Shortly before embarking on Tauck’s new ms Andorinha riverboat for the ship’s first scheduled cruise along Portugal’s Douro River, guests travelling on the company’s 12-day “Exploring the Douro, plus Lisbon & Madrid” itinerary found out they’d be taking part in the ship’s official christening ceremony.

“In crafting our itineraries, we work extraordinarily hard to find fun and unexpected experiences for our guests and craft them into our journeys. It’s very gratifying to surprise our guests with a sense of wonder and delight, and for this lucky group of guests, we were able to provide an especially memorable experience,” said company CEO Dan Mahar.

Serving as godmothers for the Andorinha were two long-time Tauck employees, company President Jennifer Tombaugh and Chief Culture Officer Sharyn Cannon.

The Andorinha was purpose-built specifically for the Douro River, and its décor and design are inspired by the Douro Valley’s culture and climate. Portugal is renowned for its warm, sunny weather, and the Andorinha’s Sun Deck has been designed and outfitted to serve as an ideal platform for soaking up the Douro Valley’s passing landscapes. The Sun Deck features canopied Balinese day beds for comfortable, shaded lounging, plus an infinity-style pool that’s five-times the size of the plunge pools featured on Tauck’s other riverboats. A notable feature on the Andorinha’s Sun Deck is a pop-up restaurant that rises from the stern of the ship on hydraulic lifts to become a fully functioning eatery with commanding views of the surrounding countryside.