Riviera Travel on the Douro at a glance
Riviera Travel currently operates 3 river-cruise vessels on the Douro, with an average passenger count of 128. The line is headquartered in Burton-on-Trent, England and was founded in 1984; Riviera Travel is the largest UK-based river cruise operator. Its fleet of literary-named vessels — Lord Byron, Robert Burns, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and others — is known for guaranteed solo cabins (with no single supplement) on every sailing, included gratuities, and itinerary lengths from five to fifteen nights.
The Douro itself flows through Spain, Portugal over 897 kilometres. The Douro is one of the most spectacular river-cruise routes in Europe — a deeply terraced wine valley cultivated since the seventeenth century and itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ships sail upriver from Porto through five locks, including the cathedral-like Carrapatelo with its 35-metre lift. Headline destinations served by Riviera Travel on this river include Porto, the Alto Douro wine region, Salamanca, Régua, Pinhão.
Riviera Travel ships sailing the Douro
| Ship | Passengers | Launched |
|---|---|---|
| MS Douro Elegance | 128 | 2017 |
| MS Douro Serenity | 128 | 2014 |
| MS Douro Splendour | 128 | 2019 |
Featured itineraries
| Itinerary | Length | Sample ports |
|---|---|---|
| Portuguese Vintage | 8 nights | Porto · Régua · Pinhão · Vega de Terron · Salamanca · Barca d'Alva |
| Douro Wine Country | 8 nights | Porto · Entre-os-Rios · Régua · Pinhão · Pocinho · Salamanca |