Discover the Douro

Your Douro cruise vacation begins today on the sunny Iberian Peninsula in Portugal. The charming city of Porto is famous for the explorers who set out from here to discover the New World, making it a fantastic starting point.

Upon arrival in Porto, transfer independently to the waterfront, where our floating hotel awaits to welcome you aboard. Take some time to get settled in your cabin and look around the ship's layout and its amenities, and then meet the Tour Manager and your travel group for a welcome drink and our first three-course dinner on board.

Later, we set out on a panoramic evening coach tour of Porto. We see the preserved areas of the city - a UNESCO World Heritage site - and hop off at the São Bento railway station to admire its magnificent azulejos before returning to our ship. Overnight ship.

• Dinner

This morning, we are introduced to Porto on a guided tour. As we wander its winding streets, steeped in centuries of history, we admire townhouses adorned with distinctive blue "azulejos" tiles and view regal churches and the city's iconic iron bridge - an emblem of Porto's industrial prowess and architectural ingenuity.

A highlight of our guided tour is a visit to a wine cellar to sample the famous port wine and hear tales of the region's viticulture and the craftsmanship behind every drop. From the luscious sweetness of Tawny to the robust complexity of Vintage, each sip unveils a distinct character.

Rejoining our ship for lunch on board, we begin our cruise along the Douro, sailing along the scenic route to Régua, a picturesque town rich in history and culture and surrounded by terraced slopes.

After docking this evening, we enjoy drinks, a three-course dinner and entertainment on board. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Another Portuguese attraction lies ahead this morning as we disembark our ship and make our way by coach to Mateus Palace, one of the most beautiful houses in northern Portugal. This 18th-century masterpiece has a classic Italianate exterior, lavishly adorned interiors and lush gardens. Our visit includes time to explore the grand halls and preserved rooms of the palace, followed by time at leisure to explore the property's chapel and 16th-century winery.

Returning to our ship in time for lunch, we spend the afternoon cruising through breathtaking scenery to Vega de Terrón on the border with Spain. You might like to head up to the sun deck to watch the changing views unfold. This evening, over dinner onboard our ship, we enjoy an evening of entertaining music and dance during a colorful flamenco performance. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Soak up remarkable vistas on today's excursion by coach into Spain and through the countryside to the golden city of Salamanca in the Castilla y Léon region. Founded in 1218, Salamanca is the oldest center of learning in the Hispanic world, and this ancient city boasts an impressive array of sandstone university buildings.

On arrival, you can delve into its attractions on a guided city tour showcasing the highlights of Salamanca, including the House of Shells, Plaza Mayor and other magnificent buildings. Lunch at a local restaurant follows.

Afterward, there is a free afternoon to wander at leisure and discover the city's hidden gems. You might like to continue exploring at your own pace, or maybe sample Salamanca's culinary offerings in the Central Market. We return to the ship this evening for drinks and dinner on board. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin our cruise back downstream through scenic landscapes to Ferradosa today. Spend some time relaxing in the ship's lounge or have a seat on one of the loungers on the sun deck, admiring the views while the route unfolds.

After having lunch on the ship, we discover the wines of Portugal on an excursion along the Porto wine route. Our excursion takes us to São Salvador do Mundo and São João da Pesqueira, two small towns set amongst the vineyards on the Rio Torto Valley. We also visit a local quinta - an agricultural country estate - where we indulge in a tasting of some of the region's finest ports.

We rejoin our ship in Pinhão this evening and settle back in for the night with dinner and fado-themed entertainment*, experiencing another taste of Portuguese culture. Overnight ship.

*Please note: The fado music performance may instead take place on Day 6 on select departures.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our day begins with a morning tour in the picturesque village of Lamego, known for its stunning cathedral. Standing at the heart of the village, the cathedral is a wonderful example of Baroque architecture, but the real highlight of this masterpiece is the 700 steps leading up to its doors, each beautifully decorated with white and blue tiles.

We return to our ship in time for lunch and then settle in for a relaxing afternoon and evening of sailing. Our route takes us back to Porto, where we began our cruise, allowing us another opportunity to admire the small towns and heavenly scenery along the Douro as we approach the city.

You might like to soak up the changing views from the sun deck or relax in your cabin ahead of dinner this evening. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The morning is yours to have breakfast on board and explore Porto at your leisure. Having spent the last few days on the Douro, you might like to get another perspective of its beauty - and that of Porto - while riding the Gaia Cable Car (payable locally). You could also revisit favorite sites from our previous tour or find a spot to sit in one of the city's squares, soaking up the atmosphere while enjoying a coffee.

After lunch on the ship, we visit the charming medieval city of Guimarães, known for its well-preserved 10th-century buildings, vibrant squares and picturesque castle gardens. A guided tour presents the city's most enticing sights and history before we return to our ship later this afternoon.

Tonight, a three-course farewell dinner and traditional folk entertainment on board offer the perfect conclusion to our time in Portugal. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today marks the final day of our relaxing cruise along the Douro.

This evocative tour has allowed us to experience the culture, traditions and flavors of Portugal in memorable ways, both on the ship and when exploring the Douro's famous ports of call. Besides exploring the highlights of the Douro River - including the city of Porto, the towns of Régua, Pinhão, Lamego and Guimarães - we also enjoyed an excursion into Spain to the stunning Spanish city of Salamanca.

After having breakfast and saying goodbye to our crew, you can disembark the ship for the final time and begin your travels home.

• Breakfast