TTC Tour Brands: Itinerary Expansion and River Cruise Innovations for 2025‑26
A Family of Brands
The Travel Corporation (TTC) is a privately owned travel group that includes more than forty tour, cruise, and safari brands. At its core are iconic names such as Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Luxury Gold, and Lion World Travel. These brands work together under the TTC Tour Brands umbrella to provide travellers with curated experiences across land and water. Within the past six months TTC has announced a significant expansion of its tour and cruise offerings for 2025‑26, giving sophisticated travellers new ways to explore the world.
New Ships and Itineraries for Uniworld
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises continues to innovate with new ships and itineraries.
- S.S. Elisabeth Launching in 2025 – Uniworld’s newest Super Ship, S.S. Elisabeth, will debut in March 2025. Accommodating only 110 guests in 55 suites and staterooms, the vessel offers one of the most spacious experiences on Europe’s rivers. Guests will find an onboard pool, gym and massage room, as well as some of the largest suites on the Rhine. In her inaugural season the Elisabeth will sail the eight‑day Castles Along the Rhine itinerary and the Rhine Holiday Markets route during the festive season. Beyond these cruises, Uniworld is introducing a suite of new itineraries in 2025 including Cruise & Rail: Paris to Istanbul, a 14‑day journey across seven countries; Wine Roads of France & Portugal, an 18‑day blend of Bordeaux and Douro River experiences; and a 15‑day Rhine, Moselle & Belgium Grand Discovery exploring six Central European countries. For travellers wishing to combine Italy with river cruising, Grande Italia (13 days) and Rome, Venice & the Jewels of Veneto (11 days) will launch in 2025, along with a Dutch & Belgian holiday cruise.
- Women‑Only Burgundy and Provence Cruise – Uniworld will operate its first women‑only river cruise in Burgundy and Provence using the S.S. Elisabeth. This pioneering itinerary is designed to bring together like‑minded travellers and includes curated excursions focused on wine, food and cultural heritage. Following this special voyage, the Elisabeth will transition to Christmas market cruises and castle‑themed itineraries along the Rhine.
- New Ship S.S. Emilie (2026) – Looking further ahead, Uniworld will debut the S.S. Emilie in 2026, a newbuild named after Austrian artist Gustav Klimt’s muse Emilie Flöge. Announced by CEO Ellen Bettridge, the vessel will join the fleet in time for Uniworld’s 50th anniversary and will embody the line’s commitment to high‑end design and service.
TTC Tour Brands: A Wave of New Tours for 2026
In July 2025 TTC Tour Brands revealed its largest itinerary expansion in seven years, with 16 new tours scheduled for 2026.
- Trafalgar will launch eight new itineraries that span Europe, Asia and the United States. Highlights include a 12‑day Spain, Morocco & Portugal Whirl, taking travellers to Madrid, Costa del Sol, Tangier and Lisbon; and a 10‑day South Korea Tour that visits Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan, including a trip to the Demilitarized Zone and cultural stops like Hahoe Village. Trafalgar will also debut the Scenic Great Lakes with Mackinac Island tour, a nine‑day itinerary beginning in Chicago and ending in Detroit with two nights on car‑free Mackinac Island. These tours offer cruise travellers unique pre‑ or post‑land extensions around Great Lakes cruises or Mediterranean voyages.
- Insight Vacations will introduce six new itineraries, including a women‑only Soul of the Deep South tour through Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. This nine‑day journey appeals to travellers seeking cultural immersion in America’s music and culinary capitals. Additional Insight itineraries focus on European multi‑country routes and immersive experiences that pair well with river cruise itineraries.
- Luxury Gold will unveil two deluxe tours: Spectacular Scotland, a ten‑day exploration of the highlands, Edinburgh and the Isle of Mull, and Ultimate Portugal, which highlights Porto foodie tours, wine tasting in the Douro Valley and a visit to the Algarve. These small‑group tours cater to travellers seeking five‑star service and in‑depth cultural experiences and can complement luxury ocean or river cruises.
