tui river cruise french balcony suite

Tui Skyla French Balcony Suite Full Review

Tui River Cruises launched in 2021 and offers affordable river cruises in Europe. A suite on a Tui river cruise is a fraction of the price of other river cruises, but how does it measure up? In this review, I take a look at what you can expect from a Tui Skyla French Balcony Suite .

All French Balcony Suites are the same on Tui Sklya, Tui Isla and Tui Maya so this review will help you for any Tui river cruise ship.

What is a French Balcony Suite on Tui River Cruises?

A French Balcony Suite is the highest grade of cabin on Tui River Cruises. These suites are only located on Deck 2 and Deck 3, with the most expensive suites found on Deck 3. This is because when docked, there are times when Deck 2 may be below ground level and so there is no view.

A Tui River Cruises French Balcony Suite is 24m 2 and has an abundance of storage. It has two French balconies and an ample size bathroom with shower.

There are a number of additional benefits that are included with a French Balcony Suite to make your cruise a little more special.

French Balcony Suite Size

At 24m 2 , a Tui River Cruises suite is a good size.

Here are examples of typical suite sizes on other river cruise lines:

• AmaWaterways – 33m 2
• Uniworld – 28.3m 2
• Viking – 25.5m 2
• Scenic – 21m 2
• Avalon Waterways – 18.6m 2
• Emerald Cruises – 16.7m 2

One thing to note is that some river cruise lines offer balconies, whereas Tui River ships only offer French balconies .

The French Balcony Suite on Tui is an excellent size for two people sharing. As Tui River Cruises is adult-only, family rooms are not offered.

Tui Skyla French Balcony Suite Tour

You can watch my tour of a French Balcony Suite on Tui Skyla right now.

Best French Balcony Suite Locations on Tui Skyla

French Balcony Suites are found on Deck 2 and Deck 3 of Tui river ships, but which should you choose for your cruise? Ultimately, there are a few things you might want to consider when choosing the location.

All three Tui River Cruises ships are (almost) identical except for Tui Skyla because there are actually more suites on Tui Skyla.

This means that there are less passengers on Tui Skyla but the Club Lounge is slightly smaller to accommodate more suites.

We’d recommend avoiding French Balcony Suites on Deck 2 directly underneath The Observatory (205, 206 and 207) because this is where the evening entertainment will go on until at least midnight.

We’d also avoid the French Balcony Suites directly next to the Club Lounge (Tui Skyla 323 and 324) because although there isn’t any music played in this lounge, it’s a place where people congregate to enjoy a drink in the evening.

We booked suite 304, which is very close to the ship’s atrium, 24-hour drinks station and a staircase to access the top deck. This was extremely convenient for getting on and off the ship, meeting tour groups and going to the upper deck to relax and watch the scenery.

It’s fairly close to The Observatory where evening entertainment takes place each evening. This is handy if you want to use your own bathroom during the evening but I did notice faint noise coming from The Observatory. If you’re likely to go to bed before the entertainment finishes, I’d recommend choosing a suite further down the corridor on Deck 3.

Port or starboard cabin on a river ship?

In reality, river ships do not always dock on port side (this is also the case for ocean cruise ships) BUT there is a good way to predict which side the river ship will dock.

Generally, river ships have to dock facing up-river so this means that if the ship is sailing the same way that the water is flowing, it has to turn 180 degrees to dock.

You can check on a map, which side of the river the destinations are located to give you an idea of how often the ship will dock port side or starboard side.

French Balcony Suite Storage

The amount of cupboard and wardrobe space in a French Balcony Suite is huge with plenty of space for clothes, shoes and other items like cameras, books etc.

There are wardrobes and cupboards by the door as well as a desk with drawers and ‘walk-in wardrobe’ area towards the bathroom.

In the bathroom, there’s a generous-sized drawer under the wash basin as well as space around the wash basin for toiletries. In the shower area, there is a shelf for toiletries too.

There are bedside tables on either side of the bed with two small drawers in each.

We simply didn’t have enough belongings on our 7-night cruise to use all of the storage options!

Bathroom in a French Balcony Suite

The French Balcony Suite’s bathroom is a spacious with a wash basin, large shower and toilet. The bathroom is divided into two sections, with the toilet and wash basin in one, and the shower in the other.

The rainfall shower is huge and is actually big enough to have fit a full size bath in the same area. The separate toilet and wash basin in the suite is a nice feature and definitely makes it useable for both people to get ready at the same time.

The suite comes with Molton Brown toiletries in the shower and by the wash basin, that are replenished throughout the cruise.

There are plenty of mirrors around the wash basin and behind the toilet so that when you sit on the toilet, you can see a hundred of yourself in the reflection! The only improvement here would be a magnifying mirror for shaving and make-up. This was a nice feature that AmaWaterways has in its cabins .

The only other improvement that’s needed in the bathroom is a plug for the wash basin. The design meant that you couldn’t fill the wash basin, which makes it difficult for men to have a shave.

