£3,076.00

Sku: 234493
Start and end in Porto! With the River Cruise tour Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro, you have a 8 days tour package taking you through Porto, Portugal and 9 other destinations in Europe. Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro includes accommodation, an expert guide, meals, transport and more.
Compare

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 with the opportunity for an optional guided culinary tour to indulge in the city’s world-famous cuisine. Take a guided tour to Braga and Guimarães or explore ancient architecture, including a visit to the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque. Enjoy a guided tour in the charming towns of Peso da Régua and Lamego, where historical sights are mixed with delicious tastings, or meet the owner of one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley to sample the proud traditions of olive oil and wine. Take a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, where vineyards and granite houses dot the river shores. Consider a fascinating guided tour to Vila Nova de Foz Côa, home of the remarkable Côa Valley Palaeolithic discoveries – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a cozy village with narrow streets, flowered houses, and grand Gothic Manueline windows. Choose a full-day experience in Spain with a guided sightseeing excursion to Salamanca. Immerse yourself in an emotionally stirring experience in Portugal’s city of Amarante.

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.

Additional Information:

Tour Operator: Avalon Waterways
Ship capacity: 160
Age range: 8 to 99
Operated in: English
Tour id: 234493
Hygiene Measures: Included

Itinerary:

Day 1: PORTO, PORTUGAL (EMBARKATION)

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.

You may choose to join an afternoon guided optional culinary tour if arriving early today. Experience some of Porto’s most famous sights and most delectable dishes with regional wine.

Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.

Overnight:
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO

Meals:
Dinner

Day 2: ENTRE OS RIOS. EXCURSION BRAGA AND GUIMARÃES

Portuguese Panoramas
Visit the Adventure Center on board for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.Activity discovery:
Step back in time within the walls of the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque with a fascinating introduction to its symbolism and architecture. Enjoy an excursion with an exclusive visit to one of the most iconic monasteries of the Romanesque era with entrance to a XIII century church and be enchanted by sounds of Gregorian Chant from the high choir, OR:

Activity classic:
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. Celebrate your experience with a stop at one of the area’s many wine farms and enjoy a tasting.

Sample green wine and famous pastries with stops en route to Régua.

Overnight:
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO ANTIGO

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: PESO DA RÉGUA

Pastoral Pleasures of Portugal

Activity discovery:
Experience life on one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley with a personal tour by the owner of the house, including an olive oil and wine tasting, OR:

Activity classic:
Take a guided walking tour of the charming town of Régua —with its religious architecture, narrow streets, beautiful tiles, and stained-glass window of Casa do Douro. Continue to Lamego to visit the cathedral, followed by a delicious tasting of bola de Lamego and sparkling wine in a local pastry shop.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy free time in Pinhão to browse the artisanal markets for woven textiles, terra cotta creations, and culinary delights, or consider joining an optional excursion to learn about the Douro Valley’s “liquid gold” at a traditional olive-oil mill.

This evening, consider an optional excursion to enjoy an authentic Portuguese dinner hosted by the local farmers.

Overnight:
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PINHÃO

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: POCINHO

Written in Stone

Enjoy a relaxing cruise to Pocinho for a day in the Terra Quente region.

Activity discovery:
Discover Vila Nova de Foz Côa at the eastern terminal of the legendary Douro Railway line. Marvel at the amazing archaeological site along the River Côa where a wealth of remarkable prehistoric rock paintings and carvings were discovered as the most significant collection of open-air Paleolithic figurations known today. Before returning to ship, enjoy a tasting of the unique wine of the region, OR:

Activity classic:
Join a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, a charming village nestled between the nearby mountains. Visit a local farm for a delightful wine tasting where sustainable farming practices have recovered some of the region’s 100 original grape varieties.

Overnight:
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BARCA D’ALVA

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: BARCA D’ALVA. EXCURSION TO SALAMANCA

The Reign in Spain

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

Activity classic:
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:

Activity classic:
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. Dive into a delicious dish of the traditional Spanish delicacy, tostón asado (traditional roast suckling pig).

In the afternoon you might wish to join our optional excursion to enjoy a do-it-yourself workshop to learn how to bake traditional Florinhas (Portuguese pastries).

Overnight:
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN POCINHO

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: CALDAS DE AREGOS. EXCURSION TO AMARANTE

Painted Tiles & Passionate Tunes

During your morning sailing, a professional painter will guide you through the process of painting an azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile) to take home a piece of Portugal’s tradition. You may alternatively join an optional excursion to 18th-century Casa de Mateus – birthplace of Mateus Rosé wine and a masterpiece of Baroque architecture.

Activity classic:
Join a guided sightseeing tour of Amarante – poised against a breathtaking backdrop of the great Serra do Marão mountain and the Tâmega River, which courses through the heart of the city and assortment of houses lining the riverbanks.

Later, feel the passion of Portugal’s soulful and stirring Fado music during a visit with local musicians on board.

Enjoy a scenic sailing to Porto for a free evening to explore the city.

