Duration: 8 Days
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 Alegria 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. Take a guided tour to Braga and Guimarães or start exploring the city joining a guided sightseeing. Enjoy a guided tour in the charming town of Lamego, or meet the owner of one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley to sample the proud traditions of olive oil and wine. Enjoy a wine tasting in a local quinta or join a canoe adventure on the Douro River. Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a cozy village with narrow streets, flowered houses, and grand Gothic Manueline windows or choose a full-day experience in Spain with a guided sightseeing excursion to Salamanca. Discover the process of painting an azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile) following the guide of a professional painter.
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.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2025, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2025.
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.
This evening an illumination sailing will show you Porto from a different perspective.
Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO (D)
Portuguese Panoramas
Visit the Adventure Centre on board for today's activities with your Adventure Host.
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:
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 Guimaraes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Celebrate your experience with a stop at one of the area's many wine farms and enjoy a tasting.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO ANTIGO (B,L,D)
Pastoral Pleasures of Portugal
DISCOVERY Experience life on one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley with a personal tour by the owner of the house, including a wine tasting, OR:
CLASSIC Take a guided walking tour of the charming town of Lamego to visit the cathedral.
Enjoy a short sailing to Pinhao.
Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy free time in Pinhao 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 afternoon, consider an optional excursion to Casa de Mateus.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PINHAO (B,L,D)
Canoes and Quintas in the Douro Valley
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
ACTIVE Take a guided canoeing tour for an unforgettable adventure on the water, OR:
DISCOVERY Enjoy a Wine Tasting in a local quinta (wine estate).
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BARCA D'ALVA (B,L,D)
The Reign in Spain
Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.
CLASSIC Join our guide for a guided tour this morning to of one of the most remote villages of the country, Freixo de Espada a Cinta village in the Douro International Natural Park, home to majestic birds of prey, OR:
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 paella.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN FERRADOSA (B,L,D)
Mountains and Moving Music
This morning, enjoy a leisurely sailing through the Douro River.
DISCOVERY 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.
Later, feel the passion of Portugal's soulful and stirring Fado music during a visit with local musicians on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LEVERINHO (B,L,D)
Ancient Charm Meets Avant-Garde
ACTIVE Enjoy the wharfs of the Douro River and the coastal magnificence of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, on a Guided Bike Tour, OR:
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.
This afternoon, you may choose to join in a guided optional excursion such as a visit to family-owned factory to witness the Portuguese art of cork and barrel production or a culinary tour experience. 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 DOCKING IN PORTO (B,L,D)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