Tui River Cruises Bed

Tui River Cruises’ beds and pillows are very comfortable and we had no trouble with sleeping at night (or snoozing in the afternoon). The pillows are square, rather than rectangular but this wasn’t an issue for us.

The king-size bed can be made into twin beds if you request.

One of the best things about a French Balcony Suite is the orientation of the bed so that you can sit or lie in bed and watch the scenery go by the two French balcony windows.

We took photos of our view from the bed throughout our cruise. Most of the time we had a view but when another river ship was docked against Tui Skyla, we only had the view of the side of that ship.

Be very careful before you open your curtains in the morning or you might get a shock if you come face- to-face with a passenger on the other ship!

Bedside tables with drawers are either side of the bed and there are two reading lights located just above.

A nice touch are the USB sockets located next to the bed (one on each side). It’s worth noting that all plug sockets on Tui Skyla are European .

Read all about the plug sockets on Tui River Cruises for each cabin here .

Tui Skyla French Balcony Suite Layout

We thought that the layout of the suite was very good and made great use of the space. There was ample space for all of our belongings and there was plenty of places to leave things like paperwork, cameras, binoculars etc without it feeling cluttered.

The bathroom behind the bed created the feeling of more space and completely divided it from the bedroom.

The chaise longe and desk chair offered the option of sitting somewhere other than the bed.

The area between the bedroom and bathroom felt almost like a walk-in wardrobe and added a touch of luxury. We challenge anyone to run out of space for clothes in this suite!

One thing we did notice in the French Balcony Suite was the amount of mirrors. Mirrors can make a room appear larger although we didn’t think it really needed this.

In the bathroom, there were three mirrors around the wash basin and one behind the toilet, so when you were sat on the toilet it was like an infinity mirror!

Suite Perks

A lot of things are  included in your cruise fare  with Tui River Cruises regardless of the cabin you choose:

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during meals
• 24-hour hot drinks
• £120 credit to spend on excursions
• Entertainment
• See the full list of things included on Tui River Cruises

It’s close to being all-inclusive , so you don’t need to worry about trying to calculate additional costs. It creates less friction, so you can relax and enjoy the cruise however you like.

A suite does comes with a few extra perks that are not included for all guests.

The  suite has a complimentary minibar with soft drinks and local beer. This is replenished on a daily basis but there’s also space to store your own drinks.

Room service  is only available to guests staying in a suite. You can order breakfast drinks and pastries using a card left outside your suite before you retire to bed.

Room service can be ordered for delivery between 8.00am and 10.00am on the hour or half past the hour.

The room service menu has the following available options to order:

• Hot drinks (coffee, decaf coffee, tea, mint tea, camomile tea)
• Milk (hot or cold)
• Juices (orange, apple, multivitamin)
• Yoghurt (plain, fruit, curd cheese)
• Bakery (croissants, rolls, toast, sweet rolls)
• Cereals (corn flakes, muesli, cereal with fruit, cereal with chocolate)
• Butter and jam (butter, low fat margarine, sugar free jam, strawberry jam, apricot jam, honey)
• Fruit (fresh seasonal fruit, fresh fruit salad, plum compote)
• Cheese selection

We’ve created a handy guide to dining on Tui River Cruises , you might find useful.

Suite guests have bathrobes and slippers available to use that come in handy for the Wellness Area too.

The complimentary Molton Brown toiletries , that you can take home are in the bathroom but really are so small there isn’t much point in them!

Price of a Suite on Tui Skyla

A French Balcony Suite on Tui Skyla can differ in price depending on the deck. Deck 2 suites are slightly lower in price than those found on Deck 3.

Here are some examples of prices of French Balcony Suites on Tui Skyla’s Danube Treasures itinerary.

The French Balcony Suite offered by Tui River Cruises offers good value for money in comparison to other river cruise lines. You can take a look at my tour of a Suite on AmaWaterways to help you compare (prices start at £4,274pp for a similar cruise in 2023, excluding flights).

Overall Thoughts

Tui Skyla’s French Balcony Suite offers an excellent amount of space and storage with a few additional perks such as room service breakfast and a complimentary minibar.

The bathroom is very spacious and is perfect for two people sharing.

Despite Tui river ships being older, the refurbishment has given them a clean and fresh feel and the decor is very tasteful.

This suite is the highest grade of cabin on Tui River Cruises and so understandably the most expensive but is actually very good value when compared to similar suites on other river cruise lines that operate on the Danube.

To help you choose the right cabin for you, take a look at the different cabin options on Tui River Cruises .

Laura is a UK cruise blogger based in Cornwall, UK. She founded Cruise Lifestyle in 2016 to share useful advice about cruising, destinations and food. Last port visited: Bridgetown, Barbados Next port of call: unknown, but she can’t wait for cruising to resume safely!

Find me on: Twitter

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TUI River Cruise Cabin Review – (Photos, Deck 1 & 2 Superior Cabins)

If you are considering a river cruise with TUI onboard the TUI Maya, TUI Skyla, or TUI Isla you may be wondering which cabin to pick.

There are a range of cabins available from those below the waterline to much larger cabins on higher decks.

