Tauck’s newest and first ship in the Douro River reveals her Portuguese inspired décor and touches as she counts down to her debut in the first week of April 2020.

The 84-guest ship is purpose-built for the Douro River and features touches that highlight Portuguese culture and traditions. From painted ceramic decorative tiles synonymous with the region adorning various spaces, local wines and culinary traditions served at dinners, to the luxury Portuguese soaps, shampoo, conditioner and lotion found in all cabins.

“Unlike other rivers, the Douro is closed to navigation at night, so all cruising is done during daylight hours,” said Dan Mahar Tauck CEO. “Also, the Douro has fewer towns and cities along its banks than other major rivers, so the landscapes are more pastoral and scenic. Finally, the Douro Valley is renowned for its beautiful warm and sunny weather,” Mahar noted.

“When you combine those three factors – extensive daytime cruising through gorgeous landscapes in wonderful weather – you have a unique opportunity to create a ship that really embraces the local climate and showcases the surrounding environment.”

A standout feature of the ship is the Sun Deck which has been designed and outfitted to serve as an ideal platform for taking in the passing landscapes of the Douro Valley. This includes the line’s first ship with a restaurant on the Sun Deck. The restaurant rises from the stern of the ship on hydraulic lifts to get the best views of the countryside.

The al fresco restaurant is named Arthur’s for Tauck chairman Arthur Tauck Jr., the restaurant will offer a mix of steakhouse-style classics as well as a selection of regional fare, and serve as a more casual alternative to the Andorinha’s main Compass Rose restaurant.

When approaching any particularly low bridges, Arthur’s will be briefly lowered to improve the Andorinha’s clearance and allow the ship to continue along on its voyage.

The ship is also set to keep guests cool in Douro’s sunny weather with UV-reflecting windows that lets in abundant natural light while also blocking out 82% of the sun’s warmth along with cooling air conditioning systems.

Tauck is offering three Douro River itineraries aboard the Andorinha in 2020. A 12-day journey that bookends a seven-night Douro cruise from Lisbon to Guimaraes with two-night hotel stays in Lisbon and Madrid. Prices from $8,650.

The second is an eight-day “cruise-only” Porto to Pinhao itinerary along the river from $5,590.

They also have a eight-day Madrid to Coimbra Tauck Bridges cruise designed specifically for families with prices from $5,720.