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River Cruises in Portugal ~ Douro
- Lisbon
A
taste of Portugal and Spain: Historic places, gentle beauty, rich wines and
hearty meals
Tour
the historic cities of Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto, then cruise the meandering Douro
River across northern Portugal to the Spanish border on an elegant 128-passenger
river boat (12 days - 11 nights). Portugal,
a small country tucked into a corner of the Iberian Peninsula, changed the course
of world history, leading to the discovery of many new lands. Before
embarking on your river cruise, enjoy the capital city of Lisbon, a treasure house
of old world architecture set on seven low hills bordering the River Tejo. Stop
in Coimbra, Birthplace of Kings, and Porto, the beautiful City
of Bridges. The
Douro River starts in Spain and reaches the Atlantic Ocean in Porto. The river
has carved a valley of spectacular beauty, with hills falling steeply down to
the waters edge and stone terraces built over generations to give the vines
a sheltered hold on the steep rocks. This is port wine country, the first and
oldest demarcated wine region in the world, established in 1756. Taste new wines
from old village vineyards Régua, Pinhão and Lamego. Enjoy
a home-cooked meal at the Alpendurada Monastery. Stroll through Salamanca, Spain,
a UNESCO World Heritage city, and all along the way uncover a land of unspoiled
beauty and charm. 

Sipping
luscious port wine on a clear blue river surrounded by vineyards and olive groves...
an ideal setting for total relaxation! TYPICAL
RIVER CRUISE-TOUR ITINERARY (actual program may vary) Optional
pre-cruise tour of Spain and Portugal: leave a few days early and enjoy a
tour of Spain - including Madrid, Granada, Gibraltar and Seville - before your
arrival in Lisbon (total including cruise 17 days - 16 nights). Pre-tour starts
in Madrid with departure from the US on the previous Friday - see
itinerary details. Subject to minimum of 20 participants. Standard
program with pre-cruise tour of Lisbon and Coimbra: B
= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner Day
1 - Wednesday: Depart home gateway city for Lisbon.
Day
2 - Thursday: Lisbon.
Arrive in Lisbon, where youll be greeted by a company representative and
transferred to your hotel. Day
3 - Friday: Lisbon (B).
Your guided tour of the city takes you to one of the historical districts of the
city, Belem, to see the Belem Tower, a fortress that kept watch over the great
navigators who left Portugal to seek their fortunes elsewhere. Youll also
visit the 16th-century ornate Jerónimos Monastery. Day
4 - Saturday: Lisbon (B).
Free day to enjoy sightseeing in this beautiful city, with its old world atmosphere,
museums and numerous outdoor cafes. Day
5 - Sunday: Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto (B,
L, D). En route to the cruise ship docked in Porto, youll learn about Portugals
third largest city on a tour of Coimbra, the birthplace of six of Portugals
kings and home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. Visit the Biblioteca
Joanina, the jewel of Coimbra University. Enjoy a family-style lunch at a local
restaurant before continuing on to Porto to meet the riverboat. Dinner on board. Day
6 - Monday: Porto, Bitetos (B,
L, D).Visit historic Guimarães, the first capital
of Portugal in the 12th-century, home to the first king of Portugal, Don Afonso
Henriques, and a 2012 European Cultural Capital. It has been referred to as the
birthplace of the Portuguese nation. Dominated by Afonso Henriques grand
castle, Guimarães was recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due
to its extremely well-preserved city center. You will be guided through the narrow
streets of the Medieval quarter, toward the beautiful main square, the Largo da
Oliveira, and then on to the splendid Monastery and Church of Nossa Senhora da
Oliveira, the Ducal Palace, and the 14th century Gothic Padrão do Salado.
Later, sail to Bitetos and visit one of the prestigious port wine cellars in Cais
de Gaia. Day
7 - Tuesday: Bitetos, Régua, Pinhão (B,
L, D). Enjoy
the breathtaking scenery of the Douro Valley as you cruise from Bitetos to Régua
in the morning. After lunch, visit the Mateus Palace and Gardens.
