Stepping aboard the Riviera Rose, the newest ship from Riviera Travel sailing the Douro River, I was struck by how bright and open it felt. Natural light flooded the space as if it was an extension of the sunny city of Porto that was just outside.
That was exactly what Riviera was going for.
The U.K.-based river cruise line, which is expanding operations to reach more cruisers in North America, debuted a split-level design with the Rose. This new layout, also featured on the Riviera Radiance on the Danube, was inspired by trends in the hotel industry, with designers wanting to create an airy environment that offers a relaxing atmosphere, according to Stuart Milan, the president of North America for Riviera Travel.
The layout certainly lends itself to that airy environment, with sunshine streaming in from a large skylight, illuminating the dining room. The result is a space that exudes brightness and openness, making the ship feel expansive.
Riviera Travel's Riviera Rose on the Douro River. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman
Designed for the Douro
River cruise ships are restricted in size, and that's especially true on the Douro, which has locks that require the size of ships to be smaller than those that sail other European rivers. It was these size limitations that spurred the Riviera team to take a creative approach in designing the vessel, Milan said.
Onboard the Rose, the wraparound lounge area offers views of the main dining room below; guests in the lounge can read a book from the small library, play a board game or enjoy a drink from the bar. This panoramic lounge, Milan said, "creates a cohesive onboard experience" between the two venues, a feature not present on other Riviera ships.
The ship's interior -- relaxed, welcoming and upscale -- is inspired by Portuguese design, Milan said, with subtle nods to the Douro Valley, such as through faux olive trees that remind passengers of the scenes floating by outside the ship. Design elements also pay homage to azulejo, a traditional Iberian tilework, he said.
Perhaps my favorite part of the ship was the top deck, with its small pool and lounge chairs. Passengers flocked to the deck during the day to bask in the sun and to enjoy the cool refuge of the river and returned in the evening to watch the sunset paint the sky.
The ship's design enables natural light from a skylight to illuminate the main deck and the deck below it. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman
A standout feature of the Rose is the Rio restaurant, a speciality dining venue that is reservation-only. Here, passengers are treated to a special menu for lunch and dinner that features Portuguese fare like the Porto-originated sandwich called francesinha or bife a portuguesa, a grilled steak topped with a fried egg.
I sailed the eight-day Highlights of the Douro Valley & Salamanca River Cruise itinerary, which included a visit to the 12th century village of Castelo Rodrigo; a daytrip to Salamanca, Spain; and a tour of Mateus Palace, a preserved manor featuring baroque architecture. We also visited some vineyards in the region; Quinta da Pacheca in Lamego was a personal favorite.
Throughout the sailing, we had ample opportunity to enjoy wine, including the port that Douro Valley vineyards are perhaps best known for. As we sipped, we learned about the importance of this type of agriculture to the region and the historical significance of the vineyards we visited.
The Highlights itinerary is priced at $2,949 per person, and there is also an 11-day Highlights of the Douro Valley & Salamanca with Lisbon Extension cruise priced at $3,918.