RIVER & CANAL CRUISES
Reviewed, compared and ranked by the people aboard.
The 15 most popular wine tours, compared side by side. What you see from the water, how long you are aboard, what it costs and which operator to book, so you can pick your boat in a couple of minutes.
A guided Douro Valley day trip from Porto with two winery visits, lunch, tastings, and a 50-minute Rabelo river cruise.
Most Popular“It was an amazing experience we had especially with our tour guide Miguel. We had such a wonderful experience because of him. I highly recommend to book with Miguel.”
Full-day Douro Valley tour from Porto with 2 wine estates, Amarante stop, lunch with pairings, and a Pinhão river cruise.
“Our tour guide Mariana was amazing! She looked after us so well, and had great knowledge about the region and just Porto in general. Great trip overall - the port houses were stunning, the boat trip was lovely and the port and food was incredible! It was my birthday (as it was Mariana’s and another…”
Small-group Douro day trip from Porto: two tastings, classic lunch in Pinhão, and a Rabelo river cruise with stunning N222 views.
“Amazing experience!! Pedro, our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable about wine, the Douro Valley, and Porto as well. He had great insight on our day in the valley as well as what to do around Porto as well! The quintas we went to were amazing and not one's we may have chosen on our own…”
Porto to Douro Valley: two winery tastings, a Rabelo river cruise in Pinhão, and a winery lunch with reds, whites, and ports.
“Highly recommend. Douro Valley is beautiful. Tiago was great and explained the history of the area along the way. Luca was an excellent driver! The wineries were very different and provided a nice comparison.”
Porto’s Magic Train links city sights, Real Companhia Velha port tasting, and a 1-hour Douro River cruise with classic views.
“Excellent tour from booking process through to ease of transportation and quality of interaction with train driver and winery tour guide. The staff in Magic tours office were very helpful and suggested we take the cable car ride to save walking all the way to the cruise boat. The river cruise was good and afterwards…”
Small-group Douro Valley day trip from Porto with 3 wine tastings, family lunch, aged Port, and optional Rabelo boat in Pinhão.
“This excursion was great! We loved the wines at the first stop, and the rest were good, too. Lunch was nice, and they provided wine bottles on the table to keep the libations going. I highly recommend adding the boat ride, as we really enjoyed the views -- it's under an hour and doesn't take…”
Small-group Douro Valley day from Porto with two wineries, a traditional lunch in Pinhão, and a Rabelo river cruise.
“Our guide was superb! Tuna was very knowledgeable, thoughtful, funny, and personable. The wineries where we stopped were well chosen, and excellent. I highly recommend this tour. Tuna’s English is excellent and his knowledge and passion for the area of the Douro Valley is evident. He is also an excellent driver.”
Seine River dinner cruise in Paris with Champagne, a warm 3-course menu, and glowing views of Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Louvre, and more.
“Food was average to below average . There was no commentary on the sites we were passing by . The waiter was quite aggressive in asking for a tip . I was the one paying amd he wouldnt speak to me about the bill. He also wanted to take my card out of my hand…”
Champagne at the Moulin Rouge with the Féerie revue, plus a glass-enclosed Seine cruise ticket for the next day.
“Was very good. However, advert needs more detail about how cruise works.”
Relax on a 90-minute Amsterdam night canal cruise with UNESCO canal views, audio in 20 languages, and an optional wine & cheese box.
“First, the cruise departure is NOT the location listed on Viator. We missed our 8pm cruise as a result and had to wait around for the 9pm. It is a short walk but we could at make it. The cruise did not go through the light show. The “guide” is a pre recorded audio that…”
Sail the Douro from Gaia with a guide, port wine on deck, and big views of bridges, churches, and riverside wildlife in about 2 hours.
“Great tour! The crew were very friendly, and warm. They answered all of my questions about the city and the river. They ensured you were comfortable. Great tour!”
Two hours on a modern catamaran from Porto, sipping port wine past key bridges and Ribeira, with Atlantic air at Foz do Douro.
“The crew was absolutely incredible and it was such a great tour.”
Cruise Bordeaux’s UNESCO waterfront on the Garonne with live English/French commentary, plus Bordeaux wine and a canelé for $22.
“The directions to the boat were easy to follow and boarding was quick, the staff did a good job in offering English commentary but honestly there wasn't a lot to see. A nice way to spend an hour but if time is an issue there are better ways to experience the city.”
2-hour Porto Douro cruise passing 6 bridges, with 4 port tastings and guides explaining Porto and port wine history.
“Our guides were great they speak English & Spanish and the wines were delicious!!!”
1-hour Seine cruise in Paris on a 100% electric boat with Champagne and live English/French commentary from the Eiffel Tower.
“Great views of the city. It was nice to have both outside and inside seating available depending on the weather. The tour guide was great and enjoyed hearing both English and French!”
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