It’s an exciting week for the river cruise industry, with a plethora of new ship christenings coming up. On Friday, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will inaugurate its newest vessel, the Queen Isabel, in a lavish ceremony in Porto, Portugal.

The task of officially welcoming the Queen Isabel into service will be given to actress Andie MacDowell, star of such movies as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Sex, Lies and Videotape. MacDowell has also been the face of L’Oreal for more than 25 years.

The brand-new Queen Isabel replaces the Douro Spirit on Uniworld’s highly-popular 10-night Portugal, Spain and the Douro River itinerary. Capable of carrying just 118 guests, the Queen Isabel will feature staterooms with both French and full, step-out balconies. Two spacious suites located on the upper deck of Queen Isabel will measure 323 square feet, while 18 additional Junior Suites will offer guests 215 square feet of living space.

“Uniworld has launched a number of ships over the years here, but Queen Isabel will have a more classic style and timeless elegance similar to Uniworld’s other ships in Europe, which are all uniquely designed and decorated,” says Guy Young, president of Uniworld. “We are delighted that Ms. MacDowell will be Godmother of our new ship as she represents the same timeless beauty and elegance that befittingly represents the Queen Isabel.”

Queen Isabel will feature all the standard amenities that cruisers have come to expect of Uniworld, including indoor and outdoor bars; a swimming pool adjacent to the sun deck; a fitness and spa area; and a restaurant with an outside dining area.

These indoor and outdoor features, coupled with staterooms offering the previously mentioned choice of both French and Full balconies, are perfectly suited to sailing the Douro River Valley, which is the epicenter of Portugal’s port wine region and a UNESCO World Heritage region.

This year, Uniworld will offer sailings aboard Queen Isabel that depart from March 28 through November 14.

More information on Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and the new Queen Isabel can be found by viewing our complete company and fleet overviews here on River Cruise Advisor.