A river cruise down the beautiful Douro Valley
It’s easy to make assumptions. Two quite separate friends balked when I announced I’d been invited on a cruise. One has even advised her husband to seek help if she ever succumbs to such a thing. (Bit drastic). The expectation is that this type of journey is like being stuck on a massive floating theme park. With people who are much older and less adventurous than you. (Bit ageist). But a trip cruising down the beautiful Douro Valley in Portugal, with stops in Lisbon and Porto, would be different, surely?
As the holiday approaches, I feel trepidatious. Largely around the lack of privacy and the thought of onboard life potentially being a little claustrophobic. Also, I’m vegetarian and can remember visiting Portugal in my twenties and eating cheese sandwiches for two weeks…
No need to worry. The Viking ship is like a floating five-star hotel. Our lovely room has a private balcony with two chairs and a table – so we can spend some ‘alone time’ outside, should we want to. The Viking service and staff are superb. Absolutely brilliant. Everyone is helpful and friendly, nothing is too much trouble. And they all seem to have a great sense of humour. Which is always impressive in a second language. The super-talented chef, Michael from Newcastle runs a, erm, tight ship. Ensuring that both the variety of meals on offer and culinary standards remain high throughout the cruise.
My Private Balcony
This is a slick operation. Extremely well organised. Everything runs like clockwork. At the end of each day (around 6.30pm) there’s a handy 15-minute meeting with the programme director, Raquel, detailing the following day’s excursion and schedule of events. As it’s easy to completely relax onboard, I found this very useful indeed. Followed by evening drinks – before dinner – with an array of delicious Portuguese wine and cocktails to try.
Coimbra University trip
There are daily excursions to various towns, vineyards, historical sites, churches, local markets – and you can opt in or out of these. There’s no pressure. One downside, I found, was that because of the nature of the Douro Valley, these are all coach trips so a fair amount of time is spent on four-wheels. But, as I said, you can pick and choose exactly what you want to do and the excursions are not obligatory.
Checking out the port production
One of my favourite days onboard was spent cruising back down the oh-so peaceful Douro watching the terraced vineyards and rocky outcrops go by. While bird-and-train-spotting; there’s plenty of wildlife to see – and not just on the ship’s dance floor after a few glasses of vinho verde. (The train line runs along the riverside and is visible part of the way, disappearing into tunnels and inland). The scenery along the world’s oldest demarcated wine region and UNESCO site is simply stunning. Then, when the temperature hits 30 degrees, we dip into the Viking ship’s plunge pool. Ah, bliss.
View from the vineyard
After turn-down every night a copy of the Viking Daily newsletter appears in our room. As I come from a publishing background, I thoroughly approve of this. The newsletter features: a list of the next day’s events, local information on architecture, language, legendary residents, and sightseeing highlights; there’s a brief weather forecast, contact details for staff (though Viking staff are readily available at the front desk) and interesting nautical terms. Did you know that… ‘ the bottom portion of a sail is called the “foot”. If it is not secured , it is “footloose” and dances randomly in the wind.’
And, we meet some lovely, like-minded people – actually I would go so far as to say that we made some new friends. Aside from the excursions there are loads of things to do onboard. Informative sessions with members of the Viking team – covering everything from local history, language and culture to how to make a pastel de nata. In the evening, there’s live music and entertainment – a lovely pianist (Edgar), flamenco dancers, a Portuguese band – and it is fun. Honest. We had a great time.
With only 100 passengers onboard, this is a relatively small ship and so the overall experience is more like a gallery opening than a trip to an enormous theme park.
Back in Porto
Full details of Viking’s Douro Valley river cruise HERE. And ‘ What Viking is not’ HERE.
This is a sponsored post.
Discussion (31 Comments)
Teresa says:
Beautiful photos! I haven’t done this cruise but have done several other Viking cruises. They are wonderful and do such a terrific job. The staff and tour guides are always top notch. I love being able to unpack once and be settled. I never wanted to do a cruise before I did the Vikings. Love them! I will definitely look into this one!
There were lots of ‘ serial cruisers’ on the trip, Teresa, and I can completely understand why. I was so impressed by the Viking experience.
Anne says:
Hi Alyson, it’s Douro, not Duoro 😉 Portugal is my second home and I love it: the people, the food, the nature 🙂
Oops, thanks Anne! I started out with the correct spelling and then my brain must’ve got tired. I’ll go back and change it.
