Table of Contents
- Lisbon's Tagus Fleet - From Historic Ferries to Electric Catamarans
- MS Schaprode
- Vagabond 47 (Furanai)
- Bavaria Cruiser 41 "Extra Mile"
- Hippotrip
- MS Hanseblick
- Mara
- City Lake I
- S. Paulus (Yellow Boat)
- Príncipe Perfeito
- Vicente (Maril 725)
- Dufour 405 GL
- Dom João
- Noa Asiri (Oceanscape)
- RiverMountain Sailboat
- Pérola (Fountaine Pajot Highland 35)
- Príncipe da Beira
- MH2 Luar
- Sou do Tejo
- Mercator
- Fountaine Pajot MY 37
- Évora
- Zonacat
- Lagoon 42
- Tartaruga do Mar (Fountaine Pajot Taiti)
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Tagus has carried Lisbon's daily life for centuries, and its waterfront docks - Doca de Santo Amaro, Doca de Belém, Doca de Alcântara and the Terreiro do Paço ferry terminal - now host one of Europe's most varied river tour fleets. You've got restored 1930s diesel ferries and traditional wooden varinos moored next to modern sailing yachts, RIBs and party catamarans, all cruising past Belém Tower, under the 25 de Abril Bridge and out toward the river mouth at the Atlantic.
This guide covers the boats you'll find through Alle Travel, a marketplace that connects travellers with Lisbon's boat tour operators. Each one's got its own character, capacity and best-fit cruise type - a hop-on hop-off historic ferry, a private sunset sail on a vintage yacht, or a full-blown catamaran party with open bar and DJ.
You can browse Alle Travel's full catalogue of Lisbon boat tours to see live availability, prices, and reviews across every vessel covered below.
Lisbon's Tagus Fleet - From Historic Ferries to Electric Catamarans
Lisbon's river tourism really runs on two different traditions, side by side. On one hand you've got the historic vessels - 1930s diesel ferries, 1950s Hamburg passenger ships and 19th-century varino cargo boats - converted for tourism and now anchoring the city's hop-on hop-off and sightseeing routes, run by companies like FRS Portugal, Blue Cruises (Veltagus), Carristur and Nosso Tejo. And then there's a newer crop of small independent operators - Furanai, Sailing with Nigel, Ondas de Ângelo, Oceanscape, Rent a Boat, Taguscruises, Royal Marine, Sardinha do Tejo - running sailing yachts, motorboats and catamarans out of the Tagus's private marinas, mostly specialising in sunset sails, wine cruises and boat parties.
Between them they cover pretty much everything - a 45-minute express cruise past Belém Tower, full-day sailing trips along the Arrábida coast with a swim stop, a quiet couple's sail on a 1980s wooden yacht, or a 300-person sunset boat party with a live DJ.
MS Schaprode
Alternative name: Shaprode
The MS Schaprode is a double-decker sightseeing ship run by FRS Portugal on the Tagus. She used to work the German coast for Weiße Flotte, a subsidiary of the FRS Group, and got shipped to Lisbon on a heavy-lift carrier in August 2024 - joining the FRS Portugal fleet alongside her sister ship, MS Hanseblick. Guests board on two open decks with panoramic views over the Tagus waterfront.
Pier: Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste, Pontoon A/2, Terreiro do Paço, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Day sightseeing cruise, sunset cruise, happy-hour cruise, Night Beats Party Cruise with live DJ.
Capacity: Up to 366 passengers.
- Length: 39.56 m
- Beam: 7.70 m
- Draft: 1.25 m
- Max speed: 11.34 kn
- Power: 2 x 367 kW
- Capacity: 366 max
Water tours on the MS Schaprode
Vagabond 47 (Furanai)
Alternative name: Furanai
The Vagabond 47 is a classic offshore cruising yacht designed by naval architect William Garden - known for her raised quarterdeck and that salty, traditional look. This particular boat, named Furanai, was built in 1981 and is run in Lisbon by Furanai Sailboat Tours, based at Doca de Santo Amaro under the 25 de Abril Bridge. Skippers Eduardo and Angelo take her out on vintage sailboat cruises with wine, petiscos and sunset sailing along the Tagus.
