Accommodations
After a day spent exploring charming riverside towns and vineyard-covered hillsides, returning to your cabin on MS Douro Elegance feels like a real treat. Cabins and suites are bright and welcoming, with elegant décor, practical comforts and those all-important river views to keep you connected to the landscape.
Ideal for guests who love a bright, airy space, the Standard Cabins are tastefully furnished and feature thoughtful amenities. You’ll have individual climate control so your room is always the perfect temperature, along with twin beds that can be converted into a double, giving you flexibility whether you’re travelling as a couple, on your own, or with a friend. The en-suite bathroom includes a walk-in shower and comes complete with towels, bathrobes, slippers and a hairdryer, so you can travel light and still feel pampered. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide sweeping views of the Douro, and the Juliet-style balcony lets you enjoy fresh air and scenery from the comfort of your cabin. There’s also a desk and chair for quiet moments, plus a safe and mini fridge to keep essentials close at hand. You’ll find tea and coffee-making facilities, luxury toiletries, EU plug sockets, and in-room entertainment including a telephone, radio and flat-screen TV. Each evening, enjoy the indulgence of turndown service, returning from dinner to a calm and inviting space.
For a slightly different perspective of the river, the Stern Cabins offer a wonderful vantage point from the rear of the ship. These cabins include all the comforts you’d expect, such as individual climate control, flexible twin-to-double beds, and a smart ensuite with a walk-in shower, plush towels, bathrobes, slippers, and a hairdryer. The standout feature here is the French-style balcony, which lets you open the cabin to the outside world and fully immerse yourself in the fresh Portuguese air. With a safe, mini fridge, EU sockets, tea and coffee facilities, toiletries, and a flat-screen TV, you’ll have everything you need for a restful stay. The calm evening routine continues with a turndown service, creating the perfect end to each day on the river.
If you’d like a little more space to spread out, the Superior Suites provide an upgraded feel with a more generous layout and enhanced comfort. These suites offer the same excellent features as the cabins - including climate control, convertible beds, and a sleek ensuite with a walk-in shower - but with the added benefit of a table and chairs, ideal for enjoying morning coffee while watching the scenery glide by. Large floor-to-ceiling windows and a Juliet-style balcony keep the views front and centre, while thoughtful additions such as a mini fridge, safe, luxury toiletries, and turndown service make your suite feel truly special. It’s a perfect choice for guests who want a little extra room without going all-out.
For the ultimate river cruise indulgence, the Deluxe Suites are the most spacious and refined accommodation on board. These suites are designed for guests who enjoy a touch of luxury, with an inviting seating area, generous storage and a calm, elegant atmosphere. You’ll find climate control, convertible beds and a high-quality en-suite bathroom, alongside all the little details that elevate the experience, from bathrobes and slippers to luxury toiletries and attentive evening turndown service. With floor-to-ceiling windows and a Juliet-style balcony, the river becomes your constant companion, whether you’re waking up to a golden sunrise over the Douro vineyards or winding down as the ship sails into the evening.
Activities
A cruise with Riviera Travel is designed to be far more than simply watching the scenery pass by, although that alone is a pure joy. Life on board MS Douro Elegance is enriched with opportunities to connect with the region, learn more about the places you’ll visit, and enjoy each destination in a deeper, more meaningful way. Whether you prefer gentle exploration at your own pace or enjoy adding a touch of cultural insight to your journey, there’s always something to enhance your day. Shore excursions form the heart of the Riviera Travel experience, offering carefully curated opportunities to discover the Douro’s historic towns, scenic viewpoints and local traditions. On some sailings, a select number of bicycles may be available for self-guided adventures, ideal for pottering along riverside promenades or cycling into town to soak up the atmosphere independently. On board, the enrichment continues with occasional lectures and media presentations linked to the destinations you visit, giving you a deeper appreciation of the landscapes, history and culture you’re sailing through.
Entertainment
Evenings on board MS Douro Elegance have a wonderfully intimate and unhurried feel, which is the perfect match for river cruising. As daylight fades and the ship is beautifully lit, the atmosphere becomes cosy and convivial. Entertainment is understated yet elegant, focused on creating relaxed moments to enjoy with fellow travellers. Whether you’re chatting over a drink, listening to live music, or simply gazing out across the moonlit river, nights on board are every bit as memorable as the days.
