Riviera announces new Douro river cruise for 2024

Bookings open today for the ‘Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca’ voyage, which sails roundtrip from Porto and includes a guided tour of the city’s Old Town, visits to the Mateus Palace gardens, Castelo Rodrigo and Lamego, with a choice of a Guimarães tour or a port wine cellar visit. 

Also included is a tour to Salamanca with lunch and a flamenco show, wine-tasting with dinner in a traditional Quinta, as well as a rustic lunch and tasting at a Quinta specialising in Moscatel vines.

‘This stunning new Douro itinerary takes us into the heart of the winelands along the river,’ said Katja Hildebrandt, head of product river & ocean cruise at Riviera Travel. ‘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.’ 

Prices start from £2,049pp and include regional flights and transfers, all on board meals, a superior drinks package, complimentary on board tea and coffee, Wi-Fi and the services of a Riviera cruise director.

10 departures are available from July to October.

Extended city stays

Riviera has additionally introduced three-night city extensions for passengers on ‘The Douro, Porto and Salamanca,’ ‘The Blue Danube,’ as well as the ‘Springtime’ river cruises, the latter 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 boat ride down the canals of Aveiro, and the option to join a Folklore and Fado evening in Porto. Prices start at £649pp.

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. Options to attend a classical music concert at the Kursalon Vienna and visit Kunsthistorisches Museum are available. Prices start at £549pp.

The Amsterdam extension includes guided tours of Haarlem with beer tasting and central Amsterdam with cheese tasting in the Jordaan District, plus a visit to the Rijksmuseum. Prices are from £649pp.

‘…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,’ added Hildebrandt. 

Bookings for these extensions open today and 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 price of the trip. 

Porto Mirante 

Porto Mirante can accommodate 118 passengers 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.