I recently took a cruise onboard the TUI Skyla and spent a lot of time in both Deck 1 and Deck 2 cabins. We will cover if it’s worth upgrading from deck 1 within this post.

Superior Cabin Deck 1

The superior cabins on deck 1 are identical to the superior cabins on higher decks, apart from the fact that because they are lower down, there are porthole windows instead of large sliding doors.

Although these cabins are called superior, they are the most common size on the ship and there are only 4 cabins on deck 1 which are smaller than the ‘superior’ cabins. These are called standard cabins.

I didn’t get a chance to see the ‘standard’ deck 1 cabins during my cruise but deck plans look like these are just slightly thinner cabins with a fixed double bed.

I Had to Change Cabin, Pre Cruise

I originally booked a deck 2 ‘standard’ cabin without realising that the bed didn’t split into twins. As I was cruising with my brother, I had to call TUI to upgrade to a higher category and ended up in a deck 2 superior cabin. The cost of the upgrade was only £59 in total and TUI were very helpful on the phone.

I usually book through an agent but I booked directly this time in order to get 10% cashback.

To learn more about how to use the cashback to get money back when you cruise, check out chapter 2 of the How to Cruise For Less cruise course here .

Initial Impressions of the Superior Cabin Deck 1

Our initial impressions were that the cabin was a good size and that the bed was very large. Although high up, the portholes did provide a lot of natural light and we were surprised how low down in the water we were.

If you’re somebody who likes to watch ducks swim by, this is the perfect cabin!

I liked the decor in the cabin and it felt very clean and modern.

There Weren’t Many Plug Sockets (2 Per Cabin)

It wasn’t a big problem for us during our cruise but it is worth noting that the cabin only has 2 plug sockets and one is taken up by the kettle/excursion boxes (an audio device that lets you listen to your guide) that often need charging.

I did unplug this to charge my phone but the cabin definitely could have done with a few more plug sockets.

There was one plug socket on the right-hand side of the bed and the other was on the desk. There is also a USB in the TV that you could use in theory but this is an extremely slow charge.

Both plug sockets are European sockets, so require adapters if you are from the UK or US.

I’d recommend purchasing an adapter that provides extra USB sockets. The one I currently use goes from European to UK and also has 2 USB sockets. Effectively turning 1 socket into 3. You’ll find my recommendations here: Cruise Essentials .

In the cabin there was also a wall mounted TV, a small desk area, a chair, table and bin.

Storage Wasn’t a Problem

The cabin does have less storage than it first appears to, thanks to the air conditioning unit which is taking up the two cupboards on the right, seen behind the chair in the above photo, and the fridge that’s in the cupboard on the left.

Despite this though, we had plenty of storage.

There is a closet with hanging space and another with shelves. This is where the majority of our clothes went.

Our suitcases fit under our beds without any problems.

The far left cupboard is a mini-fridge with a mini-bar which left us with 2 small drawers with 2 bigger cupboards below. There was also a bedside table on both sides of the bed with shelves.

The Cabin Was Noisey When Sailing

I had been on river cruises before this cruise but I had never been in a cabin on the lowest deck.

I was surprised by how noisey the cabin was when moving.

We didn’t hear specific loud noises like bangs or crashes but there was a constant hum of the engines and the sound of the water outside was much louder than I expected.

For many people (me included) this hum is actually very relaxing and can help you to sleep, if you are somebody who can’t sleep unless it is quiet though, I wouldn’t recommend this cabin for you.

Superior Cabin Deck 2 and 3

The superior cabins on deck 2 and 3 were almost identical to those on deck 1.

The only difference was that the cabins on deck 2/3 had large sliding windows. We loved being able to lay in bed while looking out at the scenery passing by.

It was amazing how peaceful the water was when sailing, if we had the doors open we would hear the noise of the water passing by and it was very relaxing.

As I was cruising with my brother, we had the beds split into two.

Both beds were very comfortable and we slept well here.

The ‘Balcony’ Isn’t Really a Balcony

On most river cruise ships, if a cabin says that it has a balcony what it means is that it has a large sliding door and a balcony type railing outside.

Viking are the excepiton to this as they often have balconies in the more traditional sense.

We sailed through Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia in March so it was quite nice that we could be ‘on the balcony’ while still sat in bed. It was quite cold and rainy during a lot of our cruise.

We did have an issue with our air conditioning not cooling the room. We spoke to reception about it and they were very helpful but unable to make the air conditioning work any better. We usually just had to have the doors open while in the cabin.

Fortunately because the weather on our cruise got colder and colder as the week went on we didn’t need the air conditioning but this would have been an issue if sailing in warmer weather.

We were on the first sailing of the season so thought it was important we reported these things to reception ahead of the summer season.

The Bathroom Wasn’t Exactly Private

By far my least favourite things about the cabin was the glass doors to the bathroom. I don’t know who thought it was a good idea to have glass doors on a bathroom…

During the day you are able to see who who’s in the bathroom and what they are doing (are they showering, on the toilet etc) from the main cabin, it isn’t a big problem during the day but we found that it was far worse at night.