Pier: Doca de Santo Amaro, Gate 1 (in front of the Padel Club), Lisbon.
Cruise types: Sunset sailing cruise with wine and snacks, private charters.
Capacity: Up to 12 passengers.
- Builder/Designer: William Garden (Vagabond series)
- Year built: 1981
- Length: 14.3 m (47 ft)
- Beam: 4.1 m (13 ft)
- Draft: 1.7 m (6 ft)
- Capacity: 12 max
Water tours on the Vagabond 47 (Furanai)
Bavaria Cruiser 41 "Extra Mile"
The Extra Mile is a Bavaria Cruiser 41 sailing yacht built in 2016, run in Lisbon by Palma Yachts out of Doca de Belém. It's a popular production sailboat from the German yard Bavaria Yachts - roomy cockpit, comfortable saloon, and you'll find the model all over European charter fleets. Palma Yachts uses her for small-group sunset sails along the Tagus, with live commentary from the crew and a welcome drink thrown in.
Pier: Palmayachts Meeting Point, Doca de Belém – Gate 1, Av. Brasília, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Sunset sailing cruise (small group), private charters.
Capacity: Up to 7–12 passengers (day charter).
- Builder: Bavaria Yachts, Germany
- Year built: 2016
- Length: 12.35 m (41 ft)
- Cabins: 3
- Capacity: 7–12 max
Water tours on the Extra Mile
Hippotrip
Hippotrip is Lisbon's amphibious sightseeing tour, run from a dedicated terminal at Doca de Santo Amaro. The vehicle drives through the streets, then just plunges into the Tagus and carries on as a boat - a land tour and a river cruise past Belém rolled into one 90-minute trip. Guides keep it interactive and pretty funny, in Portuguese or English, and the tour goes out daily, rain or shine. It's probably one of the most recognisable, most booked things to do in Lisbon.
Pier: Doca de Santo Amaro, Edifício Hippotrip (marina below the 25 de Abril Bridge).
Cruise types: Combined land-and-river amphibious sightseeing tour.
Capacity: Up to 10 passengers per departure.
- Type: Amphibious passenger vehicle (bus/boat)
- Duration: 1h30
- Route: Lisbon streets → Doca do Bom Sucesso, Belém → Tagus River
- Capacity: 10 max
Boat tours on the Hippotrip
MS Hanseblick
The MS Hanseblick is a convertible sightseeing ferry operated by FRS Portugal on the Tagus. Built in 2008, she was actually the flagship of the FRS Weiße Flotte fleet at Autostadt Wolfsburg in Germany, christened there in 2009, before getting overhauled in Barth and shipped out to Lisbon in 2021 to launch FRS Portugal's river tours. Her signature trick is a sliding glass roof - open it for open-air sightseeing, close it for shelter - which makes her the fleet's "convertible ship", alongside the double-decker MS Schaprode.
Pier: Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste, Av. Infante Dom Henrique, Terreiro do Paço, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Day cruise, sunset cruise, happy-hour cruise, Night Beats Party Cruise with live DJ.
Capacity: Up to 160 passengers.
- Builder: Built 2008, formerly of the Weiße Flotte fleet (Wolfsburg/Rügen, Germany)
- Length: 37 m
- Feature: Retractable glass roof (convertible aqua-cabrio design)
- Capacity: 160 max
Water tours on the MS Hanseblick
Mara
Mara is a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49 sailing yacht run by Sailing with Nigel, a small Lisbon boat agency based at Doca de Santo Amaro. Owner-skipper Nigel actually found her in France and sailed her over to make Lisbon her new home port. He and crewmembers David and Rui run sailing tours along the Tagus with Portuguese champagne, wine and homemade snacks - a relaxed, personal style that's popular for sunset sails, hen and stag dos, and family outings.
