The cruises compared here
Three boats compete for the same decision. One is the daytime six bridges cruise. The other two sail at dusk and cost two or three times as much.
They are less alike than their names suggest. The two sunset options leave from piers about 3 km apart, on different kinds of boat, with different things in the glass.
1What changes at sunset, and what does not
The route of the six bridges sunset cruise is the daytime route: the same six bridges, from the same Ribeira piers, with the same operator, Tomaz do Douro. What you add is 40 minutes on the water, low light on the Ribeira houses, and a buffet.
What you lose is commentary. The daytime cruise comes with a phone app. The sunset listing mentions none. You also lose flexibility: free cancellation closes at 48 hours instead of 24.
2The aperitif cruise: a snack supper from the old town
From €39, the listing sets out a long spread: croquettes, tomato and mozzarella skewers, salmon wraps, breaded prawns, ham sandwiches, pastries from Chaves, custard tarts, cheesecake and brownies, with port, Douro white wine, juice or water. For many people that replaces dinner, which narrows the real price gap with the €20 day cruise.
The weak point is the track record. This is flagged as a new activity and sits at 7.5 from 54 reviews, the lowest score among the Porto boats we compared. The listing also says only 'traditional boat', without confirming a rabelo or describing the deck.
3The catamaran: smaller, quieter, further away
The sunset catamaran is a different sort of trip. BBDouro caps the shared tour at 18 passengers, the sail lasts two hours, and reviewers give it 9.3 from 158 reviews. You get one glass of port, not a buffet, and further drinks are paid at the bar.
The catch is the starting point. It leaves from dock D of Douro Marina in Afurada, on the Gaia bank near the river mouth, not from the centre. The route described runs past the Serra do Pilar monastery and the Dom Luís I bridge, and the operator adds the river mouth when weather allows. It does not claim all six bridges.
One more piece of small print: the operator's page says the trip may run on a sailboat or a catamaran from its fleet, and passengers are assigned at random. All have a covered area. The listing recommends a warm jacket.
4Which one to pick
If this is your first look at Porto from the river and you have other plans for the evening, the daytime cruise does the job. Nothing about the bridges themselves improves at dusk.
If you want an evening on the water and do not mind the trip out to Afurada, take the catamaran. It costs €21 more than the aperitif cruise and the reviews suggest people come away happier.
If you want to walk to the pier, eat on board and still see all six bridges, the aperitif cruise is the one that does all three. Go in knowing it is new and its scores are middling.