Douro River Cruise Review
By Heidi Sarna
Joyfully wandering around hilly Porto, a colorful old city built on the steep banks of Portugal's Douro River where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, after flowing some 500 miles from north-central Spain, I was smitten by this often-overlooked European jewel. A compact walkable place that definitely requires a good walking shoe, I was drawn to its vibrant centuries’ old yet youthful energy, bustling with backpackers, families and older travelers alike. Ah, and those beautiful ceramic tiles were everywhere.
When cruising from Porto, moored within site of its famous bridges and terracotta rooftops, you'll enjoy one of the few river cruises that starts and ends in the heart of a gorgeous city — not on the edge of town or hidden in some industrial area.
Set at the mouth of the Douro River estuary along Portugal’s northern coast — the gateway to the country’s famed wine region — Porto quickly won me over with its medieval architecture, ornate churches and charming cobblestone streets. One of Europe’s oldest settlements, Porto dates back to Roman times and its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
My bestie and I spent two days in Porto in late August before boarding Uniworld’s 98-passenger SS São Gabriel, a sleek riverboat custom-built in 2021 to cruise Portugal’s winding Douro River on a roughly 250-mile round-trip journey.
The Unique Douro
To navigate the Douro’s five locks and its narrow, twisty stretches, ships on the river must be shorter — São Gabriel measures just 262 feet — than vessels sailing other European rivers like the Rhine or Danube where boats are often 100 to 200 feet longer and often carry twice as many passengers.
With just 94 guests aboard my cruise, mostly from North America, it was easy to make friends over the course of the week, whether mingling at happy hour, dining in the open-seating restaurant, or chatting on daily excursions.
Arguably Europe’s most upscale river cruise line, Uniworld offers all-inclusive fares on ships known for stylish interiors and excellent service. The fleet sails Europe’s major rivers as well as farther afield, including the Mekong and Nile.
Summary:
9 Reasons to Do a Douro River Cruise with Uniworld Aboard São Gabriel:
- Round-trip from the beautiful city of Porto, with plenty of time to see the city.
- Excellent excursions led by the cruise manager (on our cruise, the impressive Ricardo and a few local guides), including tours of ancient walled cities and vineyards.
- Deep immersion in Port wine culture, with tastings and visits throughout the Douro River Valley.
- Intimate small ship (98 pax) — far fewer than on other European rivers — yet still offering amenities like a spacious sun deck with a pool, plus small gym and massage room.
- Beautifully designed ship with glamorous lighting, rich colors, textured fabrics and striking art.
- Stunning views of the scenic Douro River gorge along the way.
- Excellent service across the board, from dining to cabin and excursions staff.
- The region remains refreshingly uncrowded, despite an increase in river traffic over the past decade.
- The region also doesn't feel overdeveloped or unduly modernized, unlike other river cruising areas in Europe, allowing travelers to soak up the old world.
And Two Caveats:
It’s a stretch to think of any, but …
- Summer heat. Temperatures in the Douro Valley often top 95°F in summer. A hat, sunglasses, and a small umbrella make sightseeing more comfortable.
- Port wine overload. Port, the region’s sweet fortified specialty, appears frequently — at tastings on board and ashore. That said, there are plenty of alternatives, including whites, sparkling wines, and reds, all poured at lunch and dinner by a knowledgeable sommelier.
Port Highlights
Included daily walking tours showcased vineyards, museums, and medieval cathedrals and castles. These were led either by Uniworld staff — notably Cruise Manager Ricardo, who was exceptionally organized, passionate and a standout lecturer — or by local guides, generally excellent, like guide Davide on our Porto walking tour.
Nearly every tour included an opportunity to taste Portugal’s beloved Port wine. A few optional excursions carried extra fees, such as a Porto e-bike tour (49 Euros).
Some tours started within walking distance of our mooring, while others required scenic 20- to 60-minute bus rides along winding roads with little traffic. Personal VOX listening devices were provided for commentary.
Pocinho, Portugal
After a scenic motorcoach ride, we arrived at Castelo Rodrigo, a medieval hilltop fortress town dating to the 12th century, where Ricardo shared fascinating insights into its Jewish and Moorish past.
Lamego, Portugal
Another day we toured the ornate “Our Lady of Remedies” sanctuary in Lamego, dramatically set atop a Baroque staircase of more than 600 steps.
