In 2017, I cruised on Crystal, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Viking, Scenic, CroisiEurope and Emerald Waterways. Read about these cruises (and check out the videos that my team and I produced) for inspiration of what might work for you. You can also read about my cruises from 2016 and 2015, from cruises on luxury hotel barges to river cruise ships plying the Rhine, Danube and more. You'll find a treasure trove of free resources to help you choose your cruise.

Although rapidly growing in popularity, Douro river cruises still remain relatively unknown to many travelers. Some river cruise companies, in fact, still do not offer itineraries on the Douro. That is changing with each passing season, however, and the last few years have seen a plethora of brand-new vessels enter service along the Douro. Updated for 2018.