Riviera Rose Cruise: Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca

Riviera Rose Cruise: Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca Date: 30th September to 8th October 2025

This week I returned from our Riviera River Cruise along the Douro on board the New ship Riviera Rose, Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca Cruise along the River Douro.

I was lucky enough to experience my first river cruise with a lovely group of wonderful ladies, and we all said the same, This is one of Europe’s best kept secrets and how pleased we all are to have experienced it first hand.

The Riviera Rose is a beautiful ship to sail on, with its contemporary and spacious design, endless delicious food, wines and ports with first-class service from the moment you arrive to the moment you depart.

We sailed from the Roman Cosmopolitan city of Porto, the home of the best Port in the world and a beautiful range of Portuguese wines. Portugal’s once wild river Douro has now been tamed by the addition of the unforgeable locks. We went up five going up the river and down the five on the return, during which our amazing captain and his crew slowly navigated the way through, each one of which is so different in its own unique way.

Over the next week, we explored some amazing vineyards and sampled food. Ports and wines, visited Churches, medieval castles, beautiful blue tiled station’s sleepy villages, forts, unchanged for centuries, you can see and feel the history around you. A week of endless breathtaking scenery at every turn of our journey, with rolling hills and terraced vineyards that slope down the hills that form the stunning Douro Valley.

When travelling on your tour, you will see miles and miles of olive and almond trees along with vines, and picturesque, medieval hilltop villages. Crossing from Portugal to Spain to visit Salamanca, the home of one of Europe’s oldest universities, two of its finest cathedrals and Spain’s finest city square.

From the moment you arrive in Porto, the Staff and all the team are truly amazing, nothing was ever too much.

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MS Riviera Rose

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Built2025

Crew38

Cabins57

Passengers114

cruises

Cruise the Douro River on the brand-new, beautifully crafted MS Riviera Rose, a luxurious 80-metre-long boutique hotel. It’s the perfect place to unwind between onshore adventures.

MS Riviera Rose is a beautifully crafted ship with cabins and amenities spread over four decks. This brand-new, state-of-the-art ship has been built in collaboration with our long-standing shipping partners to provide a first-class service to every guest. Whether you are relaxing on the Sun Deck, enjoying a drink with your fellow travellers in the bar or curling up for a good night‘s sleep in your spacious and well-furnished cabin, everything has been meticulously designed for your comfort.

Our restaurant offers a relaxed fine dining experience with informal seating for easy conversation with brilliant, like-minded explorers. At the Rio restaurant, enjoy a more intimate dining experience and al fresco dining options.

Please note: Due to low bridges, lunch and dinner service is restricted as the restaurant collapses to allow the ship to navigate safely under the bridges. Please talk to your Cruise Director to make your reservation.

The spacious cabins are spread over 3 decks, with individually controlled air-conditioning, a contemporary bathroom with a rain shower and double or twin beds.

Designed with the very latest technology and our strong environmental values in mind, MS Riviera Rose is on track to qualify for the Gold Standard as part of the Green Award programme.

Facilities

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• Air-conditioning

• 2Restaurantst, one open on a couple of nights per week, need to pre book la carte Dining

• Atrium lounge & bar

• Sun deck with sun loungers

• Gift shop at the reception Desk

• Fitness centre at the back of the boat, lower deck

• Laundry service. Request at resection for prices

• Lift between Upper, Middle & Lower Decks, no lift to pool deck, only stairs

• Rio restaurant with al fresco dining, ng you can book to eat here in the evenings on set days of the week. Option needs to be pre-booked, and they have an open BBQ lunch in the week, weather permitting

• Swimming pool sun lounger,s chai, rs tab. They do have pool towels. The pool is shallow, so nice to get in and wale after a trip.

• Coffee Station and seating area at the back of the ship offers a range of coffee and teas

• Live music, piano singer in the bar in the evenings

Dining on board

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Onboard MS Rivera Rose, culinary delights await you at our two exquisite restaurants. In our main restaurant, begin your day with a sumptuous buffet breakfast, fuelling your adventures ahead. For lunch, enjoy the selection of sandwiches, burgers and pasta dishes. And a carefully crafted four-course à la carte dinner featuring familiar dishes as well as soon-to-be favourites inspired by the destinations you visit. Meanwhile, our speciality restaurant, Rio, invites you to experience the authentic flavours of Portugal -  fresh seafood buffet, salads, and local cheeses - available for lunch and dinner.

The Sun Deck

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Our open-air Sun Deck is the place for relaxation. It‘s home to a refreshing splash pool and a selection of comfortable chairs and sun loungers - both in and out of the shade. Here, you‘re sure to find the perfect spot to crack open that book you‘ve been meaning to read - perfectly paired with a cool glass of wine or beer from the sun deck bar, of course.

Please note: The Sun Deck is only accessible by stairs.

Info

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5 locks on the Douro

1200 eggs per week

300 towels per day

Toilet Rolls 250 per week

400 to 450 bottles of wine per week

Cost 120 million to build

If you would like more information and to book your River Cruise, please give me a call

Text, WhatsApp or Email

Speak soon

Debbie

#DebbieDesignerTravel