Salamanca, Spain
Another highlight was a full-day excursion across the border to Salamanca, Spain. A guided walk through the UNESCO-listed old quarter included the 18th-century Baroque Plaza Mayor, the famed university founded in the 11th century, and the massive New Cathedral begun in the 1500s.
We were given free time too, and my friend and I chose to climb the 200 stairs to the Scala Coeli (“Stairway to Heaven” in Latin) towers at the 17th-century Jesuit complex for sweeping city views.
Pinhão, Portugal
One especially memorable day involved walking through the steep hillside vineyards of the Croft wine estate, Quinta de Sao Luiz, on the week’s hottest day (near 100°F). Fortunately, the rest of the week was unusually mild, mostly in the 80s. Many times we heard the locals sum up the Douro Valley climate as “nine months of winter, three months of hell.”
Régua, Portugal
Here we visited the Douro Museum, housed in a restored 18th-century warehouse, and enjoyed an engaging lecture by a local vintner. We watched a fascinating black-and-white film that depicted life along the Douro before locks were built in the 1930s, showing grape pickers hauling 100-pound baskets, manually breaking up shale rock to grow vines, and navigating the treacherous rocky river in traditional wooden rabelo boats.
Porto, Portugal
The ship remained docked in Porto for half a day at both the beginning and end of the cruise, always in a prime river-facing position (and not sandwiched between other river boats stacked out from the docking area, which by the way, requires you to walk through the lobbies of other boats to get to yours).
That meant we could bask in unobstructed views of Porto’s centuries-old red-tiled roofs, fortress-like Porto Cathedral and the picturesque late 19th-century double-deck iron Dom Luís I Bridge designed by a disciple of the French civil engineer Gustave Eiffel.
What’s Port Wine?
Port is a fortified wine made from red and white grapes grown in Portugal’s Douro Valley. During fermentation, a neutral grape spirit (similar to brandy and called aguardente) is added, halting the process early and locking in natural sweetness. The result is a higher-alcohol wine meant to be sipped and savored in small glasses.
Varieties range from fruity ruby Ports to nutty, age-mellowed tawny Ports and prized vintage bottles aged for decades.
By the way, the name “Port” comes from the wine’s historic journey down the Douro River to the seaport city of Porto, where it was shipped worldwide.
The Scenery Along the Way
This is a cruise taken as much for the scenery as for the excursions, from beaches and an old railway line hugging the riverbanks near Porto to steep inland hillsides quilted with vineyards, interspersed with olive, cork oak, and fig trees. The river itself is striking, at times narrowing dramatically, with exposed rock formations lining its banks.
VIDEO: Below, you can appreciate the beauty of the curving Douro and the scenery along the way.
The beauty of the Douro as well as the fascinating process of passing through several locks along the way, could be enjoyed from a deck chair or a refreshing soak in the pool.
RELATED: Below is a time lapse ride though the Douro's highest lock.
The Uniworld Vibe
Elegant and indulgent, Uniworld ships feature stylish décor rich in color and texture, from patterned upholstery to brocade fabrics, hand-crafted furniture, objet d'art and even Murano glass chandeliers.
São Gabriel boasts polished Iberian-style tile and chevron-patterned flooring, along with plush seating trimmed with rivets and rich fabrics in the main lounge, restaurant and cabins.
This aesthetic stands in contrast to the minimalist Scandinavian décor of other river cruise lines like Viking.
São Gabriel Suites & Cabins
We stayed in a 220-square-foot suite (#305) on Deck 3, near the four 307-square-foot Grand Suites. Our suite had a sitting area, spacious bathroom with a large shower, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping river views. Cabins on the two lower decks are more compact, at 156 square feet.
Suite guests are pampered by a pair of butlers happy to indulge small but meaningful requests — like delivering cold drinks and potato chips while we dressed for dinner. Complimentary laundry and ironing were also appreciated perks. Cabins echo the ship’s eye-catching décor, with a palette of teals, champagne tones, and light woods, accented by tufted headboards, fresh flowers, and ceramic tile details set into marble-clad bathroom vanities.
