Tauck has revealed design and décor details of its new ms Andorinha riverboat as the ship undergoes sea trials in the Netherlands. The Andorinha will officially launch next March and sail on three new itineraries along Portugal's Douro river.
Among the highlights will be the ship’s Sun Deck, which will have canopied Balinese day beds and an infinity-style pool that's five-times the size of the plunge pools on Tauck's other riverboats. In addition, the Sun Deck will have an outdoor grill to host casual barbecues along with a full-service bar. The most notable feature on the Andorinha's Sun Deck, however, will be a pop-up restaurant, Arthur’s, that rises from the stern of the ship on hydraulic lifts to become a fully functioning eatery with views of the surrounding countryside. The restaurant will offer a mix of steak house-style classics as well as a selection of regional fare in a more casual alternative to the Andorinha's main Compass Rose restaurant.
Arthur's will offer complimentary self-serve fruit, snacks and beverages, including cappuccino, latte, coffee and tea.
Inside the ship, a glass-ceilinged atrium will span both the Ruby and Diamond decks, allowing the Andorinha's lobby, reception area, main restaurant and lounge to receive natural light. Elsewhere, decorative tiles from the region will adorn various spaces within the ship, while local wines and culinary dishes will be available at dinners; ever luxury Portuguese soaps, shampoo, conditioner and lotion will be stocked in all cabins.
The Andorinha will accommodate just 84 Tauck guests in 42 cabins, including 12 300-square-foot suites on the upper Diamond Deck and 20 225-square-foot staterooms primarily on the vessel's Ruby or mid-level deck. The remaining accommodations (six 200-square-foot cabins and four 150-square-foot cabins) will be on the lower or Emerald Deck.
Tauck is offering three Douro River itineraries aboard the Andorinha in 2020: A 12-day journey that bookends a seven-night Douro cruise with two-night hotel stays in Lisbon and Madrid; an eight-day “cruise-only” itinerary along the river; and an eight-day Tauck Bridges cruise designed specifically for families. The Andorinha will be christened on March 31 in Porto and will welcome its first guests the first week of April. Like other Tauck riverboats, the Andorinha will be staffed by a Tauck cruise director and three Tauck director guides.
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