When it was dark in the room and the bathroom light was on you could see what a person in the bathroom was wearing and exactly what they were doing.

The below is a photo of me pretending to use the toilet (I was posing for the photo, taken from the main cabin).

As I was cruising with my brother we both decided that we would just shower in the dark for the duration of the cruise, not ideal but it was better than us being able to see each other in the shower.

This probably isn’t a big problem for couples but if you’re cruising with friends it’s definitely something to think about.

The larger suites don’t have this bathroom design so it may be worth upgrading.

The Bathroom Was Well Designed

The bathroom is a standard cabin size but well designed. Theres a couple of shelves for storage, a sink, toilet and large shower.

T he shower was powerful and able to get very hot. There is a shower door instead of a shower curtain.

There were two large and two smaller towels. To have your towels changed you should leave them on the floor, if you’re happy to use them again leave them on the rack behind the toilet.

Toiletries are provided in the bathroom and include shampoo, conditioner and body wash. These are Molton Brown toiletries and come in a dispenser on the wall.

A bar of soap is also provided for hand washing.

There is no lock on the bathroom door, but it is easy to see who’s in there thanks to the glass doors…

All Cabins Have Tea and Coffee Making Facilities

Each cabin has a kettle and coffee/tea. This is regularly replenished when your room is made up by housekeeping.

TUI have twinings tea and also provide hot chocolate sachets.

To learn more about what is included in a TUI river cruise, check out this post next: Are TUI River Cruises All-Inclusive?  Your Guide to What is Included.

Would I Recommend Upgrading to a Deck 2 Superior Cabin from a Deck 1 Superior Cabin?

If you are somebody who is able to sleep despite noise, and doesn’t mind sitting in a lounge or on the top deck while sailing to watch the view, a deck 1 cabin can be a great option.

If you would like to spend time in your room watching the scenery go by and would prefer a quieter cabin, I’d recommend upgrading.

It’s worth remembering that all superior cabins, regardless of deck have the same ammenities and space.

To learn more about river cruising, and why river cruises usually cost a premium, check out this post next: Why Are River Cruises EXPENSIVE? – The Truth Behind The Price

Marella have a £300 discount running at the moment for next year and theres no minimum spend, check them out:  Marella Discount . (Affiliate link).

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Former names: TUI Sonata (2010), WT Sonata

Cruise line TUI River Cruises (TUI Cruises)

TUI Skyla current position

TUI Skyla current location is at Europe Inland (coordinates 48.16689 N / 16.49546 E) cruising at speed of 12.3 kn (23 km/h | 14 mph) en route to BUDAPESTA. The AIS position was reported 27 minutes ago.

Specifications of TUI Skyla

•   Review
•   Wiki

TUI Skyla Review

Review of tui skyla.

The 2020-built/2021-inaugurated TUI Skyla cruise ship, like the sisterships TUI Isla and TUI Maya , is a riverboat owned by TUI AG and operated by its subsidiary company "TUI UK and Ireland". The new brand "TUI River Cruises" (tui.co.uk/river-cruises) was established in 2019 and targets predominantly the UK passenger sourcing. The 3 TUI boats were officially launched in 2020 following extensive drydock refit (and complete refurbishment) projects. However, due to the Coronavirus crisis, the brand's inauguration was postponed for ~1,5 years (August 2021 instead of the planned March 2020).

The vessel (ENI number 65000001) was launched in 2010 (originally named "TUI Sonata") being built by P+S WERFTEN GmbH (shipyard in Stralsund Germany ) and with original passenger capacity 188. Its initial owner was Premicon Flussreisen GmbH ( Limassol Cyprus -based river shipowner). When chartered by Werner-Tours Touristikinternational GmbH, the ship was named "WT Sonata". TUI Sonata's sisterships were TUI Allegra (fka Excellence Allegra, now TUI ISLA) and TUI Melodia (fka Excellence Melodia, now TUI MAYA).

The boat TUI Skyla is currently Malta- flagged (MMSI 248684000) and registered in Valletta .

TUI River Cruises (company/brand history and ownership)

TUI River Cruises ( fleet ) is a separate company part (fully-owned subsidiary) of TUI AG (British-German travel and tourism corporation). Part of TUI Group is also TUI Cruises - a UK-based joint venture cruise company (50-50) of TUI AG and RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (USA-based passenger shipping company). TUI started cruise shipping operations in 2009, targeting predominantly the German-speaking market with a premium travel vacation product. German and English are the main onboard languages on all TUI Schiffs (ships). TUI's sister-brands are Marella Cruises UK and Hapag-Lloyd-Cruises .

TUI's newest travel brand offers adults-only riverboat travel experiences with the ultimate flexibility to create luxury sailing vacations with a choice of optional packages. TUI UK's customers are able to add to the shipboard basis shore excursions (land tours), beverages (beer, wine, soft drinks with all meals) or premium drinks package. TUI's new cruise company also provides some of the industry's most spacious staterooms (including Suites with step-out balconies) and the most extravagant Sundeck areas currently available on the European market.