Excellent Service
Service from the mostly Portuguese staff was outstanding, with a seasoned team keeping everything running smoothly from start to finish. From Ricardo, our impeccably dressed cruise manager who comfortably wore many hats, to maître d’ Armindo Martins, purser Paula Guimarães, and the suite butlers, everyone was friendly, efficient, and unfailingly accommodating — among the best senior crews I’ve encountered on my 130+ cruises. It's no wonder I consider Uniworld among the top river cruise lines in the world.
Delicious Dining Aboard São Gabriel
Dining is a major reason to choose Uniworld. The restaurant is bright and welcoming (unlike some river cruise ship restaurants that feel cramped), with open seating for two, four, or six, allowing for both social and private meals. Service was consistently warm and efficient.
Breakfast and lunch were buffet-style, with standout salads (shrimp-and-pineapple and chicken-lentil-pea), trays of tropical fruits, and various meats and sandwiches, including Porto’s famous Francesinha (thick white bread with ham, sausage, steak, cheese and a spicy tomato-and-beer sauce).
Dinner was served by waiters; my favorites included linguini with salmon, codfish with chickpeas and turnips, and a tagliatelle with arugula, cherry tomatoes, onions and mozzarella cheese.
Each day, two easy-drinking Douro Valley wines were poured at lunch and dinner from producers such as Assobio, Porrais, and Casa Ferreirinha. Sommelier Bueno often served them personally, moving from table to table with enthusiastic commentary. If you fell for a particular wine earlier in the week, staff were happy to track it down again.
What’s Included? Everything!
Uniworld’s all-inclusive set-up was another luxurious element, with fares covering:
- All meals including one at a vineyard
- Unlimited wine, cocktails and all drinks
- Daily excursions
- Onboard lectures & entertainment
- Gratuities
Entertainment & Activities Offered on São Gabriel
Entertainment ranged from an excellent flamenco performance to opera and moving Fado singing — Portugal’s traditional melancholic improv style of folk singing. A lively ’70s-themed dance party in the lounge and evening dancing up on deck rounded out the social calendar.
Daytime activities included a Portuguese custard tart cooking demo, a Port wine tasting with the sommelier, and in-depth daily lectures by Ricardo on Portugal’s history, politics, and culture.
Other Amenities
There was a gym with two treadmills and weights, a massage room (where I enjoyed an excellent Swedish massage), and an attractive sun-deck pool — a perfect place to cool off and chat with new friends while admiring the Douro Valley scenery.
Staying in Porto & Lisbon Before/After Your Cruise
In Porto, we stayed one night at the One Shot Goldsmith Hotel, a lovely four-star property within easy walking distance of the river and downtown. We explored on foot, crossing the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge and strolling the lively waterfronts on both sides of the Douro — the historic Ribeira (or “Porto”) side and the Gaia side on the south bank, famous for its Port wine cellars. We capped the evening with dinner at the Ode restaurant near the river, enjoying aged ham, octopus and Iberian pork ribs.
After the cruise, we spent a night in Lisbon, wandering the city’s atmospheric cobblestone streets and its grand Terreiro do Paço plaza. We stayed at the chic The Ivens hotel, where we joined old friends who moved to Lisbon a decade earlier for a celebratory glass of espumante (sparkling wine) in the hotel’s Gastro Bar.
I Highly Recommend This Douro River Cruise
My week aboard Uniworld’s São Gabriel ranked among my favorite cruises. While other companies offer Douro River cruises, including Viking, AmaWaterways, CroisiEurope and Avalon, Uniworld does it best, combining a beautiful destination with an intimate and elegantly designed ship, excellent service, thoughtfully curated excursions, and delicious meals.
It's hard not to fall for this very special cruise.
Interested in Taking a Uniworld Douro River Cruise?
Seven-night Uniworld Douro River cruises start at about $3,700 per person.
For more information, go to Uniworld.com, or for assistance booking this cruise, we highly recommend our favorite travel advisor Kevin. Show your interest in the form below.
Interested In A Douro River Cruise?
For years, we've been referring our readers to our favorite travel advisor, Kevin Flink, because of his excellent customer service and expertise in travel planning. Kevin owns a franchise of Cruise Planners, one of the highest producing land and cruise travel agencies in the world, which means he gets access to special pricing and various perks from cruise lines, hotels and insurance companies that he can pass on to his clients.
To show your interest in booking a Douro River cruise (or any cruise!) with Kevin, please tell us a bit more about what you’re looking for and we will be happy to get you both connected.
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HEIDI SARNA
