The Dutch shipbuilder Concordia Damen has secured a contract to build two new river cruise ships for TUI River Cruises. The vessels will be constructed at the shipyard in Werkendam and are scheduled for delivery in 2028.
The order further strengthens Concordia Damen’s position as one of Europe’s leading builders of innovative river cruise ships. The shipyard previously built the Century Star, the first river cruise ship specifically constructed for Century Cruises’ European operations, and is currently also working on the next vessels in that series.
Dutch Innovation for a Sustainable Future
The two new ships will be based on Concordia Damen’s CDS River Cruise 135 design and have been adapted in close cooperation with TUI River Cruises to meet the operator’s specific requirements. Sustainability, energy efficiency and a high level of comfort are key elements of the design.
Both vessels will be built methanol-ready, allowing them to be relatively easily adapted in the future to operate on methanol as an alternative fuel. An optimised hull design will also help reduce fuel consumption, while modern technical systems will further limit emissions.
This sustainable design philosophy can also be seen in the Century Star, which was likewise built in Werkendam and further demonstrated Concordia Damen’s expertise in modern river cruise ship construction earlier this year.
Comfort for 188 Guests
Each ship will feature 94 staterooms and accommodate up to 188 guests. The new river cruise ships are being built for the British market but will become part of TUI River Cruises’ growing European network. Their itineraries are expected to include the Rhine, Danube, Douro and Nile.
Pictures courtesy of Concordia Damen
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