Accommodations
On board MS Douro Splendour, your cabin is far more than simply a place to sleep. It’s a calm, comfortable retreat where you can relax and unwind between days spent exploring the Douro Valley. Riviera Travel has designed the accommodation with both practicality and indulgence in mind, creating bright, airy spaces with modern finishes, excellent amenities and those all-important river views. Whether you’re waking up to terraced vineyards or returning after dinner to a beautifully prepared room, you’ll appreciate the thoughtful touches that make every stay feel effortless.
The Standard Cabins offer a beautifully balanced combination of comfort, style and river-facing views. Designed to feel light and contemporary, each cabin is perfectly suited to relaxing after a day ashore. The bed configuration can be set up as twins or a double, and with individual climate control, you can tailor the temperature to your preference at any time of day. The ensuite bathroom features a modern walk-in shower and comes complete with towels, bathrobes and a hairdryer, creating a real boutique-hotel feel. You’ll also find a selection of luxury toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion and soap. A desk and chair provide a handy spot for reading, journalling, or writing postcards, while the safe and mini fridge help keep essentials close to hand. The cabin also includes EU plug sockets, plus a telephone, radio and flat-screen TV for convenience and entertainment. Best of all, the floor-to-ceiling windows with a Juliet-style balcony allow you to enjoy fresh air and uninterrupted views. It's the perfect spot for watching the Douro drift by from the privacy of your own cabin.
For guests who love a slightly different perspective on river cruising, the Stern Standard Cabins are located towards the rear of the ship, offering the chance to watch the Douro slip away behind you as the ship sails on. These cabins offer the same excellent comfort and amenities as the standard cabins, with a layout designed for relaxation and ease.
If you’re looking for a little more space and the luxury of stepping outside to enjoy the views, the Superior Balcony Suites offer a superb upgrade. These suites feel airy and refined, with additional room to relax, and a private balcony that lets you enjoy the Douro’s landscape in a more personal way. As well as climate control and twin beds that can be configured as a double, you’ll enjoy an elegant seating area with a table and chairs, ideal for enjoying a morning coffee, reading in the afternoon, or simply watching the river traffic drift past. The ensuite bathroom features a walk-in shower and includes towels, bathrobes, a hairdryer, and an elevated range of luxury toiletries. With a safe, a mini fridge, tea and coffee-making facilities, EU plug sockets, and in-room entertainment (telephone, radio, and flat-screen TV), everything you need is on hand. The real highlight, however, is the outside balcony, which creates a lovely extension of your suite. It’s perfect for those who like to savour the scenery in peace. Turndown service each evening adds a final touch of comfort.
For the ultimate in Douro river cruise indulgence, the Deluxe Balcony Suites provide the most spacious and luxurious accommodation on board. Designed for guests who appreciate extra comfort and a more elevated experience, these suites offer a beautifully relaxing atmosphere, extra room to stretch out, and the same attentive service that Riviera Travel is known for. You’ll enjoy the benefits of climate control, a flexible bed arrangement, and a stylish en suite bathroom with a walk-in shower, along with towels, bathrobes, a hairdryer, and luxury toiletries. The addition of a table and chairs creates a lovely area for unwinding, perhaps with a cup of tea in the afternoon or a pre-dinner drink as you prepare for the evening. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside in, while the outside balcony allows you to fully immerse yourself in the Douro’s landscapes whenever you like. With tea and coffee facilities, EU sockets, a safe and mini fridge, telephone, radio and flat-screen TV, it’s a suite designed to make river cruising feel truly effortless. And with turndown service each evening, you’ll return to a calm, beautifully prepared space at the end of every day.
Activities
One of the joys of cruising the Douro with Riviera Travel is the way each day is thoughtfully shaped to bring the region to life. On board MS Douro Splendour, your time is enriched not only by the incredible landscapes outside, but by a programme of excursions and onboard experiences designed to deepen your understanding of the places you visit. Whether you prefer guided exploration or independent discovery, there are opportunities throughout the cruise to tailor your days to your interests and pace.
Shore excursions play a key role in the Riviera experience, offering carefully curated visits to historic towns, cultural landmarks and scenic viewpoints. For guests who enjoy exploring independently, bicycles are available for self-guided rides in towns and cities, allowing you to cycle at your own pace and stop wherever you like.
Back on board, Riviera occasionally enhances the journey with enrichment lectures and media presentations related to the destinations. These offer fascinating insights into the Douro’s history, traditions and winemaking heritage, adding depth to what you see ashore and helping you feel more connected to the landscapes you’re travelling through.
