5 Benefits of Booking a Cruise Over a Year in Advance (I Just Did It!)

Note: This post is sponsored by TUI Cruises. All thoughts and opinions are my own based on my cruises with TUI.

I’ve just booked a TUI river cruise over a year in advance!

That is not something I would normally do, but this time it made perfect sense.

I knew that TUI were launching a new river ship, TUI Aria, in spring 2026 and I was very keen to sail on her. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a river cruise, and I always love them.

You can check out cruises on Aria here (affiliate link).

TUI Aria will be the largest ship in the TUI fleet, and will be operating in the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Dutch and Belgian waterways.

I noticed there were some benefits to booking this cruise early, benefits that others might not think about.

These Are The Reasons I Booked Early:

#1. It’s A New Ship

TUI Aria is a new ship for 2026. It is bound to be popular with guests who have enjoyed the other ships in the fleet and want to try something new.

This ship offers features that aren’t available on the other ships in the fleet. TUI Aria:

• Has an onboard pool under a retractable roof.
  • This multi-use space can be used as a poolside area by day and an à la carte restaurant by night.
  • This space, called “Reflections,” will offer Italian-inspired dishes every evening.
• It holds up to 190 passengers, more than the other ships in the fleet.
  • All TUI river ships are adult-only.

#2. Wider Choice of Cabin Types

By booking early, I had a better range of cabins to choose from. If I had tried booking at the last minute, many cabins may not be available, or the sailing could be completely sold out.

I was planning on bringing my family on this trip, including my brother, who would need a solo cabin.

It is a good idea to book well in advance if you want a more unusual cabin type, which I did.

For example:

• Solo cabins
  • Solo cabins are limited in number and tend to sell out quickly.
  • I wanted a solo cabin for my brother on this trip, so I needed to book one well in advance.

If you book at the last minute, you will have little or no choice about the cabin you are allocated.

#3. Better Flight Options Available

TUI river cruise packages include flights from a range of UK regional airports, like Birmingham and Glasgow, rather than just the standard “London or Manchester” options.

This makes them far more convenient for those who don’t live near Manchester or London.

Booking early:

• Usually means more choice of departure airports, and a better chance of flying from an airport that is the most convenient for you.

#4. Discounts and Promotions

Cruise lines and travel agents often run early-saver deals.

Early saver deals benefit travel companies by providing them with guaranteed revenue. It allows for better financial planning and risk management, and helps to fill capacity when sailings are released.

This early commitment reduces uncertainty and allows companies to predict and manage their sales more effectively.

Early booking perks on some cruises can include:

• Reduced deposits.
• On-board credit.
• Sometimes it’s just lower fares
  • The more the ship fills up, the higher the prices are likely to be.

TUI often offer discount codes throughout the year that can be used on sailings between certain dates.

(You may not find these discount codes available when the cruise is first launched, though.)

Always check if there is a discount you can use for your sailing before booking would be my advice!

I was able to get £200 off my Aria cruise, simply by adding a discount code online at the checkout.

#5. More Time to Plan and Pay

If you are planning to splash out on an expensive trip, or are taking family or a group of friends, it will give you more time to organise them and get the money together.

• Booking early means spreading the cost.
  • You may be able to organise a payment plan instead of finding one big lump sum.
• You also have longer to arrange and pay for things you might need.
  • Excursions, airport parking, insurance etc.
• It can give you peace of mind – and something to look forward to!
  • you know price is locked in, and can enjoy the build-up.

TUI offer low deposits, and monthly payment plans to make the cost of the holiday more affordable.

I would always recommend you take out travel insurance for your cruise as soon as possible, just in case you have to cancel for some reason.

Flexible payment options
We’re committed to helping you manage your holiday payments in a way that suits you. You can secure your booking with a low deposit or pay monthly with Direct Debit – for some holidays, you can even make the most of our £0 deposit option.

TUI

#6. Locking in Popular Itineraries

Booking a year or more in advance means you don’t miss out on trips you particularly want to take.

Some cruises sell out fast. Some of the most popular sailings are:

• Unique river itineraries.
• Maiden voyages or seasons.
• Christmas market sailings.
• Peak season summer sailings.

River ships have far fewer cabins than ocean ships, so understandably, they fill up quicker.

I took a Christmas markets cruise on TUI Skyla. I had a wonderful time, but it wasn’t without its issues, due to high river water levels.

We ended up flying to a completely different airport to board the ship. Luckily, TUI river cruises are sold as a package with flights, so the change of itinerary was TUI’s problem – not mine!

Have a look at that interesting Christmas markets cruise here:

Before You Go

Find out how TUI river cruises differ from traditional river cruises here:

How TUI River Cruises are Different to Traditional River Cruises – (What The Cruise Fare Includes)

Find out about the fascinating Nile river cruises available with TUI here:

5 Reasons a Nile River Cruise is the Best Way to Explore Egypt (TUI River Cruises)