Pier: Doca de Santo Amaro, Gate 1 (under the 25 de Abril Bridge), Av. Brasília, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Morning, afternoon and sunset sailing tours; full-day cruises with a stop at a fishing village or beach.
Capacity: Up to 12 passengers.
- Model: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49
- Length: 15 m
- Capacity: 12 max
Water tours on the Mara
City Lake I
Alternative name: Speedboat City Lake I
City Lake I is a 250hp rigid inflatable boat (R.I.B.) run by City Lake Lisbon Boat Tours out of Doca de Alcântara. The company's got a small fleet of speedboats and sailing boats doing fast-paced sightseeing tours of the Tagus - a bit of an adrenaline ride mixed with historical commentary on Lisbon's landmarks, and on some tours, a Portuguese fortified wine tasting at sunset.
Pier: Doca de Alcântara, R. da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa, Gate 1, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Private speedboat historical tour, sunset speedboat tour with wine tasting.
Capacity: Up to 12 passengers.
- Type: R.I.B. (Rigid Inflatable Boat)
- Power: 250 hp
- Features: Bimini top, padded jockey seats, Bluetooth sound system, life jackets
- Capacity: 12 max
Water tours on the City Lake 1
S. Paulus (Yellow Boat)
Alternative name: St. Paulus
The S. Paulus is a historic passenger ferry built in 1959 by Scheel & Johnk Schiffswerft in Hamburg, originally named Sülldorf and later renamed St. Pauli during her Hamburg years (1959-1996). These days she sails the Tagus under the Portuguese flag, owned by TT-Transtejo and run by Carristur as part of the "Yellow Boat" hop-on hop-off fleet, alongside the Yellow Bus tours. And the 24-hour ticket also gets you onto Lisbon's Carris trams and funiculars.
Pier: Terreiro do Paço Boat Terminal (Sul e Sueste), Av. Infante Dom Henrique, Lisbon.
Cruise types: 24-hour hop-on hop-off river cruise between Terreiro do Paço and Belém.
Capacity: Up to 274 GT vessel size.
- Builder: Scheel & Johnk Schiffswerft, Hamburg, Germany
- Year built: 1959
- Former names: Sülldorf (1959–1978), St Pauli (1978–1996)
- Length: 30.1 m
- Beam: 7.5 m
- Gross tonnage: 274 GT
Boat tours on the S. Paulus (Yellow Boat)
Príncipe Perfeito
The Príncipe Perfeito is a three-masted sailing ship built back in 1949 at the Chantier Navale de Caen shipyard in France, originally working as a Norwegian fishing trawler. She got a full rebuild in 2006 in Peniche, Portugal, and came out the other side as Europe's largest-capacity tourist sailing vessel - she can comfortably hold up to 200 guests. Veltagus, a Lisbon maritime events company, operates her out of Doca de Alcântara for themed sunset parties, corporate events and private charters. Her name honours King John II of Portugal, "the Perfect Prince" - not to be confused with the unrelated 1960s ocean liner of the same name.
Pier: Cais da Rocha do Conde de Óbidos, Doca de Alcântara, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Sunset boat party with DJ, themed cruises, corporate events, private charters.
Capacity: Up to 200 passengers.
- Builder: Chantier Navale, Caen, France
- Year built: 1949 (rebuilt 2006, Peniche)
- Length: 41.52 m (51 m overall)
- Beam: 7.5 m
- Gross tonnage: 299 t
- Rig: 3 masts, sail area 650 m²
- Engine: Cat 3408B, 470 hp
- Capacity: 200 max
Water tours on the Príncipe Perfeito
Vicente (Maril 725)
Alternative name: Maril 725
The Maril 725 Motorsloop is a small open motorboat built in 2015, sailing in Lisbon under the name Vicente for Ondas de Ângelo, based at Doca de Santo Amaro. She's the boat behind their signature small-group, premium sunset cruises - open bar, Portuguese buffet, the works. Ondas de Ângelo's fleet also has bigger sister vessels, Vicente 2 and Dom João, for larger groups.
