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11 Day Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley
Uniworld River Cruise starting in Lisbon and finishing in Porto
Countries Visited: Portugal  Spain 
Tour Type: River Cruise
Tour Duration: 11 Days (10 Nights)
From: Lisbon to Porto
Tour Code: UNIPSDR
Operator: Uniworld
from AU $3,385 pp
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River Cruise Description

The Douro River, rising in Spain and reaching the Atlantic Ocean in Porto, has created the spectacular Douro River Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rambling vineyards and charming native farms called quintas cling to the steep sides of the Douro River Valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe's most unspoiled regions and to Port country - the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. Explore the seven hills of cosmopolitan Lisbon, uncovering a treasure trove of Old World architecture. Visit Coimbra, the 'Birthplace of Kings;' Porto, the beautiful 'City of Bridges,' with its UNESCO World Heritage-designated Medieval city centre; Guimarães, which has its own UNESCO-listed Medieval city centre; and Salamanca, Spain, another declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taste a variety of local wines from village vineyards, including Port, the region's sweet fortified wine. Feast on a traditional meal at the Alpendurada Monastery; enjoy a traditional Spanish-style lunch complete with a flamenco show; and dine at the Vintage House hotel, a magnificent 18th-century wine quinta overlooking the Douro River. Along the way, uncover a land of genuine beauty and breathtaking charm, and meet warm-hearted, friendly people with welcoming open arms.

Included Features

  • 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the intimate Douro Queen
  • 3 nights at the deluxe Tiara Park Atlantic Hotel (or similar) in Lisbon with breakfast
  • All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
  • Complimentary fine wine with dinner during your cruise
  • 8 shore excursions, fully hosted by English-speaking local guides
  • State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
  • 2 dinners and 2 lunches onshore featuring traditional cuisine in unique settings
  • Captain's Farewell Dinner
  • Captivating onboard local entertainment
  • Signature lecture: "The Magical Douro River Valley"
  • An experienced Cruise Manager and attentive, all English-speaking staff
  • All transfers on arrival and departure days

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Day
1
Lisbon
Arrive at Lisbon’s Portela Airport where you’ll be transferred to the hotel.
Day
2
Lisbon
Featured Excursion: Lisbon city tour.
Your guided exploration of Lisbon takes you to the historic district of Belem and the Belem Tower, the traditional starting and ending point of Portuguese voyages of discovery. You’ll then visit the magnificent cloister of San Jeronimos, built in the early 16th century as a celebration of Portugal’s territorial expansion and an expression of a unique national style. (BB)
Day
3
Lisbon
Spend leisure time enjoying this cosmopolitan city often referred to as the “City of Seven Hills.’’ Uncover a treasure trove of Old World architecture, or simply relax in one of the many cafés in Lisbon’s popular Rossio Square. (BB)
Day
4
Lisbon, Colmbra, Porto (Embark)
Featured Excursion: Coimbra tour with family-style lunch.
In the morning, you’ll head north through the picturesque countryside to Porto. En route, you’ll stop in Portugal’s third-largest city, Coimbra, birthplace of six of Portugal’s kings and home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. Within the university is the Biblioteca Joanina, a gem of a library with books that date back to the 12th century. After your library visit, you’ll stop for lunch in a local restaurant before continuing on to the ship docked in Porto. (BB/L/D)
Day
5
Porto, Bitetos
Featured Excursion: Porto city tour and dinner at the Alpendurada Monastery.
Traipse through the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Medieval city center of charming Porto. Later, sail to Bitetos where you’ll indulge in a country-style dinner at the former 14thcentury Benedictine Monastery of Alpendurada. (BB/L/D)
Day
6
Bitetos, Régua, Pinhão
Featured Excursion: Mateus Palace and Gardens.
Visit the impressive Baroque Mateus Palace and Gardens; with one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, it’s often described as the most fantastic country house in Portugal. (BB/L/D)
Day
7
Pinahão, Vega de Terrón (Spain)
Featured Excursion: Wine tasting at a local quinta.
Pinhão is the epicenter of the Port winemaking area. Visit a quinta (vineyard) where you’ll learn the history of, and sample, the country’s most celebrated beverage. Later in the day, cruise from Pinhão to Vega de Terrón. (BB/L/Captain’s Dinner)
Day
8
Vega de Terrón (Salamanca, Spain), Barca d'Alva
Featured Excursion: Full-day Salamanca tour with traditional Spanish lunch and flamenco show.
From Vega de Terrón, on the Spanish border, travel overland to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage city. This charming town is untouched in its architectural purity, and throughout the centuries the sandstone buildings have gained an exquisite golden glow, giving the city the nickname the “Golden City.” Visit Salamanca’s historic university before having lunch with a flamenco show at a local restaurant. Then enjoy free time in this magical city. (BB/L/D)
Day
9
Barca d'Alva (Castelo Rodrigo), Pinhão
Featured Excursion: Castelo Rodrigo tour and dinner at the Vintage House hotel.
In the morning, visit the picturesque, 12th-century walled village of Castelo Rodrigo. This is a charming and captivating place with Medieval streets, thick stonewall houses, and a remarkably distinctive fountain, Chafariz dos Pretos. In the evening, indulge in a delicious dinner complete with wine at the Vintage House hotel, a magnificent converted 18th-century wine quinta overlooking the Douro River. (BB/L/D)
Day
10
Régua (Lamego), Porto
Featured Excursion: Guimarães city tour.
Historic Guimarães was the first capital of Portugal in the 12th century and home to the first king of Portugal, Don Afonso Henriques. It has been referred to as the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. Dominated by Afonso Henriques’ grand castle, Guimarães was recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its extremely well-preserved city center. You will be guided through the narrow streets of the Medieval quarter, which is lined with old houses embellished by ornate balconies, toward the beautiful main square, the Largo da Oliveira, and then on to other lovely places such as the splendid Monastery and Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and the 14th-century Gothic Padrão do Salado. (BB/L/D)
Day
11
Porto (Disembark), Transfer to the Airport
Disembark the ship and transfer to the Porto airport for your flight home. (CB or BB)
Uniworld Brochure This itinerary is based on 2012 departures. Click on the icon if you would like to view an electronic version of the brochure online. There may be some amendments to this itinerary on 2013 departures. To view the preview 2013 brochure click here.

