After releasing the first exterior photos of its new ms Andorinha riverboat last November, Tauck has now unveiled the first images of the ship’s interiors.

The images reveal décor and design details influenced heavily by elements of Portuguese culture, befitting a ship that’s been purpose-built to sail exclusively along the Douro River.

“The Andorinha is a truly beautiful vessel,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar, “and I love the fact that – while she’s distinctly different from every other ship in our fleet – she’ll still be instantly recognizable as a Tauck riverboat to guests who’ve sailed with us before. We’ve successfully brought our intimate and casually elegant style of Tauck river cruising to the Douro,” Mahar concluded, “while still incorporating authentic local influences that truly inform and enhance the experience.

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A recurring design theme on the Andorinha is the traditional painted ceramic tiles, or azulejos, which were brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors and gained widespread popularity in Portugal during the 1500s. A second recurring theme aboard the Andorinha are grapevines, reflecting both Portugal’s 2,500 years of winemaking traditions and the continued influence of viniculture on Portuguese society today.

The Andorinha will accommodate just 84 Tauck guests, versus up to 112 passengers – or 33% more people – on other cruise lines’ Douro ships of the same approximate size. 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.