VIDA PORTUGAL
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Meals (Breakfast)
DAY 8
Ancient Charm Meets Avant-Garde.
- ACTIVE EXCURSION Enjoy the wharfs of the Douro River and the coastal magnificence of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, on a guided bike tour, OR;
- DISCOVERY EXCURSION Enjoy a guided visit to one of the many Port wine cellars, where a guide will accompany you through the cellar’s facilities, explaining where the grapes are harvested and how the wines are made. At the end of your explorations, taste some of the wines, OR:
- CLASSIC EXCURSION Join a guided sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue your experience with a ride to the riverside city of Matosinhos and up Avenida da Boavista to admire some of the modern charms of Porto – from ancient avenues to avant-garde graffiti street art.
This afternoon, you may choose to join in a guided optional excursion such as a visit to family-owned factory to witness the Portuguese art of cork and barrel production or a culinary tour experience. Perhaps simply spend time strolling through Porto’s cobblestone lanes, lovely shops, and tempting tapas bars this afternoon before experiencing the energy of Porto’s buzzing nightlife. - OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
*On March, second half of September, October & November the Porto sightseeing excursion, the bike tour and the Porto wine tasting will be offered on day 2. The full-day excursion to Braga and Guimarães originally planned for day 2 will be offered on this day. As an alternative, enjoy a sailing morning and free time in the afternoon in Porto.
DAY 7
EXCURSION TO AMARANTE
Mountains and Moving Music.
This morning, enjoy a leisurely sailing through the Douro River.
- DISCOVERY EXCURSION Enjoy an onboard pastry demonstration.
- DISCOVERY EXCURSION Join us for an onboard Lecture to learn more about the wines of the region.
- DISCOVERY EXCURSION Take a visit to a wine- producing property, and taste the freshness and lightness of iconic Vinho Verde wine, considered one of the world’s unique white wines.
This evening, enjoy an onboard live entertainment. - OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LEVERINHO Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 6
EXCURSION TO SALAMANCA
The Reign in Spain.
- CLASSIC EXCURSION Join our guide for a guided tour this morning to of one of the most remote villages of the country, Freixo de Espada à Cinta village in the Douro International Natural Park, home to majestic birds of prey, OR:
Enjoy a guided tour to the historical village of Castelo Rodrigo, which, from the top of a hill, dominates the plateau that stretches from Spain in the east to the deep valley of the Douro in the north. Stroll through its medieval streets and discover the small details that give it colour, such as the Hebrew inscriptions and - CLASSIC EXCURSION Get a taste of Spain with a full-day excursion to Salamanca. This Spanish city will take your breath away with its stunning streets and squares, featuring a feast for the eyes with Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and “Plateresque” architecture. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.
- OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN FERRADOSA
Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 5
Kayaks and Quintas in the Douro Valley. Enjoy a relaxing cruise to Pocinho for a day in the Terra Quente region.
- DISCOVERY EXCURSION Join a Workshop conducted by a professional painter to discover the process of painting azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile).
- ACTIVE EXCURSION Discover the Douro River by kayak on a guided adventure through Portugal’s stunning valley. Enjoy breathtaking views and unforgettable moments*, OR:
- DISCOVERY EXCURSION Experience the charm of the Douro region with a visit to a historic vineyard estate. Enjoy a tasting of exquisite red, white, and port wines while soaking in stunning views and uncovering the rich heritage of this renowned winemaking region.
- DISCOVERY EXCURSION Join us for an onboard workshop to learn Portuguese language and culture. Discover essential words, charming stories, and clever tricks that bring this centuries-old language to life in an interactive and memorable way.
This evening, enjoy an onboard Flamenco show with local artists. - OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BARCA D’ALVA
Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 4
Pastoral Pleasures of Portugal.
- DISCOVERY EXCURSION Experience life on one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley with a personal tour by the owner of the house, including a wine tasting, OR:
- DISCOVERY EXCURSION Join a wine painting class with the guidance of a resident artist for a unique and new experience to portray an image linked to the culture of wine through an innovative process, OR:
- CLASSIC EXCURSION Take a guided walking tour of the charming town of Lamego. Enjoy a taste of the local bola de Lamego with sparkling wine and stroll past iconic landmarks like the majestic Lamego Cathedral. Enjoy a short sailing to Pinhão.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PINHÃO
Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 3
EXCURSION BRAGA AND GUIMARÃES
Portuguese Panoramas.
- CLASSIC EXCURSION Join a guided sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue your experience with a ride to the riverside city of Matosinhos and up Avenida da Boavista to admire some of the modern charms of Porto – from ancient avenues to avant-garde graffiti street art, OR:
- CLASSIC EXCURSION Enter a world of Celtic history and the reign of Cesar Augustus where five roads diverged to form an empire with a full-day guided tour of Braga. Marvel at the magnificent castle and San Miguel church in Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage Site*. Later, feel the passion of Portugal’s soulful and stirring Fado music during a visit with local musicians on board.
- OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO ANTIGO
Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
November departures this excursion will be offered on
day 7 and replaced by bike tour or Porto wine tasting.
DAY 2
- Welcome to Portugal. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
- Flights into Porto must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
- Your day in Porto is free to explore at your leisure.
- This evening an illumination sailing will show you Porto from a different perspective.
- Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.
Meals (Dinner)
DAY 1
VINEYARDS & VILLAGES ALONG THE DOURO
Like a blue ribbon threading through the green Douro Valley, the River Douro carries you through some of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes. Meaning “River of Gold,” the Douro River lives up to its name by revealing priceless gems along sloping vineyards and sleepy villages where rugged landscapes have been tamed for centuries to produce a bounty of wines and cuisine. Welcome aboard the newest addition to our award-winning fleet of Suite Ships® – the Avalon AlegriaSM to be swept away by Douro’s timeless treasures and traditions, family farms and fevered Fado music, and mouth-watering culinary creations in the world’s oldest demarcated wine region.
Embark on your Suite Ship® in the city of Porto. Take a guided tour to Braga and Guimarães or start exploring the city joining a guided sightseeing. Enjoy a guided tour in the charming town of Lamego or meet the owner of one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley to sample the proud traditions of olive oil and wine. Enjoy a wine tasting in a local quinta or join a kayak adventure on the Douro River. Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a cozy village with narrow streets, flowered houses, and grand Gothic Manueline windows or choose a full-day experience in Spain with a guided sightseeing excursion to Salamanca. Discover the process of painting an azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile) following the guide of a professional painter. Immerse yourself in an emotionally stirring experience in Portugal’s city of Amarante or taste the unique Vinho Verde.
Your Douro River cruise returns to Porto to soak in the scenic mysteries of this city’s Historical Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These and countless other treasures await you on the River of Gold in Portugal’s dazzling Douro Valley.
