Douro River Cruise

[auburnfive]

Can anyone recommend a company for a multi-day Douro River cruise? Thinking of adding it on after next falls Camino. Thanks.

 

[naplesdon]

I had friends who did it last summer but it was a week long trip. Have you considered doing the train trip up the valley. I have done that asa day trip and only gone as far as Pinhao for lunch, you could take it to the end of the line and spend a few days hoping on and off. There are some stunning resorts which are accessible by taxi from the train stations.

 

[auburnfive]

Thanks for your suggestion
We might have time for a 7 day cruise, just figuring out all options. What did your friends think of the cruise?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Viking River Cruises keeps sending us stuff. I saw that they had cruises on the Douro. I double checked on the web and they do.

If you can't find anyone who has taken this cruise maybe you can find out how camino walkers like these cruises in general.

Douro River Cruises | Viking®

Our Portugal cruises uncover one of Europe’s oldest and most renowned wine regions. Cruise the Douro River through ancient wine estates, passing barcos rabelos laden with casks en route to Porto and Lisbon. A sublimely scenic corner of Europe, with equally sublime food and wine.

www.vikingrivercruises.com

 

[naplesdon]

Thanks for your suggestion
We might have time for a 7 day cruise, just figuring out all options. What did your friends think of the cruise?

They used Viking and have done other river cruises with that line. I believed they enjoyed it, they were with a group of friends but the lowlight of the experience was everyone got back to the US and had Covid.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Or consider renting a car and doing it "your way". We did it as a post camino family trip and it is truly a beautiful area. By driving, we were also able to enjoy other interesting sights in the area. I doubt we needed to spend more than 5+ days.

 

[JerryStroebele]

In 2015 before walking the Camino Portuguese my whole adult family and I contracted with Rui Calvado of Porto Kayakers for a two day kayak trip down the river with an overnight stay at a "wine farm." Estupendo! Buen Camino

 

[auburnfive]

Not my usual travel style, did a one day cruise and loved the area, thanks for the alternative suggestions

 

[JimG59]

Can anyone recommend a company for a multi-day Douro River cruise? Thinking of adding it on after next falls Camino. Thanks.

We are just back from a 17 day Temples and Treasures of Vietnam and Cambodia with Emerald River Cruises. The cruise part was 8 days sailing on the Meekong River. Emerald were an excellent company with an almost brand new boat and wonderful staff. Highly recommended. I’m sure they do cruises on the Douro.

 

[Lightfeet]

We walked the Camino from Porto to Santiago in September, then did a Viking river cruise on the Douro (it starts in Lisbon). We enjoyed it alot. However, a couple days before it ended, I got Covid. My husband did too. Viking was very dismissive of it and not caring if we exposed others. They would've been fine with us continuing to eat in the dining room with everyone else (there was one seating). We wanted to be kind citizens and didn't want to give it to anyone else. We asked Viking if we could eat outside; they said no, because then other people would want to also. So, we had them bring our food down to our small stateroom and we ate there. We are planning to go on another Viking river cruise, but next time I will mask whenever on the bus, and possibly while in the dining room except while eating. As much as a drag as it is to wear a mask, I hated getting Covid and having to cancel the last week of our vacation plans.

 

[jbreuner]

A quick check of RiverCruise.com revealed several cruise line options for Fall 2024, if you're interested in a 7 - 10 day cruise. If something more like 4 -6 days is your preference, the only option I saw is Croisi. I know nothing about this company, but the website gives it a very good rating. Here is a link to the website: RiverCruise.com. I'd love to cruise the Duoro someday myself!

 

[NothingClever]

The Douro is the "hot" river at the moment. Nearly all of the river cruise companies are offering or are in the process of offering cruises on the Douro. You will want to really compare what each company offers in their fares. Some include absolutely everything (and you pay for it) while others offer more of an ala carte style option which is also good. There are currently a lot of offers out there so check with the various websites and check with a few travel agents to see what they offer as well. Sometimes they have access to some extra benefits. Prior cruiser, veteran, medical personnel discounts and so on.

Cruisecritic's message board forum has a river cruise section in addition to their ocean cruise section.