Cruising the Douro River in Portugal on AmaWaterways AmaSintra

Send us Fan Mail 175 - Thinking about a Douro River cruise in Portugal? Rob & Kerri Stuart share their honest review of 7 nights round trip from Porto aboard AmaWaterways' AmaSintra. They cover what makes the Douro different from the Danube and Rhône, the one excursion you shouldn't skip, and their favorite things to do in Porto. PLAN YOUR RIVER CRUISE HERE In episode #175 of Travel Inspired, your travel agent hosts and best-selling authors take you up the Douro Valley. It's a river of terraced vineyards, small charming towns and port wine everywhere you turn, with no big cities or castles along the way. You'll hear why the river's locks became part of the onboard entertainment, including Carrapatelo, which lifts you about 115 feet. They also explain why ships don't sail at night, and why the top deck and pool were the busiest spots on board. Plus, the excursion their AmaWaterways rep insisted they couldn't miss: Salamanca, Spain. It's known as "La Dorada" for its golden sandstone buildings and is home to Spain's oldest university, two connected cathedrals and one of Europe's most beautiful plazas. Rob & Kerri share a tip for timing your shopping and lunch there, since most stores close in the afternoon. **In this episode:** - What makes a Douro River cruise different from other European river cruises - Cruising through the Douro's locks, including Carrapatelo - Life on board the AmaSintra and skipping an excursion for a local meal - The Salamanca day trip: why it's worth the bus ride - Things to do in Porto: Bolhão Market, Dom Luís I Bridge, São Bento station tiles, the McDonald's Imperial, pastel de nata and more - How to spot legitimate market vendors in Porto - Why you should add a day or two in Porto after your cruise - Small-ship group charters, and why travel is better with friends Two countries in one cruise, a valley that photos can't capture, and a group of friends to share it with. Is Portugal on your must-visit list yet? **Plan your trip:** Want help planning a Douro River cruise, a small-ship charter or your next adventure? Reach out to Rob & Kerri. They've been there and know what they'd do differently. Stop scrolling and start going! **Missed episode #174?** Listen for our 3-night Lisbon pre-cruise adventure. #DouroRiver #RiverCruise #Portugal #Porto #AmaWaterways #Salamanca #PortWine #TravelPodcast #EuropeTravel #TravelInspired **Tags/keywords** (for the YouTube tags field and show notes): Douro River cruise, AmaWaterways Douro, AmaSintra, Porto Portugal, Douro Valley, river cruise review, Salamanca Spain, port wine, things to do in Porto, Europe river cruise, Portugal travel, small ship cruise, group travel, travel agent podcast