Tauck has launched its new ms Andorinha in Portugal, and as a surprise to its first cruisers, the christening was conducted in their presence in Barca d’Alva on Aug. 9. Employees of the company — president Jennifer Tombaugh and chief culture officer Sharyn Cannon — have been named the riverboat’s godmothers.
“In crafting our itineraries, we work extraordinarily hard to find fun and unexpected experiences for our guests and craft them into our journeys,” said Dan Mahar, CEO of Tauck, in a press release. “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. Jennifer and Sharyn are the embodiment of Tauck’s ethos of caring for others. Their deep care and concern for our guests, for our employees and for our travel advisors and supplier partners guides all that they do, and how they do it.”
Jennifer Tombaugh, president of Tauck, and Sharyn Cannon, chief culture officer, are the ship’s godmothers.
Credit: 2021 TauckThe intimate, 84-guest Andorinha was purpose-built for Portugal’s Douro River and is currently sailing the line’s “Exploring the Douro, plus Lisbon & Madrid” itinerary. The ship’s 42 cabins comprise a dozen 300-square-foot suites, 20 staterooms that are 225 square feet, six 200-square-foot staterooms and four 150-square-foot staterooms.
Other shipboard amenities include a scenic sun deck with canopied Balinese day beds and an infinity pool, along with a bar and grill. There is also a pop-up restaurant — Arthur’s — that rises up on a hydraulic lift. Plus, the classic Compass Rose main dining room is available below.
Increased interest in cruising’s return is leading to strong 2021 and 2022 bookings for Andorinha.
“We already had incredible demand for our planned debut on the Douro in 2020,” Mahar said. “With those travel dreams deferred to this year, and with all the other pent-up demand for travel resulting from COVID-19, interest in our Douro cruises is unprecedented. We look forward to sharing this beautiful part of the world with our guests, and we encourage advisors to secure their clients’ space quickly as inventory is not likely to last.”
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