...

ABTA & ATOL Protected

Rated Excellent

Price match promise

£6,300 donated

Low Deposits

Douro Explorer

Our 7-night Douro Explorer Cruise provides the ultimate holiday experience complete with a sublime blend of history, architecture and wine. Taking you to some of Europe’s most iconic regions – including the wine capital of Oporto – the Douro Explorer Cruise is the perfect gateway to your getaway.

Enjoy 7 nights in the lap of luxury as the Douro River draws you to the marvels of Portugal and Spain, from Baroque historical sites to world-famous cities, to local restaurants serving exquisite cuisine.

Choose from a selection of excursions and itineraries masterfully crafted by Saga with you in mind, showcasing the paragons of each region in all their splendor. Prepare for the journey of a lifetime with the Douro Explorer Cruise!

4.5
Star Image
from 397 reviews
  • Cruise Line: Saga
  • Ship: Spirit of the Douro
  • Duration: 7 Nights
  • Departure: Apr - Dec
AVG PER PERSON*
£1,574
Enquire Now

Douro Explorer Cruise Prices

Starting price per person
Apr 24, 2025
£3,559 pp
Enquire
May 01, 2025
£4,097 pp
Enquire
May 08, 2025
£3,538 pp
Enquire
May 15, 2025
Price on Request
Enquire
May 22, 2025
Price on Request
Enquire
May 29, 2025
Price on Request
Enquire
Jun 05, 2025
£4,305 pp
Enquire
Jun 12, 2025
Price on Request
Enquire
Jun 19, 2025
£4,728 pp
Enquire
Jun 26, 2025
£3,081 pp
Enquire
Jul 03, 2025
£4,187 pp
Enquire
Jul 10, 2025
£3,794 pp
Enquire
Jul 17, 2025
£3,683 pp
Enquire
Jul 24, 2025
£1,949 pp
Enquire
Jul 31, 2025
£3,788 pp
Enquire
Aug 07, 2025
£3,724 pp
Enquire
Aug 14, 2025
£3,498 pp
Enquire
Aug 21, 2025
£3,706 pp
Enquire
Aug 28, 2025
£3,669 pp
Enquire
Sep 04, 2025
£5,076 pp
Enquire
Sep 11, 2025
Price on Request
Enquire
Sep 18, 2025
£5,042 pp
Enquire
Sep 25, 2025
£5,008 pp
Enquire
Oct 02, 2025
£3,904 pp
Enquire
Oct 09, 2025
£4,437 pp
Enquire
Oct 16, 2025
£4,064 pp
Enquire
Oct 23, 2025
£3,407 pp
Enquire
Oct 30, 2025
£3,276 pp
Enquire
Nov 06, 2025
£3,087 pp
Enquire
Nov 13, 2025
£2,516 pp
Enquire
Nov 13, 2025
£2,516 pp
Enquire
Nov 20, 2025
£2,127 pp
Enquire
Nov 27, 2025
£2,008 pp
Enquire
Mar 26, 2026
£1,724 pp
Enquire
Apr 02, 2026
£1,799 pp
Enquire
Apr 09, 2026
£1,874 pp
Enquire
Apr 16, 2026
£1,949 pp
Enquire
Apr 23, 2026
£1,986 pp
Enquire
Apr 30, 2026
£2,183 pp
Enquire
May 07, 2026
£2,121 pp
Enquire
May 14, 2026
£2,174 pp
Enquire
May 21, 2026
£2,359 pp
Enquire
May 28, 2026
£2,399 pp
Enquire
Jun 04, 2026
£2,286 pp
Enquire
Jun 11, 2026
£2,301 pp
Enquire
Jun 18, 2026
£2,324 pp
Enquire
Jun 25, 2026
£2,324 pp
Enquire
Jul 02, 2026
£2,084 pp
Enquire
Jul 09, 2026
£1,986 pp
Enquire
Jul 16, 2026
£1,971 pp
Enquire
Jul 23, 2026
£1,971 pp
Enquire
Jul 30, 2026
£1,971 pp
Enquire
Aug 06, 2026
£1,971 pp
Enquire
Aug 13, 2026
£1,971 pp
Enquire
Aug 20, 2026
£1,986 pp
Enquire
Aug 27, 2026
£2,084 pp
Enquire
Sep 03, 2026
£2,324 pp
Enquire
Sep 10, 2026
£2,324 pp
Enquire
Sep 17, 2026
£2,301 pp
Enquire
Sep 24, 2026
£2,286 pp
Enquire
Oct 01, 2026
£2,234 pp
Enquire
Oct 08, 2026
£2,319 pp
Enquire
Oct 15, 2026
£2,099 pp
Enquire
Oct 22, 2026
£2,024 pp
Enquire
Oct 29, 2026
£1,971 pp
Enquire
Nov 05, 2026
£1,874 pp
Enquire
Nov 12, 2026
£1,761 pp
Enquire
Nov 19, 2026
£1,671 pp
Enquire
Nov 26, 2026
£1,574 pp
Enquire
More Dates

Douro Explorer Itinerary

For 7 nights, let the Douro River show you the crowning glories of Spain and Portugal with a luxurious cruise to opulent and revered destinations. Savour every sight, smell and taste with excursions tailored to give you the best possible experience, both on-board and off-board the ship. Let the Spirit of the Douro be your home as you traverse the glorious Douro River and experience everything it has to offer.

Day 1

UK to Oporto

Fly to Oporto before boarding the Spirit of the Douro at Vila Nova de Gaia. Your ship will remain moored here overnight until your departure to Régua the following morning.

