Douro River Cruises! Viking, AmaWaterways, or Avalon?

Join our host, Ken, in a captivating conversation with Sheri Clarke, Co-owner of PT Travel, as they unravel the allure of Portugal and the Douro River on this exclusive episode of RTE-Travel Talk.
🇵🇹 Portugal: A "Hot" River Cruise Destination
Discover why Portugal has become the hottest destination for river cruising, attracting travelers with its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture.
🚢 Overview of a Douro River Cruise
Get a comprehensive overview of what makes Douro River cruises a unique and unforgettable experience, from picturesque vineyards to charming villages.
🌊 3 Popular River Cruise Lines for Douro
Explore the highlights of three renowned river cruise lines-AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, and Viking River Cruises-as Sheri shares insights into each.
👍 What Sheri Likes with AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, and Viking
Delve into Sheri's personal preferences and discover the unique features that set AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, and Viking apart.
📅 Best Time of Year to Cruise & Book
Learn the optimal times for Douro River cruising and get tips on when to book to ensure an ideal and memorable experience.
🗺️ Shore Excursion Differences
Explore the variety of shore excursions offered by different cruise lines and find the perfect activities to complement your travel style.
🏃‍♂️ Active Guests
Discover options for active and not so active travelers, as Sheri sheds light on the adventurous side of Douro River cruising.
🌅 Atmosphere Comparison
Compare the onboard atmospheres of AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, and Viking to find the perfect fit for your cruising preferences.
💼 What Is Included in Each Line's Fare
Break down the inclusions that come with each cruise line, helping you choose the package that suits your needs.
🛒 Why You Should Book Through a Travel Agent vs Direct
Understand the advantages of booking your Douro River cruise through a knowledgeable travel agent for a seamless and stress-free experience.
💲 Price Point Comparison
Get a detailed look at the pricing structures of AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, and Viking, ensuring you make an informed decision.
🌍 Final Thoughts on Douro
Join Ken and Sheri as they wrap up the discussion with their final thoughts and recommendations on experiencing the Douro River in all its splendor..
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#DouroRiverCruise #PortugalTravel #RiverCruiseLines #PTTravel #TravelInterviews #RTETravelTalk
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:16 Special Guest, Sheri Clarke
01:12 Portugal: "Hot" river cruise destination
01:40 Overview of a Douro river cruise
03:52 3 Popular River Cruise Lines for Douro
04:55 What Sheri likes with AmaWaterways
05:07 What Sheri likes about Avalon Waterways
05:54 What Sheri likes about Viking
06:28 Sailing the river twice
07:37 Best time of year to cruise & book
10:24 Shore excursion differences
14:16 Active guests
15:14 Atmosphere comparison
18:00 What is included in each line's fare?
19:14 Why you should book through a travel agent vs direct
20:15 Price point comparison
22:03 Final thoughts on Douro
23:16 How to contact Sheri
23:57 Sheri's future travels
Contact Real Travel Experts: [e-mail]
realtravelexperts.com/
/ realtravelexperts
/ realtravelexperts
Contact: PT Travel : [e-mail]
Website: www.pttravel.com/
Image Credits:
AmaWaterways Clips & Images Courtesy of AmaWaterways
Viking Clips and Images Courtesy of Viking River Cruises
Avalon Waterways Images and Clips Courtesy of Avalon Waterways
Douro & Portugal Images Courtesy of Adolbestock and Bigstock
RTE Travel Talk does not endorse any of their guests' products or services. The opinions of the guests may or may not reflect those of the host and RTE Travel Talk.

[@robertlyons7719]

My wife and I have been to Portugal twice, and are going again on Ama in September. Enjoyed this show! We spent a week in the Algarve, and a week in Evora and Lisbon. Will be our first trip north of Lisbon. Fantastic people…most speak some, if not fluent English. (A requirement in schools currently!) Great food, fantastic scenery, a geography and history lesson around every curve.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Thanks for the comment Portugal definitely needs to be on the travel to do list

[@dogzdad123]

We're planning an adventure for Fall 2026. Been Viking guests on German river-based cruises, and thoroughly had a great time. Never been to Portugal/Spain. This video is great, but it's soooo much information, that it's challenging to keep who's who and what's what. We're open to exploring other cruise lines. Wish there was a "spreadsheet" type comparison chart to make an informative decision on this pricey vacation. Thanks again for your video.

[@askarealtravelexpert]

Spreadsheet is a great idea as a former travel advisor I had one but the issue was keeping it up to date.

[@AbsalomMcVey]

How could you omit Uniworld???

[@askarealtravelexpert]

She did mention that there are several other river cruise lines on the Douro one of which is Uniworld and they do an excellent job.