MS Douro Estrela

The 2024-built MS Douro Estrela (also known as "APT Estrela") operates cruises along Portugal’s Douro River, departing from Oporto. Although embarkation is in Porto City, cruisetour packages offer departures from either Lisbon (Portugal) or Madrid (Spain). The itineraries explore the scenic Douro River Valley, Portugal’s renowned wine region known as Alto Douro.

MS Estrela is currently under long-term exclusive charter by the APT Travel Group for its brands APT River Cruises and Travelmarvel. The vessel is owned by Mystic Invest Holding and managed by its subsidiary Douro Azul (fleet).

APT plans to introduce a second Douro-based riverboat in 2028—larger than Estrela, with 80 cabins. MS Estrela currently serves both APT and Travelmarvel guests, while the new vessel will operate exclusively for APT, with Estrela continuing to serve Travelmarvel customers.

The vessel is Portugal-flagged (MMSI number 263442283) and registered in Lisbon. She was built by WestSEA at the Viana do Castelo shipyard in Portugal.

APT-Travelmarvel officially named MS Estrela on April 17, 2025, during a christening ceremony near Porto. The event was led by godmother Lucy Huxley (Travel Weekly’s Editor-in-Chief) and attended by David Cox (APT Travel Group’s CEO) and Paul Melinis (APT’s Managing Director, UK & Europe). The celebration included a four-day inaugural voyage (April 14–17) between Oporto and Regua, attended by 50 VIP guests, including trade partners and media representatives.

APT cruise guests are primarily from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The company offers value-packed vacation packages that include flights, port charges and fees, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and the use of onboard bicycles. Complimentary tea and coffee are available 24 hours a day. Lunches and dinners feature complimentary local beers, house wines (by the glass), and soft drinks. Guided shore excursions are included in the package.

APT River Cruises are fully all-inclusive, featuring complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages—spirits, regional wines, cocktails, aperitifs, beers, juices, soft drinks, premium teas, and coffees—available at any time. Wines are hand-selected by APT’s chief sommelier.

APT cruisetour fares are per person and include private home-to-airport transfers (UK), return flights, guided shore excursions and land tours (up to 16 locations), complimentary waiter-served beverages and laundry service, in-suite room service, professional butler service, and the expertise of a certified APT River Cruise Director.

Decks and Cabins

MS Estrela features 58 passenger staterooms (all outside, accommodating up to 116 guests) and four decks (three with cabins).

All cabins are double occupancy, ranging from 22 m2 / 235 ft2 (Owner’s Suite with French Balcony) to 15–18 m2 / 160–195 ft2 (French Balcony Suites) and 15 m2 / 155 ft2 (Window Cabins with non-opening windows).

Except for the Lower Deck’s Window Cabins (Category E), all other staterooms on Decks 2 (Main) and 3 (Upper) feature French balconies with floor-to-ceiling electric sliding windows that open halfway down.

The Lower Deck accommodations have one high-level, non-opening window located near the ceiling.

Main Deck French Balcony cabins are in categories B, C, and CT. Category CT cabins feature two separate fixed twin beds that cannot be converted into a double.

Upper Deck French Balcony cabins are in categories P and S. The two Owner’s Suites are also located aft on this deck.

All staterooms include (as part of the cruise fare) an en-suite bathroom (single-sink vanity, toilet, shower, under-sink storage, magnifying mirror, hairdryer, shaver socket, and robes), hotel-style beds (Queen-size convertible to twins with premium bedding and pillows), bedside tables, reading lamps, LED ceiling lights, wall-mounted HDTV (satellite, infotainment, movies, Wi-Fi, ship info channel, real-time bow camera), onboard phone (Reception Desk, cabin-to-cabin, wake-up service), mirrored vanity/writing desk, round table with two armchairs, mirrored wardrobe, minibar (refrigerator and tea/coffee-making facilities), electronic safe, 220V power sockets, individually controlled air-conditioning, and butler service.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

Due to her compact size, MS Estrela has no wellness facilities such as a Spa, Massage Room, Fitness Center, or Hair Salon.

A forward-midship elevator connects all passenger decks (1–2–3).