The palace is a perfect example of baroque architecture, with an impressive facade
made up of beautiful pinnacles on the roof and an ornate stairway, all reflected
in a pond in front of the palace. The gardens are among the most beautiful in
Europe, with a tunnel of cypress trees shading the path. Later, enjoy dinner at
the family-owned winery Quinta da Avessada in the heart of the Douro region, built
a century ago, and producing Moscatel, the treasure of the region. Day
8 - Wednesday: Pinhão, Vega de Terrón
(Spain)
(B, L, Captains Dinner). The small town of Pinhão is the center of
the port winemaking area. Visit a quinta (vineyard) and learn more about the history
of port, which goes back to the 17th century. Find out about the unique climate
conditions of the Douro River Valley and the port wine making process, and of
course, indulge in some of this country's most celebrated beverage. Cruise to
Vega de Terrón in the afternoon. Captain's dinner on board the riverboat. Day
9 - Thursday: Vega de Terrón, Salamanca, Barca d'Alva
(B, L, D). The riverboat will dock in Vega de Terrón, Spain, in the morning.
From here, youll travel by motor coach to the Spanish city of Salamanca,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved medieval cities in
Spain. Visit the historic university founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX of León
and stroll through one of Spains largest and grandest squares - the Plaza
Mayor - with its warm, gold-colored sandstone. After a typical Spanish lunch with
a flamenco show at one of the citys wonderful restaurants, enjoy some free
time before returning to the cruise ship. Day
10 - Friday: Barca d'Alva, Régua
(B, L, D). Visit the small town of Castelo Rodrigo, a
medieval walled town dating back to the 12th century with a parish church perched
high on a hilltop. Day
11 - Saturday: Régua, Porto
(B, L, D).Cruise back to Porto, the City of Bridges,
Portugals second largest city. Its charm stems from its dramatic position
above the river, with gabled houses closely terraced on the hill. Youll
be guided through the medieval city center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Later, enjoy a farewell evening and reception while sailing to the mouth of the
Douro River.
Day
12 - Sunday: Porto.
(B) Disembark the riverboat and transfer to the Porto airport for your flight
home. This
itinerary is subject to change without notice. [top]
Highlights -
Lisbon, capital of Portugal
- Bibiloteca
Joanina in Coimbra
- Guimarães
(a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Port
wine tasting
- Mateus
palace and surrounding gardens
- Salamanca
(a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Figueira
de Castelo Rodrigo, a small medieval town
- Porto,
"City of Bridges"
Included - 7-night
cruise in a riverview stateroom
- 3-night
luxury hotel stay in Lisbon with breakfast
- All
meals beginning on Day 5, including Captains Dinner on board, plus 2 dinners
and 2 lunches ashore featuring traditional cuisine in unique settings
- Wine,
beer, soft drinks, coffee, tea and water with dinner during the cruise
- Bottled
water in staterooms each day
- Coffee
and tea station open 6 am to 6 pm
- 8
excursions fully hosted by English-speaking guides using portable audio headset
system
- Onboard
entertainment and lectures
- Services
of a cruise manager and English-speaking staff
- Transfers
on arrival (flights arriving between 7 am and 3 pm) and departure days (flights
departing between 7 am and 5 pm)
Available
at Additional Cost - Roundtrip
air from many US cities
- Beverages
not specified above
- Items
not included on regular menus
- Laundry
(not self-service)
- Internet
access
- Optional
tours and activities
- Health
and travel insurance
Not
Included - Crew
gratuities (suggested 115-120 euros per passenger)
- Personal
expenses
- Other
items not specifically listed under "Included" above
River
Boat Features 
- Size:
245 ft x 37 ft
- Number
of decks: 3 plus sun deck
- Staterooms:
61 outside staterooms plus 2 suites and 1 junior suite. All have sliding glass
doors with French balcony and all have 2 hotel-style twin beds that can be positioned
separately or together.