Pier: Doca de Santo Amaro, Gate 3, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Sunset Porto Tonic premium cruise, private charters, themed sunset/party cruises.
Capacity: Up to 8 passengers.
- Builder: Maril
- Model: Maril 725 Motorsloop
- Year built: 2015
- Length: 7.1 m (23 ft)
- Beam: 2 m
- Power: 51 hp
- Capacity: 8 max
Water tours on the Maril 725 (Vicente)
Dufour 405 GL
The Dufour 405 GL is a cruising sailboat from the French yard Dufour Yachts, built between 2010 and 2014, and it actually picked up a Sailing Yacht of the Year award around its launch. In Lisbon she's run by Oceandoor, a boat tour company with bases at Doca de Santo Amaro and Marina de Sesimbra, doing full-day sailing trips along the Arrábida coast with a swim stop and, sometimes, dolphin watching thrown in.
Pier: Marina de Sesimbra, Rua Clube Naval de Sesimbra, Sesimbra (near Cabo Espichel / Arrábida Natural Park).
Cruise types: Full-day sailing tour with beach/swim stop, Lisbon sunset sailing, private charters.
Capacity: Up to 10 passengers (day charter).
- Builder: Dufour Yachts, France
- Model years: 2010–2014
- Length: 12.17 m (40 ft)
- Draft: 2.03 m
- Cabins: 2 guest cabins (up to 8 berths)
- Capacity: 10 max
Water tours on the Dufour 405 GL
Dom João
The Dom João is run by Ondas de Ângelo out of Doca de Santo Amaro. She's the bigger sister to their Vicente (Maril 725), with more room for larger groups and party-style cruises - including a sunset DJ experience with pizza buffet and open bar.
Pier: Doca de Santo Amaro, Gate 3, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Sunset DJ & Porto Tonic premium party cruise, holiday/themed sunset cruises, private events.
Capacity: Up to 15 passengers.
- Feature: Can be fully enclosed in glass for weather protection
- Capacity: 15 max
Water tours on the Dom João
Noa Asiri (Oceanscape)
Alternative name: Oceanscape
The Noa Asiri is a traditional Portuguese fishing boat, remodelled into a compact little maritime lounge and run by Oceanscape, founded in 2018 and based in Lisbon since 2021. She's named after founder Inês Schlingensiepen's daughter. With a bow lounge area and central table, she fits up to 10 guests, and being a motorboat, she can actually get into shallower spots along the river's south bank - hidden coves, industrial waterfront corners, places the bigger tourist boats just can't reach.
Pier: Gate 2, Belém Dock, Lisbon (next to the sailing schools, opposite the Monument to the Discoveries).
Cruise types: Sunset tour with wine and snacks, private charters, occasional trips to Cascais beaches and caves.
Capacity: Up to 10 passengers (tour capped at 9).
- Type: Remodeled traditional Portuguese fishing boat
- Founded: 2018 (Lisbon-based since 2021)
- Capacity: 10 max
Water tours on the Noa Asiri (Oceanscape)
RiverMountain Sailboat
This one's run by RiverMountain - Sailing and Off Road Adventures, a Ribatejo-based company doing upriver sailboat tours, Lisbon coast river cruises and off-road adventures, wine tasting included. They also do sleep-aboard stays at Oeiras Marina, if that's your thing. This particular sunset sail leaves from Alcântara Marina, meeting at Blue Skipper Snacks & Drinks, and you can actually lounge on the boat's front nets during the trip.
Pier: Doca de Alcântara, Gate 3 (near Blue Skipper Snacks & Drinks), Lisbon.
Cruise types: Sunset sailboat tour, upriver sailing tours, off-road custom tours, sleep-aboard stays (Oeiras Marina).
Capacity: Up to 13 passengers.
