We booked a holiday on a cruise on the River Douro in Portugal with Croisi Europe on their boat Ms Gil Eames through The Cruise Market Agency. The holiday included a flight from Spain to Portugal and return and collection at the airport in Portugal. Also all food and drink on the boat.
Flying from Alicante at 20.05 0n 8th May we were collected at Porto airport and transferred to the boat. Unfortunately, we arrived too late for the evening meal due to flight delays, but the staff brought food to our cabin.
The next day, we had a look around the boat, where the restaurant and lounge areas were very spacious, even though the cabin was very small, but had a great picture window looking out over the River Douro and the traffic of boats and we were fascinated by the views on both sides of large vineyards.
We found our table and the people we were to share meals with. They were all very pleasant, and here is a photo of Brian with wife Judith, sister Alison, and another guest to the table Tamara.
After lunch, Tony didn’t feel too well, and he decided to stay in the cabin, while Jo went for the evening meal. In retrospect, this was the first warning message. On her return to the cabin, her shoe caught on a metal strip, causing it to break in half and for her to fall forward on her knee/
Here is the photo of the shoe
We thought Jo was OK, but the following morning, she could not walk, and a wheelchair was brought, and we were taken off the boat to a hospital about an hour away. We spent 5 hours having X-rays and injections, but luckily, nothing was broken.
Back to the boat further up the river, where Jo spent the next 5 days in a wheelchair, and Tony spent the rest of the holiday in our cabin, feeling ill, but watching the view of the river and locks.
Jo enjoyed the meals and the evening entertainment with some assistance from her new table companions.
Unfortunately, it was not possible to go on any excursions we had booked, a trip to Mateus Castle, or to use all the facilities this cruise had to offer, with both of us in such a bad way.
Tony missed the paella which annoyed him
We decided to return home a day early, and as soon as we got back to Oporto, we changed our flight and returned home with the advantage of airport assistance. After three disastrous holidays in three years, we decided this may be the last. However we will change our minds!