Entertainment
Evenings on MS Douro Splendour are all about understated elegance and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Entertainment is designed to complement the calm rhythm of river cruising. Expect evenings where conversation flows easily, music creates a gentle ambience, and the ever-changing scenery remains part of the experience. Whether you enjoy a quiet nightcap, a glass of local wine, or a turn on the dance floor, there’s a warm and convivial feel that makes every evening special.
The Bar on the Upper Deck is considered to be the heart of the ship, and it’s easy to see why. This welcoming space combines a relaxed social atmosphere with magnificent panoramic windows, offering front-row seats to the Douro as it slips effortlessly by. The bar is well stocked and staffed by friendly professionals who take genuine delight in helping you sample local wines or preparing whatever takes your fancy, whether that’s a classic cocktail, a refreshing spritz or a cosy after-dinner digestif. As evening falls, the lighting softens, and the mood becomes even more inviting. You might settle in with a drink and enjoy the gentle rhythm of river life, or perhaps take to the dance floor while the resident musician sets the tone with soothing melodies. It’s the kind of place that encourages you to linger and perfectly captures how effortlessly relaxing river cruising can be.
Food & Drink
Dining on board MS Douro Splendour is one of the great pleasures of the cruise, blending Riviera Travel’s excellent service with beautifully prepared cuisine and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere. Meals are designed to feel unhurried and enjoyable, with plenty of variety throughout your journey. Whether you’re starting the day with a leisurely breakfast, enjoying lunch between excursions, or settling in for dinner as the scenery drifts past the windows, dining becomes an experience in its own right.
Dining is centred around the ship’s Main Restaurant, where guests enjoy a full board experience with breakfast, lunch and dinner included. The restaurant is located on the Main Deck, and each day begins with a generous hot and cold buffet breakfast, including a standout omelette station so your eggs can be cooked exactly as you like them. For early risers, a lighter breakfast is also available in the lounge, which is perfect if you’re keen to get going.
Lunch offers another delicious selection, with soups and main dishes, as well as salads for those who prefer something simple. You can also opt for a lighter and more informal lunch, either in the lounge or up on the Sun Deck when the weather allows, which is a particularly lovely way to dine while watching the Douro glide by.
Dinner is the culinary highlight of the day. A superb four-course meal, served at your table by highly trained staff who are attentive and always ready to help. It’s a refined dining experience that feels both relaxed and special, and a wonderful way to end each day on the river.
Relaxation & Fitness
After a day spent exploring vineyard-covered hillsides and historic riverside towns, MS Douro Splendour offers plenty of ways to slow down and recharge. Life on board is designed to feel calm and restorative, with inviting spaces to relax in the sunshine, enjoy a touch of pampering, or simply watch the river world drift by. For those who like to stay active, there are also fitness facilities on board, though many guests find that excursions and scenic walks already provide a good amount of exercise.
The ship’s Spa on the Main Deck is a welcoming retreat where you can truly unwind. Whether you fancy a soothing treatment after a day ashore or simply want a little extra indulgence during your cruise, it’s the perfect place to switch off and let the stresses of everyday life melt away.
Up on the Sun Deck, relaxation becomes part of the scenery. Here you can enjoy a dip in the small outdoor pool, settle into a lounger with a refreshing drink from the deck bar, and get lost in a good book while you catch a few rays. With the Douro Valley as your backdrop, it’s hard to imagine a more peaceful way to spend an afternoon.
For guests who enjoy maintaining a light routine while away, the Fitness Centre on the Lower Deck offers a small yet practical workout space. It’s ideal for a gentle session, perhaps a morning workout before breakfast or a stretch at the end of the day, helping you stay energised as you cruise through one of Europe’s most beautiful river landscapes.
MS Douro Splendour destinations
Cruising the Douro River is one of Europe’s most scenic journeys, offering an unforgettable way to experience northern Portugal. With terraced vineyards, traditional quintas and charming riverside towns, the Douro Valley feels both timeless and beautifully authentic. MS Douro Splendour is purpose-built to fit the unique size limitations of the Douro’s five locks, allowing her to navigate the river comfortably while still offering a spacious, five-star onboard experience. The Douro is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, world-class wine and gentle pace of life. Expect golden hillsides, sweeping vineyard views and opportunities to sample local flavours in the very region where Port wine was born. From historic towns to peaceful countryside, every bend of the river reveals something new and enjoying it from the comfort of MS Douro Splendour makes the journey feel all the more special.