The German corporation TUI AG (shipowner) announced in April 2019 that it had acquired 3 riverboats for its new UK-focused brand "TUI River Cruises". The new company was due to start operations in 2020-Q2 (summer), complementing TUI's UK brand Marella.

Bookings on TUI's riverboats were opened on April 25, 2019.

In December 2019, TUI signed an exclusive partnership with Live Business UK (one of Europe's largest entertainment program developers and suppliers) for TUI River Cruises. By this deal, Live Business UK prepared the onboard entertainment programming for the boats and is also responsible for recruiting cruise directors, hosts, ship musicians, guest performers, local tour guides and other experts.

Decks and Cabins

TUI Skyla staterooms (79 total, on 3 decks out of 4 ) are in 2 types and 9 categories, contemporary decorated, with King-size double beds (convertible to two twins / lower single beds), mirrored vanity tables (writing desks) armchairs, low tables with lounge chairs, modern large slide-opening wardrobes, electronic safe box (in the closet), smart HDTV (satellite reception, ship info channel with daily scheduled activities, real-time camera views), 220 V power sockets, en-suite bathroom (single-sink vanity, WC-toilet, glass shower, hairdryer, slippers, bathrobes), individually controlled air-conditioning.

Most staterooms are double-occupancy. Suites are triple-occupancy (fitted with corner sofabeds) and additionally have mini-bar (fridge) and two French Balconies. All Lower Deck cabins are with porthole windows (two non-opening, round-shaped windows per cabin) located near the ceiling (riverside, at water level). All staterooms on Main-Middle and Upper decks are French Balcony cabins with floor-ceiling (wall-to-wall) windows slide-opening to a railing (false balcony).

• French Balcony Suite (Decks 2-3) are sized 24 m2 (260 ft2) and feature King-size bed (convertible), bigger bathroom, sofabed, separate dressing area.
• Superior French Balcony Cabin (Decks 2-3) are sized 15 m2 (160 ft2) and each fitted with King-size bed (convertible to twins).
• French Balcony Cabin (Decks 2-3) are sized 12 m2 (130 ft2) and have a fixed double bed (non-convertible).
• Superior Cabin (Deck 1) is sized 15 m2 (160 ft2) and has King-size bed (convertible to 2 single beds).
• Standard Cabin (Deck 2) is sized 12 m2 (130 ft2) and has a full-sized window (non-opening) and fixed double bed (non-convertible).
• Standard Cabin (Deck 1) is sized 12 m2 (130 ft2) and has a fixed double bed and two Porthole windows.
• Single Cabin (Deck 1) and French Balcony Single Cabin (Deck 2) are sized 12 m2 (130 ft2) and fitted with a single bed, desk and lounge chair.

Shipboard facilities

Skyla Atrium is the ship's main hub. The Lobby area houses the Reception (24-hour Guest Services Desk/assistance, luggage, cashier) and the Cruise Manager's/Director's Office (itinerary information, excursion bookings, future cruise booking). At the Library Lounge can be played popular board games. The Boutique Shop sells TUI-logoed merchandise, handmade souvenirs and premium brand gifts.

Sun Deck (top deck) is zoned, with dedicated areas for activities, sunbathing and relaxation. This large-sized open-air deck features BBQ (space for barbecues), Herb Garden, premium garden sofas, sunbathing area (with deckchairs, sunbeds and daybeds). The activities area is dedicated to outdoor group classes, including stretching, pilates, yoga. Also on Sun Deck is Navigation Bridge (aka "Wheelhouse" on riverboats and smaller ships) and awnings. All structures are retractable and lowered when passing under low bridges.

TUI Skyla boat's deckplan as facilities shows:

• Lower Deck 1: Cruise Cabins, staff and crew cabins
• Main Deck 2: Cruise Cabins, Lobby (Reception), Health and Wellbeing Zone (fore-located, with large whirlpool, Sauna, Gym, treatment rooms for massages)
• Upper Deck 3: Bistro, Verdastro, Club Lounge, Observatory, Terrace
• Sun Deck 4: BBQ, Lounge, Relax, Herb Garden

The Skyla ship has two main restaurants - Verdastro (for seasonal dishes and with daily changing menu) and Bistro (casual dining venue) both located aft on Upper Deck.

• Verdastro (Main Dining Room/MDR) has a stylish green-and-gold color scheme. The venue offers buffet-style breakfast and lunch, while dinner is an a la carte, waiter-served affair. All meals are prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local suppliers. Tables are available for two, four or six guests.
• The Bistro (adjacent to Verdastro) is more casual and provides an alternative dining option. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Passengers can choose from a la carte menu or sample the daily buffet food offerings.
• Alfresco dining is available on Sun Deck's BBQ area. Weather permitting, there the crew organizes outdoor dining events, such as light lunches and barbecues. Passengers can get drinks up there, too.

Full Board Plus is standard which means that 3 meals and drinks at mealtimes are part of the cruise package. Premium coffee and cocktails are not included as part of the line's standard dining package. Passengers have to upgrade to a premium drinks package or pay extra.

