Tauck Planning Three Itineraries and a New Ship for Douro Debut

For its debut on the river, Tauck is launching three new itineraries on the Douro, all sailing on a new ship, in 2020.

The vessel, ms Andorinha, just had work on its hull completed at the Vahali Shipyard in Serbia and was transported to Hardinxveld in the Netherlands to get its final outfitting. It will sail 84 guests in 42 cabins, with 300-square-foot suites (12) and 225-square-foot staterooms (20). The rest of the staterooms will measure 200 square feet (six) and 150 square feet (four).

It will also feature two dining venues: Compass Rose restaurant and Arthur’s, which will serve more casual fare.

According to Tauck, the ship’s capacity, which could have reached 112, was limited purposely in order to ensure “the highest levels of care and service,” including the addition of more director-level staff, namely a Tauck Cruise Director and three Tauck Director guides.

The three sailings are:

• “Douro Discover: A Family River Cruise in Portugal” – a five-night sailing that begins in Lisbon and includes transfer to, and a two-night stay, at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. Guests get a tour of the Portuguese capital on guided excursions, including a visit to Portugal’s National Maritime Museum before heading onto the ship for an itinerary that includes a stop in Porto.
• “Villages & Vintages: Cruising the Douro River Valley” – an eight-day, adult-only, all-cruise itinerary that starts in Porto and takes guests to the medieval town of Guimaraes, Vila Nova de Gaia, Pinhao, and more.
• “Exploring the Douro, Plus Lisbon & Madrid” – the longest of the itineraries, this combines a two-night stay at the InterContinental in Lisbon with a 10-day sailing.

All sailings offer all-inclusive fares that include shore excursions, gratuities, drinks, transfers, and more.

Tauck said it is already experiencing “strong bookings across all three itineraries.”