Europe River Cruises

Cruise Portugal's Golden River - An 8-day trip from Porto to Spain and back

A cruise through the scenic Douro Valley from Porto in Portugal to Vega de Teron in Spain with many optional excursions including a visit to Salamanca.

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Exclusive offer: Book now and save 10% on prices shown!

Enjoy this delightful journey along the river Douro, through an untouched landscape of wonderful high hills, the Porto vineyards, quaint villages and traditional towns. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Porto, Regua, Vega de Teron, Pinhao and enjoy an optional full day visit to Salamanca.

The beautiful River Douro

More information about your cruise ship MS Fernao de Magalhaes, MS Vasco de Gama or MS Infante Don Henrique

Salamanca

E189: Cruise Departure Dates 2010/11
2010: Aug 23, 30; Sep 6, 13, 20, 27;
Oct 4, 11, 18, 25; 2011: Apr 11, 18, 25;
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Jun 20, 27;
Jul 4, 11, 18, 25; Aug 1, 15, 22, 29;
Sep 5, 19, 26; Oct 10, 17
E189: PPH_PP - Cruise Portugal Golden River 2010/11£ price per person
Exclusive offer: Book now and save 10% on prices shown!
Prices above are per person based on two sharing a cabin.
Single Supplement: £369

Regua

The cruise price includes
  • Seven nights en-suite accommodation on board ship in an air-conditioned twin/double cabin
  • All meals aboard ship
  • Drinks with lunch and dinner onboard (beer, wine, fruit juice, mineral water, tea/coffee)
  • Cruise itinerary as described
  • Welcome cocktail
  • Entertainment on board
  • Cruise Manager
  • Gala farewell dinner
  • Port taxes
Additional Information
  • For increased flexibility we let you make your own travel arrangements - choose your own airport and take advantage of low-cost airline flights to Porto.
  • The following airlines operate flights to Porto: Air Portugal - from London Heathrow; Air Berlin - From London Stansted; RyanAir - from Liverpool and Stansted
  • Add extra hotel days in Porto before or after your cruise.
  • CroisiEurope is the leading French river cruise company. Their cruises have a distinctly French flavour, the service and the food having received much praise from Blue Water Holidays customers. Staff and passengers come from many European countries. There may be other English speaking passengers on board this cruise, and depending on their numbers excursions with an English-speaking guide may be available
Call our dedicated Cruise Team
UK: 01756 706529
International: +44 1756 706529
Useful Links
Call our dedicated Cruise Team
UK: 01756 706529
International: +44 1756 706529
Useful Links

Cruise E189 PPH_PP : Itinerary
Day 1
Porto

Welcome on board from 5.00 pm. Settling into your cabin and presentation of the crew followed by a welcome cocktail served in the lounge and dinner on board. In the evening, an optional excursion by coach to explore Porto by night.

Day 2
Porto

After a buffet breakfast on board, we will set off to explore Porto on an optional guided tour. One of the oldest cities in Europe, whose historic centre is classed as a world heritage site by UNESCO: unspoilt old quarters, a maze of winding narrow streets, arcaded houses, superb churches… But above all, Porto is Port wine. Among the wine properties that extend as far as the eye can see along the Duoro in Vila Nova de Gaia, we will visit a famous cellar where this exceptional wine slowly ages in the greatest secrecy. Tasting of the “precious nectar”*. Back on board for lunch, followed by a free afternoon to discover Porto at your own pace, or ask to be transferred downtown by rabello. Return on board for dinner and a fado evening.

Day 3
Porto – Regua

Buffet breakfast on board. Free morning in Porto or take the optional excursion to Braga, nicknamed the “Rome of Portugal” because of its religious architecture of very high quality. Return on board for lunch, during which you will be able to admire the fabulous landscapes to be seen during the cruise to Regua. We will go through the locks in Crestuma and Carrapatelo, the highest in Europe at 36 metres. Arrival in Regua around 8.00 pm. Dinner on board followed by a dinner-dance or enjoy a free stroll through Regua by night.

Day 4
Regua - Barca d'Alva

Buffet breakfast on board and departure for the optional excursion to Vila Real, a town in which the religious architecture is very varied. A little further down, you will get the chance to take a beautiful walk in the gardens of Solar de Mateus. During this time, the boat will sail to Pinhao where we will join it for lunch. Continuation of the cruise. We will be sailing into the heart of the vineyards of Porto, past magnificent hillsides covered in trellised vines planted in terraces up to 700m plunging majestically down towards the river. We will go through the locks in Valeira and Pocinho to reach Barca d'Alva during the evening. Dinner followed by a flamenco evening on board.

Day 5
Vega de Teron

Buffet breakfast on board. Departure for the optional excursion to Salamanca, awarded world heritage status by UNESCO. This town of dazzling beauty houses some extraordinary Romanesque, Arab and Christian architectural treasures. Lunch in Salamanca. Afternoon at leisure. Back to the boat. Dinner and an evening's entertainment on board in Vega de Teron.

Day 6
Vega de Teron - Ferradosa - Pinhao

Departure early in the morning and buffet breakfast during the cruise. Through the locks in Pocinho and Valeira. Morning's sailing. Lunch during the cruise. Stop in Ferradosa around 2.00 pm. Departure for the optional “wines of Porto” excursion. You will follow the road through the vineyards and stop at a belvedere in the heart of the vines. You will then take part in a tasting of the wines of Porto in a quinta. Back on board in Pinhao around 6.00 pm. You will also be able to explore the old station in Pinhao at your own pace, with its splendid “azulejos” (typical Portuguese tiles). Dinner and gala evening on board.

Day 7
Pinhao - Porto

Buffet breakfast on board. Departure from Pinhao by coach for the optional guided tour of Lamego. You will discover the Nossa Senhora dos Remedios sanctuary and the cathedral. Back on board in Regua. Lunch during the cruise. An afternoon's sailing, passing through a number of large locks. Arrival in Porto at the end of the evening. Dinner and traditional evening on board.

Day 8
Porto

Disembark after breakfast.

For navigational reasons the Captain of the ship reserves the right to modify the cruise itinerary

Porto

The cruise price does not include
  • Travel and transfers to and from cruise ship.
  • Optional Excursions
  • Travel Insurance
  • Fuel surcharge
Blue Water Holidays, Bridge House, Brook Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1PP - 01756 706529
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