This cruise was chosen as part of an overland Spain/Portugal tour. Everything about the cruise as a part of EverGreen tours was well organised and professional.The rooms were well decorated and appointed. Everything was exceptionally clean. The quality of the food prepared by a chef and his team was exceptional . Food provided for breakfast and lunch was also wonderful with a large variety and choice available. Wine was overflowing and good quality. The tours that were an included part of our larger tour were extremely good value showing the particular features of Portuguese life ( eg Port wine, cork ) There were only 107 people on board and getting on and off the boat was easy. There was lots of free time to do our own exploring and guests were able to choose to stay on board if they wished. Staff were amazing Their approach was friendly, engaging & helpful at all times. They were extremely professional in every role that they filled. They were also a lot of fun. activities provided on board were engaging, interesting and informative. We would absolutely recommend Emerald Waterways form our experience of the River Duoro Cruise on Emerals Radiance Read Less

This was our first river cruise. It exceeded our expectations. The Duoro river and river valley were beautiful. Never knew there were so many grapes grown in this region. Our ship was in excellent condition and our standard cabin was what I expected. All the meals were great and the wine never ending. We also purchased the premium beverage package which was not a bad value. The ship staff really made this trip memorable. Some of the people that did an exceptional job were: Maria, cruise director; Manuel, hotel director; Cornell, restaurant director; Claudia, guest services; Miguel and Tiago, bar service; and not but least, our housekeeper, Vanessa. Each of them worked tirelessly to make this cruise one of our best. We enjoyed the shore excursions included and opted to purchase two others that were worthwhile. Did a dinner one night at a working vineyard that was a lot of fun. Did you know that many wineries in the Duoro Valley actually stomp grapes with their feet for the premium wines? Read Less

This cruise is sold as Evergreen in Australia and is the "budget" line for Scenic. Not quite so plush and not all-inclusive. However it is a good choice for those who may not want to do all the tours (walking tours were included as was a night at a winery) and a real highlight was Salamanca. The food is just as good as on any river cruise. I particularly enjoyed sampling the Portuguese choices on the menu and the Vino Verde. The entertainment (if you want this) is low key - mainly just a pianist though on one night there was a delightful duo playing music from around the world and I even got up to dance. The only negatives for me were: firstly all the mirrors on the ship (it is a house of mirrors) which were initially very disorientating and secondly we decided to take a cabin on the lower deck (104) because we thought it might be too chilly to use a balcony. (In fact it was VERY hot in Portugal!) The cabin was comfortable (as was the bed) and fitted out very well but had a smell of damp that was unpleasant. If you are going on this cruise you also need to be aware that you need to get in early to book anything popular such as the tile painting, visit to the Mateuse Palace etc and alternative activities for onboard activities aren't available which is disappointing. Maria, our cruise director was delightful, as were all the Portuguese crew. They were perhaps the most friendly crew we have encountered and were wonderful ambassadors for Portugal. They were also very well organised. I loved the Douro, and would advise one of the upper decks with a balcony is worth the extra money. Just as an aside, we found the average age on the cruise somewhat older than we expected - more late 70s than the 50s to 60s that we were expecting but a nice mix of nationalities. Read Less

It was our Emerald wedding anniversary so wanted to go on the Emerald Radiance to celebrate on the day. We were presented with Champagne, chocolates and a bouquet of flowers from the company which was a pleasant surprise. We were met at the airport and transported to the dock at Porto with relevant ease and escorted to our cabin after being greeted on board by Manuel. All the staff were very friendly and helpful nothing was too much trouble. The Radiance was a beautiful ship and a pleasure to be on. Cabin was a little noisy when starting the engines and the shower was a little small to get in and out for a large person but very clean. Excursions were very informative and not too long. Entertainment was varied and mainly good especially the Quiz nights and we were luckyto win both of them. I would definitely travel with them again. Read Less

