Douro River Cruise: In Depth Review – All You Need to know

Are you thinking of taking a Douro River cruise?

I am lucky enough to have taken a group of 140 guests on a Douro River cruise while working as a tour manager.

A Douro River cruise is a fantastic way to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site known for win production and stunning scenery. Cruises generally depart from Porto and last 7 nights taking in terraced vineyards, picture perfect villages and historic wine estates.

I have written this detailed review so you can see if a Douro River cruise is the perfect trip for you.

What to Expect on a Douro River Cruise

Most Douro cruises have a similar program. They may visit things in a different order. The main differences are:

• Ship styles
• Layout
• Customer demographics

My Review Includes

• An overview of the Douro River and its popularity
• What we did each day, along with reviews of all the excursions
• Details (and some videos) of the river locks
• Pictures that I took throughout the cruise

If you want to know if a Douro cruise is right for you, this guide will help you find out.

Douro River Cruise – Where is the Douro Valley?

• The River Douro actually starts in Spain and flows West.
• It meets the Atlantic Ocean at Porto.
• The river is 557 miles long.
• It’s the Portuguese part of the river that is navigable – that’s 133 miles.
• There are 15 dams along the river of which 5 are commonly passed through during a Douro river cruise.
• Scroll across the map below to see where the Douro River flows.

Why are Douro River Cruises Popular?

As far as river cruises go, the Douro is the second most popular river cruise in Europe. (The Danube is number one.)

Breathtaking Scenery

The main reason many guests choose the Douro is the stunning scenery. Here are some highlights:

• Steep hills with cascading vineyards
• Charming towns
• Quaint villages
• Vibrant cities along the way

A Cultural Haven

The Douro River is a great destination for culture and history lovers.

A Wine Lover’s Paradise

It’s also a wonderful wine destination. All the river cruises will include at least one (but often more) wine tasting visits.

Cruise Douro River

What is the Douro Valley Famous For?

Memorable Moments from My Douro River Cruise

Douro River Weather

River cruises run from March to November, although this varies depending on the operator.

Average temperatures: (based on historical data) are as follows;

• March: 7 -15 Celsius
• April: 9-18 Celsius
• May: 11-22 Celsius
• June: Average 24 Celsius
• July: Average 27 Celsius
• August: Average 30 Celsius
• September: Average 28 Celsius
• October: 26 Celsius dropping to 22 at the end of the month
• November: 22 Celsius dropping down to 16 towards the end of the month

Ref: Weather Climate

Now let me answer some frequently asked questions about a Douro river cruise.

Now let’s look at what we did for each day of our Douro River cruise.

Most Douro river cruises will have an itinerary that looks quite similar.

I’ve included some videos and some of my pictures too.

Cruise Douro River

Day By Day Itinerary

Before I share the itinerary let me just point out a couple of things.

• The cruise I took travelled from Porto to Barca d’Alva and back again. This is a very common route for Douro cruises.
• The total distance is approximately 135 miles or 200 kilometres.
• Many of the excursions along the Douro involve travelling by coach.
• There was a 2-2.5 hour transfer by coach to reach Salamanca.
• I think a Douro Cruise is a touring holiday, with some touring done by the ship and some by coach.

Cruise River Douro

Day 1 – Joining the Ship

It took a while to load three coaches with all the passengers and their luggage. I sent two coaches on ahead while we waited for the last passengers. This meant we didn’t all arrive at the ship at the same time.

Distance and Travel Time

• The distance from the airport to Vila Nova de Gaia is around 22 km.
• The travel time was approximately 40 minutes.

Boarding the Ship

You are unlikely to be able to board the ship if your flight arrives before midday. The ship will be doing a changeover from the previous cruise.

Once we reached the ship, we checked in. Our luggage was unloaded from the coach and taken to the cabins.

Group Travel Experience

Our ship was only for our group. We all traveled from the UK on the same flight. This meant we all arrived at almost the same time.

As a result, it took a while for everyone to get checked in.

There was some time for guests to explore Vila Nova de Gaia. This is a pretty area that hosts all the port wine cellars.