- Type: Sailboat
- Duration: 2 hours
- Capacity: 13 max
Water tours on the RiverMountain sailboat
Pérola (Fountaine Pajot Highland 35)
Alternative name: Fountaine Pajot Highland 35
The Pérola is a Fountaine Pajot Highland 35 power catamaran and Royal Marine's founding vessel - the boat the whole company was built around when it launched back in August 2018. Based at Doca de Belém, she does private catamaran charters on the Tagus and out toward Cascais, covering brunch cruises, sunset tours and celebration charters, often alongside her sister vessel Xuxu RM.
Pier: Doca de Belém, Gate 1, Av. Brasília, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Private brunch cruise, sunset cruise, party charters, celebrations.
Capacity: Up to 14 passengers.
- Model: Fountaine Pajot Highland 35
- Type: Power catamaran
- Length: 10.5 m (35 ft)
- Beam: 4.5 m
- Operator founded: 2018
- Capacity: 14 max
Water tours on the Pérola
Príncipe da Beira
Alternative name: Vera (unverified)
Príncipe da Beira is a converted cacilheiro - a traditional Tagus ferry - formerly named Montes Claros, bought and rebuilt by shipowner Rafael Silva. She sails under the Blue Cruises brand (parent company Veltagus) from the Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste pier at Terreiro do Paço, doing sightseeing cruises with an audio guide, welcome drinks and snacks.
Pier: Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste, booth 3 (Blue Cruises), Terreiro do Paço, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Sightseeing river cruise with welcome drink, brunch cruise, sunset cruise with snacks.
Capacity: Up to 150–200 passengers.
- Type: Traditional Tagus ferry ("cacilheiro"), converted for tourism
- Former name: Montes Claros
- Operator: Veltagus (brand: Blue Cruises), founded 1998
- Capacity: 150–200 max
Water tours on the Príncipe da Beira
MH2 Luar
MH2 Luar is a passenger ferry registered under the Portuguese flag (MMSI 263753590), working the Tagus as part of the hop-on hop-off boat circuit run by Lisboat. The boat leg links Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste (Terreiro do Paço), Cais da Ribeira das Naus (Cais do Sodré) and Cais da Princesa (Belém), and it's bundled with Cityrama Gray Line's hop-on hop-off bus network covering the Belém, Oriente, Castle and Cascais lines.
Pier: Cais da Ribeira das Naus / Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste / Cais da Princesa (Belém), Lisbon.
Cruise types: Hop-on hop-off river circuit (bundled with bus tour), single-ticket river crossings.
Capacity: N/A (passenger ferry).
- Type: Passenger ferry
- Flag: Portugal
- MMSI: 263753590
Water tours on the MH2 Luar
Sou do Tejo
Sou do Tejo ("I'm from the Tagus") is a traditional varino - a flat-bottomed Tagus cargo boat - dating back to the late 19th century, run by Nosso Tejo alongside her sister vessel Seja Feliz (a bote de fragata built in 1947). Nosso Tejo reckons it's the only Lisbon company running tours on these large traditional boats, doing sightseeing, express and sunset cruises out of Cais do Sodré with live commentary in several languages.
Pier: Cais do Sodré, Gate 4, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Guided sightseeing cruise, express cruise, sunset cruise with white wine.
Capacity: Up to 15 passengers.
- Type: Varino (traditional Tagus sailing cargo boat)
- Built: Late 19th century
- Registration: Marinha do Tejo #50
- Capacity: 15 max
Water tours on the Sou do Tejo (Nosso Tejo fleet)
- Lisbon Traditional Boats Guided Sightseeing Cruise
- Express Cruise on Traditional Boats
- Lisbon Traditional Boats Sunset Cruise with White Wine
Mercator
Mercator is a sailboat in Rent a Boat's fleet, a Lisbon operator based at Doca de Belém and Doca de Alcântara. She handles their shared sightseeing and wine-tasting cruises, taking small groups along the Tagus past Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery and the 25 de Abril Bridge, with the skipper chatting away the whole trip.
Pier: Doca de Belém (Van Stand, orange/blue "Rent a Boat" flag), near the Monument to the Discoveries, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Sunset and wine sailing tour, cultural scenic cruise with wine.
