Welcome Aboard
You simply won’t find a better way to explore Portugal
than by river vessel. Your Portugal & The Douro River
Valley itinerary winds you past
majestic scenery and through a blend of cultural and
historic traditions. And as you cruise the valley of the
“River of Gold,” you’ll enjoy the intimate, elegant setting of
your ship — the MS Douro Cruiser.
You’ll be pleased to know that the MS Douro Cruiseris exclusively chartered by Vantage for your itinerary and
carries 130 passengers, creating a casual yet sophisticated
yacht-like atmosphere. And you’ll benefit by being part of
a smaller group when exploring ashore, so you can take
in every architectural and historic detail of the places you
visit.
As on every Vantage Deluxe river cruise, you’ll only
have to unpack once while your “floating hotel” travels
with you, thereby avoiding the worry and hassle of
checking in and out of hotels. You can just sit back and
relax.
The main lounge is located forward on the Main Deck,
and the views from both the side and forward windows
are marvelous. The dining room, which offers a single
seating, is located on the Main Deck and features large
windows on both sides of the room for grand views of the
riverside. There is also a Sun Deck with a bar, swimming
pool, and two Jacuzzi’s.
The MS Douro Cruiser features 65 stylishly decorated
outside cabins, located on the Main and Upper Decks. All
cabins on board are equipped with individually controlled
air conditioning and heating, private bathroom (the suite
with a bathtub), and television. Cabins on both the Main
Deck and Upper Deck are approximately 161 square feet.
Most cabins have two twin beds that can be
positioned separately or together as one double bed.
(Cabins 315, 317, 318, 321, 322, and 325 all have double
mattresses that cannot be separated). Cabins on the Main
Deck have large picture windows. Cabins on the Upper
Deck have private balconies. Hair dryers are available in
the cabins.
The MS Douro Cruiser serves excellent cuisine in the
stylish and welcoming dining room at one convenient
seating time.
General Information
About Your Ship
Communication
The ship has a satellite phone and fax system. Please note
that the ship may not always be able to get a signal in the
areas visited. Note also that if you wish to use your own
mobile phone, you may not always be able to get a signal.
There is Wi-fi available at the reception and bar; passengers
can acquire one- or two-hour vouchers. Coming in 2013: FREE Wi-Fi throughout the vessel. (Wi-Fi may be interrupted at times due to high banks and other obstructions.)
Dress Code
During the day, comfortable and casual attire is
appropriate. Comfortable walking shoes are also
recommended for excursions. The evenings are smart
casual (shirt and trousers for men, and a skirt and blouse
for women).
Electricity
Each cabin is equipped with a European two-pin 220V
electrical outlet. We recommend that you bring an
international adapter with you.
Facilities
The ship features a restaurant, lounge, and bar, and a sun
deck with lounge chairs. Laundry and ironing services
are available for a small fee. There are no dry cleaning
services on board. There is a lift, serving the three inner
decks. The Sun Deck is served by a chair lift.
Dining Information
All meals on board the ship are served in the ship’s
restaurant. The restaurant serves continental cuisine,
together with some local dishes, and seats all passengers
in one open seating arrangement. It has rectangular tables
for 8, 6 and 4 diners each. Breakfast and lunch are served
buffet style. Dinner is a combination of buffet and menu
offerings. Coffee and tea are available during the day free
of charge on a self-serve basis, and are also served with
meals. Pitchers of iced water are served with meals, and
red or white wine, soft drinks are included at every dinner.
Bottled water, specialty coffee, and alcohol are available
for purchase at an additional cost.
Special Meal Requests
The ship is able to accommodate a variety of special
dietary requirements, including low salt, low fat, gluten free,
and diabetic, provided requests are received by
Vantage prior to departure. Please submit any special
dietary requests at the time of booking, then confirm with
the Reception desk once on board. We regret that the
ship is unable to guarantee special requests, and is not
equipped to prepare or serve kosher or halal cuisine.
Medical
There is no doctor on board, however, a crew member
trained in first aid is always available, and medical
personnel can be summoned aboard quickly in the case of
an emergency. Passengers requiring special medications
are advised to bring a supply with them. Please note that
no medication of any kind can be handed out on the ship.
Mooring
Docking space is allocated by the local river authorities.
The ship always docks facing upstream, against the
current, on either side of the river. Views from cabins
may occasionally be restricted. On occasion other river
cruise vessels may dock alongside the ship. This may
restrict cabin views, and you may find that embarking
and disembarking necessitates walking through another
ship’s reception area, and/or for their passengers to do
the same.
Mail
Please note that although the reception staff may be
happy to mail letters and postcards on your behalf, they
may not be able to do so straightaway or indeed at the
port of call at which you make such a request.
Valuables
Safety deposit boxes are available in the cabins. We
urge you to leave valuable jewelry at home. We are not
responsible for any valuables left in the cabins. Please
beware of pickpockets when ashore.
Smoking Policy
For your comfort, smoking is not allowed inside the ship.
Smoking is only permitted in specially designated outside
areas.
Money Matters While On Board
The onboard currency is the euro. The “cashless” system
on board allows passengers to sign for all onboard expenses
and pay at the end of the cruise. At that time, shipboard
accounts may be settled by credit card (Visa, MasterCard,
American Express) or cash (euros only). Travelers checks
and personal checks are not accepted.
Gratuities
We realize that tipping can be confusing on a group
tour. Because many of our passengers have inquired
about appropriate tips, we have developed the following
guidelines. Of course, tipping is an individual matter and
should be based on the level of service you receive.
Crew
Subject to your satisfaction and to show appreciation for
a job well done, we recommend a gratuity of 10 euros per
person, per day. This gratuity also includes tip for the local
guides and drivers for tours included from the ship.
Vantage Program Managers
Recommended gratuity for your Vantage Program Manager is $5 – $8 per Vantage traveler per day. It is customary to tip your Program Manager at the end of the tour. Gratuities for Program Managers should be paid in cash, either U.S. dollars or euros.
