About the Douro
The Douro is one of the most spectacular river-cruise routes in Europe — a deeply terraced wine valley cultivated since the seventeenth century and itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ships sail upriver from Porto through five locks, including the cathedral-like Carrapatelo with its 35-metre lift.
Headline destinations: Porto, the Alto Douro wine region, Salamanca, Régua, Pinhão.
The river flows through 2 countries — Spain, Portugal. 17 ships from 10 different operators currently sail itineraries here, ranging from week-long classic loops to multi-week extended voyages.
Featured itineraries on the Douro
| Itinerary | Length | Sample ports |
|---|---|---|
| Portuguese Vintage | 8 nights | Porto · Régua · Pinhão · Vega de Terron · Salamanca · Barca d'Alva |
| Douro Wine Country | 8 nights | Porto · Entre-os-Rios · Régua · Pinhão · Pocinho · Salamanca |
Operators sailing the Douro
Viking River Cruises
Scandinavian-styled Longships exploring Europe's great waterways.
AmaWaterways
Boutique river ships with twin balconies and onboard bicycles.
Avalon Waterways
Suite Ships with beds that face the river.
Scenic Luxury Cruises
All-inclusive Space-Ships with butler-served suites.
Emerald Cruises
Star-Ships with an indoor pool that converts to a cinema.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Floating boutique hotels with hand-curated antiques.
CroisiEurope
Family-owned French line covering Europe's lesser-known rivers.
Tauck
Family-owned American operator with multi-generational departures.
A-ROSA River Cruises
Lifestyle river cruising for a German-speaking market.
Riviera Travel
British operator with single-supplement cabins on every ship.
Ships sailing the Douro
| Ship | Cruise line | Class | Guests | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-ROSA Alva | A-ROSA River Cruises | A-ROSA Douro | 124 | 2019 |
| AmaDouro | AmaWaterways | Douro | 102 | 2019 |
| AmaVida | AmaWaterways | Douro | 106 | 2013 |
| Avalon Artistry II | Avalon Waterways | Suite Ship | 128 | 2013 |
| Emerald Radiance | Emerald Cruises | Star-Ship | 112 | 2017 |
| MS Belle de Cadix | CroisiEurope | Premier | 176 | 2005 |
| MS Douro Elegance | Riviera Travel | Riviera Douro | 128 | 2017 |
| MS Douro Serenity | Riviera Travel | Riviera Douro | 128 | 2014 |
| MS Douro Splendour | Riviera Travel | Riviera Douro | 128 | 2019 |
| SS Bon Voyage | Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | Super Ship | 128 | 2019 |
| SS Sao Gabriel | Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | Super Ship | 100 | 2023 |
| Scenic Azure | Scenic Luxury Cruises | Space-Ship | 96 | 2016 |
| Viking Helgrim | Viking River Cruises | Douro Class | 106 | 2019 |
| Viking Hemming | Viking River Cruises | Douro Class | 106 | 2014 |
| Viking Osfrid | Viking River Cruises | Douro Class | 106 | 2018 |
| Viking Torgil | Viking River Cruises | Douro Class | 106 | 2014 |
| ms Andorinha | Tauck | Douro | 84 | 2018 |