UNIWORLD – Portugal, Spain and the Douro River Valley – 11 days
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Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley
LISBON TO PORTO – 11 DAYS – Lisbon & the Beautiful Douro River
Date Range: Mar 2014 – Nov 2014 Ship: Queen Isabel
Information is subject to change.
Day 1:
Lisbon 
Arrive at Lisbon Portela Airport, where you will be transferred to the hotel.
Day 2:
Lisbon 
FEATURED EXCURSION: Lisbon city tourStand on the banks of the Tejo River and take a deep breath. Now turn around and look at the city climbing the hills above you. This is where your adventure begins. Start with a guided tour to the iconic Belém Tower and Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a monument to Portugal’s great explorers. Step inside the spectacular Manueline Baroque Jerónimos Monastery. Sample a traditional sweet, the pastéis de Belém, at a famous pasteleria(pastry shop), then see the hills of the Alfama district and Rossio plaza, with its wavy black-and-white paving and lively street life. (BB)
Day 3:
Lisbon
Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying this breathtaking cosmopolitan city. (BB)
Day 4:
Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto 
FEATURED EXCURSION: Coimbra tour with Joanina Library visit and family-style lunchTravel through the countryside to Porto. En route, you’ll stop in Portugal’s third-largest city, Coimbra, the birthplace of six of Portugal’s kings and
home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, Universidade de Coimbra. There you’ll see the university’s 18th-century library, the Biblioteca Joanina. It’s a magnificent place boasting frescoed ceilings, gilded archways, and elaborate carvings. From this hilltop center of learning you’ll head off to enjoy a typical Portuguese lunch at a local restaurant. (BB, L, D)
home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, Universidade de Coimbra. There you’ll see the university’s 18th-century library, the Biblioteca Joanina. It’s a magnificent place boasting frescoed ceilings, gilded archways, and elaborate carvings. From this hilltop center of learning you’ll head off to enjoy a typical Portuguese lunch at a local restaurant. (BB, L, D)
Day 5:
Porto, Bitetos 
FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Porto city tour or exclusive “Do as the Locals Do” Porto walking tour, and wine cellars of Cais de GaiaBirthplace of Henry the Navigator (who launched Portugal’s voyages of exploration) and longtime hub of the Port wine trade, Porto combines well-preserved historic buildings with cutting-edge architecture and a booming cultural revival. Your tour will take you to the 19th-century Palácio da Bolsa and then on to the cathedral and the bustling shopping street, Santa Catarina. Or, if you prefer, see Porto from a different perspective, starting with a climb to the top of Clérigos Tower. Visit the world’s most opulent bookstore, Livraria Lello; then see the sweeping Avenida dos Aliados followed by a tasty stop at apastelaria. A scenic cable-car ride returns you to the riverfront, where you can walk to spectacular São Francisco Church. After lunch, you’ll visit one of the city’s famed Port cellars.
Day 6:
Régua, cruising the serene Douro River, Pinhão 
FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Douro Museum, Mateus Palace and Gardens, and exclusive dinner at Quinta da AvessadaThe Douro River winds through 100 miles of granite mountains, carving out a valley whose steep slopes hold terraces that were cut by hand into the rocky soil and planted with grapes centuries ago. Visit the Douro Museum to learn about the river and its wines. See, too, Mateus Palace, which has one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. In the evening, you’ll tour the family-owned Quinta da Avessada, which produces premium Moscatel. Stroll the vineyard and enjoy its views. Meet the owner and learn about the winemaking process. Inside the winery’s old stone walls, partake in a rustic dinner featuring fine local wines and live traditional music. (BB, LD, D)
Day 7:
Pinhão, Vega de Terrón (Spain)
FEATURED EXCURSION: Wine tasting at a local quintaPinhão is the center of Port winemaking. Today, you’ll take a winding road up to a quintaperched high in the hills to learn about and sample the country’s most celebrated beverage. In the afternoon you’ll enjoy breathtaking scenery while sailing through the remote Douro Valley toward Spain. (BB, L, D)
Day 8:
Vega de Terrón (Salamanca, Spain) 
FEATURED EXCURSION: Full-day Salamanca tour with flamenco showFrom Vega de Terrón on the Spanish border you’ll travel overland to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage city. The architectural purity of this charming town has endured through centuries, and the sandstone buildings have gained an exquisite golden glow, giving the city its nickname, the “Golden City.” Salamanca boasts monumental churches, a historic university, and a broad plaza where bullfights were once held
and where students now hang out. Walk under Plateresque (as Gothic architecture is known in Spain) arches and past ornately decorated masonry walls as you explore the university. Then enjoy a flamenco show. (BB, L, D)
and where students now hang out. Walk under Plateresque (as Gothic architecture is known in Spain) arches and past ornately decorated masonry walls as you explore the university. Then enjoy a flamenco show. (BB, L, D)
Day 9:
Barca d’Alva (Castelo Rodrigo), Régua
FEATURED EXCURSION: Castelo Rodrigo tourVisit the 12th-century walled village of Castelo Rodrigo, a captivating place with Medieval streets, stone-walled houses, and a remarkably distinctive fountain, Chafariz dos Pretos. In the evening, enjoy a Gala Dinner onboard your ship. (BB, L, GD)
Day 10:
Porto (Guimarães)
FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Guimarães city tour or walking tour of the Ribeira district, the “Soul of Porto”Visit historic Guimarães. As Portugal’s first capital (back in the 12th century) and home to its first king, Don Afonso Henriques, Guimarães has been called the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. Dominated by Afonso Henriques’s grand castle, Guimarães was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a panoramic city tour, or, if you prefer, explore the UNESCO-designated Ribeira district on foot; here, the colorful heart of the old port city will enchant you with Medieval lanes and zigzagging stairways. (BB, L, D)
Day 11:
Depart Porto
Disembark the ship and transfer to Porto Airport for your flight home. (CB/BB)
Pricing Details Per Person
| Cruise/Tour Only | Cruise/Tour Only† | Ship | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, March 26, 2015 | £2,534 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, April 09, 2015 | £2,664 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, April 30, 2015 | £2,920 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, May 07, 2015 | £2,920 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, May 14, 2015 | £2,984 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, May 21, 2015 | £2,984 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, June 11, 2015 | £2,984 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, June 18, 2015 | £2,984 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, July 09, 2015 | £2,854 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, July 16, 2015 | £2,854 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, August 06, 2015 | £2,854 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, August 13, 2015 | £2,854 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, August 20, 2015 | £2,854 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, September 10, 2015 | £3,114 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, September 17, 2015 | £3,114 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, October 08, 2015 | £3,054 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, October 15, 2015 | £2,854 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, October 22, 2015 | £2,794 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, October 29, 2015 | £2,664 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, November 05, 2015 | £2,474 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
| Thursday, November 12, 2015 | £2,474 | + | Queen Isabel | ||
- Port Charges: £105 per person are included in the cruise/tour price
- Prices shown above include cruise in Category 3, twin share.
- Single supplement applies for single accommodation.
- Airfare is not included in the prices listed above.
Note: For guests not going to Lisbon, deduct £325 per person from the base cruise/tour price.
Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water levels or other uncontrollable factors.
To upgrade to a higher category, add per person the following prices below:
Category 2 £210+
Junior Suite £1,025+
Category 1 £590+
Suite £1,925+
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.