Amadeus River Cruises to Launch New Douro Ship in 2028

Amadeus River Cruises plans to enter Portugal’s Douro River in 2028 with a newly built ship. Marcus Leskovar, executive vice president of Amadeus, outlined the expansion in an interview with Cruise Industry News for its 2027 European River Market Report.

The Portuguese deployment will extend a network that includes the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Rhône, Saône and Seine, alongside Dutch and Belgian waterways. Leskovar’s outline of the Douro project did not include the vessel’s name or capacity, sailing itineraries or fares.

The navigable Douro corridor runs approximately 208 kilometers from Porto to Barca d’Alva and Vega de Terrón near the Spanish border. Five navigation locks, integrated into hydroelectric dams, carry vessels through a total elevation difference of about 125 meters.

Younger guests and themed cruises

Leskovar said the company introduced wine cruises on the Rhine and Danube this year as its passenger base shifts beyond its traditional Baby Boomer audience toward Generation X and younger travelers.

He described growing demand for themed departures focused on food, history and wine. Returning passengers are also revisiting destinations with friends and family, while the line is attracting honeymooners in their 30s.

Approximately half of Amadeus’s passengers come from North America. Other source markets include Japan and Australia, although English remains the principal language onboard.

Leskovar said the company does not intend to adopt an all-inclusive model, describing its preferred approach as a “boutique floating hotel” rather than a “floating tour bus.” He also cited the line’s family ownership as a distinction from competitors operating in the same destinations.

“We’re essentially operating in our own backyard,” Leskovar said. As new operators enter the market, he said Amadeus intends to continue emphasizing its history on European rivers.

Owners keep investing in the fleet

“One of the main focus areas for our owners is hardware. We put money into the ships,” Leskovar said.

Amadeus’s parent, Innsbruck-based Lüftner Cruises, began building its own fleet with MS Amadeus in 1997. Leskovar said the company also charters vessels to other operators.

“We are shipowners, and we have been for decades, and there are a lot of innovations on our ships,” he said.

Those investments include hybrid propulsion, measures to reduce plastic use and improved onboard treatment plants. Leskovar said the owners have allocated space to treatment equipment even when doing so reduces the space available for passenger cabins.

Amadeus Nova, built in 2024, uses hybrid diesel-electric propulsion and solar panels. No propulsion or treatment-system specifications were detailed for the planned Douro vessel.

The company launched Amadeus Aurea this year. Its next expected delivery is Amadeus Mira, scheduled for next spring.