Overnight:
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: PORTO

Ancient Charm Meets Avant-Garde

Activity active:
Enjoy the wharfs of the Douro River and the coastal magnificence of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, on a bicycle and accompanied by a professional biologist tour guide, OR;

Activity classic:
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:

This afternoon, you may choose to join in a guided optional excursion such as a scenic canal cruise on the Aveiro (Venice of Portugal) or explore a family-owned factory to witness the Portuguese art of cork and barrel production. 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:
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: PORTO (DISEMBARKATION)

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

Meals:
Breakfast

Included:

Accommodation

7 nights onboard cruise ship

Avalon Alegria

Guide

The services of a cruise director are included

COVID-19 Health & Safety Measures

The health and safety of our guests remains our top priority and while we highly recommend that travellers are vaccinated against COVID-19, after 1 March, 2023, we will no longer require it. Destinations and other transportation operators – like airlines – have their own rules and regulations. It will be up to the responsibility of our guests to understand and comply with those policies to move freely across the globe.

The Globus family of brands previous policy – requiring all guests be vaccinated against COVID-19 – remains in effect until 1 March, 2023. Anyone travelling before that date on a Globus, Cosmos or Avalon Waterways holiday must be fully vaccinated.

———————————————————————

The following requirements are in place traveling Internationally throughout 2021 and domestically beginning Sept. 1, 2021:

– Full vaccination against COVID-19 in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English. Vaccination documentation must include information that identifies the person and vaccination date(s). Proof of full vaccination must show that official vaccination dose(s) were administered at least 14-days prior to the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands. Globus accepts vaccines authorized or recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Travelers may encounter additional requirements if their vaccine is not recognized by the travel destination.

– For children who do not qualify for vaccination, one of the two forms of documentation are required to travel:

1) Verifiable negative COVID-19 test result in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English. Testing must be performed by an entity recognized by your government of residence, using a viral test (NAAT/PCR or antigen). The test result documentation must include information that identifies the person, a specimen collection date and the type of test. A negative test result must show the test was done within 72 hours before the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands.

2) If you recovered from COVID-19 in the last three months, and have met the criteria to end isolation, you may travel instead with documentation of recovery, which includes a positive test result and a letter from your health care provider that states you have been cleared to end isolation (return to work, travel, etc.) The test result documentation and letter must include information that identifies the person, a specimen collection date and the type of test. A positive test result must show test was done within 3 months of the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands.

WELCOME ABOARD

New embarkation procedures to offer guests a safe start to their journey, including:

– Social distancing throughout embarkation

– Mandatory health screening, including touch-free temperature-check, for all guests and crew

– Luggage disinfection prior to onboarding (with crew wearing gloves and masks)

FRESH AIR, INSIDE AND OUT

In addition to our Open-Air staterooms, the air in our ships is not circulated between staterooms; only within an individual stateroom and mixed with fresh, outside air

BLENDING CULTURAL PROXIMITY WITH SOCIAL DISTANCE

New social distancing guidelines for guests throughout their Avalon cruise, include:

– Reducing ship capacity as required for more space on board per guest

– Introducing more dining venues for more dining space per person

– Crew wearing masks for the duration of the cruise during any guest interaction

– Providing masks for guests to wear during any event where social proximity could become an issue, including disembarkation for excursions and safety drills

– Adjusting ratio of guides and coaches for excursions

NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE CLEANLINESS

– Electrostatic disinfecting systems

– UV disinfecting systems

TOUCHING HEARTS, NOT HANDS

Reducing risk with hands-free service, including:

– More hand-sanitizing stations throughout the ship

– Required use of hand-sanitizing stations when leaving the ship, returning to the ship and entering dining venues as well as entering each public/common space

– Self-serve stations, including bu ets, drinks, specialty co ees and snacks have been replaced with crew service

– All buffets (breakfast and lunch) replaced by a full range of à la carte menu choices

– Hourly (or more frequent) disinfection of all public areas

COMMITMENT TO THE CLEANEST SHIPS

Enhanced cleaning procedures throughout each ship, including these additional steps that go above-and-beyond Avalon’s already strict procedures:

– Deep disinfection of each stateroom between cruises, including:

– Use of disinfectants and cleaning materials that meet the highest standards

– Soft goods in each stateroom (mattress, sofa, window coverings, chairs, etc.) disinfected between cruises

– Disinfection of all dining areas between meals

– Disinfection of all shared items like umbrellas, bicycles and other Adventure Center items

– Disinfection of all goods prior to loading on the ship

– Ongoing crew training in protective equipment use and hygiene

FOCUS ON CREW HEALTH

Ensuring a healthy crew, including:

– Medical certifcate required prior to start of contract

– Daily temperature checks

– Social distancing in crew living quarters

– Regular health screenings

Avalon will continue to review and update Assurance initiatives as we make our return to the world’s waterways including adhering to—and building upon— the standards set forth by travel and health agencies across the globe, including the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC), Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).

Meals

7 breakfasts

6 lunches

7 dinners

Additional Services

Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. Plus, we offer independent exploration options and the use of our exclusive AvalonGO APP on most of our cruises. 

Below are 3 types of included shore excursions for you to experience.

Classic: Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.

Discovery: We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests – from cooking classes, to painting workshops – to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.

Active: Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go – from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.

Transport

Cruise ship

ShipAvalon Alegria

Not Included:

Flights

International flights are not included

Insurance

Travel insurance is not included

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Additional Services

Other activities and services are not included

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “8 Day Douro River Cruise & 9 Other European Locations”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Voucher Info: You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity. What's this? Local

Operator Information: Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.
Back to Top