Day 2

Régua / Pinhão

After a morning of scenic cruising, arrive in Régua and embark on a visit to the Mateus Palace and its extraordinary gardens. Enjoy an introduction to the palace from your guide.

Re-board the Spirit of the Douro and sail to Pinhão. After dinner, enjoy a traditional Portuguese folk music show.

Day 3

Vega de Térron

Upon arriving at Vega de Térron, partake in an excursion to the civil parish of Castelo Rodrigo in the mediaeval hilltop village of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. Take time to explore the village and marvel at the Baroque church.

Back aboard the ship, anticipate a delicious, traditional Portuguese dinner.

Day 4

Barca d’Alva

Join an excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Salamanca, a city renowned for its historic university buildings crafted with opulent gold-coloured stone. The journey to Salamanca typically takes two hours, which will be filled with a commentary from your guide about the sights passing by.

Following some leisure time, you can have lunch at a local restaurant followed by a flamenco show. Afterwards, join a walking tour of one of the most impressive town squares in Spain, the Plaza Mayor.

Re-board your ship in Barca d’Alva and remain moored overnight.

Day 5

Cais de Espinho / Pinhão

Enjoy the scenic views as you depart from Barca d’Alva and sail to Cais de Espinho.

Upon arrival, you can visit either Quinta do Seixo or Quinta Luiz, which both include a tour and wine tasting.

Continue cruising to Pinhão and visit a local quinta for dinner during the evening, complete with entertainment and wine. Your ship will remain moored in Pinhão overnight.

Day 6

Régua / Bitetos

Arrive in Régua and travel via coach to one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal – Lamego. You’ll get to see the intricate Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. You’ll have free time to explore this breathtakingly Baroque church, as well as venture into the city, accessible via the staircase which consists of nearly 700 steps.

Or, you can take a coach to the city, wherein you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Gothic cathedral. Afterwards, re-board the Spirit of the Douro and sail to Bitetos, where the ship will moor overnight.

Day 7

Oporto

In the morning, enjoy a scenic cruise back to Oporto, Portugal’s second-largest city, which you can explore with a tour. The coach tour will include visits to the historic Sé Cathedral and a port wine cellar, where you’ll learn about the production of the renowned wine and get to indulge in a tasting.

Your ship will moor in Vila Nova de Gaia overnight.

Day 8

Oporto to UK

After breakfast, disembark the Spirit of the Douro and travel to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

DOURO EXPLORER CRUISE SHIPS

Spirit of the Douro

Trustpilot Reviews

DOURO EXPLORER RIVER CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Beautiful scenery, great weather and amazing food and drink in some of the Douro’s prime ports.

Porto

Douro Valley

Salamanca

Mateus Palace

Douro Explorer Deals

Get The Best Price When You Book Today

Saga
Departure: Apr to Dec
VISITING: UK to Oporto Régua / Pinhão Vega de Terrón Barca d’Alva Cais de Espinho / Pinhão Régua / Bitetos Oporto Oporto to UK
AVG PER PERSON* £ 1,574
Saga
Departure:
VISITING: UK to Oporto Oporto to Régua to Pinhão Pinhão to Vega de Térron Vega de Térron to Barca d’Alva Vega de Terrón Barca d’Alva Barca d’Alva to Cais Foz do Tavora to Pinhão Pinhão to Régua to Bitetos Bitetos to Oporto
AVG PER PERSON* £ 2,046
Saga
Departure: Apr to Dec
VISITING: UK to Lisbon Lisbon Lisbon to Oporto Oporto to Régua to Pinhão Pinhão to Vega de Térron Vega de Térron to Barca d’Alva Barca d’Alva to Cais de Espinho to Pinhão Pinhão to Régua to Bitetos Bitetos to Entre-os-Rios to Oporto Oporto
AVG PER PERSON* £ 1,889

Douro Explorer Cruise Review

“After hearing so many great things about Saga Cruises on television I decided to finally book a cruise with them and I am so glad I did. My expectations were already set high by the adverts I’d seen but actually being on one of Saga’s ships, the Spirit of the Douro, was an entirely different thing. The rooms were comfortable and well-decorated, the restaurant never left me disappointed with the meals I ordered and the spa was an especially nice feature and I made great use of it! Getting out to see the sights was another highlight of the cruise. I especially liked seeing the buildings in Salamanca as well as the Sé Cathedral in Oporto, not to mention the wine tasting that came after. I’ll absolutely be sailing with Saga again.”

Victor Turner, Ipswich, Suffolk

Douro Explorer FAQ

How many passengers will there be on the Douro Explorer Cruise?

The maximum number of people the Spirit of the Douro can carry is 126 passengers.

What kind of activities can we expect to be available on the Douro Explorer Cruise?

Typical for countries as architecturally and culturally rich as Portugal and Spain, you will have the opportunity to embark on excursions to the finest regions of both countries, including Salamanca, Lamego, and smaller, more local wonders such as a wine cellar in Oporto. There’s something for everyone aboard the Douro Explorer Cruise.

What is the temperature of Portugal and Spain in summer?

On average, during the peak of summer, temperatures in Portugal fall within the 25 °C – 30 °C (77 °F – 86 °F) range. In Spain, the average temperature in summer typically falls between 25°C – 35 °C (77 °F – 95°F), though temperatures can exceed 35 °C in some instances.

Cruise With Confidence

Our mission at crui.se is to help you and your loved one’s book and experience the best cruise holiday imaginable. We’re different in that, our customers come first, not our suppliers or profit margins. Get in touch and let us help you set sail.

ABTA protected

Over 20 cruise brands to choose from

Low deposits from £500

All Inclusive cruises

Best deals & discounts

Community driven

Brand agnostic

We take care of everything

Custom built cruise holidays