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Synonymous with Portugal’s port wine industry, the Douro cuts through the heart of the country’s remote and rugged wine region. It runs along the border of Spain and Portugal for 70 miles, before turning into the country at Vega de Terron, which is where it becomes navigable for the final 125 miles as it flows towards Porto.
Unlike other European rivers that are notable for the major cities along their banks, the Douro has a completely different flavour. The so-called River of Gold is more of an exotic backwater as it winds through the Douro Valley which has UNESCO World Heritage status as the world’s first demarcated wine region. As so little of it is navigable, vessels sail from Porto to the Spanish border before turning around and retracing their route – a journey that takes just four or five days. The pace of sailings is slow and sleepy with beautiful scenery of rocky gorges and precipitous slopes covered by vines and dotted with Portuguese wineries or “quintas” that are the focus of port tastings.
CroisiEurope has been sailing the rivers for over 40 years and is a great value river cruise company. Passengers enjoy clean, comfortable cabins, great itineraries, and an experienced and personable crew on their river ships. Onboard, enjoy French cuisine prepared by chefs who have worked with Michelin-starred legends such as Paul Bocuse. With between 100 - 200 passengers, CroisiEurope's vessels act like small, floating hotels and are perfect for docking in busy city ports, but with all the amenities you'd expect for a relaxing, comfortable trip.
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