Itinerary
- Day 1
Lisbon
You'll arrive in Lisbon and head to your hotel to settle in. The rest of the day is yours to explore the neighborhoods on foot, check out some beaches, or just relax before meeting your tour director and other travelers at an evening gathering.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lisbon Avani Avenida Liberdade or similar), Hotel (Avani Avenida Liberdade Lisbon Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer to hotel
Optional Activities
- Explore charming neighbourhoods
- Taste local specialties
- Visit popular beaches accessible from the city
- Day 2
Lisbon
Start with a scenic tram ride through Lisbon's hilly streets that takes you to Belem Tower, an important part of Portugal's maritime past. After that, you'll head to a local bakery for a Portuguese tart making class where you'll learn how to make pastel de nata. This evening brings a welcome dinner with traditional fado music and singing.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner with traditional fado performance)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lisbon Avani Avenida Liberdade or similar), Hotel (Avani Avenida Liberdade Lisbon Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Scenic tram journey through Lisbon
- Visit Belem Tower
- Portuguese Tart Making Class at a local bakery
- Welcome Dinner with fado performance
Optional Activities
- Explore Pastéis de Belem bakery (operating since 1837)
Landmarks Belem Tower Pastéis de Belem - Day 3
Lisbon - Sintra - Cascais
You'll spend the full day traveling to Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site tucked in the mountains. There's Pena Palace with its colorful architecture and gardens spread across the hilltop. Later, you'll continue to the coastal town of Cascais with its nice beaches and older buildings, then return to Lisbon where you'll have free time to walk around.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lisbon Avani Avenida Liberdade or similar), Hotel (Avani Avenida Liberdade Lisbon Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Full-day tour to Sintra and Cascais
- Visit Pena Palace and gardens
- Explore Cascais at leisure
Optional Activities
- Relax on Cascais beaches
- Visit Cascais museums
- Dine at local restaurants in Cascais
Landmarks Pena Palace Sintra Mountains Cascais Marina 
- Day 4
Lisbon - Óbidos - Nazaré - Coimbra
You'll start in Óbidos, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval villages with its walls and castle still standing. Then it's on to Nazaré, famous for big-wave surfing, where you can walk the cobblestone streets and sit at cafés watching people go by. From there, you'll travel to Coimbra, a historic city on the river with Portugal's oldest university dating back to 1290, and settle in for the night.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Coimbra Dona Ines or Tivoli Coimbra or similar), Hotel (NH Coimbra Dona Inês or Tivoli Coimbra Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Explore medieval village of Óbidos with walls and castle
- Visit Nazaré
- Travel to Coimbra
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Óbidos medieval streets
- Watch big-wave surfing at Nazaré
- Relax on Nazaré beach
- Enjoy local café in Nazaré
Landmarks Óbidos Castle Óbidos Medieval Walls University of Coimbra 
- Day 5
Coimbra - Aveiro - Porto
You'll check out Aveiro, often called Portugal's Venice. A traditional Moliceiro boat takes you through the canals and historic waterways. After that, you'll explore the colorful Beira Mar area with its tiled buildings and the fish market. Then it's time to head to Porto, which sits along the Douro River.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Porto Centro Santa Catarina or similar), Hotel (Cénica Porto Hotel)
Included Activities
- Traditional Moliceiro boat canal cruise in Aveiro
- Explore Beira Mar neighborhood in Aveiro
- Visit Aveiro fish market
Landmarks Beira Mar, Aveiro 
- Day 6
Porto
A walking tour takes you through Porto's hilly streets where you'll learn about the city's history and architecture. Later, you'll join a wine tasting at a local quinta with regional wines, and the quinta owners will host you for a farewell lunch.
