Scenic & Emerald Cruises reveal plan to return to the Douro in late July

Both lines will resume their original schedules, offering eight-day round-trips from Porto. Scenic Group said in a statement it was "anticipating these limited sailings will sell out very quickly".

The statement added that the group will be "providing British holidaymakers with full flexibility by offering deposit-free bookings until the government’s proposed traffic-light system is confirmed".

The lines also "intend to preserve their originally published itineraries and included excursions as much as the global health environment at the time allows".

Scenic Group UK MD Colin Downing said: "We’re so excited to be safely restarting operations and ultimately welcoming back our guests, after more than a year of suspended operations.

"We can’t wait to return to Portugal this summer and have an incredible line-up of sailings for our guests to experience.

"This is just the first step to getting our ships back sailing on Europe’s rivers. We continue to work closely with CLIA and the relevant government authorities to ensure a safe return to each river as soon as possible.”

Prices for Emerald Cruises' eight-day itinerary start from £1,945pp, while Scenic’s eight-day Delightful Douro itinerary is priced from £2,545pp.

Alternatively, the longer 11-day Unforgettable Douro river cruise has a gourmet focus, with guests enjoying a wine tasting at the Quinta da Aveleda, a local home-visit for a traditional bread-making lesson and an authentic home cooked lunch hosted by a local in the village of Freixo de Espada à Cinta.

Alongside the deposit-free offer, Scenic and Emerald Cruises are also offering additional discounts across the 2021 Douro programme.

Guests can save up to £700pp with Emerald and enjoy unlimited free drinks on board with a premium drinks package, while those travelling with Scenic can benefit from a saving of up to £700pp.

See all cruises with Scenic and Emerald Cruises HERE.