The rose of the Riviera, The latest ship for traveling to Riviera I was shocked by sailing along the Douro River. Natural light floods the space, as if it is an extension of the sunny Porto.
This is exactly what the Riviera aims to do.
The UK-based River Cruise Company is expanding its operations to attract more cruisers in North America and debuting a grading design with the Rose. Stuart Milan, president of Riviera Travel North America, said the new layout was also inspired by Danube’s Riviera Radiance, inspired by trends in the hotel industry, and designers want to create a ventilated environment that provides a relaxing atmosphere.
The layout will surely fit that airy environment, with sunlight pouring in from the large skylights and illuminating the restaurant. The result is a space that exudes brightness and openness, causing the ship to feel expanded.
Riviera Travel Riviera on the Douro River Rose. Image source: Brinley Hineman
Designed for Douro
The size of the river cruise ship is limited, especially in Douro, which requires only a smaller ship than the ships of other European rivers. It was these size limitations that prompted the Riviera team to take a creative approach to designing the vessels, Milan said.
On the rose board, the wraparound lounge offers views of the main dining room below; guests in the lounge can read a book from the small library, play board games or drink from the bar. Milan said the panoramic lounge said, “creating a cohesive on-board experience between the two venues”, a feature that does not exist on other Riviera boats.
Milan said the inside of the ship – relaxed, enthusiastic and upscale – was inspired by Portuguese design, with a subtle nod to the Douro Valley, such as through artificial olive trees, reminding passengers of the attractions outside the ship. He said the design elements also pay tribute to the traditional Iberian tiles Azulejo.
Perhaps my favorite boat is the top deck with a small pool and lounge chairs on it. Passengers flock to the deck during the day to bask in the sun, enjoy the cool shelter of the river, and return at night to watch the sunset sky.
The boat is designed to allow natural light to illuminate the main deck and the deck below from the skylight. Image source: Brinley Hineman
The outstanding feature of Rose is the Rio Restaurant, a professional dining place that is reserved only. Here, passengers can enjoy a special menu for lunch and dinner, which includes Portuguese fares such as porto's sandwiches called Francesinha or Bife a Bife a Portuguesa, which is a grilled steak with fried chicken on top.
I sailed the eight-day highlights of my cruise trip to the Douro Valley and the Salamanca River, which included a visit to the 12th-century village of Castelo Rodrigo; a day trip to Salamanca, Spain; and Mermaid Palace Tourwell-preserved manor with Baroque architecture. We also visited some of the vineyards in the area. Quinta da Pacheca It's a personal favorite in Lamego.
Throughout the voyage, we had plenty of opportunities to enjoy wine, including the Douro Valley Vineyards, perhaps the most famous port. As we drink, we learn about the importance of this agriculture to the region and the historical significance of the vineyards we visited.
Highlights itinerary costs $2,949 per person, with 11 days of highlights in the Douro Valley and Salamanca, and the Lisbon promotion cruise is priced at $3,918.
