2018 will be the year that we see the first hybrid cruise ship take to the seas when Hurtigruten launches Roald Amundsen in the spring. However, whilst these and other similar vessels will use a combination of diesel and electric propulsion, the first all-electric river ship has been announced – and it’s coming in 2019.

That’s right, river cruisers do not have long to wait before the eco-friendly revolution comes to the rivers. Experts and passengers have been posing the question regarding more sustainable ways to cruise the world’s waterways and, whilst steps have been taken to reduce waste and energy consumption before now, this is the first time an entirely renewable source will be used to power a ship. The vessel will be delivered to DouroAzul in March of 2019 and will operate on Portugal’s beautiful Douro River – a popular choice of destination for river cruisers at the moment.

With LNG (Liquefied natural gas - set to be used by many ocean cruise ships) not being an option, due to the large storage tanks needed, river ships have had to turn to batteries. Some experts believe it is too early for this move to be economically viable, but DouroAzul points to smaller, less expensive batteries as a reason why this ground-breaking move will pay off.

Details about the ship itself are yet to be released, but we do know that she will connect up to specialised sockets at each port. Whilst guests climb ashore to visit fascinating ports such as Régua and Pinhão, the ship will be charging ready to depart again on their return. We don’t know much about the appearance of the ship at the moment, but one thing’s for sure – a whole host of river cruise operators will be keeping a close eye on this project in the hope of following in DouroAzul’s carbon-neutral footprints.

Looking for a Douro River cruise? We have plenty of great itineraries for you to choose from. Simply call us on 0800 954 0064 and speak to a member of our friendly team.