Itinerary
- Day 1
Madrid
You'll arrive in Madrid and get picked up from the airport, then head to your hotel in the city center for a three-night stay. This gives you time to settle in and get oriented in Spain's capital.
- Day 2
Madrid
A local guide takes you through central Madrid on foot. You'll walk through the classical Sabatini Gardens that sit in front of the Royal Palace, then head down Gran Via, the main street packed with shops and restaurants. After the guided portion wraps up, the rest of your day is open for whatever you want to do.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Madrid including Sabatini Gardens, Royal Palace and Gran Via
Landmarks Sabatini Gardens Royal Palace Gran Via - Day 3
Madrid
Today's entirely yours to spend however you like. The Royal Palace is worth seeing if you're interested in royal history. Retiro Park has nice gardens and a lake for walking around, or you could check out Mercado de San Miguel, a historic market where you can try local Spanish food like churros with chocolate.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Royal Palace
- Explore Retiro Park
- Visit Mercado de San Miguel
- Guided Tour of Toledo (extra expense, zip line optional)
Landmarks Royal Palace Retiro Park Mercado de San Miguel - Day 4
Madrid to Porto
You'll get transferred from your hotel to the airport and fly to Porto. Once you land, you'll board the Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, meet the other guests, and have dinner together that evening on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner on board)
Included Activities
- Dinner on board
- Day 5
Douro Valley Sailing
Spend the day sailing through the Douro Valley, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The area has over 2,000 years of wine production history and the landscape is filled with vineyards. Tonight there's a welcome dinner and cocktail reception for everyone on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Welcome dinner and cocktail reception)
Included Activities
- Portuguese cooking demonstration on board
Landmarks Douro Valley 
- Day 6
Douro Valley - Quinta do Tedo - Vega de Terrón
In the morning you can visit Quinta do Tedo, an 18th-century vineyard in the Douro Valley that uses traditional methods for organic production. Alternatively, there's a guided walk through local vineyards or a kayak trip on the river. Later in the afternoon, the ship sails to Vega de Terrón and you can relax on the Sun Deck if you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Quinta do Tedo with wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Guided active walk through the vineyards
- Kayak experience in Pinhão
Landmarks Quinta do Tedo Pinhão - Day 7
Salamanca
You'll travel to Salamanca, called the 'Golden City,' which has roots going back to Roman times. The Old Quarter is a UNESCO site. A guide takes you through the tour, showing you Plaza Mayor with its galleries and arcades, the Casa de las Conchas (which has over 300 shells decorating it), and the university, one of the oldest in Europe from 1218.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Salamanca
Optional Activities
- Tuna music band performance in Salamanca
Landmarks Plaza Mayor Casa de las Conchas Salamanca University 
- Day 8
Castelo Rodrigo - Régua
Leaving from Pocinho, you head to Castelo Rodrigo, a medieval town where you'll learn about its fortress history and try local products. Back on the Star-Ship you'll have lunch, and then there's a Port wine cocktail lesson on board while sailing toward Régua.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour to Castelo Rodrigo
Optional Activities
- Archaeological tour by 4x4 at the Côa Valley Museum (extra expense)
Landmarks Castelo Rodrigo Côa Valley Museum - Day 9
Lamego
You'll visit Lamego, a Baroque village, and see the Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies perched above the town. If you're up for it, there are 686 steps down from the Sanctuary to the main square. Lunch happens at Quinta da Pacheca, one of the top estates on the Douro River, and later on board you'll learn about Portuguese mosaic painting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Rural lunch at Quinta da Pacheca), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lamego
- Rural lunch at Quinta da Pacheca
Optional Activities
- Walk down the steps of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies
- Visit to Mateus Manor House (extra expense)
Landmarks Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies Quinta da Pacheca Mateus Manor House - Day 10
Porto
Porto sits at the mouth of the Douro River and blends modern and old architecture throughout. It's famous for Port wine. You can see fortified structures like Castelo da Foz and Castelo do Queijo with their pentagonal faces overlooking the ocean. There's a choice between a guided tour or an active walk to see how locals go about their day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Porto
Optional Activities
- A cruise through Porto
- Guided active walk in Porto
- Visit to Quinta da Aveleda (extra expense)
- Guided bike tour to the Atlantic (extra expense)
Landmarks Castelo da Foz Castelo do Queijo Quinta da Aveleda - Day 11
Porto to Lisbon
After leaving the Star-Ship, you'll travel south along the Atlantic coast to Nazaré, a town known for traditional fishing and fresh seafood. Then you continue to Óbidos, a charming medieval town. The day ends in Lisbon where you'll stay for three nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks Nazaré Óbidos 
- Day 12
Lisbon
You'll take a tour of central Lisbon and see the yellow trams moving through tree-lined streets. Then you'll head to Belém to check out the Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site with late Gothic Manueline architecture that's really something to see.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lisbon
Landmarks Jerónimos Monastery Belém - Day 13
Lisbon
Lisbon is yours to explore at your own pace today. You can walk past white basilicas and wander through cobblestone streets however you like. Your tour director is available if you want help planning what to see.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Sintra (extra expense)
- Day 14
Lisbon Departure
After breakfast you'll say goodbye to the other guests and get transferred to the airport, heading home with memories of the golden city and the vineyards you've seen.
- Meals
- Breakfast
