Day 1 - Lisbon
Today you'll be met at Lisbon airport where you'll be transferre to the superior first- class Hotel Tivoli Lisboa (or similar) in the heart of Lisbon. Relax this afternoon and evening or explore the city a bit on your own.
Day 2 - Lisbon
After breakfast, embark on a half-day tour of Lisbon. Begin at Belém with a tour of the Jerónimos Monastery, one of the most prominent examples of Portuguese late Gothic Manueline style of architecture. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Tower of Belém which you'll also explore, you're sure to be in awe of Lisbon's beauty. Next, a walking tour through the narrow streets of the Alfama District where you learn about Lisbon’s long, multicultural history. (Breakfast included)
Day 3 - Porto
After breakfast you'll check-out of your hotel and take a scenic ride to Porto. You'll stop for lunch in Coimbra, birthplace of six Portuguese kings and home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. Upon arrival in Porto, you'll proceed to the dock at Vila Nova de Gaia and board your ship. After boarding, you can relax and get settled in your stateroom before a welcome cocktail and dinner is served. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 4 - Porto
After breakfast, you'll take a city tour of Porto, a charming riverside community whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire its graceful bridges, baroque cathedrals and romantic 16th- through 19th-century buildings nestled together on narrow cobbled streets. Visit a typical port wine–making facility, then return to your ship for lunch.
This afternoon you'll have time to explore Porto on your own, or take an optional excursion to Guimarães, another fantastic UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guimarães has a plenty to explore with its medieval quarter, narrow streets, main square, palaces and monasteries dating back to the 10th century. In the 12th century, it was Portugal’s first capital and home to its first king, Afonso Henriques.
Enjoy your evening at leisure in Porto, where your ship remains docked overnight. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 5 Régua & Pinhão
This morning we sail along the Douro, arriving at Régua in early afternoon. Disembark for an excursion to Vila Real, site of the extraordinary Mateus Palace (the building depicted on the Mateus Rosé wine labels). This stunning baroque palace was the home of the last count of Vila Real; its pinnacled facade, grand stairway, richly appointed interiors and priceless objects on display will astonish you, as will the palace’s enchanting formal gardens featuring cedar-lined walkways, exquisite sculpted hedges and statuary and serene bodies of water. As you depart, catch glimpses of the town’s ornamental carvings and tiled walls. Visit one of the area’s iconic port wine–making institutions. See its vineyard and tour the facility to learn how these unique Portuguese products are crafted, then sample the libation in their tasting room. Rejoin your ship in Pinhão for dinner. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 6 - Barca D’Alva
This morning, we sail east along the Douro. See dramatic, sheer rock formations, picturesque terraced vineyards, and graceful bridges and trestles along the way; you also pass through two of the river’s locks at the Valeira and Pocinho Dams. We arrive at Barca d’Alva, not far from the Spanish border, in mid-afternoon.
This afternoon, enjoy a tour to Castelo Rodrigo. Located approximately 2,200 feet above sea level and surrounded by almond trees, Castelo Rodrigo is one of Portugal’s 12 historic parishes; its streets are narrow and steep, and its houses still present 16th-century facades and the distinctively Portuguese Manueline-style windows. Here you see Sinagoga Street, a remembrance of the Jewish community established by refugees from the Spanish Inquisition; you can visit the local church as well. As we ride back to our ship, we will stop along the way to admire panoramic views.(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 7 - Salamanca & Vega de Terrón
Today you'll have a full-day excursion to Salamanca, Spain. This ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a living museum that takes visitors back to the Middle Ages. Salamanca has recently become more known as a cosmopolitan and multicultural city with its large population of international students. Take a ride through the Iberian countryside to the heart of Salamanca and spend some time exploring its shops and cafés of the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) on your own. Lunch is served at a local restaurant featuring traditional Spanish music. Your afternoon guided city tour takes you to the Gothic House of Shells, the 13th-century Salamanca University and the New Cathedral - built from 1513 through 1733. The Old Cathedral still exists and can be visited during free time. Rejoin your ship in Vega de Terrón. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 8 - Pinhão
This morning you'll sail west along the Douro, passing some of the area’s quintas (vineyards), where, if you're lucky, you might catch a glimps of vintners tending their vines.
After breakfast you'll disembark for a scenic drive up to the little village of Favaios. Here you'll make your way to one of the last traditional bakeries in the Douro River Valley and discover how bread was made in the old days and how it tasted with a sample fresh from the oven. Visit the local museum for a wine-and-bread repast, and explore a typical Portuguese village, not yet discovered by the masses. Continuing from here, lunch at Quinta da Avessada, a rustic centuries-old winery in the heart of the Douro Wine District (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and sample some local varieties of port, such as moscatel. Rejoin your ship in Pinhao where you remain docked overnight. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 9 - Régua
Arriving in Régua after breakfast, you'll disembark for a visit to Lamego, a small town known for its baroque Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies. Dating back to the 14th century, the sancturary is still used by pilgrims today. Visit the shrine, decorated with exquisite tilework in the Moorish manner, and descend the grand baroque staircase. You'll also see the town’s Gothic cathedral and the ruins of 12th-century Lamego Castle and its unusual vaulted cistern. Returning to your ship for lunch, you'll have a scenic afternoon sailing along the Douro, back towards Porto. Arriving in port during a festive farewell dinner; you'll be docked overnight so will have the freedom to take an evening stroll or enjoy the activities in the Lounge. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 10 - Porto
After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight. Or, extend your time in the region with a 2-night extension to Braga, Portugal and Santiago de Compostela, Spain. (Breakfast included)