Capacity: Up to 12 passengers.
- Type: Sailboat
- Operator: Rent a Boat, headquartered Doca de Alcântara
- Capacity: 12 max
Water tours on the Mercator
Fountaine Pajot MY 37
The Fountaine Pajot MY 37 is a power catamaran built by the French yard Fountaine Pajot, known for a roomy deck and solid stability. In Lisbon, one of these runs in the fleet of Taguscruises Boat Tours & Yacht Charter, based at Doca do Bom Sucesso in Belém. Taguscruises has been licensed since 2010 - the first company in Lisbon to run daily yacht tours on fixed departure times - and they mix sailboats and catamarans across their shared sightseeing trips, putting guests on whichever fits the group size that day.
Pier: Doca do Bom Sucesso, Gate 1, Belém, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Sailing tour with welcome drink (1 or 2 hours), sunset option, private charters.
Capacity: Up to 12–14 passengers (shared tour).
- Model: Fountaine Pajot MY 37
- Length: 36 ft (11 m)
- Speed: 20 knots
- Cabins: 4
- Capacity: up to 18 passengers (builder spec); shared tour capped at 12–14
Boat tours on the Fountaine Pajot MY 37
Évora
Alternative name: Barco Évora
The Évora is a historic riverboat built in 1931 at the Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel, Germany - built, oddly enough, from recycled steel plates off German WWI-era tanks. She entered service with the Companhia dos Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses (CP) on 15 November 1931, running the Barreiro-Lisbon ferry route across the Tagus right up until 1975. She was Portugal's first diesel-powered vessel, and supposedly the first ship anywhere with stainless steel propellers. After she was decommissioned she spent years as a wine cellar, storing barrels of moscatel roxo, before getting restored for tourism in 2004 and again in 2015/2017. Sardinha do Tejo runs her now, with two-hour sunset party cruises - DJ, open bar - departing from Cais Rocha Conde de Óbidos.
Pier: Cais Rocha Conde de Óbidos, 1350-352 Lisboa (Rocha Conde de Óbidos car park, near LACS and Okah).
Cruise types: Sunset boat tour with music and drinks (day or sunset departure), private/corporate events.
Capacity: Up to 220–240 passengers (varies by event type).
- Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel, Germany
- Year built: 1931
- Length: 36.53 m
- Beam: 8.04 m
- Draft: 1.80 m
- Gross tonnage: 282 t
- Notable: Portugal's first diesel-powered ship; reportedly the first vessel in the world with stainless steel propellers
- Capacity: 220–240 max
Water tours on the Évora
Zonacat
Alternative name: CONACAT
Zonacat is one of two identical catamarans - the other's Tartaruga do Mar - run by Sardinha do Tejo, founded in 2018 by Mário Firmino, Bernardo Sousa and Julio Osorio. They're also behind the historic Évora boat. Each catamaran holds up to 60 passengers and comes with net hammocks on the bow, a covered lounge, a bar and a ladder for swim stops.
Pier: Doca de Santo Amaro, Door 3 (near Rui dos Pregos restaurant), Alcântara, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Sunset catamaran cruise with music and drinks, catamaran boat party (with open bar and swim stops), private/corporate charters.
Capacity: Up to 60 passengers (max); 15 on this shared tour.
- Type: Catamaran
- Features: Bow net hammocks, covered seating, bar, wheelchair accessible
- Capacity: 60 max
Water tours on the Zonacat
Lagoon 42
The Lagoon 42 is a cruising catamaran from the French yard Lagoon (a Groupe Bénéteau brand), first launched in 1990 and redesigned in 2016 as the Lagoon 42-2. In Lisbon one runs with Rent a Boat, based at Doca de Alcântara (Edifício Gonçalves Zarco), and she's their flagship "VIP" catamaran - the one they save for exclusive sunset, wine and dining charters along the Tagus.
Pier: Rent a Boat Office, Galerias Edifício Gonçalves Zarco 8, Doca de Alcântara, Lisbon.