Paradise says:
Wonderful post! Been pondering a small river European cruise the last couple years, but also was wondering if we’re too “young” being in our late 40s/early 50s. This just gave me the little push to explore this option soon. Appreciate that Viking invited you and sponsored the post so we can all continue to support and visit your honest and informative blog gratis!
Mrs Tonia says:
This sounds like a fabulous holiday to take. I’ve never been on a cruise holiday but the attraction of being in one place from which to go on excursions is attractive idea. Only boat holiday I’ve been on was a very basic Russian one to visit Karelia and historic sites like Khizhi with its wooden onion domed churches. We had short excursions from main boat. No luxury so going back on land to a comfortable St Petersburg hotel with a real bathroom was especially appreciated. The type of travel now impossible to do.
Jaykay says:
Sounds idyllic Alyson, this is a cruise we are planning on doing . Thinking of combining a land tour first as Portugal is long way from Australia.
With a cruise to relax to finish.
Have you any thoughts on this?Well, there’s plenty to see in Europe. It’s a good idea. Where to start?! Portugal is next to Spain so you could visit Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao for the Guggenheim, San Sebastien for the food! I guess it depends what time of year you are travelling (most Spanish cities are incredibly hot in summer, though San Sebastien will be cooler) – and also where you’ve already been… I love Italy and France – and Belgium is seriously underrated. We often travel on the Eurostar from London. Let me know if you need any more info.
Allison says:
Like your friends, I would cringe at the idea of going on a cruise but when my children were little I took them on summer cruisesfor 3 consecutive years. My husband couldn’t take time off work and it was a great way of taking them on holiday without me having to cook, drive or think! The ship drops you at amazing locations like Ephesus and the Norwegian Fjords and off you go. It was a great way for a Mum to spend the long summer holidays alone with two young children. I became less judgy about cruises after that!
Bee says:
I am recently home from a holiday in Orkney and the cruise ships there were far too many and far too large, some each week of over 4000. They overwhelmed the islands with many buses of visitors, adding little to the economy as trips were all paid at very low rate in advance and all meals were taken on board. The only real income was the bus hire. Maybe the river cruises have less impact. I have not been on a cruise, and like you, would dread the intimacy of lots of people I have not chosen to spend time with. Your trips sounds very enjoyable.
Anna K. says:
River cruises are very different from the ocean-going gin palaces. I had a lovely cruise on the Danube from Budapest to Vienna a few years ago: only 150 passengers, lovely food, excellent accommodation, fascinating excursions to Salzburg, Melk etc. – and no rough seas or sea sickness!
Maria Aires says:
Wellcome to my country and city Porto … its amazing beautiful an full of History!!! Obrigada (thank you).
Joyce Morris says:
It all looks, and sounds, heavenly. As well as being astounded at photographs shared by friends, of Blackpool afloat, I am sea sick in the bath. Is it smooth at all times Alison?
You certainly make it sound special.It is smooth on the river, Joyce. Though it was quite windy heading back to Porto but not choppy.
Margaret says:
Loved our visits to Porto and the Douro usually taken in October. So beautiful. I’ve never been on a cruise, one of the great delights of trips for me is figuring all the details out myself. Once you do that and it works you never want to have someone else sort all the details out for you. Occasionally a really good city guide is helpful. I do have a question….. tell me more about your beautiful top? It looks cool and interesting. Definitely what was needed on a hot Portuguese day. Is a post on summer clothes for cruises on your list?
Christine Donne says:
A wonderful post & photos Alison, lucky you. And yes The Douro; I get that spelling mixed up as well. I’d planned an almost identical cruise myself last year with 2 friends but fate had other ideas for me. I broke 3 bones my ankle last October; and was literally laid up for over 6 months. Being an extremely active widow with no family, I had to employ a private carer for 6 months – which was an absolute nightmare. I suspect I was one as well!. However, the Douro is on my list for next year. I wonder did you get to visit the Mataeus winery? Small ship cruising is the only way for me now.
Mrs Tonia’s reply reminded me of a Jules Verne solo river cruise I took in July 1991. It was literally a few days after the Soviet coup attempt! I was given the option to cancel but decided to go ahead anyway, (my friends thought I was crazy). I flew by Aroflot to St Petersburg/Leningrad. We were driven in an tatty of bus to the ship in some far away dockland area. What an amazing, at times terrryfying 8 day experience it, was. I could write a book about it! I’ve never spoken to anyone who’s heard of northern Karelia, or who’s seen the wooden domes which shone like silver on Khizhi – In St Petersburg/Leningrad visiting The Hermitage all those years ago – amazing – no crowds – no queues. Neither was there a TNMYA back then & I took all the wrong clothes.Isabelle Fish says:
The issue with cruises is the terrifying destructive environmental impact and the lack of economic contribution by the passengers to the places visited.