Location

It’s on the opposite side of the river from Porto itself. You can find a beautiful riverside promenade area, along with:

• Shops
• Cafes
• A funicular

Check out things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Our Experience

We spent the first night moored in Vila Nova and enjoyed a lovely first evening on board.

Douro River Cruise: Day 2 – Travelling to Regua

On our second day, we cruised from Vila Nova de Gaia to R?gua. The total distance traveled by ship is around 62 miles (100 km).

Journey Time

The journey time takes around 7 hours.

Locks and Dams

Not far from Vila Nova de Gaia is the first lock navigation. It is 22 km (13.5 miles) from Vila Nova de Gaia to the Crestuma Lever Dam. The height of the dam is 25 metres (82 feet).

A bit further upstream, we passed through the Carrapatelo Dam, which is 64 km (40 miles) from Vila Nova. The height of this dam is 57 metres (187 feet).

Experience the Journey

It’s a great experience to travel through the locks and dams. Enjoy it from:

• The bar
• The boat’s front area

Check out the video I took from the sun deck of our ship!

Lamego Excursion

This excursion lasted 3.5 hours from leaving the ship to returning.

Location

Lamego is in the hills, about 10 miles away from R?gua.

Visit to the Sanctuary

The main attraction was the lovely Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Rem?dios. Builders constructed the shrine between the 18th and 20th centuries. It remains a popular pilgrimage site, with many visitors climbing the 700 steps on their knees.

Highlights of the Sanctuary

• A beautiful baroque staircase
• The sanctuary located at the top of the hill

Guests had the option to either:

• Walk down into the city of Lamego
• Take the coach down to avoid the steps

For more information, check out this page on Lamego. It features a great view of the sanctuary and an interactive map of Lamego’s attractions.

Exploring Lamego

Lamego is a small town with:

• A pleasant square
• Nice coffee shops
• Cozy cafes to enjoy

Return Trip

After our visit, we took the coach back to the ship.

Evening Entertainment

After dinner, we enjoyed a Portuguese folk music show. Local musicians came and performed on board the ship.

It’s common for river cruises to bring entertainers on board.

Douro River Cruise: Day 3 – To Pinhao

After spending the night in Regua, the ship cruised to Pinhao.

Cruising Distance and Duration

• The cruising distance was 24 km (or 15 miles).
• It took around 3 hours to complete the journey.

Highlights of the Cruise

During this part of the cruise, we passed through the Regua Dam. This dam is:

41 metres (around 134 feet) high.

Douro River Cruise: Day 4 – To Vega De Terron

On Day 4, the ship sailed from Pinhao to Vega de Terron.

• The distance covered was 82 km (51 miles).
• The journey took around 7 hours.

Arrival at Vega de Terron

Vega de Terron is located on the Portuguese/Spanish border, where the Douro and Agueda rivers meet.

Passing Through Dams

During the journey, we passed through two important dams:

• The Valeira Dam:
  • Height: 48 m (about 157 feet).
  • Learn more about Valeira Dam.
• The Pocinho Dam:
  • Height: 49 m (about 160 feet).
  • Learn more about Pocinho Dam.

Later that day, we arrived at Vega de Terron.

Figueira De Castelo Rodrigo Excursion

During the afternoon, we visited Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. This excursion lasted around 3.5 hours.

Travel Details

• Distance: 21 km (or 13 miles) from Vega de Terr?n
• Travel Time: 30 minutes due to small roads

Exploring the Village

The pretty village sits on top of a hill. It features several narrow streets with cute caf?s to enjoy. We had free time to explore the village.

Some guests found the cobbled streets a bit tough to navigate. The entrance to the village had a sloped cobbled section. I had to help some guests over this part.

The video above gives you an idea of the terrain for this excursion.

Evening Dinner

In the evening, we enjoyed a lovely Portuguese dinner on board the ship.

River cruises often feature local dishes on their menus, which is something I really enjoy.

Douro River Cruise: Day 5 – Visit to Salamanca

After breakfast, we enjoyed an included excursion to the city of Salamanca. This historic Spanish city is located inland from the Douro River.

Trip Details

• Duration: Approximately 10 hours
• Distance: About 121 km (75 miles) from Vega de Terr?n to Salamanca

Journey Highlights

The first part of the journey by coach involved a climb over the hills. This part of the road was quite twisty. However, once we left the Douro Valley, the road became straighter and more level.

