APT Travel Group has officially christened MS Estrela, its first purpose-built river ship for Europe, ahead of the upcoming launch of its new ultra-luxury vessel, APT Solara, scheduled for christening on Monday, 21 April 2025, in the Netherlands.
The christening ceremony for MS Estrela took place in Porto, where Lucy Huxley, a prominent UK travel media leader and industry advocate, was honored as the ship’s Godmother. Following the ceremony, MS Estrela departed Porto to begin her maiden journey upriver to Régua.
MS Estrela will now sail a range of itineraries for the 2025 season, including:
- 14-day Douro Delights with Madrid
- Lisbon and Travelmarvel’s 11-day Lisbon with Douro Discovery
Next in line is the APT Solara, set to be christened on 21 April 2025 in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and scheduled to depart on her first sailing on 25 April. She will be followed by the APT Ostara, another ultra-luxury river ship launching in June 2025.
These vessels mark a significant expansion of APT’s European river cruising offerings, with a focus on luxury and immersive cultural experiences.
