Douro Delights

3.7/5 Based on 3 Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Cruise Advisor
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Port charges, taxes and fees included
 Cruise Length
9 Days
 Cruise Starts
Porto
 Cruise Finishes
Madrid
9 Day Douro Delights Itinerary (APT)
Countries Explored: Portugal, Spain
Cruise Line
APT
Ship
Passengers
114
Crew
-
Launched
2024
Cruise Code
EUPDC09

Overview

Beginning in spectacular Porto, cruise the stunning Douro River as you traverse the world’s oldest wine region. Rambling vineyards and native farms cling to the steep sides of the Douro Valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions. Conclude your journey with a visit to Salamanca and Madrid in Spain.

Itinerary

Arrive in Porto and transfer to your purpose-built river ship. The MS Estrela has the best vantage point to take in the city's incredible sights as you embark on an illuminations cruise around Porto. Stay Seven Nights: MS Estrela (D)

The choice is yours when it comes to the sightseeing activities on offer today. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before a Signature Experience tonight. (B/L/D)

Freedom of Choice - Porto Exploration Explore Porto's 16th-century Old Town and take a scenic cable car ride, savouring panoramic views of the city below. Then, indulge in a tasting of the city's famous port wines and sample the rich flavours of the region.

Freedom of Choice - Cooking Demonstration Porto is famous for its delectable cuisine, and you can discover its culinary heart with a visit to a traditional restaurant for a cooking demonstration.

Freedom of Choice - Active Walking Tour of Porto Set out on an active walking tour of Porto through the medieval streets and the old harbour quarter of Ribeira. Stroll through cobbled streets and discover neighbourhoods of colourful 18th-century houses and quaint eateries.

Signature Experience - Palácio da Bolsa Head to the Palácio da Bolsa for a guided tour, followed by a cocktail reception and traditional fado performance in the Arabian Hall.

Set sail this morning through the Douro Valley on your way to Entre-os-Rios. On arrival, choose your sightseeing activity. (B/L/D)

Freedom of Choice - Guimarães Tour Explore the historic city of Guimarães with a tour of its well-preserved buildings and attractions. Admire the medieval architecture in the city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Freedom of Choice - Winery Tour and Tasting Visit Quinta da Aveleda, a family business that has been producing wine in the Vinho Verde wine region since the 1870s. Explore the gardens and round off the day with a sampling of wine and cheese.

Enjoy a relaxing morning cruising to Régua. Once you've arrived, visit the Douro Museum, which provides an incredible insight into the culture of the Douro Valley wine region. (B/L/D)

Signature Experience - Lunch at Quinta da Pacheca Visit Quinta da Pacheca for a traditional lunch and tasting with views over the Douro River and Régua. Situated in the village of Cambres in the Lamego municipality, the prestigious estate dates back to the 16th century and features 75 hectares of vineyards.

After enjoying the sightseeing experience of your choice, relax on board your ship as you cruise to Pinhão. (B/L/D)

Freedom of Choice - Lamego Tour Set among hills adorned with vineyards in the Alto Douro region, Lamego is a charming city. On a guided tour, visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies and sample a local specialty, Bola de Lamego.

Freedom of Choice - Visit Palácio de Mateus Embark on a trip to Palácio de Mateus, located near the city of Vila Real. Portuguese architect Nicolau Nasoni played a pivotal role in the palace's construction in the 18th century. The palace is also well known for being featured on the bottle labels of Mateus Rosé wine.

Visit Pinhão Railway Station, known as one of the most beautiful railway stations in Portugal. Built in the 19th century, its tiled walls depict the production of port. Venture to a local quinta, then be treated to a captain's farewell dinner in the evening. (B/L/D)

On a tour of the town of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, you'll stop to visit the castle ruins. Return to the ship, where you'll savour a delectable dinner. During your final night on board, your thoughts drift ahead to Spain as you cruise to your next exciting destination. (B/L/D)

Disembark your ship and say goodbye to life on board. Hit the road and travel to the ancient city of Salamanca for a tour. You'll see the University of Salamanca and the House of Shells before continuing to your hotel in Madrid. Tonight is yours to spend as you please. Stay: Madrid, VP Plaza España Design (or similar) (B)

Today, your spectacular journey comes to an end. Following breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Lunch at Quinta da Pacheca: Visit Quinta da Pacheca for a traditional lunch and tasting with views over Portugal's Douro River and Régua. Situated in the village of Cambres in the Lamego municipality, the prestigious estate dates back to the 16th century and features 75 hectares of vineyards.
  • Fado Performance in Palácio da Bolsa: Head to Palácio da Bolsa for a guided tour, followed by a cocktail reception and traditional fado performance in the Arabian Hall.

  • Itinerary, inclusions and pricing are subject to change
  • Prices are for land/cruise only. Flights not included unless specified

Life Onboard MS Estrela

APT Estrela
APT Estrela

Travel in unparalleled luxury on board APT Estrela in 2024 – APT's brand-new river ship that redefines Douro river cruising. Read more

All-inclusive. All taken care of.
All-inclusive. All taken care of.

From the moment you depart to the moment you return, everything you need is included in the trip price you pay. Read more

Freedom of Choice
Freedom of Choice

Personalise your journey to suit your interest and mix and match a wide selection of cultural, culinary, historical and active experiences. Read more

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Trip Reviews (3) Most Recent 'Douro Delights' Reviews

3.7
Average Rating 3.7 / 5
3 Reviews
5 Star
33%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
2 Star
33%
1 Star
Superb Douro river cruise with APT   0 , NSW, Australia, May 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our first river cruise. We were looked after from the moment we got to the dock in Porto. The itinerary was balanced between tours and free time to soak up river life and enjoy the calm. The dams and locks along the river were also very interesting. The food on board was 5 star and the choice was amazing. It was hard to resist read more sometimes but necessary so that you could pace yourself. We met some lovely people who we will keep in touch with. Overall a wonderful 9 days. Thank you.
Comfort and convenience. 6 , WA, Australia, Aug 2017
All went well, and according to plan. Happy with communication and arrangements. Perhaps a little more help in organising free time when docked would be helpful.
Douro River Cruise 19 , SA, Australia, Sep 2016
There was not a lot of cruising. We spent more time off shore or in port than cruising. There were quite a few locks to go through. When we docked, we were up against the wall of the dock and so the balcony we paid for was useless. Also at one port, there was a strong smell of sewerage. The ship, staff and food were great, but as a cruise I would read more not recommend. The Mekong River is a delight compared to the Douro River. This is because on the Douro River, there is not a great part of the river where you can cruise but it needs to be looked at. There were some very unhappy people on or cruise.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this cruise. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and is not operating this season. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by APT. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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