I am in Porto and would like to take a day cruise on the Douro. Reviews of the different cruises are real varied from great to awful-avoid. Has anyone taken a day cruise and if so with what company and boat?
I was thinking of Porto-Regua and going upstream on boat and train back
Posted by
Victoria, BC, Canada
372 posts
We did a tour like this last September. Mine may have been one of the unfavourable reviews you read. Our full day tour was with CRUZEIROS DOURO. Took the train to Ragua and cruised back to Porto. The boat was jam packed, and in my estimation, over sold. The upper open deck had no shade, and seating on cheap plastic chairs for about 25% of the people on board. Since there was nowhere to sit up top, we had to sit at our assigned table, where we couldn't see outside and it was very, very hot with no A/C. Tables were jammed together and to get out of my seat 4 people at 2 different tables had to get up. The best part of this cruise were the amazing people we were seated with - a couple from England, a couple from Portugal and another couple from Canada. We had amazing conversations and the lunch was very good. We found the commentary that was sporadically broadcast essentially useless as by the time they got to the English, we were past what was being talked about. The locks were mildly interesting, and we did find the valley, while beautiful, became rather monotonous, at least what we could see from our table. We went up top several times hoping to have a chance at finding a seat without luck. The crew were very friendly and the service was good.
Although we are pretty easy going and easy to please travelers, we just can't recommend this tour as it was a big disappointment. We wish we had just done a half day or couple hour trip from Porto instead.