Melissa DaSilva, deputy CEO of TTC Tour Brands, said these new itineraries reflect growing demand for women‑only travel and multi‑country adventures. For cruise fans, these tours provide land‑based experiences that extend the value of a holiday and deepen cultural discovery.
Trafalgar Ventures into River Cruising
In addition to its land tours, Trafalgar is entering the European river cruise market in partnership with its sister company, Uniworld. The brand will charter vessels to operate two itineraries starting in April 2026: an eight‑day Best of the Danube and a 10‑day Best of the Rhine. These cruises will offer fully escorted excursions, local dining experiences and the ease of Trafalgar’s guided travel style. The move represents TTC’s strategy to leverage synergies between its tour and cruise brands, giving travellers a seamless way to experience Europe by river.
Uniworld’s Immersive Rail & Cruise Journeys
Uniworld continues to blend rail and cruise experiences. Its Cruise & Rail: Paris to Istanbul itinerary pairs a river cruise through Eastern Europe with luxury rail travel across Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Travellers board the Venice Simplon‑Orient‑Express for the final leg into Turkey, creating a romantic voyage reminiscent of golden‑age travel. Such trips appeal to cruise enthusiasts who seek varied modes of transport while enjoying consistent service levels.
Lion World Travel: African Safari Specialists
Lion World Travel, TTC’s specialist for affordable luxury safaris, has been crafting tailor‑made African adventures for six decades. The company continues to expand its portfolio of small‑group and custom trips in 2025‑26. On its website, Lion World highlights its mission to deliver premium accommodations and unforgettable wildlife encounters with an emphasis on sustainability and community support. Although the company has not announced major new itineraries in the past six months, it remains a valuable option for cruise travellers seeking pre‑ or post‑voyage extensions. For example, guests sailing the Indian Ocean or East African coast could add a curated safari in Kenya or Tanzania, complete with five‑star lodges and expert guides. Lion World’s MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experiences support wildlife conservation and empower local communities, aligning with the growing trend toward meaningful travel.
Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold: Premium Guided Journeys
Beyond the new 2026 itineraries, Insight Vacations continues to offer its signature premium journeys with smaller group sizes, stays at landmark hotels and exclusive experiences such as dining with local chefs or artists. Its Country Roads itineraries venture off the beaten path to regions like rural France and Italy, while Easy Pace tours provide longer stays in major cities for relaxed exploration. Luxury Gold elevates this approach with butler service, five‑star accommodations and exclusive moments, such as a private performance at an opera house or a dinner in a historic palace. For cruisers looking to explore inland before or after a voyage, these tours offer structured yet luxurious ways to immerse in culture.
Sustainability and Community Engagement
TTC Tour Brands has long championed responsible tourism through its TreadRight Foundation and MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® initiatives. The group aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and has set targets to reduce food waste, eliminate single‑use plastics and positively impact the communities it visits. For travellers mindful of their environmental footprint, choosing TTC brands ensures that holiday dollars support regenerative tourism practices.
Looking Ahead
With multiple new ships, women‑focused itineraries, multi‑country tours and a venture into river cruising, TTC Tour Brands is positioning itself as a one‑stop shop for travellers who value both discovery and comfort. Uniworld’s S.S. Elisabeth and S.S. Emilie promise next‑generation river cruise luxury, while Trafalgar’s forthcoming river cruises offer a more accessible, guided approach to Europe’s waterways. The 2026 suite of tours across Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold provides fresh options for travellers seeking curated experiences across continents. Lion World Travel and other TTC brands continue to deliver bespoke journeys that can easily pair with ocean or river cruises.
Expert Insight
The Travel Corporation’s latest announcements illustrate how tour companies are evolving to serve sophisticated travellers who crave both depth and variety. By investing in new river ships, women‑only cruises and multi‑country land tours, TTC is aligning its offerings with key trends: smaller groups, experiential travel and flexibility. The cross‑brand collaboration between Trafalgar and Uniworld underscores an awareness that travellers want seamless transitions between land and water. For those who love cruising but also seek cultural immersion and curated adventures, the 2025‑26 programmes across TTC’s portfolio offer a wealth of opportunities to extend or enhance a voyage while supporting responsible tourism.
