CroisiEurope, Europe's largest river cruise company, inaugurated its latest Premium class ship in Porto yesterday, the MS Amália Rodrigues, with the Schmitter family in attendance, accompanied by French and Portuguese personalities as well as national and international journalists.
The event's godmother was Alexandrina Quaresma, director of the Amália Rodrigues Foundation, after whom the vessel is named. Amália Rodrigues was known as the Queen of Fado, and thanks to her exceptional voice, she popularized this musical style worldwide, in addition to acting as a cultural ambassador for her country. The godfather was Marco Martins, mayor of Gondomar. The Portuguese priest Alfredo Padre and the French priest Patrick Koehler jointly officiated the moving christening ceremony, accompanied by Fado music, at the Quebrantoes Dock in Vila Nova de Gaia. Today, the ship will depart from Porto for its inaugural cruise on the Douro River, visiting Porto, Régua, Pinhão, Vega de Terón, Barça d'Alva, and back to Porto.
With the help of its interior designer, who creatively clad the structure, and its team of technicians, who checked even the smallest detail, the MS Amália Rodrigues joins the CroisiEurope Premium Class fleet.
The ship is 80 meters long and 11.4 meters wide, with a capacity for 132 passengers in its 66 double-occupancy cabins, including 4 suites, 2 of which are on the upper deck and have terraces. It also has a cabin for guests with reduced mobility. All cabins are air-conditioned and have large windows to take full advantage of the stunning scenery, as well as flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms. The ship's spacious and well-lit common areas include a lounge bar with a dance floor, a souvenir shop, a restaurant with panoramic windows, and a sun deck with lounge chairs and a beautiful swimming pool.
The new premium class ship also features a dedicated crew of 25 people at the disposal of CroisiEurope customers to meet the highest expectations on board.
From April to October, CroisiEurope will offer exceptional cruises along the Douro River aboard the MS Amalia Rodrigues, sailing from Porto on the Atlantic Ocean to the Spanish border. The ship will sail 6- and 8-day itineraries through the Douro Valley, visiting some of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.
CroisiEuropre continues to develop and grow within the sector thanks to its hard work dedicated to innovating, starting new ventures and rejuvenating itself year after year to meet the expectations of its passengers.
