FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – To meet increasing demand from travel advisors and their clients, Riviera River Cruises will add a new ship and new itinerary on the Douro River in Portugal and Spain in 2024. The MS Porto Mirante will sail 10 departures of the Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca River Cruise from July to October starting next year. The Porto Mirante will join Riviera’s MS Douro Elegance and MS Douro Splendour, which sail the Douro, Porto and Salamanca River Cruise. For more information about Riviera and its European river cruises, call 888-838-8820 or visit https://www.rivierarivercruises.com/.
“Our only itinerary on the Douro River has grown to become one of our most popular cruises, so we’re launching a new ship and a new itinerary to keep up with demand there,” said Marilyn Conroy, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing North America for Riviera River Cruises. “The stylish new MS Porto Mirante will take guests through the stunning heart of the winelands along the river, with excursions led by local experts who offer fascinating insight into the destinations we visit. And, as on all our 2024 river cruises, guests will enjoy our new Superior drinks package free of charge.”
The 262-foot MS Porto Mirante will feature an atrium bar and lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, a restaurant, a fitness center and a sun deck with a sky lounge, a bar and a splash pool. It will accommodate 118 passengers in 59 cabins that are 172 square feet. All Diamond (upper) and Ruby (middle) deck cabins will have a French balcony with sliding door, while Diamond, Ruby and Emerald (lower) deck standard cabins will have a lounge chair with small table. All cabins will also include double beds that can be converted to twin beds, a bathroom with rain shower, desk with chair, flat-screen TV, individually controlled air conditioning, coffee machine and more.
The eight-day Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca River Cruise will start at $2,849 per person based on double occupancy. It will sail round trip from Porto and include a guided tour of Porto’s Old Town, a visit to Quinta da Pacheca with dinner and a selection of its wines, a visit to the 12th-century walled village of Castelo Rodrigo, a tour of Salamanca, Spain, with a traditional flamenco show over lunch, a tour of Quinta da Avessada with a rustic lunch and tasting of its Moscatel wines, visits to Lamego and the manicured gardens of Mateus Palace, and either a port wine tasting at Vila Nova de Gaia or a tour of Guimarães, known as the birthplace of Portugal.
Riviera River Cruises offers a total of 22 itineraries on 10 European rivers and waterways throughout the year, including exclusive departures for solo travelers with no single supplement and holiday season cruises. Its fleet of 11 ships is one of the youngest in Europe, with spacious cabins and suites, and its cruises include fine culinary experiences, from splendid breakfasts to delicious four-course dinners featuring regional and international specialties, as well as expert-led excursions to iconic sights and hidden gems.
Riviera guarantees exceptional value, promising never to add hidden surcharges or fees, and it doesn’t automatically include gratuities or drinks, so the choice is up to guests.
Riviera River Cruises
Riviera River Cruises is the United Kingdom’s leading river cruise operator, with a sales staff working across North America. Riviera is known for its award-winning product, with ships featuring spacious cabins and suites, first-class service, a relaxed atmosphere, sumptuous onboard meals and captivating excursions, as well as its exceptional value, earning it accolades from consumer and trade media in the U.K. and United States. Riviera puts its guests first, hosting over 100,000 on its river cruises in the past five years, and is very supportive of the travel agency community, accepting bookings exclusively from advisors. For more information, call 888-838-8820 or visit https://www.rivierarivercruises.com/.