The Club Lounge is specialized in coffee by day, cocktails by night, and boasts with its digital fireplace, brass fittings, plush navy chairs, and mirrored tables. Alternatively, the Observatory offers a pretty terrace to the table and nightly entertainment ranging from musicians to guest acts, such as comedians. The Observatory lounge features widescreen windows, an outdoor terrace, comfy sofas and heaters.

Itineraries

TUI Skyla operates on river cruise tour itineraries in Germany, Holland and also cruises on the Dutch and Belgian waterways. Year-round departures are offered from homeports in Germany ( Passau and Frankfurt ) and Holland ( Amsterdam) .

TUI River Cruises itineraries are themed as:

• 7-day "Bavarian Discovery" cruise (March-June 2020), from Passau to Frankfurt, visiting Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Marktbreit, Wurzburg, Miltenberg, Wertheim. Prices started from GBP 1240 per person.
• 7-day "Bavarian Discovery 2" cruise (March-May 2020) from Frankfurt to Passau visits Wertheim, Wurzburg, Marktbreit, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg. Prices started from GBP 1640 per person.
• 7-day "Rhine Gems" cruise (April-May 2020) roundtrip from Frankfurt visits Koblenz, Mainz, Mannheim, Kehl, Rastatt, Rudesheim. Prices started from GBP 1340 per person.
• 7-day "The Moselle Valley: Vines and Views" cruise (April-May 2020) roundtrip from Frankfurt visits Koblenz, Bernkastel-Kues, Trier, Piesport, Traben-Trarbach, Cochem, Boppard, Oberwesel. Prices started from GBP 1440 per person.
• 7-day "Marvels of the Main" cruise (April 2020) roundtrip from Frankfurt visits Miltenberg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Marktbreit, Wertheim. Prices started from GBP 1390 per person.

Shore excursions range from active tours for adventurers, sightseeing city tours (led by local expert guides) to bicycle tours (with complimentary premium bikes carried on the ship). TUI offers GBP 120 OBC (credit) to any tour bookings, allowing customers the opportunity to tailor their holidays to dates/times and their personal preferences. All gratuities (onboard and ashore tips) and service charges are included in the river cruise fares.

TUI Skyla - user reviews and comments

Photos of tui skyla.

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Other TUI River Cruises cruise ships

• TUI Al Horeya

TUI Skyla Wiki

TUI Skyla (ENI number 65000001) belongs to the TwinCruiser boat type, in which passenger sections are structurally separated from the drive unit. TwinCruiser-class riverboats have two separate hulls linked to each other by clutches. The advantage of such separation is that the transmission of vibrations and noises can be mostly avoided.

The vessel TUI Skyla (inaugurated in August 2010 as TUI Sonata) is powered by two MTU marine diesel engines (model 12V-4000 M60) with total power output 1,6 MW. The engine builder MTU Friedrichshafen is a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Power Systems and among the world's largest manufacturers of diesel engines and propulsion systems. MTU produces diesel engines for ships (passenger and cargo vessels), heavy vehicles, military vehicles and trains in the power range 20 kW to 10 MW (up to 13410 HP output) and also sells Mercedes-Benz engines for industrial applications and gas turbines.

The riverboat's propulsion system is based on two 4-wing Veth rudder propellers plus one bow thruster (Jastram Azimuth Jet). Onboard energy supply is provided by three diesel generator sets (310 kVA, model Cummins KT-1150-G).

TUI Skyla ship was officially christened on November 24, 2021, by godmother Catherine Hawkins (college exam officer).

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.

Viking cruise cabins and suites: A guide to everything you want to know

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Is a balcony something you can’t live without when staying in a cabin on a cruise ship? If so, Viking could be your line.

Viking is one of the only cruise brands in the world that offers a balcony with every cabin on every ocean ship it operates — even the least expensive, smallest cabins. That’s something that even the most upscale of Viking’s ocean cruise rivals — including Oceania Cruises , Azamara , Seabourn , Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — can’t say.

Viking’s ocean ships also offer a large number of suites, many of which are quite spacious. If you’re looking for a room that is big and open on an ocean cruise (and are willing to pay extra for it), Viking has plenty of options.

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Viking also offers many balcony cabins and suites on its river ships — something that isn’t always the case in the river cruise business, where space on vessels is at a premium. However, unlike its ocean ships, Viking’s river ships aren’t all-balcony-cabin vessels. Some can have as many as 25 cabins per ship that are below the waterline and have windows high in the walls.

Still, even on Viking’s river ships, most cabins are balcony cabins.

A Viking cabin primer

Cruising regulars know that most cruise ships offer cabins in four broad categories: windowless “inside” cabins, ocean-view cabins, balcony cabins and suites.

As noted above, though, you’ll only find the latter two types of cabins on Viking ocean ships. Viking currently operates nine traditional ocean ships aimed at the English-speaking market and two oceangoing expedition ships. Every single passenger room on all 11 of the vessels is either a balcony cabin or a suite with a balcony. As previously mentioned, that’s highly unusual in the cruise business.