Cruise types: VIP catamaran private tour, luxury catamaran sunset and wine cruise, sail-and-dine sunset VIP catamaran, private tour on a luxury catamaran.
Capacity: Up to 18 passengers.
- Builder: Lagoon (Groupe Bénéteau), France
- Model years: 1990 (original) / 2016 (Lagoon 42-2)
- Length: 12.8 m (42 ft)
- Beam: 7.7 m
- Capacity: 18 max
Water tours on the Lagoon 42
- VIP Catamaran Private Tour
- Private Tour on a Luxury Catamaran (Sunset and Wine Tour)
- Luxury Catamaran Sunset and Wine Cruise
- Sail and Dine with Sunset VIP Catamaran
Tartaruga do Mar (Fountaine Pajot Taiti)
Alternative name: Fountaine Pajot Taiti
Tartaruga do Mar is the second of Sardinha do Tejo's two catamarans, sister to Zonacat, both capped at 60 passengers. This one's used for the company's "Catamaran Boat Party" - a coastal cruise along Lisbon's Atlantic shoreline, open bar for the first hour, music, and a ladder for anyone who fancies a swim.
Pier: Doca de Santo Amaro, Door 3 (near Rui dos Pregos restaurant), Alcântara, Lisbon.
Cruise types: Catamaran boat party with music, open bar and swim stops.
Capacity: Up to 60 passengers (max); 15 on this shared tour.
- Type: Catamaran
- Features: Swimming ladder, covered seating, bar, sound system
- Capacity: 60 max
Water tours on the Tartaruga do Mar
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Lisbon boats depart from? The historic ferries and hop-on hop-off boats - MS Schaprode, MS Hanseblick, S. Paulus, Príncipe da Beira, MH2 Luar - all depart from the Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste terminal or Cais do Sodré at Terreiro do Paço. The independent sailing yachts and catamarans mostly work out of three marinas: Doca de Santo Amaro (Furanai, Mara, Vicente, Dom João, Zonacat, Tartaruga do Mar), Doca de Belém (Bavaria Extra Mile, Pérola, Mercator, Fountaine Pajot MY 37) and Doca de Alcântara (City Lake 1, RiverMountain, Príncipe Perfeito, Évora, Lagoon 42).
Which boat is best for a sunset sail on a small private yacht? The Vagabond 47 (Furanai) and Mara are your best bet for a classic, intimate sunset sail on a vintage yacht. If you want something more modern and a bit more comfortable, the Bavaria Cruiser 41 "Extra Mile" and Dufour 405 GL are both production sailboats built for that.
Which boat is best for a big group party? The Príncipe Perfeito (up to 200 guests) and Évora (up to 240) are Lisbon's biggest dedicated party boats, both with DJ sets and open bar. For something mid-size, Zonacat and Tartaruga do Mar hold up to 60 each and work well for catamaran parties.
Which boat is best for a full-day trip out of Lisbon? The Dufour 405 GL does full-day trips along the Arrábida coast out of Sesimbra, swim stop included. And the Fountaine Pajot Highland 35 (Pérola) and Fountaine Pajot MY 37 both run charters that stretch out toward Cascais.
Which boat is a historic vessel rather than a modern build? Quite a few, actually. The Évora (1931, Portugal's first diesel ship), S. Paulus (1959, ex-Hamburg ferry), Príncipe da Beira (a converted cacilheiro) and Sou do Tejo (a 19th-century varino) are all restored historic vessels. The MS Schaprode and MS Hanseblick count too, since both were originally built for German river fleets before coming to Lisbon.
Which boat can combine a bus tour with a river cruise? MH2 Luar is the boat leg of Cityrama Gray Line's citywide hop-on hop-off network, and the S. Paulus (Yellow Boat) pairs its 24-hour river ticket with Carris trams, funiculars and city buses. Hippotrip goes even further - it actually drives through Lisbon's streets before diving into the Tagus as an amphibious vehicle.