MS Gil Eanes: the newest of the five Douro ships, built in 2015
The MS Gil Eanes was built in 2015. Of the five ships CroisiEurope operates on the Douro, hers is the most recent hull and fit-out, alongside the MS Miguel Torga delivered in 2017. The MS Fernão de Magalhães dates from 2003. Twelve years between two ships sold side by side in the same brochure: that is the first thing to know before comparing fares.
She is 80 metres long and carries 132 passengers across 3 decks with 25 crew. That works out at one crew member for a little over 5 passengers, the best ratio in the Douro fleet alongside the Miguel Torga. CroisiEurope does not publish her beam, and we will not quote one from memory.
French balconies, and what the term actually covers
Cabins on the upper and middle decks have wide picture windows with a French balcony. The term deserves explaining, because it disappoints anyone expecting something else: it is a sliding window that opens fully onto a railing, with no surface to step onto. You open it, you breathe, you look, but you do not go out and there is no chair. On the Douro, where the valley passes slowly a few dozen metres away, that is plenty. We would rather describe it than let you imagine it.
Four suites are spread across those two decks. Lower deck cabins have higher, fixed portholes. The comfort gap between decks is more pronounced on this ship than on the other Douro vessels: that is an argument for moving up a category, and we say so plainly rather than selling the cheapest and letting you find out.
The interior, and why it holds up
Taupe, bronze and white are set against the turquoise that evokes azulejos, the glazed tiles covering Portuguese stations and churches. The panoramic windows are wide. This is not catalogue decoration: the ship was designed for the Douro and nothing else, and it shows in the colours as much as in the way the public rooms face the bank.
Three decks, one lift, one pool
The sun deck has a pool edged with loungers. All 5 Douro ships have one, which makes that river an exception in the fleet: of the 60 vessels CroisiEurope publishes, only 12 have a pool. The 3 decks also bring the lift that CroisiEurope reserves for this class. On an itinerary where you come back aboard after climbing around hillside quintas, that detail turns into a daily advantage.
The figures, so you can compare without a brochure: 80 metres long, 132 passengers, 25 crew, 3 decks, 4 suites, built in 2015. The 5 Douro ships sit within a very narrow band, 75 to 80 metres and 132 to 138 passengers. What really separates them is the year: 2003 for 2 of them, 2002 for a third, 2015 and 2017 for the 2 newest. On a ship, 13 years of age counts for more than 5 metres of length.
Getting there
Embarkation is at Porto, which is not served non-stop from Montreal-Trudeau. A connection is required, usually through Lisbon, Paris or Frankfurt. Allow a day of travel and plan to arrive the day before. Porto justifies two extra nights if your calendar allows.
What is included and what is not
Full board, drinks with meals and at the bar, onboard entertainment: that is the CroisiEurope baseline. Excursions vary by departure, as a package or individually. Gratuities are not included. Neither is travel insurance. We give you the line-by-line detail, with what Quebec's FICAV protection covers and what it does not, before anything is signed.
Who she suits
Travellers who want the Douro without compromising on the condition of the ship, and for whom a sliding window is enough. Anyone set on a true balcony will not find one here or anywhere else on this river. Compare with the MS Vasco de Gama, refurbished in 2025, and find the full fleet on our CroisiEurope cruises page.