Viking is also known for a relatively simple-to-understand array of subcategories of rooms within its balcony-cabin and suite categories. Unlike some cruise brands such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, which offer as many as 36 different sub-types of cabins, Viking’s ocean ships offer just six.

The bottom line is that you’ll be much less flummoxed when trying to choose the perfect cabin for you on a Viking ocean ship than when trying to choose a cabin on most other vessels.

Related: The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

When it comes to size, even the smallest cabins on Viking’s ocean ships are large by cruise ship standards at 270 square feet, and the largest suites measure nearly 1,500 square feet.

Design-wise, Viking cabins and suites across all categories are modern and elegant in an understated sort of way, with Scandinavian-influenced furnishings and decor that tie to the Norwegian heritage of the company’s founder.

You’ll find beds topped with crisp, white duvets and Scandinavian throws, comfortable contemporary sofas and chairs in neutral tones, and light wood desks and side tables that combine to offer a residential feel in bedroom areas. Soothing, minimalist colors — think creams, grays and lighter blues — are the order of the day.

Bathrooms in Viking cabins are serene, modernist escapes with luxurious travertine marble-lined walls; Scandinavian-influenced, wood-veneered vanities; shiny white sinks; and chrome fixtures.

Viking is an upscale line — some might even call it a luxury line, though Viking doesn’t market itself that way — and Viking cabins and suites have a lot of thoughtful and elegant touches, from sumptuous bedding that envelops you to heated floors in bathrooms. The rooms aren’t overly flashy, though.

Instead, they are eminently functional, with storage in all the right places, lots of outlets for charging your devices and lighting right where you need it. We love the reading lights built into the fabric headboards of beds, which come in addition to the lamps on bedside tables. You won’t have trouble seeing the pages of the Viking Daily activity newsletter while lying in a Viking cabin bed.

Related: The best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise

Other little touches in Viking cabins that show the line’s attention to functionality include the large and clear lettering on the Freyja toiletries that you’ll find in every Viking cabin bathroom. The toiletries were specifically designed with bigger and clearer lettering than is common for toiletries so that the line’s older customers (Viking’s core market is in the 55- to the 75-year-old range) would have no trouble differentiating the body wash from the shampoo.

In a similar nod to functionality and ease of use, Viking had the remote controls for cabin televisions specially designed so they would only have a few buttons.

Balcony cabins on Viking cruise ships

Viking keeps it simple with the array of balcony cabins on its ocean ships. The line’s nine traditional ocean vessels aimed at the English-speaking market each have 418 balcony cabins that can be broken down into three categories:

• 42 Veranda Staterooms (10% of the total).
• 272 Deluxe Veranda Staterooms (65% of the total).
• 104 Penthouse Veranda Staterooms (25% of the total).

The first two categories, Veranda Staterooms and Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, are the same size at 270 square feet (a figure that includes balcony space). They basically look the same. However, the Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, which cost more, have better locations on the ships and come with more amenities and services. These extra amenities and services include:

• Earlier access to shore excursion reservations (67 days in advance of sailing versus 60 days).
• Priority access to spa treatment bookings (60 days in advance).
• One guaranteed priority reservation at every alternative restaurant on board, which can be made 60 days in advance of sailing.
• Binoculars in the room.
• Coffee machines with premium coffee and tea selections in the room.
• A traditional, super-soft Norwegian Marius-weave blanket for use in the room.

Passengers staying in Deluxe Veranda Staterooms can also access their rooms one hour earlier on embarkation day than those staying in Veranda Staterooms.

Both of the first two categories of balcony cabins come with minibars stocked with complimentary soft drinks, water and snacks. In the case of Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, staff replenishes these minibars once per day.

Penthouse Veranda Staterooms offer more space than the latter two categories, at 338 square feet, plus additional amenities and services, including:

• Priority shore excursion reservations that can be made 77 days in advance of sailing.
• Two guaranteed priority reservations at each alternative restaurant on board, which can be made 70 days in advance.
• Priority spa treatment bookings that can be made 70 days in advance.
• Minibars that include complimentary alcoholic beverages as well as soft drinks, water and snacks (replenished once daily).
• Complimentary clothes pressing and shoeshine services.
• A welcome bottle of Champagne.
• Earlier access to cabins on embarkation day.

Viking’s two expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, also have three categories of balcony cabins with a similar array of amenities and services. Named Nordic Balcony, Deluxe Nordic Balcony and Nordic Penthouse, the cabins of these three categories are slightly smaller than the cabins of the three balcony cabin categories on the traditional Viking ocean ships at 215, 215 and 269 square feet, respectively. They also have a different type of balcony that makes them feel more spacious than their square footage suggests.

Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris have what some in the cruise industry call an “infinite veranda” — a balcony-like space created by a window wall that opens from the top down. Viking calls them Nordic balconies.

Related: How to get a free or cheap cruise ship cabin upgrade

The majority of Viking river ships, known as Viking Longships, have 61 balcony cabins broken down into two categories: 205-square-foot Veranda Staterooms and 135-square-foot French Balcony Staterooms.

