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Douro River Cruise

8 Days / 6 locations in Portugal

Pack your bags for Portugal! This classy 8-day cruise takes you down the divine Douro River aboard the brand new M/S Splendor, having completed construction in March 2018 with French balconies on upper decks. Enjoy a unique itinerary that includes 4 sightseeing tours, 20 meals (plus drink package), folk performances, along with language and cooking lessons giving you a taste of Portuguese way of life. Only select dates and space available, so act quick before they're gone in a jiff! Give us a call to book your cabin today!

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Porto
On Board the M/S Douro Splendor
Meals: Dinner

Check in after 3 pm. Prior to dinner, meet your fellow passengers and Cruise Staff for a cocktail, and crew introduction followed by an information meeting. Then enjoy your first dinner on board, followed by a well‐deserved rest.

 
Day 2     Regua
On Board the M/S Douro Splendor
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Early in the morning your Douro journey begins. At 11 o'clock we will go to Entre‐os‐Rios, where river Rio Tãmega flows into the Douro. Here we drive by bus to the famous Vinho Verde restaurant, where we have a delicious lunch. Return to the ship and we sail towards Régua. Enjoy the afternoon in the sun deck or in the lounge and take the time to admire the beautiful landscapes we pass.  We arrive at Régua before dinner. Regua municipality is regarded as part

of the most important wine producing region in Portugal, and was even named “the international city of wine”. The appealing city also offers an array of cafés on the riverside and several beautiful bridges over the Douro river. Overnight

 
Day 3     Vega de Terron
On Board the M/S Douro Splendor
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Enjoy a quiet morning  while the ship sails further up the valley towards the border with Spain. After lunch we arrive at Vega de Terrón. From here, we depart on an included excursion to the small town of Castelo Rodrigo home to an ancient Roman fort. The town was part of Spain before it came under the Portuguese kingdom in 1297. Throughout the centuries, Jews, Arabs and Christians lived in peaceful coexistence here. Your first stop will be at the ruins of the old castle which have great views of the olive groves and vineyards of the valley. From the castle you will stroll through the center of the town, where you can still see traces of the Jewish population who lived here during the Spanish Inquisition. The tour ends with visits to the little church. In the evening, there is a party dinner on board with the Captain's aperitif and five‐course menu. The ship is located at the pier in Vega de Terrón overnight

 
Day 4     Barca d'Alva
On Board the M/S Douro Splendor
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Today you can enjoy a relaxing day at sail or join an optional full day excursion to Salamanca in Spain. Salamanca's history extends several thousand years back in time, and the historic center of the city is on UNESCO's world heritage site. The University of Salamanca is one of the oldest and most famous in Europe. Here, scholars from both Christian and Arab and Jewish cultures were met from the 1200s to the 1400s while there was religious persecution elsewhere in Europe. After arriving, you gather at Plaza Mayo in the heart of the city and to get a brief orientation about the city's attractions, shops and cafes. Then you will have time to explore the city on your own before meeting for lunch at a local restaurant. The lunch includes a rewarding flamenco show. In the afternoon there is a tour of Salamanca, which ends with visits to the "new" cathedral, built between 1513 and 1733. Return to the ship, which has meanwhile sailed to the border town of Barca d'Alva. The day ends with dinner on the sundeck (with reservation). The ship is located at the dock in Barca d'Alva overnight. Cost of Tour: €110 per person.

Passengers not going to Salamanca will enjoy a free day in Barca d’Alva.

 
Day 5     Pinhao
On Board the M/S Douro Splendor
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Enjoy a relaxing morning on board while the ship sails back down the river and through the locks of Pocinho and Valeria. Now we are sailing through the heart of the wine district in the Douro valley. On both sides of the river there are terraced vineyards up the steep valley sides. After lunch, we arrive at Pinhão, which is beautifully surrounded by vineyards that produce some of the country's best port

wines. From here, we depart on your included excursion featuring a first stop at Solar de Mateus Palace, immortalized on the label of the Mateus Rosé bottles. The 17th‐century palace is considered to be one of the most beautiful baroque buildings in Portugal. It will be time for a stroll in the beautifully landscaped garden. This will be followed by a tour of Vila Real, a city of varied religious architecture.

Return to the ship in Pinhão. Take the opportunity to take a stroll in the old town of Pinhão on your own. The city's old railway station, famous for its beautiful azulejos (traditional Portuguese tiles), is well

worth a visit. Tonight, we eat dinner on land in la Quinta, a local vineyard and restaurant. The menu we serve is inspired by the traditional Portuguese cuisine, based on local produce. Each dish is accompanied by local wines, which helps to enhance the total experience. The ship is docked here overnight

 
Day 6     Entre-os-Rios
On Board the M/S Douro Splendor
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

We sail on early in the morning and arrive at Régua in the morning. Depart on your included excursion to Lamego, the highlight of which is the visit of the beautiful Baroque church, Nossa Senhora dos

Remédios ‐ one of Portugal's most important pilgrimage. During the day there will be a visit to one of the many vineyards in the area, where we will see how the port wine is produced. And of course, we can taste the noble drops. After lunch, the cruise continues, and we pass the high Carrapatelo and Bagaúste slopes. Relax on board ‐ and have a good book on the sundeck. Before dinner, the ship arrives at Entre‐os‐Rios. After dinner, we will welcome a visit from a local group who will entertain us with Portuguese folk music in the lounge

 
Day 7     Porto
On Board the M/S Douro Splendor
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Early in the morning we leave Entre‐Os‐Rios and sail the last stretch back to Porto. Arrival before lunch.  Porto, with its approximately 300,000 inhabitants, is Portugal's second largest city. The historic center of the city stands on UNESCO's world heritage site and is a breeze of narrow streets, archways and

impressive churches ‐ including the 11th‐century Cathedral. But above all, Porto is famous for the wine that carries the city's name. On the other side of the river to the city center, in the Vila Nova de Gaia district, are the old 17th‐century port wine houses. The grapes are transported here from the vineyards of Douro valley, processed and stored in the large port barrels before bottling and distribution

throughout the world. In the afternoon depart on your included tour of Porto. The tour ends with visits to one of the Port Vila houses of Vila Nova de Gaia. Here there are tours and tastings on the "precious

nectar". In the evening, there is a party dinner on board. Overnight.

 
Day 8     Porto
Meals: Breakfast

Arrangements end after breakfast

 
Price Includes
Total of 4 Sightseeing Tours Included (Castelo, St. Mateus, Lamego, Porto)
Total of 20 Meals Including 7 Buffet Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 7 Dinners in
Free Drink Package: Mineral Water, Soft Drinks, Local House White and Red W
Welcome and Farewell Cocktail Party With Snacks
Accommodation in Outside River View Staterooms, in Cabin Category of Your C
Portuguese Lesson in the Lounge.
Portuguese Folk Music Show on Board
Portuguese Traditional Dinner.
Douro Presentation.
Services of an Experienced Hotel Manager & Local English Speaking Guides Th
Swimming Pool on Sun Deck
Cooking Presentation
Captain’S Dinner With an Upgraded 5‐Course Menu With Aperitif. 
Tv Channels in All Cabins Via Satellite
Non‐Smoking Environment (Smoking Is Permitted on Special Designated Areas)
Price Does Not Include
 Airport Transfers
 Optional Excursions
 Tips for the Ship Crew Eur 10,00 Per Passenger Per Night.
VWT-1269
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