Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley – 30% discount

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Lisbon

Arrive at Lisbon Portela Airport, where you will be transferred to your hotel.

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Lisbon

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Choice of Lisbon city tour OR exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Lisbon walking tour

You’ll have a choice as to how you wish to explore vibrant & colorful Lisbon—via a guided tour or doing as the locals do. Your guided tour takes you to the Belém Tower, the spectacular Manueline Jerónimos Monastery, Alfama district & Rossio Plaza. You’ll even get to sample a traditional delicacy—pastéis de Belém—at a famous pastry shop. For a taste of local life, hop on one of the traditional yellow trams that toil up & down the steep streets, & take in the views as the tram wends its way through the Old Town. Visit the ancient castle of St. George, & take a fun spin through historic neighborhoods in a tuk tuk, the perfect vehicle for navigating the narrow streets.

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Lisbon

Spend the day at leisure, relaxing or exploring Lisbon on your own.

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Lisbon, Coimbra, transfer to Porto (embark)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Coimbra city tour with Joanina Library visit & family-style lunch

Travel through the beautiful countryside to Porto, stopping en route to explore Coimbra, the birthplace of six Portuguese kings. The city is also home to the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest universities in Europe, with a splendid 18th-century library—the Biblioteca Joanina. From there, head to a local restaurant for a traditional Portuguese lunch.

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Porto, cruising the Douro River, Entre-os-Rios

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Choice of Porto city tour OR exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Porto walking tour

The epicenter of the Port wine industry, Porto is experiencing a booming cultural revival. Choose how you wish to experience the city, either with a panoramic tour or an intimate tour of the city on foot. Get a feel for this vibrant town, which is simultaneously profoundly urban & moodily romantic, on your panoramic tour. Take in the UNESCO-designated 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace, seeing its famous Moorish Revival–style Arab Room, before visiting Porto’s austere hilltop cathedral & the bustling pedestrian shopping street, Santa Catarina. For those wishing to experience the city on foot, climb 249 steps to the top of Clérigos Tower for the best view in Porto. Other views of another kind, no less spectacular, await you at the magnificent interior of the São Bento railway station.

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Cruising the Douro River, Régua, Pinhão

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Choice of Douro Museum or Mateus Palace & Gardens, & dinner at a quinta

Should you wish to learn more about the region’s unique winemaking history, be treated to a special lecture at the Douro Museum. If you prefer, you can visit the legendary Mateus Palace, which has one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. During the evening, enjoy a special dinner at a local quinta.

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Pinhão, cruising the Douro River, Vega de Terrón

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Choice of Quinta do Seixo guided tour & tasting OR Quinta da Avessada

You have a choice to visit one of two quintas. Journey to Quinta do Seixo—a prestigious Port wine estate— for an enlightening tour of its state-of-the-art facility. Sample some of their famous Sandeman Port, learn more about the production & admire breathtaking views from the estate’s tasting room. Others may prefer to enjoy a scenic drive through Pinhão before visiting Quinta da Avessada, complete with an interactive museum—the first of its kind in the country, celebrating the Douro’s history & culture of wine.

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Vega de Terrón (Salamanca), Barca d’Alva

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Choice of full day Salamanca tour OR half day scenic cruise at the Douro International Natural Park

Join a full-day excursion to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Called the “Golden City” for its tawny sandstone buildings, Salamanca boasts a dozen beautiful & historic churches, including two cathedrals. If you prefer a different type of experience to better understand the flora & fauna of the land, you’ll want to go on a half-day scenic cruise at the Douro International Natural Park.

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Barca d’Alva (Castelo Rodrigo), Pocinho, cruising the Douro River, Régua

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Castelo Rodrigo & Archaeological Park of the Côa Valley

Travel through wonderfully scenic countryside to the walled village of Castelo Rodrigo. Take a tour of this fascinating site that dates back to the 12th century, & while here sample delicious local treats, such as honey, olive oil & cheeses. Later in the day, venture to the UNESCO-designated Archaeological Park of the Côa Valley, considered the world’s most important Paleolithic open-air rock art site.

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Cruising the Douro River, Porto (Guimarães)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Choice of Guimarães city tour OR “Soul of Porto” Ribeira district walking tour

Enjoy a panoramic city tour of historic Guimarães, Portugal’s first capital & the home to its first king. The wonderfully well-preserved Old Town, with its unique architecture & charming little plazas, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively, you can explore Porto’s UNESCO-designated Ribeira district on foot. In the evening, enjoy a Gala Dinner on-board your ship.

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Porto (disembark), transfer to the airport

Disembark the ship & transfer to Porto Airport for your flight home.

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