The latter has doors that open onto simple balustrades and not full balconies that you can step onto. This feature is known as a French balcony or Juliet balcony (a nod to the balcony of this type made famous in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”). Technically, these French balconies are balconies, even if they’re not quite as satisfying as a balcony with space to lounge.

Including the French balcony cabins, nearly 75% of the cabins on Viking’s Longships have balconies.

Viking also offers smaller versions of its Longships that have fewer balcony cabins, as well as a few different types of river ships with varying numbers of balcony cabins.

Suites on Viking cruise ships

The suite choices on Viking ships also are relatively easy to understand. On Viking’s traditional ocean ships, there are 47 suites broken down into three categories:

• 32 Penthouse Junior Suites.
• 14 Explorer Suites.
• One Owner’s Suite.

The Penthouse Junior Suites measure 405 square feet, including their balcony space, and come with such extra amenities and services as:

• Priority shore excursion reservations that can be made 87 days in advance of sailing.
• Three guaranteed priority reservations at each alternative restaurant, which can be booked 80 days in advance.
• Priority spa treatment bookings that can be made 80 days in advance.
• Minibars with complimentary alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water and snacks.
• Complimentary laundry, dry cleaning, pressing and shoeshine services.

In addition to a bed area, Penthouse Junior Suites have a large sitting area with a sofa, coffee table and chairs, and a separate television. The bathrooms are large, too.

Life starts really getting good in the 14 Explorer Suites on Viking’s traditional ocean ships. They range in size from 757 to 1,163 square feet, including balcony space, and bring even more enhanced amenities and services.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Each of the Explorer Suites is a two-room complex with a well-appointed living and dining area complete with a table that seats four people. Very large master bathrooms feature a double-sink vanity, a spacious glass-enclosed shower and a bathtub (something you won’t find in any of the lesser cabin categories on the vessels).

The Owner’s Suites, of which there is just one on each traditional Viking ocean vessel, are truly sprawling and impressive complexes that measure 1,448 square feet. They are true owner’s suites in that they are used by Viking founder and chairman Torstein Hagen when he sails on the ships, and they feature some of his personal mementos, including family pictures.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge on a suite for your next cruise

Each of the Owner’s Suites has a separate bedroom, living room, dining area that seats six people and master bathroom that includes a sauna with a glass wall facing the ocean.

In addition, each of the complexes has a boardroom with a long table that seats 12 people for meetings and catered dinner parties. There’s an adjacent pantry that can be used by staff serving room service or catering hosted events. Among other personal touches related to Hagen, the company founder, are book, wine and music collections that he curated for the rooms.

Viking’s two oceangoing expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, also have three categories of suites:

• Nordic Junior Suites (322 square feet).
• Explorer Suites (548 square feet).
• Owner’s Suites (1,238 square feet).

The typical Viking river ship has nine suites broken down into two categories — 275-square-foot Veranda Suites and 445-square-foot Explorers Suites.

Bottom line

Viking operates ships with a very easy-to-understand array of cabins, unlike some of its competitors.

Every passenger room on its ocean ships is a balcony cabin or a suite, something that is unusual in the cruise world, and these cabins break down into just a few subcategories. This makes the process of booking a room on a Viking vessel relatively simple compared to booking a room on many other ships.

Design-wise, Viking’s cabins are relatively upscale, with soothing, Scandinavian-influenced decor and lots of luxury touches like heated floors in bathrooms.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for a cruise

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Electrostal History and Art Museum

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Electrostal History and Art Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.19 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.21 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.27 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.18 mi) Elemash
• (1.36 mi) Hotel Djaz
• (0.07 mi) Prima Bolshogo
• (0.13 mi) Makecoffee
• (0.25 mi) Amsterdam Moments
• (0.25 mi) Pechka
• (0.26 mi) Mazhor

Time in Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia now

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Time zone info for Elektrostal

• The time in Elektrostal is 8 hours ahead of the time in New York when New York is on standard time, and 7 hours ahead of the time in New York when New York is on daylight saving time.
• Elektrostal does not change between summer time and winter time.
• The IANA time zone identifier for Elektrostal is Europe/Moscow.

Time difference from Elektrostal

Sunrise, sunset, day length and solar time for elektrostal.

• Sunrise: 04:06AM
• Sunset: 08:40PM
• Day length: 16h 34m
• Solar noon: 12:23PM
• The current local time in Elektrostal is 23 minutes ahead of apparent solar time.

Elektrostal on the map

• Location: Moscow Oblast, Russia
• Latitude: 55.79. Longitude: 38.46
• Population: 144,000

Best restaurants in Elektrostal

• #1 Tolsty medved - Steakhouses food
• #2 Ermitazh - European and japanese food
• #3 Pechka - European and french food

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• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• History of Russian Scarfs and Shawls Museum
• Balashikha Arena
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Bykovo Manor
• Pekhorka Park
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Drama Theatre BOOM
• Likino Dulevo Museum of Local Lore
• Pavlovsky Posad Museum of Art and History
• Saturn Stadium
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
• Fairy Tale Children's Model Puppet Theater
• Fifth House Gallery
• Church of Vladimir
• Malakhovka Museum of History and Culture
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall