Douro River Cruises
Travel in style and comfort through the Douro Valley’s most beautiful places. Soak up the sun on deck while enjoying food, and explore villages and monasteries. While Lisbon charms with its famous pastries and colorful streets, Porto delights with its Old Town, port wine, and fresh seafood. Your once-in-a-lifetime Douro Valley adventure awaits.
Excellent
- Choose from 50+ Douro tours
- 250+ verified reviews from TourRadar travelers
- 24/7 customer support
- S
Sue • traveled in November, 2025
Our tour quite was excellent
Douro Experience 2026 - D
Duane • traveled in September, 2025
Ship and cabin cleanliness was exceptional, staff entertaining and professional, scenery was stunning at every turn.
Douro Luxury Cruise - Spirit of Chartwell (4 Days) - I
Izabella • traveled in August, 2025
We liked the food and service, but don't like that Crusemundo don't deal with problems with excursions. Many complaints before us. Not a good situation for the company. There was also a problem to regulate water temperature in the shower that most rooms have. No phones in the rooms to connect with front desk.
Gems of the Douro (Porto to Porto Cruise)
Table of contents
- The best Douro cruises
- Travel Douro your way
- Best tour companies
- Popular Douro Cruise Ships
- Best places to start your adventure
- Discover Douro tours for every budget
- Douro tours for every type of group
- Top Douro travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit
- Contact our Douro travel experts
The best Douro cruises
Compiled by
MelissaDouro travel expert at TourRadar
Douro Experience 2026
25 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Excellent document with essentially information.”
William, traveled in April
The UNESCO-listed Douro Valley unfolds aboard luxury A-ROSA ALVA, with elegant 29m² balcony suites and 4.8-rated cuisine. The route winds from Porto through picturesque Pinhão and Régua, with stops at historic quintas for wine tastings. Salamanca's 13th-century university and dramatic riverside landscapes await over 8 memorable days.
Duration 8 days Destinations Porto, Peso da Regua, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Barca de Alva, Pocinho Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Ship A-ROSA ALVA River Douro Operator A-ROSA From
- US$1,527
Douro Luxury Cruise - Spirit of Chartwell (4 Days)
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Very friendly staff, good food, a wonderful landscape and a clean and somewhat spacey room.”
Ansbert, traveled in August
Luxury Douro cruise aboard Queen Elizabeth II's former vessel, sailing from Vila Nova da Gaia to Porto. Visit Régua's Douro Museum, enjoy winery dinners in Pinhão, and explore historic Lamego while experiencing gourmet regional cuisine and cultural performances.
Duration 4 days Destinations Vila Nova da Gaia, Entre-os-Rios, Peso da Regua, Pinhao, Lamego, Porto Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Portuguese Ship MV Spirit of Chartwell River Douro Operator Portugal Travel Center From
- US$1,082
Gems of the Douro (Porto to Porto Cruise)
27 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The stops are long enough to give you time to see the sites. But without buying the excursions it would be difficult.”
Christian, traveled in August
MS Douro Cruiser, with its panoramic-view cabins, glides through the UNESCO-listed Douro Valley. Port wine tastings in Pinhao, Barca d'Alva's Natural Park, and historic Peso da Regua highlight the journey. Full board dining includes 4-course dinners and nightly entertainment for approx. $200 per day, with guided English tours.
Duration 8 days Destinations Porto, Pinhao, Pocinho, Vega de Terron, Barca de Alva, Peso da Regua Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Ship MS Douro Cruiser River Douro Operator Crucemundo From
- US$2,059+$35 upfront costs
Sail past terraced vineyards and slate slopes of the Douro Valley on the MS Douro Cruiser, wandering through Porto's Ribeira district and crossing the famous Ponte Dom Luís I. The trip includes full board dining, a visit to a traditional Quinta with wine tasting in Régua, and a panoramic tour of Porto's UNESCO-listed old town.
Duration 6 days Destinations Porto, Entre-os-Rios, Peso da Regua Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, Spanish Ship MS Douro Cruiser River Douro Operator Crucemundo From $1,341
50% Off- US$671+$26 upfront costsYou save $671
Sail Queen Elizabeth II's former yacht through dramatic Douro Valley landscapes. Visit historic Mateus Palace, medieval Castelo Rodrigo, and enjoy exclusive wine tastings at Pinhão farms. Features elegant Pullman-style cabins, gourmet regional cuisine, and cultural shows.
Duration 5 days Destinations Vila Nova da Gaia, Peso da Regua, Barca de Alva, Lamego Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Portuguese Ship MV Spirit of Chartwell River Douro Operator Portugal Travel Center From
50% Off- US$1,447
A grand 11-day voyage combines Lisbon's highlights with Douro River cruising aboard Avalon Alegria. UNESCO sites including Sintra Palace and Porto's historic quarter dazzle visitors. Wine tastings at traditional quintas, Fado performances, and stays in 200-square-foot Panorama Suites create lasting memories.
Duration 11 days Destinations Lisbon, Sintra, Cape Roca, Coimbra, Porto, Matosinhos, Braga, Lamego, Mateus, Douro International Natural ParkSee all destinations Age Range Ages 8+ Ship Avalon Alegria River Douro Operator Avalon Waterways From
50% Off- US$5,868+$231 upfront costs
The Douro Valley reveals its finest aboard Scenic Azure. The UNESCO-listed Vinhateiro wine region, Porto's historic cellars, and Mateus Palace await exploration. Exclusive access to quintas, port tastings at Cockburn's cellar, and classical concerts at São Francisco Church highlight 10 days of luxury river cruising.
Duration 18 days Destinations Bordeaux, Libourne, Blaye, Pomerol, Bourg, Cadillac, Sauternes, Porto, Entre-os-Rios, AroucaSee all destinations Age Range Ages 18+ Ships Scenic Diamond Scenic Azure River Douro Operator Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours From $12,961
27% Off- US$9,432You save $3,529
Travel Douro your way
Best tour companies
Looking at Douro River cruise reviews, TourRadar offers quite a few options but actual traveler feedback is limited at the moment. That said, we've got some good insights from people who've sailed with specific cruise lines. One of our travelers who took Avalon Waterways' "Vida Portugal" route was really pleased with the whole experience, especially mentioning how comfortable everything was and the high quality of the food served onboard.CroisiEurope gets a nice mention from another guest who particularly liked how they mixed up the daily activities - you're not just cruising but also getting out for some hiking along the way. They also noted how well the kitchen handled different dietary requirements, which can be tricky on river cruises.A-ROSA seems to hit the mark too, with the same traveler highlighting two key things: really attentive service throughout the trip and consistently good meals. These firsthand accounts give you a better picture of what to expect, though it's worth noting this is based on individual experiences and different sailings can vary.
Popular Douro Cruise Ships
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Scenic Sapphire
392 cruises
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Scenic Diamond
332 cruises
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Scenic Azure
288 cruises
Evergreen Tours
Emerald Liberté
254 cruises
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Scenic Gem
245 cruises
Evergreen Tours
Emerald Radiance
186 cruises
Best places to start your adventure
Most people kick off their Douro adventure from Porto - 45 of our recent travelers started there, right by the river in this characterful city. Another 15 chose to begin from Lisbon, often spending extra time exploring the capital first. Looking at our booking patterns, most guests lock in their cruise about 41 days ahead, which makes sense given how quickly these smaller river boats fill up, particularly during summer and harvest time. The sweet spot for sailing runs May through October, with September and October drawing lots of visitors who want to catch the grape harvest celebrations. Spring and late autumn can be bit tricky weather-wise and might affect the schedule, so summer tends to be more reliable for sailing. The river's lock system adds something special to the journey - you'll pass through five different locks, which our travelers love photographing and watching in action.
Discover Douro tours for every budget
Douro tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Top Douro travel itineraries to fit your plans
Demographics
Solo Travelers54 tours- Couples66 tours
- Seniors (50+)44 tours
Best time to visit
- Spring 2026
Spring's mild weather makes the Douro really shine, and our travelers tell us they love seeing the riverside towns wake up after winter. The most popular spring cruises mix Porto's rich culture with quality wine experiences - you'll explore historic cellars, visit family quintas and learn from local vintners who really know their craft. Some routes add interesting stops at the Douro Museum where you can dig into the valley's 2,000-year wine story, then try your hand at traditional tile painting or cooking with Portuguese chefs. Our clients particularly enjoy spring trips that include Salamanca's UNESCO heritage and also private dinners at countryside estates serving regional dishes.
- April 2026 popular 22 tours
- Summer 2026
Summer gives you long days perfect for extended deck time and evening activities in the ports. The best-selling summer routes blend morning outings - like walks through medieval villages and vineyard trails - with afternoon cruising when the deck becomes your perfect cooling-off spot. Many of our guests choose summer routes with swim breaks, optional cycling tours and also kayaking on the Pinhao River. The highest-rated tours include nice touches like onboard Fado music, visits to ancient rock art in the Côa Valley and dinner at local quintas. August can get quite hot, but the river keeps things cool and well-planned activities help you work around the warmth.
- June 2026 26 tours
- popular 29 tours
- 28 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2026
Fall transforms the Douro Valley into a tapestry of gold and red as harvest season rolls in. The top autumn cruises center on wine experiences - you'll watch the grape harvest happening, join traditional grape-stomping at local quintas and sample new wines with knowledgeable guides. Many itineraries time their stops to catch harvest festivals in riverside communities, adding local flavor to the wine focus. Our travelers give high marks to autumn routes that mix Porto's historic quarters with rural wine estates, medieval castles and also harvest celebrations. Pleasant temperatures make this ideal for active outings like vineyard hikes or riverside bike rides.
- September 2026 15 tours
- popular 18 tours
Contact our Douro travel experts
Nadine
Expert in Douro at TourRadar
Nadine is one of our seasoned Douro Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Douro tours answered!
- Choose from 98+ Douro tours
- 286 verified reviews by TourRadar customers
- 24/7 customer support
Call us
+1 844 311 8331