The cruises compared here
The starting prices are five cents apart, which makes this an unusual choice. On most rivers the small boat costs far more than the big one. On the Tagus the shared sailboat from Belém and the large sightseeing boat from the centre begin at the same level.
What separates them is where they leave from, how many people are on board and what the boat lets you do. Those differences decide it for most readers.
1What kind of boat each one is
The sailboat ride and the sunset sail are run by Taguscruises on sailing yachts. Its fleet page lists Jeanneau Sun Odyssey boats of about 13 metres taking 10 to 14 passengers plus crew. They are open-deck boats: you sit outside. The operator says there is a toilet on board and that blankets are provided.
The boat tour and sunset cruise from Terreiro do Paço are run by FRS Portugal. Its fleet page shows a double-decker ship and a convertible excursion boat, and its services page describes a cafeteria, toilets and Wi-Fi. Neither the listing nor the operator says which ship sails which departure, or how many seats are in the open air.
2Where the catamaran comes in
People often search for a catamaran cruise in Lisbon. In the Civitatis catalogue none of the shared cruises is sold as a catamaran. The only place one appears is the private yacht charter, where the listing names the catamaran Vértigo for groups of up to 18.
That charter starts from €250 for the boat for two hours. For a large group the sums can work. For two people who simply like the idea of a catamaran, the shared sailboat is the realistic choice.
3Getting there is the real difference
The big boat leaves from the Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste, next to Praça do Comércio, and the listing says a Terreiro do Paço metro entrance is beside the meeting point. If you are staying in the Baixa or Alfama, you walk there.
The sailboats leave from Doca do Bom Sucesso, by the Belém Tower. Taguscruises lists tram 15E and the train to Belém as ways to reach it and puts the drive from Cais do Sodré or Terreiro do Paço at 15 to 20 minutes. That is no hardship on a day you are visiting Belém anyway. On any other day, add the journey both ways to the length of the cruise.
4Access, children and pets
The big boat is tagged wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets, as long as you say so when booking, and the operator describes a ramp for boarding. The daytime sailboat listing says it is not wheelchair accessible.
The big boat is also tagged pet-friendly and sells a family ticket for two adults and two children. The sailboat listings have a child rate but no family ticket. With small children, the larger vessel with its toilets and cafeteria is the easier option.
5Timetable and commentary
The big boat lists six departures a day between 10:30 am and 5:30 pm. The shared daytime sailboat has two: one hour at 11 am or two hours at 3 pm. If your day is already full, only one of these will fit around it.
Neither gives you a live guide. The big boat's operator advertises a multilingual audio guide without naming the languages. On the sailboat the skipper answers questions when asked, in Portuguese, English, Spanish and some French according to the operator.