19 July 2023
Riviera Travel has announced a new seven-night Douro river cruise for 2024, sailing on board a brand-new ship, the MS Porto Mirante. Ten departures are available from July to October.
On sale from today (July 19, 2023), the ‘Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca’ cruise will depart roundtrip from Porto and includes a guided tour of Porto’s Old Town, visits to the Mateus Palace gardens, Castelo Rodrigo and Lamego, with a choice of a tour to Guimarães or a port wine cellar visit in Porto.
Also included is a tour to Salamanca with lunch and flamenco show, a wine-tasting with dinner in a traditional Quinta, as well as a rustic lunch and tasting at a Quinta specialising in Moscatel vines.
The MS Porto Mirante can accommodate 118 guests across 59 cabins. It has a sun deck with splash pool, atrium bar and lounge area with floor-to-ceiling windows, and an on-board fitness centre.
Riviera has also introduced three-night city extensions for guests on The Douro, Porto and Salamanca river cruise, The Blue Danube river cruise, and the Springtime river cruises concluding in Amsterdam:
* The Porto extension includes guided tours of Braga and Guimarães, visits to Clérigos Tower and the Portuguese Centre of Photography, with a visit to and a boat ride down the canals of Aveiro, and the option to join a Folklore and Fado evening in Porto.
* The Vienna extension for the Blue Danube includes wine tasting with lunch at Neusiedlersee and a horse-drawn carriage ride, a visit to Schönbrunn Palace, plus a tour of the Vienna State Opera House and a traditional Heurigen evening at a local restaurant. Optional classical music concert at the Kursalon Vienna and a visit to Kunsthistorisches Museum also available.
* The Amsterdam extension includes a guided tour of Haarlem with beer tasting, a guided tour of central Amsterdam with cheese tasting in the Jordaan District, and a visit to the Rijksmuseum.
All three-night extensions comprise a stay in a centrally-located hotel, the services of a Tour Manager and a programme of tours and visits. Return flights with a choice of UK regional airports, transfers from the ship to the hotel and hotel to the airport, and a daily breakfast are included in the holiday price. They are similarly on sale from today (July 19, 2023).
Katja Hildebrandt, Head of Product River & Ocean Cruise at Riviera Travel, said: “This stunning new Douro itinerary takes us into the heart of the winelands along the river. Complemented by the launch of a new ship, it offers guests the chance to explore this fascinating area of Portugal with its magical landscapes and history, in style and elegance aboard a state-of-the-art vessel.
“And for guests looking to maximise their time away, we can offer the flexibility to personalise their holiday by adding one of our extended city stays. The included, expert-led guided tours and visits will offer a fascinating insight into each destination from a real ‘local’ perspective, while there’s a chance to relax too with plenty of free time for independent exploration.”
For more information, visit rivieratravel.co.uk or call 01283 523431.
