Parade: We Asked 3 Travel Experts for the Ultimate River Cruise Destination—They All Said the Same Thing
July 19, 2026 — For those seeking a more intimate, design-forward, and scenery-driven escape, Portugal’s Douro River has emerged as the ultimate alternative. When we polled three top travel advisors for their absolute favorite European river itinerary, they all pointed to the exact same route: Viking River Cruises’ highly coveted Portugal’s River of Gold itinerary—a 10-day journey that sails with just over 100 guests aboard specialized vessels like the Viking Hemming.