River Cruise Prices

Cruise prices are per person. Please request a quote for tour availability.

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Flights:

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General Information

The information below relates to this itinerary only.

Cruise Operator: Uniworld

Uniworld presents an unrivalled river cruise program with unique itineraries and superb five-star inclusions. Travel onboard intimate, luxurious ships with a maximum of 134 guests - fewer guests than any other river cruise company in Europe. With one highly trained staff member for every three guests and expert onboard hotel management, Uniworld are able to deliver a guest satisfaction rate of 98%.




Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the deck plans, cabin types and more ship information?

We have a dedicated section on our website providing more detailed information on Uniworld including FAQ's on what you need to know before, during and after your travel; as well fleet information, deck plans, and a comprehensive search facility to enable you to easily find more of their cruises. Read more> (Note: This link will take you away from this tour itinerary page).

Which direction of the cruise should I book? Is one better than the other?

It does not matter which direction you choose, as each direction contains the same included features. Timings of activities may, of course, vary a little due to cruising times up- or downstream, but you will not see or do more in one direction than in the other.

What is the dress code onboard?

During the day, comfortable, casual attire is appropriate. The weather in Europe can be very changeable, so take a sweater or windproof jacket and an umbrella. Comfortable walking shoes are also recommended for excursions. Evenings are a little dressier. Gentlemen may wish to wear a jacket to the Captain's dinner. You'll find average temperatures listed on each of the cruises on our website.

How large are the ships?

Our ships accommodate between 100 and 138 guests. They are generally 360 feet long (110 meters), and 37.5 feet wide (11.4 meters). The draft is approximately 4 feet (1.2 meters). There are typically 34 crew members aboard. We have a dedicated section on our website providing more detailed information each ship. Read more> (Note: This link will take you away from this tour itinerary page).

Do your ships have any exclusive features?

Magnetic key cards have been introduced on the River Empress, River Countess and River Duchess. The magnetic card functions as your cabin key, your onboard charge card, and your ID card for boarding. Passengers swipe the cards as they disembark and embark, enabling our staff to keep track of everyone onboard. Our ships were the first - and are still the only - river cruise ships to offer this convenience. The River Empress, River Countess and River Duchess offer guests the convenience of checking and sending e-mails. On the River Princess, River Queen, River Empress, River Duchess and River Countess, each guest is provided with a terry cloth robe in their cabin. Our ships have one of the largest fitness centres aboard any river cruise ship. There is also a sauna and a steam room on the River Princess, River Queen, River Empress, River Duchess and River Countess.

