Tauck is to offer its first-ever cruises on the Douro in 2020 aboard a new ship.

The ms Andorinha, to launch in spring 2020, will accommodate 84 guests.

Itineraries will include 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, with four departures slated for late June/early July 2020.

Details and pricing will be announced later this year.

Tauck CEO Dan Mahar said: “At Tauck, we measure success by the quality of the experience we provide our guests, and one of the best ways to ensure a warm, relaxing and engaging atmosphere on board is to avoid crowding too many guests into a limited space.

“The Douro is a very different river, and so we’ve been consciously deliberate with the ship’s design.

“We won’t be the first company to operate on the Douro when we launch next year, but in terms of infrastructure, we’re excited to have some surprises in store that will truly differentiate us.”