- Meals
- Lunch (Farewell Lunch at a local quinta)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Porto Centro Santa Catarina or similar), Hotel (Cénica Porto Hotel)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Porto
- Exclusive Wine Tasting at a local quinta
- Farewell Lunch at a local quinta
- Day 7
Porto - Douro River (Embark)
You'll transfer to Porto and board MS Estrela for your cruise. There's a welcome reception where you'll meet other passengers and the cruise director, and you'll take a sunset cruise along the Douro River to start things off.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Transfer to Porto port
- Embark MS Estrela
- Welcome Reception with sunset cruise on Douro River
- Day 8
Régua - Lamego - Pinhão
Your ship cruises the Douro River with vineyards covering the banks as you travel from Spain into Portugal toward the Atlantic. You'll take a Portuguese language lesson onboard during the day. The ship stops at Lamego where you can see the ornate Baroque Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies and visit one of Portugal's better museums. Dinner at a local quinta features traditional Portuguese food.
- Meals
- Dinner (Portuguese Quinta Dinner with traditional dishes and dessert)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Portuguese language lesson onboard
- Visit Lamego and Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies
- Visit Lamego museum
- Portuguese Quinta Dinner with traditional dishes and dessert
Optional Activities
- Sample Bola de Lamego (smoked ham roll) in Lamego
Landmarks Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies 
- Day 9
Vega de Terrón - Castelo Rodrigo
The ship crosses into Spain and docks at Vega de Terrón. You'll have some free time, then join an excursion to Castelo Rodrigo, a village on a hilltop with views of both Spain and Portugal. You can walk through the ruins, check out the castle, and see the impressive stone statue of Santiago Matamoros before heading back to the ship by coach.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Excursion to Castelo Rodrigo
- Explore Castelo Rodrigo ruins and castle
- View Santiago Matamoros statue
Optional Activities
- Leisure time in Vega de Terrón
Landmarks Castelo Rodrigo Castle Santiago Matamoros Statue - Day 10
Salamanca - Barca d'Alva
You'll leave the ship and travel by coach to Salamanca, one of Spain's most beautiful cities with its golden sandstone buildings, impressive city square, and old university. A flamenco show includes lunch where you'll watch skilled dancers perform. Afterward, you'll return by coach to Barca d'Alva, the last Portuguese village on the Douro, and rejoin your ship for a Portuguese barbecue dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch with Flamenco Show), Dinner (Traditional Portuguese barbecue dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Coach transfer to Salamanca
- Flamenco Show and Lunch
- Coach transfer to Barca d'Alva
- Traditional Portuguese barbecue dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Salamanca at leisure
Landmarks Salamanca City Square University of Salamanca 
- Day 11
Pinhão - Régua
An excursion takes you to Mateus Palace and its gardens, an 18th-century palace that's also connected to Mateus rosé wine production. You'll explore the palace grounds and then return to your ship, which is now docked in Régua.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Excursion to Mateus Palace and gardens
- Tour of Mateus Palace
Landmarks Mateus Palace - Day 12
Régua - Entre-os-Rios
You'll visit a local quinta for a port wine tasting with great views across the Douro Valley, where you can sample Portugal's most well-known wine. From there, the ship continues to Entre-os-Rios, a nice riverside town where you'll have free time to walk around and explore on your own.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Portuguese Quinta Port Tasting with Douro Valley views
- Cruise to Entre-os-Rios
Optional Activities
- Explore Entre-os-Rios at leisure
- Day 13
Porto
After breakfast, you'll return to Porto for a guided tour of the city's main sights, then visit a local port winery for a tour and tasting. You'll have the afternoon free to check out the Bolhão food market, shop at local stores, or join an optional trip to Guimarães if you prefer. The day ends with a final dinner onboard with your new friends from the cruise.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell Dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Guided tour of Porto's iconic sights
- Local port winery tour and tasting
- Farewell Dinner onboard
Optional Activities
- Visit Portuguese boutiques for local souvenirs
- Explore Bolhão food market
- Optional excursion to Guimarães (World Heritage-listed city)
Landmarks Bolhão Market Guimarães Castle - Day 14
Porto
You'll have breakfast onboard one last time, then transfer to Porto airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final breakfast onboard
- Transfer to Porto airport