And it doesn’t matter if it’s a large or small ship. The damage is the same.
See this article for the environmental impact of cruise ships: https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/cleaning-up-cruise-ships-environmental-wake/amp/Fiona Henderson says:
thanks for this post and link, Isabelle – I’d been concerned about this issue for a while so this is really helpful.
We did this trip a couple of years ago, and it was everything you say and more.
What fascinated us most was all the locks we navigated, some were like a James Bond film and a bit scary we thought. What amazing engineering work they displayed.
We also enjoyed the visit to Salamanca a beautiful city and the area around the university and church were again worth the visit alone.
We tagged on a visit to Lisbon via train and an overnight stop at Coimbra a small beautiful university town. Can highly recommend to do that as well.Thanks Gunilla – yes, the locks were huge and impressive and a bit scary! This trip starts in Lisbon with a coach up to Porto, stopping at Coimbra on the way. It is a beautiful town – I first visited it in the 1980s so it was lovely to go back.
Wendy Shires says:
For those of your readers who wish to travel up the Douro, but not by boat, I’d highly recommend a day trip on the train if you happen to be staying in Porto. Leaving from one of the most beautiful stations I’ve seen is one of the highlights
Sharon Payne says:
Did you take this cruise last week? I had friends on that exact cruise last week from San Diego! It’s a lovely adventure that I too did 2 years ago.
Ooh now that would’ve been a coincidence! We were on the cruise at the end of July/ beginning of August.
Christine March says:
Alyson, your post couldn’t be more timely. We are doing a Douro Valley river cruise in October. This will be our 3rd cruise, but first river cruise. We are very much looking forward to this trip (which will include time in Lisbon and Porto) and your positive review helps fuel our excitement. Thanks for sharing your experience.
This is a very timely post for me as hubby and I are considering booking a Viking river cruise for next year. Your detailed description is very helpful and your photos stunning! Thank you!
Jenice Vesely says:
We did this cruise in November of 2022, when the world was just opening up for travel and it was one of the best trips we have ever taken. It is a little different than other European river cruises in that the stops do not offer much for those who do not want to do excursions. But the excursions are awesome! We did a combination of included and extra and loved each one. We highly recommend this wonderful cruise. Viking did it right!
This sounds like my type of cruise. I’ve only been on one – in 1987 which was a school trip. The food was awful, we all lost weight and had bought all of the overpriced chocolate in the shop by the end of the week. We did get to see the pyramids and float in the Dead Sea, which was amazing. We should have got to see the Acropolis too but we flew out to Athens the day of the notorious hurricane that wasn’t supposed to happen and our flight was delayed. The year after the cruise ship sank. Hopefully my next one will be a better experience!
Emma
Jill Ann says:
Lovely! We aren’t cruise people either, but did a Viking cruise on the Danube from Munich to Budapest, 2 years ago. We had a wonderful time! We are in our mid 60s, and it’s true the demographic skews old-ish, but we traveled with 8 friends, so we brought our own party, so to speak. By the end of the cruise we had encouraged other passengers to join us for singing & dancing in the lounge every evening, with the delightful Ivan (the piano guy). The ship had 185 passengers, so logistics were easy. The food was delicious & service was very accommodating. We did excursions every day; some were great & some not so much. If (when) we do another Viking cruise, we’ll probably book a few private excursions. As with all cruises, you don’t get to spend as much time in some locations as you’d like. I do recommend booking a pre- and post- cruise stay if you can manage it. We spent a few days in Munich before the cruise, and a few days in Budapest at the end (plus went to Venice afterward, just for fun).
Stella Burgess says:
Hi Alyson we also dipped our toe into the cruising water for the first time on a Douro River Cruise in August 2017 and can honestly say it was one of our best holidays ever! We had similar reactions from a couple of friends but would definitely recommend and are hoping to do a South of France river trip next year.
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I took my first cruise last year – it was a 7 day Alaskan cruise on Holland America. I felt pampered by the wonderful staff on board. The only thing I would change is the date I left. It was mid September when I went, and the weather can change in a moment’s notice. If I did another Alaskan cruise, I would plan to leave mid to the end of August.
Alyson, thank you for sharing your cruise experience – the photos are lovely.