- 2
suites: upper deck, 237 sq. ft.
- 1
junior suite: main deck, 226 sq. ft.
- 23
category 1 staterooms: upper deck, 161 sq.ft.
- 28
category 2 staterooms: 2 upper deck, 26 main deck, 161 sq.ft.
- 6
category 3 staterooms: main deck, 161 sq.ft.
- 4
category 4 staterooms: main deck, 150 sq.ft.
- All
staterooms have private bathroom with hairdryer, L'Occitane toiletries and bathrobes,
a vanity and make-up mirror, generous built-in closets, safe, individual climate-control
thermostat, direct-dial telephone, and flat-screen TV with satellite reception
- Wireless
Internet access in public areas
- Panoramic
restaurant with open seating
- Beautiful
lounge with a full-service bar and dance floor
- Sun
deck with hot tub and swimming pool
- Gift
shop with sundries and gifts
- Fitness
room
- Massage
room
- Beauty
salon
- Elevator
[top]
2012 Tour-Cruise Dates & Prices (in US$) Note:
Departures from the US on Wednesday. Land portion of cruise-tour starts in Lisbon
on Thursday. River cruise begins in Porto on Sunday evening and ends in Porto
the following Sunday morning. Optional 10-day pre-cruise Spain/Lisbon extension
starts on Friday. 2012
Start Dates | Lisbon
Tour + Cruise* | Port
Charges/ Fuel Surchg | Airfare | Mar
15 | $3,199 | $126 | | Mar
22, 29 | $3,249 | Apr
5, 12, 19 | $3,349 | Apr
26 | $3,399 | May
3 - Jun 7 | $3,649 | Jun
14, 21 | $3,449 | Jun
28 | $3,399 | Jul
5 - Aug 9 | $3,299 | Aug
16 | $3,349 | Aug
23 | $3,549 | Aug
30 - Sep 13 | $3,799 | Sep
20 - Oct 4 | $3,699 | Oct
11 | $3,599 | Oct
18 | $3,349 | Oct
25 | $3,249 | Nov
1 | $3,149 | Nov
8 | $3,049 |
*Prices
are per person double occupancy in Category 4 (deluxe outside stateroom with fixed
window). To upgrade to a higher category, add the following amounts per person:
Suite | $1,445 | Junior
Suite | $1,195 | Category
1 | $845 | Category
2 | $520 | Category
3 | $310 |
For
each passenger, add $5 document shipping fee plus port charges and fuel surcharge
as shown above. A
limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement. For
pre-cruise
tour to Spain/Lisbon instead of Lisbon tour described above, add $1,729 per
person, double occupancy to the above prices (single supplement $439). Available
Apr 29 - Oct 14 only. Subject to minimum of 20 participants. For
cruise only (starting in Porto), subtract $400 per person from above prices. If
you book your own air transportation, free transfers are available for flights
arriving between 7 am and 3 pm on the tour start day in Lisbon and for departures
from Porto between 7 am and 5 pm on the cruise end day. Specials
2012
early booking discounts: Contact
us for details - Book
and deposit by Feb 29, 2012 to save $300 per couple OR
- Pay
in full at time of reservation to save $800 per couple on cruise plus air package.
Selected departure dates; offer expires Feb 29, 2012. OR
- Single
supplement waived on selected departures (suites not included).
Note:
Offers are subject to availability at time of reservation and are capacity controlled.
Other restrictions may apply. The cruise company reserves the right to withdraw
this offer at any time.
 [top]
More
on Excursions and Activities Guimarães
-
Historic Guimarães was the first capital of Portugal in the 12th century
and home to the first king of Portugal, Don Afonso Henriques. As such, it has
been referred to as the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. Dominated by Afonso
Henriques grand castle, Guimarães was recently declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site due to its extremely well-preserved city center. You will
be guided through the narrow streets of the medieval quarter, which is lined with
old houses embellished by ornate balconies, toward the beautiful main square,
the Largo da Oliveira, and then on to other lovely places such as the splendid
Monastery and Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and the 14th-century Gothic
Padrão do Salado..
