11 Nights | Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley
Indulge your passion for food, history, and music as you discover the warmth of Portugal and Spain.
Experience the “sunny side” of Europe, starting in radiant seaside Lisbon, then follow the Douro River through Portugal and into Spain. Feel the warm sun on your skin as you cruise past terraced hills, quaint villages, and acres of ripe vineyards.
Breathe the sea air in Lisbon, the city that launched a host of renowned navigators, including Vasco da Gama. Climb the steep hills and hear the sound of fado music fill the streets as you sip a bica (espresso) at a café. Enjoy a quintessential Portuguese lunch in majestic Coimbra (birthplace of six of Portugal’s kings). And in Porto’s ancient Ribeira district, find picturesque rabelo boats, cutting-edge cuisine, and a thriving art scene.
Sail from Porto through the breathtaking, UNESCO-designated Douro Valley, where vines cling to precipitous hillsides. Visit charming quintas and meet the winemakers who run them. See Salamanca, “The Golden City,” and visit its famed university (where Columbus planned his pivotal journey) before enjoying a flamenco show. Then return to Portugal with a visit to the walled village of Castelo Rodrigo and historic Guimarães. Revel in the captivating cities and striking scenery of the serene Douro River Valley on this perfectly paced cruise/tour.
Who will enjoy this cruise
Wine connoisseurs hoping to indulge in this region’s most celebrated beverage, Port, and those wanting to discover Europe’s best-kept secret, the Douro River, with its spellbinding natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Highlights
YOUR CRUISE/TOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES:
TRAVEL
7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the chic Queen Isabel
3 nights in Lisbon at the InterContinental Lisbon Hotel (or similar) with breakfast
All transfers on arrival and departure days
TASTE
All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners
Gala Dinner
Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, and mineral water
EXPLORE
2 countries
8 days of excursions, including “Choice Is Yours” options, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
Guided “Do as the Locals Do” and “Gentle Walking” programs
6 UNESCO World Heritage sites
Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio–headset system on all excursions
EXPERIENCE
Captivating onboard local entertainment
Cultural enrichment, including a Signature Lecture: “The Magical Douro River Valley”
Note: Cruising in Spain and Portugal is a wonderful experience, but while the Queen Isabel is a lovely and comfortable ship, her amenities may differ from those of a Uniworld company-owned ship.
Information is subject to change.
Itinerary
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Lisbon
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Lisbon
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Lisbon
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Lisbon, Coimbra, transfer to Porto (embark)
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Régua, Pinhão
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Vega de Terrón (Castelo Rodrigo)
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Vega de Terrón (Salamanca, Spain), Barca d'Alva
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Pinahão
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Porto
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Porto (Guimarães)
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Porto (disembark), transfer to the airport
You will visit the following 7 places:
Lisbon
The capital of Portugal, Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa) has experienced a renaissance in recent years, with a contemporary culture that is alive and thriving and making its mark in today's Europe. Perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon is one of the rare Western European cities that faces the ocean and uses water as an element that defines the city. Lisbon enchants travellers with its white-bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and an easy-going charm that makes it a popular year-round destination.
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western "Spain". Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a "UNESCO" World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to the teaching of the Spanish language. Salamanca supplies 16% of Spain's market and attracts thousands of international students, generating a diverse multicultural environment.
Porto
Porto (also known as Oporto in English), is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon and one of the major urban areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The urban area of Porto, which extends beyond the administrative limits of the city, has a population of 1.4 million (2011) in an area of 389 km2 (150 sq mi), making it the second-largest urban area in Portugal. Located along the Douro river estuary in Northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centres, and its historical core was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. The western part of its urban area extends to the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Its settlement dates back many centuries, when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire. One of Portugal's internationally famous exports, port wine, is named for Porto, since the metropolitan area, and in particular the caves of Vila Nova de Gaia, were responsible for the packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. In 2014, Porto was elected The Best European Destination by the Best European Destinations Agency.
Pinhao
Guimaraes
Barca d'Alva