The Sun Deck (4th level) features the Bridge/Wheelhouse, a bicycle stand (for complimentary use on excursions), an open-air Bar Lounge (offering beverages and light alfresco dining), an aft putting green, shaded seating, and a heated swimming pool. The all-teak deck is enclosed by metal railings and offers 360-degree views of the passing landscape. A shaded relaxation area is covered by a hard roof equipped with solar panels that power some of the ship’s systems.

Alfresco lunches are occasionally served at the covered midship Lounge on the Sundeck. When weather permits, morning group exercise classes are held here.

One of the ship’s highlights is the midship heated swimming pool (depth approx. 1 m / 3 ft) with surrounding loungers, deckchairs, and sunbeds. The pool features an adjustable current system for resistance (“endless”) swimming.

On the Upper Deck (3rd level) is the Lounge & Bar—used for live evening entertainment and serving early and late breakfasts and light lunches (salads, sandwiches, cold cuts, cheeses, desserts, beer, and wine by the glass). The Lounge has floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, a dance floor, and a grand piano for live performances by local musicians and dancers. It also hosts APT’s enrichment program with Portuguese wine tastings, culinary demonstrations, and cultural lectures or multimedia presentations related to the visited ports.

A 24-hour Coffee Station in the Bar Lounge provides complimentary specialty coffees, teas, light snacks, and juices.

The Lobby area (Upper Deck midship) houses the Reception Desk—offering 24-hour guest assistance, excursion information, daily activity updates, cashier services, and onboard cruise bookings—and a Gift Shop selling souvenirs, gifts, and travel essentials.

On the Main Deck (2nd level) is the Restaurant, an open-seating Main Dining Room offering buffet breakfast and waiter-served lunch and dinner (three-course menus). Meals include free-flowing Portuguese wines and Douro Valley specialties. Tables seat four to six guests, and the restaurant features panoramic windows, elegant décor, and attentive professional service.

APT-Travelmarvel Douro Itineraries

MS Estrela operates two main cruisetour itineraries: the 14-day “Douro Delights with Madrid and Lisbon” (APT River Cruises) and the 11-day “Lisbon with Douro Discovery” (Travelmarvel).

APT’s “Douro Delights with Madrid and Lisbon” begins in Lisbon (Days 1–2, overnight), continues to Sintra (Day 3), then Coimbra and Porto (Day 4, embarkation). The Douro voyage includes Porto (Day 5), Entre-os-Rios (Day 6), Regua (Day 7, visit to Quinta da Pacheca for lunch and wine tasting), Regua/Pinhao (Day 7, visit to Vila Real’s Palacio de Mateus), Pinhao (Day 9, visit to a local Quinta, Captain’s Farewell Dinner), Barca d’Alva/Vega de Terron (Day 10, tour to Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo), Vega de Terron (Day 11, disembarkation and travel to Salamanca and Madrid), and Madrid (Days 12–14, including tours of the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Prado Museum, and Santiago Bernabeu Stadium). Return flights to the UK follow from Madrid.

Travelmarvel’s 7-night “Douro Discovery” is a roundtrip from Oporto visiting Regua/Lamego/Pinhao (Day 2), Vega de Terron and Castelo Rodrigo (Day 3), Salamanca and Barca d’Alva (Day 4), Pinhao (Day 5), Regua/Mateus Palace/Entre-os-Rios (Day 6), and Vila Nova de Gaia/Porto (Day 7–8, disembarkation). Return flights depart from Oporto.

The 8-night “Douro Delights” is a shorter Porto–Madrid route, starting in Porto (Days 1–3, overnight embarkation) and continuing through Entre-os-Rios (Day 3), Regua (Days 4–5, overnight), Pinhao (Days 5–6, overnight), Barca d’Alva (Day 7, travel to Vega de Terron), Vega de Terron (Days 7–8, overnight disembarkation), followed by overland travel to Salamanca and Madrid (Days 8–9, overnight), ending in Madrid (Day 9).

APT’s 23-night/24-day “Spain and Portugal Delights with Douro River Cruise” starts in Barcelona and ends in Madrid. Before the Douro cruise, guests visit Barcelona (Days 1–3), Madrid (Days 3–5), Cordoba (Day 6), Granada (Days 7–9), Ronda and Seville (Days 9–11), Algarve (Days 11–13), and Lisbon (Days 13–15, with a visit to Sintra). The journey concludes in Coimbra and Porto (Day 16, embarkation).