MS Douro Splendour

The MS Douro Splendour is a new-design, luxury riverboat inaugurated in 2018, with sisterships Douro Serenity (2017) and Douro Elegance (2017). The Douro Splendour sails on the Douro River, offering 8-day roundtrip itineraries from Oporto to ports in Portugal and Spain.

The ship is owned by Douro Azul (a Portuguese travel company and fully-owned subsidiary of Mystic Cruises) and is exclusively chartered by the UK-based cruisetour operator Riviera Travel.

The vessel is Portugal-flagged (MMSI 263673951) and registered in Lisbon. She was built by WestSEA Shipyard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal.

The Douro Splendour offers first-class hotel-style amenities and facilities designed to provide the finest river cruising experience in Portugal’s Douro Valley wine region. The elegant Bar Lounge features a selection of fine wines and premium spirits and has a small bow terrace with open-air seating. The fore-located Dining Room Restaurant operates on a single open-seating basis and features floor-to-ceiling windows. The ship also includes a spacious wellness center (spa and fitness area), a Boutique Gift Shop, a large outdoor swimming pool on the top deck, and a roof-covered outdoor lounge equipped with solar panels.

The Main Deck houses the Restaurant, offering open-seating dining for tables of 4 to 8 guests. Breakfast is served buffet-style with an omelet station, while lunch features a lighter buffet menu. Dinners are 4-course, waiter-served meals. Guests may also enjoy early breakfast and light lunch options in the Bar Lounge or al fresco on the Sun Deck.

The onboard Spa, located on the Main Deck, offers a variety of treatments that can be booked in advance. The Fitness Room is situated on the Lower Deck. One of the ship’s most distinctive features is the top-deck outdoor swimming pool with a spacious sunbathing area furnished with premium loungers. The Douro Valley’s serene riverside scenery provides a perfect backdrop for a relaxing and scenic cruise vacation.

All cabin decks are fully air-conditioned and connected by an elevator and a wide staircase. The Sun Deck is accessible only by stairs.

Decks and Cabins

Most Douro Splendour staterooms measure 15 m² (160 ft²), the standard size for French Balcony cabins on 5-star European riverboats. All cabins feature polished hardwood entry doors, elegant wooden furniture with fine fabrics, hotel-style beds (two twins convertible to a double), premium bedding, marble bathrooms (glass shower, WC, single-sink vanity, fluffy towels, and premium toiletries), individually controlled air-conditioning, wall-mounted flat HDTV (satellite reception), hairdryer, wardrobe, mirrored dressing table with chair, electronic safe, phone, tea and coffee facilities, and 220V power outlets (UK and North American guests require adapters or converters).

Lower Deck cabins are designed for solo travelers. They are smaller (14 m² / 150 ft²) with one fixed, non-opening window (quarter-height, near the ceiling). These single cabins can be booked with no single supplement. Riviera Travel applies a 100% supplement to all other cabin types.

Standard category cabins are French Balcony staterooms (15 m² / 160 ft²) featuring an electronically controlled sliding window that lowers horizontally to open to a railing (“false balcony”), allowing unobstructed views of the passing scenery. Each cabin also includes a table and two chairs for in-room dining.

Superior Suites (Upper Deck) measure 22 m² (235 ft²) and offer a spacious living area, floor-to-ceiling windows, a step-out balcony, and a separate French Balcony with a sitting area (table and chairs).

Deluxe Suites (aft on Upper Deck) measure 30 m² (325 ft²) and feature a larger living area, two floor-to-ceiling windows, a step-out balcony, a French Balcony (with table and chairs), a walk-in closet, and a bedroom with two additional floor-to-ceiling windows.

The vessel has four decks, three of which contain cabins.

Itineraries

Riviera Travel river cruise fares include:

• 5-star stateroom accommodation
• roundtrip UK–Portugal flights and ship transfers (approx. 2 hours 40 minutes flight time each way)
• guided land tours
• onboard dining (from embarkation day dinner to final day breakfast)
• special onboard events (including Welcome Dinner)
• 24-hour complimentary Coffee Station
• complimentary Wi-Fi internet access
• port charges and airport taxes
• checked luggage

The Riviera Travel Douro cruise itinerary includes:

• 7-night Douro Valley voyage featuring scenic landscapes, medieval towns and villages, terraced vineyards, river locks, and a visit to Salamanca, Spain.
• Ports of call: Vila Nova de Gaia, Entre-os-Rios, Regua (Mateus Palace, Castelo de Lamego), Pinhao, Vega de Terron (Castelo Rodrigo, overland tour to Salamanca), Barca de Alva, and return to Oporto.
• guided Porto city tour with a visit to Port wine cellars
• full-day guided excursion to Salamanca with included city tour and flamenco show
• guided tours to Castelo Rodrigo and Mateus Palace and gardens
• guided visit to Lamego and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies
• traditional Portuguese Quinta (farmhouse) dinner experience
• onboard entertainment, including flamenco music and dance performances

Note: You can view CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the “Itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all cruise companies and their fleets are listed.