In August, Travel Agent sailed Portugal’s Douro River on Scenic Azure, just as river cruise lines were restarting service. Pre-cruise, João Ramos, international promotion director, Visit Portugal, provided us with a regional tourism update on the cruise restart and suggestions for clients on what to see and do.
In 2018, approximately 1.2 million passengers of all types (daytime and overnight) cruised on northern Portugal's Douro River, which is fast gaining favor with “been there, done that” European river cruisers seeking something different. Soaring consumer demand pushed passenger totals to 1.9 million in 2019, a 26 percent increase.
“As you can see here in downtown, tourism has already returned to Porto, obviously in a smaller version and percentage of what happened in the years before,” Ramos explained during a meeting with Travel Agent at the Michelin one-star Cantinho do Avillez, a downtown Porto restaurant.
That relaxed-in-style eatery was bustling with diners (foreigners and locals alike). Travel Agent also observed that Porto’s streets and those in surrounding towns were brimming with activity as people (many Americans) strolled along seaside promenades and snapped selfies in popular squares while posing in front of churches or other historic buildings.
Guests on Scenic Azure also eagerly headed out on shore excursions, including “Scenic Free Choice” options.
Tracking the Restart
Many riverboats (including Scenic Azure shown above) are now back sailing with revenue guests on the Douro River. Ramos cited both an increase in companies offering overnight cruising, as well as the quality of the products they provide: "It has helped not only our [region’s] capital, Porto, but also less populated areas that exist along the river—creating jobs, helping communities and people grow alongside the tourism."
The typical river cruising season on the Douro is March through November, according to Scenic’s Maria Andrada, general manager, Portugal, Scenic Group, whom we also interviewed for another recent update on the restart.
But while cruising began a bit later than usual this year, the summer "restarts" have helped jump start tourism. “The recent news of U.S. travelers being able to come to Portugal helped the industry with a new boost of oxygen,” Ramos said, noting a renewed confidence in the marketplace.
“For this year, it’s still early to do any predictions" on numbers or percentages of visitation, but he said that “there is a strong interest from tourists.” In addition, Ramos told us that the river lines expect "greater occupancies" as the harvest season begins.
The popularity of the annual grape harvest season was also mentioned by Scenic’s Andrada, who told Travel Agent that October and November are expected to be top occupancy months on the Douro this year.
So, with the promise of even greater autumn visitation, Ramos is seeking to get out this message: “Porto and the North of Portugal is open for all visitors and ready to show the best we have to offer. The region used the pandemic time to create new attractions [and] maintain and upgrade existing ones.”
Upgraded and New Attractions
For cruise visitors seeking something new, "a definite must-see," he said, is the World of Wine (WOW), a recently added attraction in Gaia (across the Douro River from Porto) that’s dedicated to wine and also has several restaurants.
Other draws? He cited the new Treetop Walkway at Serralves (a project of the Serravles Foundation and the Portuguese State Environmental Fund), as well as night visits to the Clérigos Tower.
To thoroughly explore Porto itself, Ramos recommended the Porto Card, which offers free admission and discounts at more than 150 points of interest. Valid for one to four days, it also offers the possibility (depending on the selection of which card) of free and unlimited access to public transport.
“Our Association is also working on the ‘Beyond Porto Card,’ an upgrade to the current one,” said Ramos. Also, within the city, there are also several combined tickets between monuments and museums, which help ease the way for culturally minded travelers to view top sites.
What are other top sites or activities that river cruise guests should definitely visit or do in the Porto area? “Passengers should definitely visit the wine cellars located in Gaia, walk along the Luís I Bridge and take a picture at [The Monastery of] Serra do Pilar overlooking Porto and its old houses,” said Ramos
He added: "You cannot leave Porto without eating a Francesinha, our famous dish.” It's a one-of-a-kind sandwich consisting of two slices of bread, steak, ham and sausage, Edam cheese and a spicy sauce.
Other area options include visiting Matosinhos, an old fishing harbor, where cruisers can dine on fresh fish or or go surfing on local beaches. In downtown Porto, Ramos also suggested cruisers pop into small shops and peruse the creations of local artisans. For example, Porto is known for its lovely “filigree jewelry,” resembling glittery lace but made from gold or silver threads fashioned into earrings, pendants or rings.
Ramos also suggested visitors check out the gorgeous Livraria Lello (Lello Bookshop), founded in 1906.
This historic bookstore's architecture features a number of styles, including Neo-Gothic and Art Noveau components, plus a large, twisted staircase.
In addition, Porto was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, so cruisers "should definitely visit the Old Town,” noted Ramos, adding that the city's remaining old walls show a past era when the city was forced to fight off invaders. Pretty blue tiles also line church walls and the train station’s interior.
Near Porto in Arouca, cruise guests can cross the world’s longest suspension pedestrian bridge, which Ramos said, “will definitely give you an exciting walk above the river.”
Beyond Porto
Outside of the Porto area, one enticing attraction is the Coa Valley Archaeological Park with its rock art outcrops, which visitors can view while riding on a solar boat. Or, Ramos noted that cruisers can enjoy a meal in an old train station in “Casas do Coro.”
Two major regional tourism projects are also under way, according to Ramos. One is the "wine tourism route"—allowing enthusiasts to access a thematic extensive data base for "everything wine" such as cellar visits, wine tours or hotels offering one-of-a-kind locales, such as in the middle of vineyards. Another project is the certification of the Way of Saint James en route to Santiago de Compostela, a cathedral in Galicia, Spain, which many believe is the final resting place of St. James, the Apostle. The goal is to assist pilgrims taking that journey to access the correct routes and places to stay, as well as learn history insights of the locations and what support exists for the route's pilgrims.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this story coming later this month. Travel Agent will reveal tips from our first-hand exploration of Porto, and Ramos will also provide more "targeted" tidbits for those with a passion for food, wine, the great outdoors, culture and history.
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