Douro River Cruises

Porto may be Portugal’s second city, but it takes first place in many cruisers’ hearts. It’s a gastronomic wonderland – with port and tonics, pastel de natas and excellent seafood. It's also full of architectural marvels, including the famous ironwork bridge joining the neighbourhoods of Gaia and Ribeira. You’ll find that both ocean liners and river cruise ships stop at its ports.

This port town acts as an idyllic gateway to Portugal’s oldest wine-producing region. It’s the perfect place to learn about the area's viticulture in beautiful surroundings. Nearby, you’ll also find Casa de Mateus – this 18th-century baroque palace is known for its hedge-lined labyrinths and richly carved interiors.

This bucolic port town is a charming spot to explore quintas (wine estates) and tuck into local cuisine. But first, enjoy a ramble or cycle in the surrounding hillsides, with gentle routes through vineyards and citrus groves.

This UNESCO-listed university city, known for its golden sandstone, is a feast for the eyes. The university itself has been educating students for over 800 years, and the 18th-century grand square is full of history. Its Art Nouveau and Art Deco museum is another site of cultural fascination. 

This riverside town is set within the Douro Natural Park and is a great pit stop for nature lovers. The scenery is filled with drama, including mysterious rock formations and soaring birds of prey. You’re also near Castelo Rodrigo – a medieval village known for its castle ruins and olive groves.

This marks where two rivers meet: the Douro and the Águeda. The town is small and serene but offers a great launch point for exploration of both Portugal and Spain, including the latter's oldest university, located in Salamanca.

Lamego is best known for the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Our Lady of Remedies). Today, travellers follow in the footsteps of pilgrims, coming to marvel at the rococo architecture, climb the remarkable baroque staircase or simply take in the picturesque views.

Guimarães might be small, but it has huge historical significance. It's commonly referred to as the 'birthplace of Portugal' or the 'cradle city', primarily because it was the birthplace of the nation's first king. Today, the town centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and travellers come for the castle, churches and cobbled streets. 

For Douro River cruisers, this is a must-do shore excursion. The medieval town holds appeal for history buffs, thanks to its gothic castle, ancient walls and 16th-century church. 

This German cruise operator has been offering sailings on Europe’s rivers since 2018, earning a reputation for the premium, all-inclusive experience it provides on its intimate ships. With sweet-but-short itineraries, culinary-themed sailings and a presence on rivers like the Elbe and Po, which most other operators miss out, it has plenty to recommend it. 

Atlas Ocean Voyages offers intimate yachting expeditions of the highest quality, taking each passenger on the cruise of a lifetime. Founded in 2019, Atlas operates with three custom-designed ships – World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager – that each focus on famed cruising styles; expedition, classic ocean and epicurean. Regardless of whether you seek culinary excellence or a lesser-travelled paradise, Atlas has you covered with unrivalled comfort and unchallenged style.

Swan Hellenic cruise line takes pride in providing elegant cruises that sail their guests to far-flung destinations across the world such as New Zealand and the Arctic. With over 70 years of experience, enjoy a sophisticated and comfortable atmosphere onboard Swan Hellenic cruises, with some truly remarkable visits to less-accessible polar regions and plenty of lesser-visited ports worth seeing.

Specialising in fun-filled family holidays, Carnival Cruises traverse the seas of Europe and North America with a fleet of more than 20 sleek cruise liners. Founded in 1972 and based in the United States, Carnival strives to entertain travellers of all ages, offering a veritable smorgasbord of facilities and activities. Ultimately casual but packed full of excitement, Carnival Cruises are ideal for passengers looking for a livelier holiday.

Regent promises to deliver The Most Inclusive Luxury Experience, offering an all-inclusive, ultra-luxury experience that is Unrivalled at Sea™. Guests will be able to explore more than 550 destinations around the world while enjoying the unrivalled space, elegance, and comfort of The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet®. Regent will tend to every detail of their journey from start to finish, so guests can be pampered by the warm, Heartfelt Hospitality™ delivered by the crew. 

Oceania Cruises has built a reputation for its approach to small ship luxury. Onboard its intimate, upscale vessels, food sits firmly at the centre of the experience, with refined dining that ranks among the best at sea. Beyond that, the adults-only line is known for its destination-led itineraries, favouring lesser-visited ports and longer stays ashore.   

Wellness should be about balanced indulgence, not self-sacrifice - that's the philosophy behind Silversea's new programme called Otium, named after the Roman leisure time dedicated to bathing, talking, singing, drinking, eating and relaxing. The easygoing regime includes a 24-hour room-service menu of comfort food, as well as new spa treatments, relaxing baths and hot chocolate served on your balcony.

SeaDream led the industry down a path of post-lockdown recovery during a Norwegian cruise. However, the line's two 112-passenger ships are more at home in the Med and Caribbean, where they can offer a "champagne in the surf" experience. Dining and sleeping are offered on deck, thanks to an outdoor restaurant and a series of Balinese beds. Champagne, strawberries and towel swans add to the romance.

Emerald Cruises offers a modern, relaxed, super-premium all-inclusive cruising experience, with contemporary and elegant ships and bucket-list destinations. Onboard, guests are able to dine at four all-inclusive and unique outlets, enjoying free-flowing alcoholic beverages at mealtimes. Flexibility is key, with its range of shore excursion packages, and every aspect of the trip is taken care of – including flights and transfers.

Holland America Line, which has been sailing for 150 years, visits 400 ports in 114 countries every year. Dutch heritage shines through in some of the $4million-worth of artwork to be seen onboard, complimenting the luxurious cruise experience. Live music remains HAL's forte, with venues including the Rolling Stone Rock room and BB King's Blues Club. For foodies, a wide range of restaurants serve the finest of fayre.

For decadent luxury that sails hand-in-hand with personalised experience and in-depth access to world heritage, may we introduce Seabourn Cruises. Blending nimble power and grace with beautifully designed spaces, Seabourn ships can be likened to lavish resorts. Except, uniquely, the staff already know you just as they also remember your favourite drink.

Crystal Cruises - originally founded in 1988 - offers a range of stylish luxury and expedition cruises, bringing a sense of occasion and high-end service to far-flung parts of the world. For over three decades, Crystal has gained awards and accolades by the shipload – and it’s not hard to see why.Operating a fleet of impressive ships decked out with opulent décor and contemporary innovations, Crystal Cruises takes comfort and adventure to the next level. From succulent dining to perfectly-organised onshore excursions, not to mention helicopter trips and submarine expeditions, the cruise line boasts of serious attention to detail, for the ultimate trip of a lifetime.