The Lounge and Bar is very much the social heart of the ship, with its welcoming ambience and panoramic windows framing those ever-changing river views. During the day, it’s an ideal spot to unwind with a coffee or watch the landscape drift by, while in the evening it transforms into the perfect place to relax after dinner. The well-stocked bar is staffed by friendly professionals who take genuine pride in offering excellent service, whether you fancy sampling a glass of local Portuguese wine, enjoying a classic cocktail, or trying something new. There’s also a small dance floor, and on many evenings you’ll be able to sway to the soothing sounds of the resident musician, creating a lovely, laid-back atmosphere. Round off the night with a digestif, good conversation, and soak up the warm feeling that makes river cruising so special.
Food & Drink
Dining is a true highlight of the cruise experience, bringing together Riviera Travel’s reputation for exceptional service with carefully crafted menus and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Meals are unhurried and beautifully presented, with plenty of variety throughout your journey. Expect fresh ingredients, thoughtful flavours and subtle nods to the region you’re sailing through.
At the heart of dining on board is the ship’s stylish Main Restaurant. The setting is elegant yet inviting, creating the perfect balance between refinement and comfort, and Riviera’s much-loved open dining policy adds to the relaxed feel. This means you’re free to sit wherever you like, with whomever you choose, making it ideal for couples, friends and solo travellers alike. Each day begins with a generous hot-and-cold buffet breakfast, featuring all the favourites you’d expect, plus a standout omelette station where your eggs are prepared exactly as you like them. If you’re up early to make the most of a day ashore, you’ll also find a lighter breakfast option available in the lounge, which is perfect for a quick bite before heading out.
At lunchtime, you can enjoy a combination of soups and main dishes, alongside a tempting selection of starters, salads and desserts from the buffet. And for something a little more relaxed, there’s the option of a lighter lunch in the lounge or, when the weather allows, dining alfresco up on the Sun Deck.
In the evening, dining becomes a true occasion. Dinner is served as a superb four-course meal, expertly prepared and delivered with the kind of polished service Riviera is known for. Menus feature a blend of Portuguese, Mediterranean and international cuisine, offering plenty of choice while showcasing local influence along the way. With panoramic windows framing the Douro Valley as you dine, it’s an experience that feels every bit as memorable as the destinations themselves.
Relaxation & Fitness
After a day of exploring historic cities, vineyard-covered hillside and riverside villages, MS Douro Elegance offers the perfect spaces to unwind. Whether your idea of relaxation is a soothing spa treatment, a peaceful moment with a view, or simply dipping into the pool on a sunny afternoon, you’ll find the ship designed for easy comfort. For those who like to stay active, there are also options to keep your routine going while still enjoying the slower pace of river cruising.
The ship’s Spa on the Middle Deck is a welcoming retreat where you can truly switch off. Treat yourself to a massage, unwind with a little pampering at the hairdressing salon, or opt for a manicure or pedicure before an evening on board. Up on the Sun Deck, relaxation takes on a more scenic form. Here you can stretch out on a lounger, sip a refreshing drink, and watch the Douro Valley glide by. The outdoor pool is perfect for a paddle on warm days or simply cooling off by dipping your toes in while soaking up the sunshine.
If you’d like to keep moving, the Fitness Centre on the Lower Deck offers a small but practical workout space. It’s ideal for a light session, whether you prefer a gentle cardio workout in the morning or a quick exercise routine before dinner. It has everything you need to stay energised, particularly when paired with the active nature of many shore excursions and walks in port.
MS Douro Elegance destinations
Sailing the Douro River is one of Europe’s most scenic river cruise experiences, offering a wonderfully immersive way to explore northern Portugal. The Douro Valley is famed for its terraced vineyards, traditional quintas and charming riverside towns, and cruising here feels beautifully unhurried. It’s a journey where the landscape takes centre stage. From the historic city of Porto to the tranquil countryside that defines this UNESCO-listed wine region, each bend of the river reveals something new, and the gentle pace makes it a particularly rewarding destination.
The Douro is synonymous with world-class wine, dramatic scenery and timeless Portuguese culture. Expect postcard-perfect views of rolling hills, olive groves and vine-covered slopes, along with opportunities to sample Port in its birthplace and explore local towns rich in history and character. It’s a destination that feels both authentic and effortlessly beautiful, made all the more memorable when experienced from the comfort of MS Douro Elegance.
