We took a 10 day Douro river cruise in Portugal on the Scenic Azure in October 2018. This was our third cruise using Scenic and like the others we have taken this cruise was outstanding in every way as well as totally inclusive.

But every kind of Scenic cruise is also different in its own way, and the one along the Douro is no exception. What stood out for us most of all was the authenticity of the experience. It’s a relatively short distance cruise with the total distance sailed about 400 km (beginning in Porto, going to the Spanish border, and back again) so there is a lot of time for excursions. Overnight cruising is not allowed on the Douro, and in some cases, you’ll stay moored for two nights. You’ll therefore do a lot of walking both on ships excursions and exploring on your own, frequently up and down hills on cobblestones. Not a trip for a person with mobility issues, or someone who doesn’t like to walk.

All excursions are in Portugal aside from a visit to Salamanca, Spain. The entire ship’s crew is Portuguese and they are proud of their country and want everyone to experience it. We went to small villages, churches, castles, and wineries and in every place, we got to appreciate some different aspect of Portuguese culture and history. You’ll learn more about port wine, sardines, cork, the Portuguese royal family, the 1910 revolution, and fado singing than you ever thought possible. Scenery along the river is beautiful particularly in port wine country where there are terraces containing grape vines, olive trees, and almond trees, along with pretty villages with red roofed buildings. Read more