently cheaper than booking direct! 🛳️💻

Prices correct at time of sending.

Just get in touch with me and my team here: Contact Us 😁👌🏼

We can book you on a TUI river cruise even if you’re not from the UK. They are a British focused line but there are Americans and Australians on the cruise I’m on now who are enjoying it. Everybody is welcome! 🥰❤️

I’ll be recording my content as soon as I get home and it’ll be live after my Virgin Voyages video. I have so much to show you I can’t wait. River cruises are so different to ocean cruises. Like how we’re docked beside another river ship today. That definitely doesn’t happen on ocean ships… 🤣☀️

Cruise ship passengers often seem to be in the news because they have missed the ship and been “abandoned” or “stranded” by the cruise line in some far-off location.

Is that really something you need to worry about?

​3 Reasons Why People Get Left Behind By Cruise Ships At The Port (It’s Not To Do With Not Buying Cruise Line Excursions)​

CRUISE DEALS ​​
​(My own agency, The Cruise Globe)

If you’d like to book any of these cruises, you can get in touch with my team through the booking link or just reply to this email.

Prices correct at time of sending. All prices are per person, based on two sharing unless listed as a solo deal.

Celebrity Cruises - Celebrity Edge - South Pacific

  • 2 January 2027 • 12 nights
  • Infinite Veranda Guarantee cabin
  • $150 Cruise Globe onboard credit
  • Upgrade from an inside cabin for only $71.50pp more
  • $2,254pp
video preview​

Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Bliss - Bahamas from New York City

  • 21 November 2026 • 8 nights
  • Balcony cabin
  • Unlimited Open Bar, speciality dining and prepaid service gratuities included
  • $1,657pp

Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Sun - Mediterranean

  • 25 July 2027 • 7 nights
  • Balcony cabin
  • Unlimited Open Bar and speciality dining included
  • $100 onboard credit
  • $2,308.50pp
video preview​

Royal Caribbean - Anthem of the Seas - Northbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier

  • 14 May 2027 • 7 nights
  • Obstructed ocean view balcony cabin
  • $50 onboard credit
  • From $1,099pp

Considering Luxury?

Explora Journeys - EXPLORA III - Eastern Caribbean

  • 5 April 2027 • 7 nights
  • Ocean Terrace Suite
  • All-inclusive
  • $150pp onboard credit
  • $4760pp
video preview​

Azamara - Azamara Journey - Transatlantic: Bermuda, the Azores & Lisbon

  • 29 March 2027 • 12 nights
  • Balcony
  • $150 onboard credit per cabin
  • $2439pp
video preview​

If you’d like to book any of these cruises, you can get in touch with my team through the booking link or just reply to this email.

River Cruises

The below are with TUI (British cruise line) that I’m currently on. They do have to be booked through our UK team which is why the prices are in pounds. We can book these for you even if you’re from the USA/Canada.

At the time of writing this £1 = $1.32

TUI River Cruises - Aria - Discover the Moselle & Rhine

  • 11 April 2027 • 7 nights
  • Superior cabin
  • Flights, overseas transfers, drinks with lunch and dinner, and gratuities included
  • Upgrade to a French balcony for £198pp
  • £1,450pp (Around $1915)

^^ The ship I’m on right now! Also available at the end of March for £1220pp!

TUI River Cruises - Elara - North Rhine and Netherlands Explorer

  • 11 July 2027 • 7 nights
  • Standard cabin
  • Flights, overseas transfers, drinks with lunch and dinner, and gratuities included
  • Flights available from Birmingham, Manchester, London Heathrow and Edinburgh
  • Upgrade to a French balcony for £280pp
  • £1,640pp (Around $2178)

If you’d like to book any of these cruises, you can get in touch with my team through the booking link or just reply to this email.

There is so much to see and do on a European cruise – and so much variety in the different counties and ports you can visit.

Here are my favourites:

​5 Incredible European Cruise Itineraries You Must Try​

Many sailors are superstitious, and it has long been believed that it is unlucky to rename a ship.

But it is very common for cruise ships to change their names when they are sold or transferred between cruise lines.

​Is It Unlucky to Rename a Cruise Ship? (I Cruised on One With Five Names!)​

I would go as far as to say that these Asia cruises have been my favourite cruises of all time.

The destinations that we visited were so interesting, and it was quite unlike cruising in other parts of the world.

​7 Asia Cruise Tips, Packing, Visas & More​

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE:

  • Friday 9th October 2026 (Live from TUI Aria) - 5pm UK/12pm Eastern (Internet quality dependent) - Link is here​
video preview​

Studio cabins are specially designed accommodation for solo cruisers. They are designed to make solo cruising more affordable, with no single supplements payable.

Does it always make sense to stay in them though?

​Which Norwegian Cruise Ships Have Studio-Specific Cabins For Solos​

Have a fantastic week,

▶ Want a free way to track, share and explore your cruises like never before? Join us on our free app, The Cruise Globe. It's completely free and so much fun.

▶ Book a Cruise: I've launched my own agency! 🥳🥰

▶ Get Insurance NEVER cruise without insurance. Ever.

▶ Got a cruise booked or taken one in the past? Get your custom cruise map print here. Use code EMMACRUISES for 10% off. (Disclosure: I am co-founder/part owner of this business).

​

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© 2026 Emma Cruises

Hey, I'm Emma, a cruise writer and YouTuber who's exploring the world by ship.

Never miss out on a video, a live stream or an important announcement again with our weekly newsletter!Join me as I share my adventures cruising on oceans and rivers. From luxury yachts to HUGE mega-ships, budget inside cabins to suites, you’ll find it all here.

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