Delights of the Douro

Arrive at Porto airport, where you’ll be met by your tour manager and transferred to your ship. Depending on the time of your flight, you can explore this birthplace of Portugal with its UNESCO-listed sights and medieval streets. This evening, board the ship, and after settling into the cabin, meet the crew with a welcome cocktail before dinner.

Later, you can opt to join a night tour of Portugal’s second-largest city, known for its port wine production and grand bridges. Your guide will show you around its historic centre and famed landmarks, such as the Sé Cathedral, 20th-century São Bento Railway Station with its azulejo tilework, and the bustling Ribeira district along the Douro River.

Enjoy your first breakfast on the river and perhaps spend the day taking advantage of the ship’s on-board facilities, including the sun deck or explore the city at your own pace.

Alternatively, join one of two optional excursions to discover more of Porto with a local guide.

An optional guided tour of Porto takes you around the city by coach, with the first stop at St. Francis Church, a striking Gothic monument, boasting beautiful Baroque décor. Continue to Bolsa Palace, also known as the Stock Exchange Palace, a 19th-century neoclassical mansion located in the heart of the city. The final stop will be at a local azulejo tile workshop, so you can learn about this traditional art form and its history. The name ‘azulejo’ comes from the Arabic word ‘zellij’, which means polished stone. Return to the ship in the evening.

Another optional tour offers the chance to leisurely explore the city by tram. From the port, you’ll board a coach to the downtown district. Here, you’ll travel on one of the city’s iconic vintage trams across the tracks and steep hills to the mouth of the Douro. There will be a stop at the tram museum, Museu do Carro Eléctrico, which is housed in a former power plant. Opened in 1922, this building now houses the oldest cars pulled by horses, called ‘Americanos’, dating back to 1872. The excursion will conclude with a tasting of local specialities, including some port wine, produced in the valley, the third-oldest protected wine region in the world.

In the afternoon, the ship will then journey through the Douro Valley as you take in the beautiful views from the deck to Régua. An evening of dancing or time at leisure awaits after dinner.

This morning, following breakfast, enjoy time at leisure, perhaps relax on board and take in the river views, or step ashore for some independent exploration at your own pace.

Alternatively, join an optional excursion, appealing to wine and history enthusiasts. Starting on foot, you’ll walk from the port to the Douro Museum. Next, continue by coach to the nearby city of Vila Real, to visit the magnificent 18th-century manor, Mateus Palace.

Later, return to the ship in Pinhão by coach, and in the afternoon, the cruise will make a scenic journey through some of Porto’s most well-known vineyards to Vega de Terron, a small port on the Spain-Portugal border.

Dinner will be complemented by an evening of lively flamenco entertainment.

Following breakfast, spend the day as you please, whether that’s unwinding on board or discovering the Spanish city of Salamanca.

You can also set off on one of two optional excursions. The first optional involves boarding a coach at the port and travelling to Salamanca, where you’ll meet your guides. This university city is a delight to explore, and you’ll begin in the UNESCO-listed old town, home to an assortment of Romanesque, Gothic and Moorish architecture. Next, you’ll walk to one of the oldest universities in the world, dating back to 1218. This building, also known as Escuelas Mayores, boasts an ornate gate with the city’s most famous design, a tiny frog carving atop a shell.

This frog originally symbolised a warning against temptation and moral decay, but today it is mostly known as a good-luck symbol for students who find it – see if you can spot it. Its library, built in the 13th century, is packed with large manuscripts and early printed books, and is one of the best-preserved historic university libraries in Europe. There will then be time for an included lunch at a local restaurant, with time to wander around the city at your own pace. Return to the ship to board in Vega de Teron.

Foodies can join an optional tapas tour, which involves visiting several eateries across Salamanca’s city centre with a guide. This allows you to sample a wide range of appetisers as snacks, such as patatas bravas, salads, and cold cuts, paired with local wine. Lunch will be served at a popular restaurant, and afterwards, you can stroll around at your own pace, perhaps in search of dessert.

Later, return to board the ship in Vega de Teran before dinner.

The ship will have started cruising as you enjoy breakfast before another day at leisure to relax or do some discovering of Pinhão at your own pace.

If you’re keen to taste more of the local delicacies, you can join an optional excursion covering the port wine route and Pinhão. Meet your guide at the dock and venture by coach along the picturesque wine route, deeper into the vineyard-lined valleys. While you travel, learn about how Portugal has cultivated vineyards since the Roman Empire and take in the enchanting scenery with the river flowing below. The coach will then arrive in Pinhão, a pretty village located right on the banks, where you’ll stop at a quinta, a family-owned estate for wine tasting with a view. The highlight of Pinhão is its train station, which you’ll get to admire its striking design. Built during the 19th century, this colourful masterpiece features azulejo frescos depicting the production of port wine.

Later, return to the ship and get ready for a special gala dinner this evening.

Have breakfast, disembark the boat, and join your guide for an included tour of the small and walkable Portuguese city of Lamego.

You’ll first travel by coach into the heart of the city, where you’ll get to see its most famous landmark, the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. Constructed in a Baroque and Rococo style in the 18th century, it’s known for its 686-step staircase. The weaving staircase is adorned with blue-and-white azulejo tiles, statues, fountains, and terraces overlooking the city.

This pilgrimage site is one of the most spectacular religious stairways in Portugal and offers incredible views over the mountains and the surrounding landscape. Good walking shoes are recommended, and it’s important to dress appropriately for this visit.

After you’ve explored, you can return to the ship for a rest as the ship cruises through the Douro Valley. Tonight, a Fado-themed evening of entertainment will follow dinner.

The ship will arrive back in Porto after you’ve had breakfast, and you can choose to disembark and explore further.

In the afternoon, a visit to Guimarães will showcase this university town and its main attractions on foot. Often called the ‘birthplace of Portugal’, this city’s medieval centre is a listed UNESCO site. You’ll begin with the Nossa Senhora de Oliveira Church, a Gothic structure named after an olive tree (Oliveria) that once stood in the square. Inside, you can view the carved wooden altars, religious statues, and medieval tombs. You’ll then continue around the centre, walking around its snaking lanes and beautiful plazas.

The Palace of the Dukes of Braganza is the next stop, a medieval fortress bult in Built in the 15th century by Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza, one of the most powerful nobles in Portugal. Today, it houses a museum, which has preserved period furniture, paintings, and armoury.

Return to the ship in Porto for a final evening of dinner and traditional folk entertainment.

Before disembarking, enjoy your last breakfast and begin your journey home.