[back
to itinerary]
Mateus
Palace and Gardens -
The palace and gardens of Mateus are located in the beautiful region of Trás-os-Montes
just outside the city of Vila Real. Built in 1745, this magnificent mansion is
considered a perfect example of Baroque architecture. We start the excursion with
a panoramic bus ride along the river banks, through quaint villages and grandiose
vineyard-covered terraces. In the gardens of the palace of Mateus you will find
out about the history of Mateus rosé wine and its connection to this 18-century
mansion. The property is still owned by the current Count of Vila Real but a cultural
foundation called "Casa de Mateus" is now in charge of preserving the
palace and its archives and promoting a variety of cultural, scientific and educational
activities. Several concerts take place there every year, during the "Festival
Mateus" in the summer. Inside
the palace, you will visit the library, a small museum with liturgical vestments,
a collection of silver reliquaries from the 18th century, a 17th century woodcraft
altar, ivory images of Our Lady of Conception (17th century), and a "Descent
from the Cross" (18th century), among many other artifacts. You will also
have a chance to see Portuguese, French and English furniture, mainly from the
17th and 18th centuries, and a few paintings from the same periods. [back
to itinerary]
Salamanca
-
Salamanca is a city full of traditions, located at the center of the "Castilla
y León" region of Spain. It was founded by Celtic tribes on the banks
of the river Tormes and was later occupied by the Romans and the Arabs. It was
finally reconquered by the Christians in the 12th century. During the 13th century
the oldest university of the Iberian Peninsula was founded there. The city was
visited many times by kings, princes, bishops and artists who contributed to its
enrichment over the ages. The
visit of Salamanca (a World Heritage city) vividly reminds us of the Middle Ages.
The monuments are impressive, but so is the large modern university of some 40,000
students coming from all over the world. (The city itself only has 160,000 inhabitants.)
The walking city tour will take you to the New Cathedral, the University, the
House of Shells and, of course, the beautiful "Plaza Mayor." [back
to itinerary]
Figueira
de Castelo Rodrigo - Castelo
Rodrigo is up in the hills at about 2,200 feet above sea level. The steep and
narrow streets, the 16th century façades of the buildings and the Manueline
windows give this village a uniquely medieval atmosphere. The Romans were the
first to build a fortress there. In 1209 king Alfonso IX built the walls around
the fortress. The village became part of the Portuguese territory in 1297. For
centuries, Jews, Arabs and Christians peacefully coexisted in this small town,
and signs of this can still be seen in Sinagoga Street. Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
is also known for its many almond trees scattered around the village. The
region's economy is primarily based on agriculture: grain, olives, cattle and
cheese. Wine has been produced in the region by monks since the 12th century.
Every year, Figueira welcomes the beautiful storks that stay in the village for
about 9 months (the stork is the symbol of the village). [back
to itinerary]
Porto
- Spreading
along the banks of the Douro River, Porto, a World Heritage city, owes its history
and development to the river that runs through it. A Celtic settlement at first,
it became a prosperous Roman village thanks to its busy harbor. As a medieval
town of fishermen, sailors, merchants and ship builders, it contributed to the
great success of the Portuguese world discoveries during the 15th and 16th centuries.
In the 18th century, Porto gave its name to some of the finest wines in the world:
port. The
tour will drive through narrow streets to view 16th century arcaded buildings
and ornate Baroque churches. We will cross a 19th century iron bridge, built by
disciples of the famed French engineer Gustav Eiffel. Then on to Foz, at the mouth
of the Douro River, to discover the upscale neighborhoods of the city. The tour
ends with a visit to one of the port wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia, where you
will see old casks full of port and sample the delicious wines of Portugal. [back
to itinerary] [top] | | |