Are meals included onboard?

Sumptuous buffets at breakfast and lunch offer an extensive array of hot and cold selections. Breakfast features crispy Belgian waffles topped with whipped cream and warm maple syrup, a dozen or more homemade breads and jams, an omelette station, and hand-cut seasonal fresh fruit.

Lunch offers a delectable feast with salads, soups, carved-to-order roasts, and more. Evenings provide exquisite ambience with relaxed open seating. Each dish is flawlessly prepared using the finest ingredients—local meats and seafood along with tasty side dishes. Always included with dinner onboard are European fine wines and a selection of beer and soft drinks served by an attentive, caring staff. Of course, every meal concludes with a wide range of freshly prepared, decadent desserts that look every bit as delicious as they taste.

Uniworld also provides a variety of dining experiences including: al fresco “under the stars” and light-lunch dining—both on the sun deck; Captain's Welcome Gala and Farewell Dinner; early-riser breakfast; and afternoon tea. Plus, Uniworld gives you the choice of dining on lighter cuisine with our Traveling Lite menu.

What are your handicapped facilities like?

The ships are not handicapped or wheelchair accessible. There are elevators on the River Princess, River Queen, River Countess, River Duchess, and River Empress. On the River Queen, the elevator does not reach all decks. Additionally, most shore excursions involve some walking. Some excursions are walking cruises only, and several occur on cobblestone streets.

Are tips/gratuities included in our tour price?

Tips & gratuities including the customary end-of-trip gratuity/tip for the cruise/tour manager, crew onboard and local guides for the included shore excursions are included in the price of your trip (excluding Optional Excursions). Europe & Russia cruises only.

How do I pay for purchases and services onboard?

Magnetic key cards have been introduced on the River Countess, River Duchess, and River Empress. The magnetic card functions as your cabin key, your onboard charge card, and your ID card for boarding. Passengers swipe the cards as they disembark and embark, enabling our staff to keep track of everyone onboard. Our ships were the first - and are still the only - river cruise ships to offer this convenience.

On other ships all purchases and paid services on board are billed with a guest check and added to your shipboard account. At the end of the cruise, you will receive a total, which can be paid with cash or credit card. The ships do not accept payments made by Diners Club cards. The onboard currency is the Euro. View individual ships here.

Do we always dock in the heart of the city?

It depends; in many places you will dock within walking distance to the city center, but there are places where the river only touches the outskirts of a town (i.e. Bamberg or Nuremberg), and thus a motorcoach transfer is necessary.


Arrival & Departure Information

Transfers

Transfers to/from airports will be provided only for flights arriving/departing on the start/finish day of the cruise (and for extensions/extra nights). There may be a waiting period of up to 2 hours or more unless private car transfers have been purchased. The following time limits apply:

  Arrival Departure
Europe 7am - 3pm 7am - 5pm
Extensions 24 hours 24 hours 
Extra Nights 24 hours 24 hours

Passenger flight details must be given to Global Journeys 45 days prior to departure. If your flight arrangements arrive/depart outside of the above you may purchase a private car transfer from Uniworld or make your own transfer arrangements. Uniworld will not be responsible for late arrivals or missed transfers due to delayed or cancelled flights, for missed cruise/trip days or for extra costs resulting from the foregoing.

Boarding Time

On turnaround day, the entire ship must be cleaned in preparation for your arrival. The facilities of the ship, including your cabin, will not be available before 4pm. We appreciate your understanding on this matter. Should you arrive early, you may leave your bags in the Reception area and take a walk into the city, or relax in the lounge.


Terms & Conditions:

Yep, all the boring small print! We still recommend you read it all though, as no one likes surprises. Click here to read them now - they will open in a new window, or print them off to read over later with a cup of coffee!

 

Georgie Walpole

Your Tour Consultant Will Be:

Georgie Walpole
Tour Consultant
Email: georgie@globaljourneys.com
Expertise: International Coach Touring & River Cruising
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