Portugal, Spain, & the Douro River Valley

Porto to Porto - 9 days

CRUISE HIGHLISTS INCLUDE:

• 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the intimate
• 2-night hotel stay in the deluxe Tiara Park Atlantic Hotel (or similar) in Lisbon with breakfast
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary fine wine during dinner, bottled water in your stateroom, and 24-hour specialty coffee
• 7 shore excursions fully hosted by English-speaking guides
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
• Complimentary use of bicycles
• Exciting onboard entertainment and insightful lectures
• Exclusive Epicurean Adventurer Program
• 2 Captain’s Welcome & 2 Farewell Dinners
• An experienced Cruise Manager and attentive, all English-speaking staff
• All transfers on arrival and departure days

ITINERARY

• DAY 1: Depart Home Gateway City to Porto Departing Flight
• DAY 2: Porto
  Featured Excursion: Arrive in Porto where you’ll be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to your ship.
• DAY 3: Porto, Bitetos
  Featured Excursion: Porto city tour and dinner at Alpendurada Monastery
  The City of Bridges, Porto, is Portugal's second largest city. Its charm stems from its dramatic position above the river, with gabled houses closely terraced on the hill. You’ll be guided through the medieval city center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then on to see the Romanesque cathedral. During the afternoon, we’ll sail to Bitetos, where you’ll spend an evening dining at the former 14th-century Benedictine Monastery of Alpendurada, perched high above the river in a stunning setting. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 4: Bitetos, Régua (Lamego), Pinhão
  Featured Excursion: Lamego tour
  Be amazed by the breathtaking scenery of the Douro Valley as we cruise from Bitetos to Régua in the morning. During the afternoon, tour the old Episcopal city of Lamego, with a wealth of baroque buildings, including the 18th-century pilgrimage church Nossa Senhora dos Remédios and an 11th-century castle. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 5: Pinhão, Barca d’Alva
  Featured Excursion: Lecture and Port wine tasting at the Vintage House Wine Academy
  The small town of Pinhão is the epicenter of the Port winemaking area, and a place where the soil and climatic conditions are considered to be at their very best. Visit the famous Wine Academy at the Vintage House 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 Valley and the Port wine making process, and of course, you'll get to indulge in some of this country's most celebrated beverage. You’ll have some leisure time before sailing to Barca d’Alva in the afternoon. (BB, L, Captain’s Dinner)
• DAY 6: Vega de Terrón (Salamanca, Spain)
  Featured Excursion: Full-day Salamanca city tour with typical Spanish lunch
  The ship will dock in Vega de Terrón, Spain, in the morning, and from here, you'll travel overland to the Spanish city of Salamanca, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Spain. You’ll visit the historic university founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX of León, and you’ll stroll through one of Spain’s largest and grandest squares—Plaza Mayor with its warm, gold-colored sandstone. After a typical Spanish lunch at one of the city’s wonderful restaurants, enjoy some free time before returning to the ship in Vega de Terrón. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 7: Vega de Terrón (Spain), Pinhão
  Featured Excursion: Tour of medieval Castelo Rodrigo, dinner at the Vintage House Hotel
  Visit the small town of Castelo Rodrigo, a medieval walled city with a parish church perched high on a hilltop that dates back to the 12th century. In the evening, you’ll visit the Vintage House Hotel, set in a magnificent 18th-century mansion overlooking the Douro River. Here you’ll be treated to a delicious and hearty dinner. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 8: Pinhão, Régua, Porto
  Featured Excursion: Mateus Palace and Gardens
  Today, you’ll be enchanted with a visit to the Mateus Palace and Gardens, 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. The gardens are among the most beautiful in Europe, with a tunnel of cypress trees shading the path. (BB, L, D)
• DAY 9: Porto (disembark), transfer to airport Departing Flight

2009 Cruises

Prices: Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a stateroom or hotel room. Cruise/tour prices are based on costs, charges, tariffs, rates, taxes, levies, and exchange rates as of June 15, 2008. Should the total cruise/tour price increase by more than 10%, passengers will have the right to cancel their cruise within 7 days of notification of the surcharge without penalty. No surcharges in respect of cost or currency fluctuations will be made once payment for the deposit of your cruise/tour is received. This does not apply to fuel surcharges and any taxes, charges, or levies imposed by any government or their agencies. Air-inclusive pricing is provided from NYC, CHI, and LAX only. Other gateway cities are available at additional costs. Please ask your Reservations Consultant at the time of booking for details. A limited number of singles are available for an additional supplement. Reservations and Payments: A deposit of at least $200 per person is required at the time of reservation. Final payment is due at least 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will be cancelled if final payment is not received in a timely manner.