Shared or Private Tour: Which One Fits You?

Same boat, same route, same crew — the only real difference is who you share the deck with. Some travellers love the buzz of meeting new people at sunset; others want the boat entirely to themselves. Here is a simple, honest way to decide which one fits you.

The quick answer

If you're travelling on a budget, solo or as a couple, and you don't mind — or even enjoy — company, a shared tour is a lovely, sociable way to sail. If you want privacy, flexibility, or you're celebrating something (or you're a group of friends or a family), a private tour gives you the whole boat and the freedom that comes with it.

What a shared tour is

On a shared departure you book a seat rather than the whole boat, and you sail alongside a small group of other travellers. We deliberately keep numbers low, so it never feels like a packed tourist cruise — just a handful of people enjoying the same sunset. It's priced per person, which makes it the most affordable way to get on the water, and it has a real charm of its own: our guests regularly step aboard as strangers and step off as friends.

What a private tour is

A private tour is the whole boat, just for your group, from two people to a full party. You choose who's on board and, within reason, shape the experience around you — the pace, the moment for a toast, the music, a proposal at exactly the right light. It's priced for the boat rather than per head, so the bigger your own group, the better the value. Our private Sunset Cruise, for example, starts from €450 for the whole boat.

Side by side

	Shared tour	Private tour
Who's on board	You + a small group of other travellers	Only your own group
Price	Per person — the budget-friendly option	For the whole boat (Sunset from €450); best value for groups
Schedule	Set departure times	Flexible — we build it around you
Atmosphere	Sociable, meet new people	Intimate and private
Best for	Solo travellers, couples, budget trips	Celebrations, families, groups of friends, proposals
Customisation	The classic experience	Music, timing, catering and little touches, on request
If you're running late	15-minute grace period — we can't hold up the other guests	We wait for you — the boat is yours

Ready to look at a specific experience? Both our Sunset Cruise and our private 6 Bridges tour can be booked as a shared seat or a private charter.

Choose a shared tour if…

• You're travelling solo or as a couple and want the lowest price per person.
• You like meeting people and enjoy a sociable atmosphere on board.
• You're happy to sail at a set departure time.
• You want the full Port Sailors experience without booking the whole boat.

Choose a private tour if…

• You're celebrating — a proposal, an anniversary, a birthday, an elopement.
• You're a family or a group of friends and want the boat to yourselves.
• You value privacy, or flexibility on timing and route.
• You'd like to add personal touches — music, a special toast, catering.

What stays the same, either way

Whichever you choose, you get the same skipper and crew, the same welcome drink and Port wine toast, and the same unforgettable route from Douro Marina, under the Dom Luís I Bridge and out towards the Atlantic. Our cancellation policy is the same too — free cancellation up to 24 hours before your experience — and if the weather ever turns, we reschedule or refund.