Last week, we showed you some of the many sights experienced by my parents as they sailed aboard Uniworld Boutique River Cruises‘ intimate Douro Spirit on an 11-day voyage through Portugal and Spain along the Douro River, nestled within the heart of the Douro River Valley.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Douro River Valley is the epicenter of port wine production. Photo © 2012 Peter Saunders
But it wasn’t just port wine and memories they returned with; they also came armed with nearly 400 photographs of their experiences, so it only seemed reasonable to share some of them here with you. And besides making us thirsty, they provide a fascinating glimpse into one of the hottest river cruising regions in Europe.

Uniworld’s Douro Spirit enters a lock with walls over 100 feet in height. Photo © 2012 Peter Saunders

Douro Spirit emerging into the sunlight after transiting a lock. Note the swimming pool – a great place to cool down! Photo © 2012 Peter Saunders

The stunning Guimarães Castle; note the lack of railings on the upper level. Photo © 2012 Peter Saunders
Next year, Douro Spirit will transfer to Viking River Cruises, while Uniworld will utilize the brand-new Queen Isabel. With more lines adding capacity on the Douro, the best time to visit this UNESCO World Heritage region may very well be right now.
More information on Uniworld and the Douro Spirit can be found by viewing our complete Uniworld Boutique River Cruises profile here on River Cruise Advisor.
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