Your itinerary
Day 1: UK - Oporto.
Fly to Oporto where you will be met and transferred to the ship. Enjoy a welcome cocktail party and a chance to meet the crew. In the evening there is an optional excursion to see Oporto by night.
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Day 2: Oporto - Regua.
After breakfast, there is an optional guided tour of medieval Oporto, Portugal's second largest city. After a tour through the steep, winding lanes of the town, with grand archways and magnificent churches, travel to Villa Nova de Gaia, where you will visit one of the producers of the port wine that the region is famous for, followed by a wine tasting. In the afternoon, begin cruising through the spectacular scenery of the Douro Valley to Regua. In the evening you can take part in the organised entertainment, or alternatively enjoy an evening stroll at leisure through Regua.
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Day 3: Regua - Barca d'Alva.
This morning, enjoy an optional excursion to Vila Real for a visit to the beautiful manor and gardens of Solar de Mateus. In the afternoon, rejoin your ship in Pinhão, the geographical centre of the demarcated port wine making region. Later, your ship continues cruising amidst the steep, terraced vineyards that line the banks of the river, en route to Barca d'Alva. Enjoy a flamenco evening on board.
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Day 4: Vega de Teron.
After breakfast, there is a full day optional excursion to the Spanish city of Salamanca, home to one of the oldest universities in the world. The city has been well-preserved and has beautiful stone-built noblemen's houses, convents and palaces scattered among the faculty buildings. The architecture reflects its Roman, Arabic and Christian past, and it is also said to have the most impressive town square in the whole of Spain. You rejoin the ship in Vega de Teron for a Spanish themed evening.
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Day 5: Vega de Teron - Ferradosa - Pinhão.
Spend the morning continuing your journey through the stunning countryside of the Douro Valley, arriving in Ferradosa after lunch. There is an optional excursion in the afternoon, that takes you through vineyards where grapes are grown for the producton of local wines before heading to a Quinta to taste Port wine. You rejoin the boat in Pinhão before dinner, where you will have time to look at the local train station, built at the end of the 19th century, the inside of which is entirely lined with panels of patterned tiles, or azulejos.
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Day 6: Pinhão - Oporto.
This morning there is an optional excursion to the ancient town of Lamego, 12kms from the banks of the Douro. This includes a visit to the Nossa Senhora dos Remedios sanctuary, 600m above the town, the medieval castle, the church of Almacave with its azulejo lined walls and gilded woodwork on the altars, and the Cathedral. After lunch onboard, the ship continues its journey to Oporto. There is a fado evening on board this evening, where you can hear the traditional songs of Lisbon.
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Day 7: Oporto.
The morning is yours to discover the city of Oporto at leisure. In the afternoon, there is an optional excursion to Portugal's religious centre, Braga. Here you will have a chance to see the remains of the medieval city walls, city gates and towers, and various examples of imposing Baroque architecture that embellish the palaces and monuments built by archbishop Rodrigo de Moura Teles. After dinner enjoy a folk evening on board.
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Day 8: Oporto - UK.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
(B)
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