Travelers who want a brand-new, very small Douro ship.
Think twice if: Uniworld's US page lists the ship's sailings by year; deck layouts can change between sailing years, so check the plan for your year.
See her Europe sailings ↓ · Where is she now? → · Uniworld Boutique River Cruises's page for this ship →
What she's like
Docks close to the town centre in most ports. Under 200 guests, so no lines and no tender boats.
Each touring group has an English-speaking guide; crew language not stated
Our judgment, from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (ultra-luxury).
Drinks all day (wines, beers, spirits), gratuities, shore excursions, transfers (Uniworld blog, Apr 2025); Wi-Fi on select ships only.
Minimum age 5 (Europe); under-18s with parent/guardian; FAQ says under-4s usually too young to enjoy it
Smart-casual day wear; no shorts at dinner
Where she sails in Europe
- Douro River Valley
- Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley
We don't have her sailing-by-sailing schedule yet. See the line's site for dates.
What it costs beyond the fare
| Tips for the crew | included; Added to your bill automatically? n/a (in fare) |
|---|---|
| Drinks package | included |
| Wifi | Free on select ships only; check with Uniworld |
| Money on board | unknown (limited cash exchange on board, no ATMs) |
How tipping and money work on a European cruise → · Build a full trip budget →
Her restaurants · 0 included, 0 extra
| Where to eat | Cost |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | Not stated |
Which cabin to book, and which to avoid
| Cabin type | Size | Decks |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Suite | 307 sq ft | 3 |
| Suite | 220 sq ft | 3 |
| French Balcony (A, B) | 156 sq ft | 2 |
| Deluxe | 156 sq ft | 1 |
| Classic | 135 sq ft | 1 |
Good to know before you pick
- The lift reaches the lowest cabin deck.
- The lift does not reach the sun deck.
- Azores Deck (3) cabins sit below the sun-deck loungers and pool, per plan positions
- Madeira Deck cabins 101/102 are next to the spa, fitness centre and elevator
- Cabins with windows that don't open: 1 (Madeira Deck): Deluxe and Classic cabins (no balcony); window height not stated.
If you use a wheelchair or walk with difficulty
No wheelchairs or mobility devices provided; full accessibility not guaranteed Elevators: Elevator midship on Madeira, Cape Verde and Azores Decks; not shown on the Blue Azzelij Terrace (sun deck) Our accessibility guide →
Find your way around
Our own deck plans, drawn from the line's official plan: tap a deck to see it from above, with what's at the front, middle and back of the ship. Use “Find on board” to light up every deck with a pool, a bar or a restaurant. Not to scale.
- Deck 4 · Blue Azzelij Terrace (Sun Deck) , Tables and seating; Sun loungers; Swimming Pool
- Deck 3 · Azores Deck , Suites; Grand Suites (301-304); Elevator; Shop, Reception, Office; Vintage Bar; Heritage Bistro
- Deck 2 · Cape Verde Deck , French Balcony B cabins; French Balcony A cabins; Elevator; Coffee Station and Douro Wine Cellar; Feitoria Restaurant
- Deck 1 · Madeira Deck , Deluxe and Classic cabins; Guest Laundry; Spa; Elevator; Fitness Center
What to book, and when
Booking, check-in and reservations
Deposit at least 10% of fare within 48 hours of booking. Final payment 120 days before start. Passenger Information Form must be in by final payment or documents are not issued. Some Masterpiece Collection optional tours bookable in advance.
Paying and cancelling
$250 at 120+ days, 25% at 119-90, 50% at 89-60, 75% at 59-30, 100% under 30 days (2027 terms)
Tips for her Europe sailings
Uniworld currently warns of unusually low water on parts of the Rhine, Main and Danube affecting select sailings.
Where she docks
"In many ports, your river ship is small enough to dock within easy walking distance of the historic city center"; otherwise a motorcoach
If the river is too high or too low
Itineraries may change for water levels or wind; no refund for changes; cancelling because of a change follows the normal penalty schedule
How much walking on the included tours
"A significant amount of walking over uneven terrain"
Low bridges and the sun deck
Not addressed. Sun deck can be closed by crew under low bridges. †
The ship in numbers
- Cruise line
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- Kind of ship
- River
- Built
- 2027
- Guests
- 94
- Crew
- 37
- Cabins
- 47
- Length
- 80 m (262 ft)
- Width
- 11 m (37 ft)
- Class
- Uniworld Douro pair (262 ft)
- Sister ships
- S.S. São Gabriel
- In Europe 2026–27
- Douro
- Rivers
- Douro
Highlights
- Debuts 2027; 94 guests, 37 staff, 47 staterooms (Uniworld Quick Facts).
- New in 2027, sister of S.S. São Gabriel on the Douro.
- Only 94 guests.
Sources & what we could not confirm · 5 sources · checked 2026-11
- S.S. São Rafael: Uniworld ship page (Quick Facts, staterooms, deck plan, cruises)
- Uniworld FAQ (via WebFetch)
- Uniworld 2027 Terms & Conditions
- Uniworld blog: What is included (Apr 2025)
- S.S. Sao Gabriel deck plan 2027 (uniworld.com image uw-sg-deckplan-2027)
- Flag not confirmed.
- Deck plan image on the Uniworld page could not be downloaded for reading (site blocked repeat requests); decks left empty.
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: Onboard currency not stated.
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: Specialty dining pricing not published.
- Deck plan: Plan drawn for S.S. Sao Gabriel; sister S.S. Sao Rafael assumed to match