Lisbon and Douro River Cruise

Home pick up for flight to lisbon

Upon arrival at Lisbon Airport, we are

greeted by a local guide and transfer by

coach to our hotel where we have time

to freshen up before a welcome dinner

at the hotel tonight.

After breakfast, a local guide joins us as

we explore Lisbon on a panoramic tour

beginning in Belem, an area of Lisbon

known for its seafaring history. We see

buildings covered in bright colored tiles,

waterfront parks and walkways and

monuments to the city’s glorious past.

We see Belem Tower sitting in the

water, which served as a defensive fort

beginning in the early 1500’s. Nearby,

the sail shaped Monument of

Discoveries celebrates world explorers

from Portugal. We also visit Jeronimo’s

Monastery, a fine example of Gothic

architecture dating to 1501. After lunch

on our own, we explore the Alfalfa

district of the city. Here, we find the Se

Cathedral, San Jorge Castle and more.

This evening, we enjoy Fado music and

dance performance and dinner as a

group.

This morning, we depart by coach to

Porto where we board our cruise.

Enroute, we stop in Fatima where

apparitions of the Virgin Mary appeared

in 1917. We hear the story of Our Lady

of the Rosary that appeared to three

shepherd children in the nearby fields

and have some time to explore and for

lunch on our own. Time permitting, we

stop in Coimbra where we have free

time to explore and shop and perhaps

see Coimbra in one of the oldest universities in the world. Then we

continue to Porto where we board our

ship about 4 PM.

This tranquil village offers an authentic

slice of Douro River life. Indulge in a

traditional Portuguese lunch with your

fellow travelers in Regua at a local

quinta – a country estate – for a truly

authentic culinary experience. In the

afternoon, visit the Baroque-style

Palacio de Mateus and its gardens.

Inside the house, you’ll see interesting

furnishings, paintings and a ceiling of

intricately carved wood. The gardens

here are considered some of the most

beautiful in Portugal.

In the morning, spend time soaking up

the beauty of this picturesque port

before you visit Castelo Rodrigo, a small

fortified village perched high on a hilltop

with centuries-old walls, steep narrow

streets and fantastic views. You can also

opt to hike up to the village should you

wish a more active exploration.

Drive to Salamanca, a UNESCO World

Heritage Site. Built of golden sandstone,

Salamanca is known as a “living

museum,” and you will have an

opportunity to step back in time to the

Middle Ages during your escorted tour,

which includes the city’s elegant

university buildings, the New Cathedral,

the intriguingly decorated House of

Shells and Plaza Mayor.

 Spend time soaking up the beauty of the

Douro River as you cruise to Pinhão. Be

treated to an exclusive lunch at Quinta

da Avessada, where you’ll enjoy an

authentic and traditional dining

experience complete with

entertainment. Quinta da Avessada is

also a fascinating interactive museum

commemorating the history and culture

of wine in the Alto Douro region, so

you’ll have fun discovering all the

various stages of wine production as

well as doing plenty of tasting. Savor the

flavors of Portugal’s renowned fortified

wine, vinho do porto, made exclusively

in the Douro Valley. Head to a local

quinta for your authentic Port-wine

tasting experience and enjoy the sweet

nectar of this fascinating region.

Travel to picturesque Lamego, home to

one of the most important pilgrimage

sites in all of Portugal, where you’ll go to

the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios

(Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies).

The shrine features a staircase of nearly

700 steps, beautifully decorated with white and blue tiles, which the more

active adventurer will want to climb on a

guided hike. Concluding both tours, you

will have the opportunity to sample local

traditional specialties, such as bôlas de

Lamego, bread filled with smoked ham;

presunto, a type of dry-cured ham; and

Espumante, a Portuguese sparkling

wine.

The colorful city of Porto blends the best

of old and new, which you can discover

on an escorted tour of the historic

quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,

including the Cathedral, one of the city’s

oldest monuments; and the São Bento

Railway Station, known for its blue and

white tile panels depicting scenes from

Portuguese history. If you prefer to get

more active, you can go on a guided

hike. In the afternoon, you’ll also enjoy a

tasting of Port, Portugal’s most

renowned contribution to the world of

wine. In the evening, relax on board

during scenic cruise to Afurada, a

magical fishing village, where you can

explore during your free time.

Disembark the ship and prepare for your

flight home.