Douro river cruises

What is a Douro river cruise like?

Days are built around wine, food and scenery. Expect quinta visits with tastings of ruby, tawny and vintage port, walks through hilltop towns, and long stretches of sailing between vineyard terraces. UNESCO's listing covers the terraces, quintas, villages, chapels and roads of the wine region, not only the vineyards.

The river climbs inland through a series of dams and locks, which is part of the experience. Some Douro ships have a pool on the top deck, including AmaDouro and Avalon Alegria.

Which ports does a Douro cruise visit?

AmaWaterways' seven-night Enticing Douro shows the usual pattern. It sails from Porto to Régua, then spends two days at Vega de Terrón in Spain, then calls at Pinhão and Régua again before returning to Porto.

From Vega de Terrón, a day trip runs to Salamanca and its sandstone squares. From Régua, excursions climb to Lamego and the hilltop Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. In Porto, tours cover the UNESCO-listed Ribeira district and the tiled hall of São Bento station.

How long should I go for?

Seven nights is the standard Douro cruise. Some lines sail one way between Porto and Vega de Terrón rather than round trip.

For a longer trip, Avalon pairs its Douro cruise with three nights in Lisbon, and Uniworld sails an 11-day voyage from Porto to Lisbon.

Which line suits me on the Douro?

All five of our river lines sail the Douro, on ships built for the river. AmaDouro carries 102 guests, with Portuguese and Spanish menus paired with local wines. Avalon Alegria, launched in 2024, also carries 102 and has the line's first onboard pool.

Uniworld's S.S. São Gabriel, inaugurated in 2021, carries 98 guests and has a deck of butler-serviced suites. APT sails MS Estrela, and Scenic sails Scenic Azure. Uniworld also runs an 18-day Lisbon to Bordeaux voyage that combines the Douro with French rivers.

What is included, and what does it cost?

Douro fares include your cabin, meals on board and guided excursions, and quinta tastings are part of most itineraries. Drinks and gratuities depend on the line, and Scenic and Uniworld include the most in the fare.

Fares vary by month, ship and cabin, so we do not list them here. Tell us your dates and we will compare the lines for you.