Douro Express River Cruise: 5-Night Porto Round-Trip

It is a 6-day, 5-night round trip from Porto. You board at Douro Marina from 3:00 PM on day one and disembark there after breakfast on day six. The ship sails upstream to Entre-os-Rios and Regua in the heart of the Douro Valley, then returns to Porto, so you unpack once and never change accommodation during the trip.

The cruise sails aboard the MS Douro Cruiser, a four-star-superior vessel measuring 78 m by 11.4 m with capacity for 130 guests. It was built in 2005 and refurbished in 2024. On board there is a panoramic restaurant, a spacious lounge with a bar, a souvenir shop, a lift, a sun terrace with loungers and an outdoor pool.

Four categories are offered and all cabins are exterior: Category D on the Main Deck aft, Category C on the Main Deck, Category B on the Upper Deck aft, and Category A on the Upper Deck. Category D carries the lead-in fare. The exact price for each category and departure date is shown on this page.

Main Deck cabins (Categories C and D) have a large fixed panorama window. Upper Deck cabins (Categories A and B) have a step-out balcony with a table and chairs, which is the main reason to upgrade on a river where the terraced hillsides pass close to the ship. Aft cabins are the lower-priced option within each deck.

All cabins are exterior and about 15 square metres. Each has a shower and WC, individually adjustable air conditioning, a hairdryer, a safe and a television. Daily housekeeping is included, as is laundry service of up to six pieces per person, daily bottled water, Wi-Fi and luggage handling on board.

Days one and two are in Porto, with a panoramic city tour taking in the historic centre, the Ribeira waterfront beside the Dom Luis I Bridge and the famous riverside cellars. Day three is Entre-os-Rios, where the Douro meets the Tamega. Day four is Regua, gateway to the Douro Valley. Day five cruises back to Porto with a free evening in the city.

The included excursion package covers the panoramic tour of Porto and a visit to a traditional quinta, or estate, in the Regua area with a tasting, both with English-speaking guides. A cruise manager accompanies the sailing. Optional excursions, such as the visit to the historic city of Guimaraes from Entre-os-Rios, are charged separately.

Yes. The included excursion package runs in English and requires a minimum of two guests, while the panoramic tour of Porto operates with a minimum of ten guests. On a 130-guest ship these minimums are almost always met, but if a tour cannot run you will be told on board and alternatives suggested.

Full board is included from dinner on embarkation day to breakfast on disembarkation day: a breakfast buffet, a three-course lunch and a four-course dinner, plus evening snacks in the lounge. The programme also includes the Captain's Welcome and Farewell receptions, a special Welcome Dinner and the Captain's Gala Dinner.

The package runs daily from 9:30 AM to 11:00 PM and covers a standard selection of drinks by the glass along with soft drinks, mineral water, coffee and tea. Specialty coffees, premium selections and spirits are not included and are charged to your cabin, as are minibar items.

Optional excursions, drinks outside the included package, individual transfers, international flights, travel insurance, gratuities, minibar items, the fuel surcharge and Portuguese VAT are not included. Transfers between Porto airport and Douro Marina are not part of the fare, so allow for a taxi or a pre-arranged private transfer.

Two fixed extras apply: gratuities of 70 euros per person per cruise and a fuel surcharge of 45 euros per person. Portuguese Value Added Tax of 6 percent is also payable and is not included in the quoted fare. A travel specialist will show you the full amount, including these items, before anything is paid.

Yes. Wi-Fi is included throughout the ship, and laundry service of up to six pieces per person is included during the cruise. Daily housekeeping, daily bottled water in your cabin and luggage handling on board are also covered by the fare. Laundry beyond the six-piece allowance is charged separately.

The lead-in fare is from about 1,169 euros per person sharing a Category D cabin on the Main Deck aft, for the full five nights with all meals, the beverage package and the included excursions. Fares rise with cabin category and vary by departure date, so the exact fare for each date is shown on this page.

Yes, a single-occupancy fare is available for travellers who want a cabin to themselves, at a supplement over the sharing rate. Cabin numbers are limited, so single occupancy is best requested early. Ask a travel specialist to confirm the single rate for your preferred date before you book.

A deposit of 25 percent of the cruise price confirms your cabin, with the balance due 65 days before departure. If you book within 65 days of sailing the full amount is payable at the time of booking. Written confirmation setting out the amounts and the due date follows once your cabin is held.

Children are accepted and priced by age at departure, with one band for ages 0 to 5 and another for ages 5 to 12; from 12 the adult fare applies. Cabins are about 15 square metres, so families usually book two cabins rather than adding a third bed. Speak to a travel specialist so the right cabins are held together.

Entre-os-Rios is a quiet town where the Douro and the Tamega meet, framed by wooded hills. Sights include the Duarte Pacheco Bridge over the Tamega and the Romanesque Church of Sao Miguel, and a well-known thermal spa nearby has tranquil gardens that are centuries old. An optional excursion to the historic city of Guimaraes is offered from here.

Departures are loaded for the 2027 season, beginning in March. The full list of bookable dates, with the fare for each cabin category, is shown in the departures section of this page. Spring and autumn sailings on the Douro fill early because the number of ships licensed on the river is limited.

Email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610 or message https://wa.me/17864080610, and a travel specialist or our AI assistant will help. Every departure date listed on this page can be booked directly, and we will confirm the cabin category, the exact fare and the extras payable in writing before any payment is taken.