MS Riviera Rose

The 2025-built MS Riviera Rose cruise ship operates on the Douro River (in Portugal and Spain) and is seasonally chartered by the travel brand Riviera Travel UK/fleet. Riviera Rose's sisterships are Andorinha (2021) and Porto Mirante (2024).

Riviera Travel's other two Douro-deployed riverboats are Douro Elegance and Douro Splendour, both seasonally chartered from Douro Azul (subsidiary and travel brand of Mystic Cruises).

Riviera Rose's shipowner is the Swiss company Scylla AG.

The vessel (ENI number 03802836) is currently Portugal Madeira-flagged (MMSI 255916033) and registered in Funchal.

As of 2024, Riviera Travel’s river cruise program includes 22 itineraries and several chartered ships sailing on 10 rivers and waterways across Europe.

Decks and Cabins

MS Riviera Rose has a total of 57 passenger staterooms (for up to 114 guests) located on 3 of 4 decks.

Most accommodations (Ruby and Diamond decks) feature wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a railing (French Balcony). The only exceptions are the Emerald Deck cabins, which have one fixed, non-opening quarter-height window positioned near the ceiling.

Except for the four Deluxe Balcony Suites (24 m2 / 260 ft2) on the Upper/Emerald Deck (Deck 3), all other passenger staterooms are equally sized at 16 m2 / 170 ft2 and offer standard/complimentary amenities including hotel twin beds (lower single beds convertible to a Queen-size bed), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, towels, large mirror, toiletries/shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, soap, shower gel), 40-inch HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system, bow-camera views), radio, phone, mini-bar/fridge, tea/coffee facilities (Nespresso machine), glass-top round table with two armchairs, mirrored dressing table/writing desk with armchair, wardrobe, electronic safe, hairdryer, individually controlled air-conditioning, evening turndown service, and a daily newspaper.

All cabin bathrooms have marble countertops, walk-in glass showers with large rain showerheads, and branded bath amenities (Crabtree & Evelyn).

Some staterooms are available for single occupancy (without a single supplement), subject to availability.

Deluxe Balcony Suites feature the so-called “Twin Balconies.” Each suite offers a full-size open-air balcony separated from the lounge area by floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. Bathrooms include a separate WC and shower (no bathtub) and a double-sink vanity.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

The riverboat features an elegant Lobby (entrance hall on Diamond/Upper Deck) served by the Atrium Bar and housing the Reception Desk (24-hour assistance, information, purser services), Travel Desk (excursion information and onboard booking), and Gift Shop (selling hand-made souvenirs). From the lobby, passengers enter the Atrium Lounge & Bar, which offers floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows, comfortable seating, a full-service Bar, a SkyLight/glass roof, and a Coffee Station, along with access to the bow-facing Lido Terrace with small outdoor seating.

The Atrium Lounge & Bar provides nightly live entertainment (music and dance).

Forward on Ruby Deck is the complimentary Riviera Restaurant (Dining Room with single-seating capacity), adjacent to the Galley (kitchen and food/beverage storage). The Restaurant offers buffet-style breakfast, while lunch and dinner are waiter-served with two rotating four-course dinner menus. Menus feature international cuisine and traditional Portuguese specialties with regional wines. Complimentary wines by the glass—including Portuguese house wines—are served at lunch and dinner. Complimentary beverages and light snacks (afternoon tea/coffee with pastries, midnight snacks) are also available.

On Emerald/Lower Deck is the ship’s Wellness Center, consisting of a small Fitness Room (indoor gym). The ship has no Beauty Salon or Spa. Aft on Emerald Deck are the Engine Room and staff/crew cabins.

The Sun Deck features a deck games area (Giant Chess Set), shaded seating (under retractable awnings) surrounded by a Walking Track, a midship Pool Deck (Splash Pool, sun loungers, deckchairs), and the aft Rio Restaurant with a full Bar. The forward Navigation Bridge (Wheelhouse) is passenger-accessible and telescopic (lowered for passing under low bridges).

The aft Sky Lounge (Deck 3 aft) is an indoor venue offering panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows. Stairs from the Sky Lounge lead to the Rio Restaurant (Deck 4 aft), which provides full bar service and an alfresco dining terrace.

The Sun Deck’s SkyLight is a glass roof that partially covers the Atrium Lounge (on Diamond Deck below) and allows natural light into the interior.

Laundry service is available at an extra charge.

One passenger lift (elevator) connects all cabin decks.

All decks are interconnected via indoor stairs (forward and aft), including a grand staircase in the Lobby/Atrium.

Three pairs of outdoor stairs (forward, midship, and aft) connect Decks 3 and 4 (Diamond Deck with Sun Deck).

The Sun Deck is accessible only by stairs.

Itineraries

Riviera Travel officially launched its newest Douro River ship, Riviera Rose, on April 17th, 2025.

For Riviera Travel, Riviera Rose operates the regularly scheduled 7-night/8-day “Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca River Cruise,” departing roundtrip from Oporto. When bookings opened in October 2023, prices started from GBP 2050 (EUR 2340 / USD 2550) per person, based on double occupancy.

• During the overnight stay in Oporto (Days 1–2), guests enjoy a guided tour of the Old Town (Cidade Antiga) and a visit to the winery Quinta da Pacheca (dinner and wine tasting).
• On Day 3, the ship calls at Barca d'Alva for a tour of Castelo Rodrigo (a walled 12th-century village).
• On Day 4, the call at Vega de Terron includes a bus excursion to Salamanca, Spain.
• On Day 5, the stop at Pinhao offers a visit to Enoteca da Quinta da Avessada (wine tasting event).
• On Day 6, the call at Regua includes a tour to Lamego and the Palacio de Mateus (Palace Gardens).
• On Day 7, the visit to Cais da Lixa (Covelo) provides excursions to either Vila Nova de Gaia or Guimaraes.
• On Day 8, the river cruise ends in Leverinho, with passengers transferred by bus to Oporto.

Riviera Travel’s Douro cruise fares include two international flights (between the UK and Portugal/Oporto) and land transfers, as well as the company’s Superior beverage package (an unlimited drinks package worth GBP 400 pp per week on other Riviera Travel river cruises in Europe), all shipboard amenities and services (accommodation, meals, Wi-Fi, premium tea and coffee, Cruise Director assistance, enrichment programs, live entertainment), and seven land tours. Flight departures from England are available from Leeds Bradford Airport (Yeadon), Liverpool, London (Gatwick, Luton, Stansted), and Manchester.

Riviera Travel’s Douro cruisetour extension is the 10-night/11-day “Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca with Lisbon Extension.” The 3-night land extension begins in Lisbon after the Douro sailing. In addition to touring Portugal’s capital, the extension includes visits to Coimbra, Fatima, and Sintra.

The vessel’s construction (hull and superstructure, ENI number 03802836) was carried out at the Kladovo Shipyard in Kladovo (Borski, Serbia). After construction in Serbia, the cruise ship was towed to the Netherlands for final outfitting at Den Breejen Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam.

The hull was transported from Serbia to the Netherlands for outfitting during October–November 2024.