It was on my Mum’s bucket list of cruises she wanted to do. I had seen the itinerary and liked it but when we booked we were unfamiliar with Emerald Waterways. We were not disappointed in any way. Mum who had cruised with Viking before said she actually preferred Emerald because it was less formal but 5* quality. We felt relaxed, and comfortable on board and the crew went out of their way to make sure that we had everything we could possibly desire. The restaurant was superb and the food exquisite. Everything was beautifully presented and having unlimited Portuguese wines that were carefully selected every evening meant we could sample everything. The barbecue lunch on deck was fantastic with all the crew joining in (I even danced with the head chef Nuno and Manuel the Hotel Manager) The bar staff were all lovely and took time to chat and get to know you. We all learned a little about each other which made us feel like part of their family. The cruise director Luis kept us well informed daily on what was happening on and off the ship, so we didn’t miss any of the things we wanted to do. The gala night and farewell dinners were gorgeous and gave us the opportunity to have a chat with the captain and show our appreciation for all the crew (all 38 of them) We loved the cruise. Portugal itself was lovely but it was the ship and crew that made the holiday special. I would definitely recommend Emerald Waterways and hope to sail with them again. Read Less

wanted to cruise the douro. The service and food were excellent,better than 5 star! Nothing too much trouble for us,all staff very friendly and efficient.Manuel and Cornel exceptional! We have cruised with many companies both ocean and river,emerald is the best by far ! The scandinavian company should look out! Food by the executive chef and his team was wonderful,again the chef came to tables to ask our opinions,never had this before ! Excursions were amazing with good guides ,so helpful and interesting. We like salamanca the best ,a wonderful old city,so colourful and vibrant.The bar and restaurant staff could not be more helpful on board the ship,service with a smile,you do not always get this on other ships. Cabin compact but functional and again very friendly and efficient service ,nothing too much trouble .Manuel and Cornel spent so much time to make sure that everything was just right but never intrusive . We will be back with emerald again next year without doubt,emerald is the best in the fleet! Howard and Christine Read Less

We have saile other river cruises before, but this was first time in Portugal. We chose Emerald vpbecause the ship was new. We were not disappointed. Cabins like most river boats are small but well laid out. You will not spend much time in your cabin. The staff, from the hotel manager, Manuel Peraira to the great bar staff, including Wilson and Theresa were outstanding. One highlight was the tour to Salamanca. While the bus ride was long, two hours each way it a beautiful city to visit Another highlight was dinner at a winery. Very well done. The optional to the Matteus palace was worth the extra fee. Warning, it can be very hot in August with temperatures in high 90’s. Air conditioning on ship is excellent. The tours were good and food excellent. Would I choose Emerald again? Yes, if it was an itinerary that suited my needs. Read Less

Just back from a fabulous week on the Emerald Radiance sailing the Douro after 3 days in Lisbon also organised by Emerald. Excellent itinerary with even better guide (Ana) and tour escorts (Luis, Elizabete and Carla). Great knowledge and enthusiasm and especially patience. Our Captain was very welcoming and frequently seen about the ship mingling with guests. Hotel Manager, Manuel, led by example. Staff are all well trained and friendly and helpful. Ship is beautiful and well fitted out with good facilities. Lovely staff and food and a good range of trips and activities to suit all. Good amount of storage in cabin which is not overlarge except for bedside table which could have had drawers or another shelf instead of just the (necessarily) small top. Really did not want to get off the ship and look forward to travelling with them again as had a number of our fellow cruisers. Read Less

We have travelled the Amsterdam to Budapest in 2015 and wanted to experience another river cruise. A wonderful experience,the ship is new and totally comfortable,it is a smaller ship therefore making and meeting new friends are an extra bonus.. The staff were fabulous they certainly could not do enough for you Our cruise director Luis was great,he certainly made you laugh and had a fabulous team working with him that were always ready with an answer for you or an idea of what you could do.. The hotel manager Mauel was exceptional,very professional and he was always attentive to eveyones needs. The excursions were always perfect and the optional extras well woth doing. Food was fabulous and as always plentiful.. There is not a lot of entertainment on board unlike the big cruise ships,however this can be quite relaxing after a busy day where you can sit in the lounge and enjoy meeting other people. Read Less

We had previously on cruised on large ocean cruisers with 2,000+ passengers but this time chose to try a River Cruise. With only 90 passengers, the Emerald Radiance down the Duoro River in Portugal was perfect. The itinerary took us down a scenic river among the small villages and vineyards and beautiful scenery. Included in the price were excursions every day, led by knowledgeable staff and small groups. The dining was easy-going, allowing us to either choose to eat alone or with others, and flexible dining hours. Food was excellent. Overall, we were most impressed with how relaxing and pampered we felt, with the staff going out of their way to cater to all of our needs, including helping us book a train and taxi from the port back to Lisbon on our own. We loved having a small ship with personalized service and meeting lots of new people. We will go on another Emerald Cruise in the near future and highly recommend this cruise line! Read Less