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S.S. São Rafael: ship guide

A 94-guest sister to S.S. São Gabriel, new on the Douro for 2027.

Best for: Wine and food travelers who want a small, new ship for the Douro, with included quinta visits, a day in Salamanca and the option of Lisbon on the 11-day program. Sails from Porto in 2026 and 2027.

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S.S. São Rafael
S.S. São Rafael
94guests at double occupancy
37crew
2027entered service
262 ftlong
47staterooms

About S.S. São Rafael

S.S. São Rafael is Uniworld’s second ship for Portugal’s Douro, arriving in 2027 as the sister of S.S. São Gabriel. The name follows the history: when Vasco da Gama sailed for India in 1497 aboard the São Gabriel, the São Rafael sailed beside him under his brother Paulo. Built to the Douro’s lock dimensions at 262 feet, the ship carries 94 guests in 47 staterooms with a staff of 37, with a lobby, restaurant, lounge bar and a wine bar that suits a river lined with port and table-wine quintas.

Accommodations run from 144-to-156-square-foot Classic rooms and 164-square-foot Deluxe staterooms through twenty 156-square-foot French Balcony staterooms to twelve 220-square-foot Suites and four 307-square-foot Grand Suites. Uniworld notes that the ship is operated for the line, so some amenities may differ from its company-owned ships in Central Europe. Meals, wines, excursions, Wi-Fi and gratuities are included in the fare.

In 2027 S.S. São Rafael sails the eight-day Douro River Valley round trip from Porto, cruising upriver past terraced vineyards to Pinhão, Vega de Terrón and a day in Salamanca, Spain, and the 11-day Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley that adds a hotel stay in Lisbon. It suits wine and food travelers who want a small, new ship for one of Europe’s most scenic and least crowded rivers.

  • New for 2027, sister ship of S.S. São Gabriel and named for the companion ship of Vasco da Gama’s 1497 voyage
  • Only 94 guests in 47 staterooms with a staff of 37
  • Wine bar and lounge bar for port and Douro wine tastings on board
  • Four Grand Suites of 307 square feet and twelve Suites of 220 square feet
  • Sized at 262 feet for the Douro’s locks, so it can sail the full navigable river to the Spanish border
  • Round-trip Porto itineraries with a day in Salamanca
  • Included excursions, wines, Wi-Fi and gratuities on every sailing

Staterooms and suites

Classic

Three staterooms of 144 to 156 square feet on the lowest deck, the entry category and a good value for travelers who will be ashore in the vineyards most of the day.

Deluxe

Eight riverview staterooms of 164 square feet with a picture window.

French Balcony

Twenty staterooms of 156 square feet in two sub-categories, A and B, each with an opening French balcony for the river air and the scent of the vineyards.

Suite

Twelve Suites of 220 square feet with a French balcony and more sitting space, the sweet spot for couples on an eight-night Douro cruise.

Grand Suite

Four Grand Suites of 307 square feet, the largest accommodations on board, with a French balcony and a separate seating area.

S.S. São Rafael deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Blue Azzelij Terrace Deck plan

Blue Azzelij Terrace Deck

Swimming Pool.

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

Dining on S.S. São Rafael

RestaurantIncluded

The main restaurant, with breakfast and lunch buffets plus made-to-order dishes and a multi-course dinner built on Portuguese ingredients, from bacalhau to Douro lamb, paired with regional wines.

Wine BarIncluded

A dedicated wine bar for tastings of port and Douro table wines, the ship’s alternative venue for an evening on a wine river.

Lounge BarIncluded

The main lounge and bar for evening entertainment, including fado performers, and the daily briefings.

All-inclusive drinksIncluded

Fine wines, local beers, spirits and soft drinks are included throughout the cruise, and gratuities for the onboard staff are included.

Entertainment and activities

  • Sun deck for the terraced vineyards of the Alto Douro, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape
  • Lounge bar with nightly entertainment, including local fado and folk performers
  • Wine bar tastings of port and Douro wines
  • Daily fitness classes and morning yoga
  • Included excursions in every port, including quinta visits, Lamego, Guimarães and a day in Salamanca
  • Ship-wide Wi-Fi and gratuities for all onboard staff included

Families and who it suits

Uniworld accepts guests aged 5 and over in Europe, with under-18s sharing a cabin with an adult aged 21 or older; there are no Generations Collection family departures scheduled on the Douro, and the ship offers few activities for children, so it is best suited to adults.

Best for: Wine and food travelers who want a small, new ship for the Douro, with included quinta visits, a day in Salamanca and the option of Lisbon on the 11-day program.

Sails from: Porto · Regions: Douro

S.S. São Rafael questions we answer every day

When does S.S. São Rafael start sailing?
S.S. São Rafael is a 2027 newbuild for the Douro, announced in October 2025 as part of Uniworld’s largest fleet expansion to date. It joins S.S. São Gabriel in Portugal in 2027, and Uniworld is selling 2027 and 2028 departures.
How big is S.S. São Rafael?
S.S. São Rafael is 262 feet long and 37 feet wide, sized for the Douro’s locks, with 47 staterooms for 94 guests and a staff of 37. Categories run from 144-square-foot Classic rooms to four 307-square-foot Grand Suites, and twenty of the staterooms have French balconies.
Where does S.S. São Rafael sail in 2027?
The ship sails round trip from Porto on the eight-day Douro River Valley itinerary, cruising upriver past the terraced vineyards to Pinhão and Vega de Terrón with a day in Salamanca, Spain, and on the 11-day Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley program that adds a hotel stay in Lisbon.
Which staterooms are best on S.S. São Rafael?
The 156-square-foot French Balcony staterooms are the best value with an opening window on the vineyards. The twelve 220-square-foot Suites add sitting space, and the four 307-square-foot Grand Suites are the largest on board. Classic and Deluxe staterooms on the lower deck suit travelers who spend their days ashore.
What is included in the fare on S.S. São Rafael?
All meals, wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks, a choice of excursions in every port including quinta visits and Salamanca, daily fitness classes, ship-wide Wi-Fi and gratuities for the onboard staff. Uniworld notes that some amenities differ from its company-owned ships. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where Uniworld allows it, not available when you book direct.
Why is the ship named São Rafael?
Uniworld’s first Douro ship is the S.S. São Gabriel, named for Vasco da Gama’s flagship on his 1497 voyage to India. The São Rafael was the matching ship in that fleet, captained by his brother Paulo da Gama, so the new sister ship takes its name to complete the pair.

Facts checked against Uniworld: S.S. São Rafael, Cruise Industry News: Uniworld announces largest fleet expansion to date for 2027, Uniworld: The most all-inclusive on October 14, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

Live from the cruise line

Every S.S. São Rafael sailing, priced all-in

Every S.S. São Rafael departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.

Every S.S. São Rafael sailing

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.