- The new MS Estrela has started its inaugural Douro River season.
- The ship features 60 staterooms and suites and has a pool on its top deck.
- The company also announced the launch of a second Douro River ship
Off the back of the christening of its newest ship, APT and Travelmarvel have announced plans to deploy a second ship on the Douro and outlining the company’s five-year growth plan.
APT’s UK and Europe Managing Director Paul Melinis told Cruise Trade News that the new ship launching in 2028 will be used by both Travelmarvel and APT.
“We’ve got lots of new ships coming, two more APT vessels later this year and a new Travelmarvel ship on the Rhine and Danube, and we’ll be building another Douro vessel to come in 2028, which is great,” he said.
“MS Estrela is a different proposition and a first of its kind, where we operate APT and Travelmarvel guests on the same vessel, giving APT guests more inclusions and Travelmarvel guests more freedom and options.”
The plan is the new 2028 Douro ship will be built for APT, the company’s luxury wing while Travelmarvel will operate the MS Estrela.
“When it comes to value it’s a great proposition, as Travelmarvel guests will be getting a five star luxury ship at Travelmarvel prices. There’s a huge opportunity there for our trade partners,” Melinis added.
“We’ve got really ambitious growth plans; we want to double the business within five years. As we go further into that journey it becomes more challenging, but we’ve done extremely well over the last three years.”
The christening of MS Estrela
The first sailing of the MS Estrela took off last week, after the official ceremony took place in Porto.
“It’s an incredible honour to be named Godmother of MS Estrela. I’ve long admired APT and Travelmarvel for their passion, innovation and the incredible experiences they create for travellers,” said Lucy Huxley, the ship’s Godmother.
Standing on the sun deck, champagne in hand, surrounded by the Douro’s beauty and such wonderful people from across our industry — it was genuinely emotional. This ship is something special, and I can’t wait to see the memories it helps create.”
Purpose-built for the region, MS Estrela features 60 spacious staterooms and suites, panoramic views, and relaxed European-inspired interiors. Onboard highlights include a sun deck with one of the largest pools on the Douro River, an alfresco bar, regional cuisine, and locally themed entertainment.
Following the ceremony, MS Estrela departed Porto and began her journey upriver to Régua.
“Lucy has long been a champion of travel, and we couldn’t be prouder to have her as the Godmother of MS Estrela,” said David Cox, CEO of APT Travel Group. “Her enthusiasm for the industry and genuine warmth reflect the spirit of this ship — one designed to bring people together and showcase the soul of Portugal.”
Now sailing for the 2025 season, the MS Estrela features in highlight itineraries for both APT and Travelmarvel, including APT’s 14-day Douro Delights with Madrid and Lisbon and Travelmarvel’s 11-day Lisbon with Douro Discovery.