The journey took around two hours and there was some commentary during the journey about Spanish history.

Important Note:

There were not any comfort stops en route to Salamanca but there was a comfort stop on arrival in Salamanca at a local hotel. It might be worth checking this information in advance if it is important to you.

Salamanca is a UNESCO-listed city in Spain. It is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe and boasts two stunning cathedrals. The city features a pedestrianised centre, making it easy and enjoyable to explore.

Walking Tour of Salamanca

Shortly after arriving in Salamanca, I joined a walking tour led by a local guide. We headed to Plaza Mayor, which is one of the finest squares in Spain.

Unexpected Turn of Events

Unfortunately, I missed the rest of the excursion due to an emergency. A guest needed urgent care while we were on the city tour. I took her to the hospital, and we spent the rest of the day there before returning to the ship in a taxi.

Group Activities

While I was at the hospital, the rest of the group enjoyed:

• Lunch at a local restaurant
• A flamenco show
• Free time to explore Salamanca on their own

Journey Back

Later in the afternoon, the coach took us on a two-hour journey back to the ship.

The ship then traveled from Vega de Terron to Pochino, covering a distance of around 35 km.

Scenic Views

Here’s my video of the view across the Douro Valley from a viewpoint in the hills on the way to Salamanca.

Douro River Cruise: Day 6 – Mateus Gardens

This morning, we cruised 102 km (64 miles) from Pocinho to R?gua, taking around 7 hours. We set sail at 7 am. Along the way, we passed through the Pocinho and Valeira dams again.

Mateus Palace Excursion

This 3.5-hour trip took us to the famous Mateus Palace. It is featured on the Mateus Rose wine label. You might have even used the bottles as candle holders! We had a guided tour of the palace’s interior and explored the beautiful gardens outside.

Change of Plans

We had to return to the ship earlier than planned, which cut our visit short. The reason was a problem with one of the river locks. This lock had a fault and couldn’t operate at full capacity. This caused a change in all ship bookings.

Cruising from Regua to Bitetos

After returning to the ship, we cruised from Regua to Bitetos. This journey covered:

• 75 km (46 miles)
• It meant quite a late arrival.

Farewell Dinner

There was a farewell dinner on board, even though it wasn’t the last night of the cruise. This was because many of the crew live locally. For the final night of the cruise, they go home for one night.

Douro River Cruise: Day 7 – Return to Porto

This morning, we cruised from Bitetos to Vila Nova de Gaia.

Distance and Route

The distance is around 50 km (31 miles). During our journey, we passed through the Crestuma dam again.

Arrival Time

We arrived in Vila Real at around 9 AM.

Port Cellar Excursion

This 1.5-hour tour was a lovely start to the day. From the ship, we walked to a nearby wine cellar in the historic quarter of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Discovering the Wine Cellar

Our knowledgeable guide welcomed us to the wine cellar. We learned about the process of producing sweet, velvety Port wine. The key steps include:

• Harvesting
• Blending
• Grape selection

At the end of the tour, we did a tasting (well, I didn’t because I was working!).

Oporto Excursion By Coach in the Afternoon

This excursion lasted 3.5 hours.

Afternoon Tour of Oporto

In the afternoon, we enjoyed a tour of Oporto. This university city inspired J.K. Rowling, who lived here for a while. We saw students walking around town in their distinctive gowns.

Tour Highlights

Most of the tour took place on the coach, with a few stops along the way. This meant we had short walks rather than long distances.

Notable Visits

One of the key places we visited was the Se Cathedral. Here are some important details:

• This is where Philippa of Lancaster married King Joao of Portugal in 1387.
• The cathedral features stunning architecture and rich history.

Douro River Cruise Day 8 – Disembarkation

This morning, after breakfast, we disembarked the ship and headed home.

Exploring Porto

Our flights weren’t until later in the day. We were taken to a hotel in the city, which served as our base for the day.

We were able to do some more exploration of Porto on foot. Here is what we did:

• Had lunch at the hotel
• Left our hand luggage there, which was helpful

Returning to the UK

After our exploration, we were then taken by coach to the airport and returned back to the UK.

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