MS Porto Mirante

The 2024-built MS Porto Mirante cruise ship operates on Douro River (in Portugal and Spain) and is seasonally chartered by the travel brands Riviera Travel UK/fleet and Phoenix Reisen Germany. Porto Mirante's sistership is Andorinha (2021).

Riviera Travel's other two Douro-deployed riverboats are Douro Elegance and Douro Splendour, both being seasonally chartered from Douro Azul (subsidiary and travel brand of Mystic Cruises)

Porto Mirante's shipowner is the Swiss company Scylla AG. This is Scylla's 40th riverboat.

The vessel (ENI number 03802791) is currently Portugal Madeira-flagged )MMSI 255915783) and registered in Funchal.

As of 2024, Riviera Travel's river cruises group 22 itineraries and several chartered ships sailing on 10 rivers and waterways in Europe

Decks and Cabins

MS Porto Mirante has a total of 60 passenger staterooms (for up to 120 tourists) spreading on 3 out of 4 decks.

Most cabins (all accommodations on decks Ruby and Diamond) have wall-to-wall and floor-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a railing (French Balcony). The only exceptions are Emerald Deck cabins, which have one fixed window (non-opening, quarter-height) located close to the ceiling.

Passenger staterooms are equally sized (16 m2/170 ft2) and as standard/complimentary amenities provide hotel twin beds (lower single beds convertible to a double Queen-size bed), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, towels, large mirror, bath toiletries/shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, soap, shower gel), 40-inch HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system, bow camera real-time views), radio, phone, mini-bar/fridge, tea/coffee making facility (Nespresso coffee machine), glass-top round table with 2 armchairs, mirrored dressing table/writing desk with armchair, wardrobe, electronic safe box, hairdryer, individual air-conditioning, evening turndown service, daily newspaper.

All cabin bathrooms have marble tops, walk-in glass showers (large rain shower heads) and brand bath cosmetics (by Crabtree and Evelyn).

Some staterooms are available for single occupancy booking (without a single supplement, subject to availability).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The riverboat Porto Mirante features an elegant Lobby (entrance hall on Diamond/Upper Deck) served by the Atrium Bar and housing the Reception Desk (24-hour assistance, information, purser services), Travel Desk (tours and excursions information, onboard cruise booking) and the Gift Shop (selling hand-made souvenirs). From the entrance hall (lobby area) passengers walk into Panorama Lounge & Bar (floor-to-ceiling/wall-to-wall windows, comfortable seating, full-service Bar, SkyLight/glass roof) and bow-facing Lido Terrace (with small outdoor seating).

At the Panorama Lounge is provided live entertainment in the evenings (dance and music).

Forward on Ruby Deck is the complimentary Panorama Restaurant (Dining Room with single-seating capacity) and the adjacent Galley (kitchen and storage rooms for food and beverages). The Restaurant offers buffet-style Breakfast while Lunches and Dinners are waiter-served and with two four-course dinner menus. The menus are rotated seasonally and feature international as well as traditional Portuguese food specialties and regional wines. At both lunch and dinner are served complimentary wines by the glass, including local/Portuguese house wines. At the Restaurant are also provided complimentary beverages and light snacks (afternoon coffee/tea with pastries and midnight snacks).

On Emerald Deck/Lower Deck is the ship's Wellness Center consisting of a Fitness Room (small indoor gym). The ship has no Beauty Salon (hairdresser/barber) or Spa (treatment room for massages). Aft on Emerald Deck is the Engine Room as well as the staff and crew cabins.

On Sun Deck are located deck games area (Giant Chess Set), shaded seating areas (covered by retractable awnings and surrounded by a Walking Track), midship Pool Deck (Splash Pool, sunbathing area with loungers and deckchairs), aft-located Skylounge/Restaurant (with full bar service). The fore-located Navigation Bridge (called "Wheelhouse" on riverboats) is passenger accessible and telescopic (lowered when the ship passes under low bridges).

The indoor Skylounge/Restaurant provides scenic top-deck views (from floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows) and has an adjacent outdoor terrace for alfresco dining.

Sun Deck's SkyLight (glass roof) partially covers the Panorama Lounge on Dimond Deck (below) allowing natural into the ship's interior.

Laundry service is provided at an extra charge.

One lift (passenger elevator) connects all cabin decks.

All decks are interconnected via indoor stairs (forward and aft), including a grand staircase in the Lobby/Atrium.

Three pairs of outdoor stairs (forward, midship, and aft) connect floors 3 and 4 (Diamond Deck with Sun Deck).

The Sun Deck can be accessed only by stairs.

Itineraries

Riviera Travel officially announced its third and newest Douro River boat (Porto Mirante) on July 19, 2023, and scheduled for the ship a total of 10 departures (Oporto roundtrips) for 2024, between July and October.

For Riviera Travel, Porto Mirante has scheduled the 8-day "Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca" itinerary roundtrip from Porto. When bookings were opened in October 2023, the cruisetour's prices started from GBP 2050 (EUR 2340/USD 2550) per person with double occupancy.

• During the overnight Stay in Oporto City (DAYS 1-2) is offered a guided tour of the Old Town (Cidade Antiga) and a visit to the winery Quinta da Pacheca (dinner and wine tasting).
• On DAY 3 is visited Barca d'Alva for a tour to Castelo Rodrigo (a walled 12th-century village).
• On DAY 4 is visited Vega de Terron (for a bus tour to Salamanca Spain).
• On DAY 5 is visited Pinhao (for a tour to the winery Enoteca da Quinta da Avessada (wine tasting event).
• On DAY 6 is visited Regua for a tour to Lamego and Palacio de Mateus (Palace Gardens).
• On DAY 7 is visited Cais da Lixa (Covelo) for a tour to either Vila Nova de Gaia or Guimaraes.
• On DAY 8 the river cruise ends in Leverinho, from where tourists are transferred via buses to Oporto.

Riviera Travel's Douro cruise prices are inclusive of two international flights (between England UK and Portugal/Oporto) and land transfers, as well as of the company's Superior beverage package (unlimited drinks package worth GBP 400 pp per week on all other Rivera Travel river cruises in Europe), all shipboard amenities and services (accommodation, meals, Wi-Fi, premium tea and coffee, Cruise Director's assistance, enrichment programming, live entertainment), 7 land tours. Flight departures from England are offered from Leeds Bradford Airport (Yeadon), Liverpool, London (Gatwick, Luton, Stansted), and Manchester.

3-night shore extensions are also available on the Douro sailing as well as on the Danube and a springtime cruise ending in Amsterdam.

Phoenix Reisen's Porto Mirante itinerary starts with an overnight in Oporto (DAYS 1-2) and visits Regua (DAYS 2-3/overnight), Vega de Terron/Salamanca (DAYS 3-4/overnight), Pocinho (DAYS 4-5/overnight), Pinhao (DAYS 5-6/overnight), Regua (DAYS 6-7/overnight) and Leverinho (DAYS 7-8/overnight).