Oporto

Explore the landmarks of Oporto and discover the vast influence of the Douro River that flows through downtown and into the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its historical viticulture.

NOTE: This program begins in Oporto, Portugal; therefore, arriving flights must be booked into the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto. The program ends in Lisbon where guests will embark the ship.

DAY 1

After flying into Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto, you will proceed through Customs and claim your luggage. You will then be met and transferred to your hotel.

Check-in is 3:00pm. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available earlier, this cannot be guaranteed. If you are arriving early, you may wish to book an extra night to guarantee immediate check-in.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with lunch and dinner on your own.

DAY 2

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will travel toward Oporto’s city center for an enlightening tour of its landmarks. For the ultimate view of the Douro River that runs through the city, you will ride a cable car above its banks. You will likely see plenty of rabelo boats, traditional vessels that were once used to transport port wine barrels from the Douro region to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Later, after driving to the Serra do Pilar lookout, you will enjoy a sweeping view of Oporto. Upon reaching upper Gaia town, you will stop at a wine cellar to learn about the production of port wine step by step. It is a fascinating process made even more relevant with a sampling of several port wines.

Lunch follows at The Blini or a similar restaurant that features traditional cuisine with an emphasis on seafood. The Blini overlooks the Douro River and the views are extraordinary.

The tour will continue in Oporto’s historic center along the hills above the mouth of the Douro River. UNESCO has deemed the old quarter worthy of a World Heritage site designation for being an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year-old history.

There, you will see one landmark after another, including the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, the São Bento Railway Station and the soaring bell tower that rises above the Clerigos Church. The Church of São Francisco is considered the finest example of Gothic architecture in Oporto.

In time, you will proceed inland and upriver into the Douro Valley wine region, a beautifully terraced landscape that produces some of Portugal’s finest port wine. Upon arriving at your hotel, you will check in for the evening.

The Six Sense Douro Valley Hotel is a 19th-century manor house perched high on a hill overlooking the valley that you will explore in earnest the next day.

Dinner will be on your own.

DAY 3

After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel into the Douro Valley, an area that has been producing wine for at least 2,000 years. Fortified port wine has been a staple since the 18th century, which together with the long tradition of viticulture prompted UNESCO to declare the valley a World Heritage site.

Quinta da Pacheca is one of the valley’s oldest and most esteemed wineries. You will become immersed in its rich history while browsing the vineyards and winemaking operations. A lunch of traditional Portuguese cuisine and Douro Valley specialties thoughtfully paired with various wines will follow.

To enhance your knowledge of wine production, you will then participate in an entertaining activity in which you will help bottle, cork and label some of the wine from Quinta da Pacheca. Feel free to explore other areas of the winery afterwards during free time.

You will then return to your hotel to spend another relaxing evening. Dinner will be on your own.

DAY 4

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will travel to Lisbon with a brief stop in Coimbra.

There, you will view from the outside the Santa Clara Monastery and the University of Coimbra, which consists of several colleges that together UNESCO declared a World Heritage site for the centuries of interdependence between the city of Coimbra and the university.

For a literal taste of Coimbra, you will sample its signature egg-custard filled pastry: Pastel de Tentugal.

Continuing on to Lisbon, you will enjoy a short panoramic driving tour of the capital city, if time permits. Upon arriving at the pier, you will embark the cruise ship.

Land Program Details Step by Step

•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.

•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.

Extra Nights

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program

•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.

•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.

•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.

DAY 1

Arrive at Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto.

You will be met outside Customs and transferred to your hotel to spend the afternoon and the evening at your leisure.

Check-in at your hotel starts at 3:00pm.

Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed.

A reception with refreshing towels, tea made with herbs from the hotel’s organic garden, port wine and nuts will be available to you.

Overnight at the Hilton Porto Gaia or similar hotel

Meet and Greet and transfers

•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.

•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.

•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.

DAY 2

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel and check out

9:30am Depart for a tour of Oporto’s city center

10:30am Tour the city center, partially by cable car

11:00am Visit a port cellar for a wine tasting

12:00pm Proceed to a restaurant for lunch

1:30pm Continue touring Oporto and see landmarks such as the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, Santa Catarina Street, Clerigos Tower, São Bento Railway Station and S. Francisco Church.

3:00pm Depart for your hotel

8:00pm Dinner on your own

Overnight at Six Senses Douro Valley or similar hotel

DAY 3

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel

9:00am Depart for a scenic tour of the Douro Valley

12:00pm Visit the winery Quinta da Pacheca

1:30pm Lunch and wine tasting at Quinta da Pacheca

3:00pm Afternoon activity at Quinta da Pacheca

5:00pm Drive back to the hotel

8:00pm Dinner on your own

Overnight at Six Senses Douro Valley or similar hotel

DAY 4

7:30am Breakfast at the hotel and check out

8:30am Depart for Lisbon

10:00am Stop in Coimbra for a snack and restrooms

10:40am Proceed to Lisbon

12:30pm Scenic drive through Lisbon’s city center

1:15pm Approximate arrival time at the pier for embarkation

Expected Weather

In Oporto, the summers are comfortable, dry, and mostly clear and the winters are cold, wet, and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 43°F to 76°F and is rarely below 34°F or above 87°F.

What to Bring

Comfortable shoes and a jacket or sweater for cooler temperatures. Casual smart dress for dinners. An umbrella in case of rain.

Local Currency

The Euro

Electricity

220 volts. We recommend bringing a travel adaptor for electric devices.

Documents and Visa Requirements

A valid passport is required.

Hotels

Hilton Porto Gaia

Rua Serpa Pinto, 124, 4400-037 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Phone: + 351 21 319 8900

Six Senses Douro Valley

Quinta de Vale Abraão, Samodães, 5100 – 758 Lamego, Portugal

Phone: +351 254 660 600

*Access to spa, gym, indoor pool, baths, fitness center and yoga room included

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.

Program Includes for guests:

•Transfer from the airport to the hotel

•1 night at the Hilton Porto Gaia or similar – King deluxe room

•2 nights at the Six Senses Douro Valley or similar – Deluxe room

•Lunch and wine tasting on Day 2 and Day 3

•Tours and entrances per the itinerary

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.

Program Excludes for guests:

•Personal expenses

•Gratuities for drivers and tour guides

•Any meals not mentioned in the program

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns should check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.

All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.

Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space will be released.

Oporto is an awarded city of Port Wine, and Douro River- considered one of the most attractive European destinations would enchant you with its open-air museums, narrow streets and sites classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. One highlight will be spending 2 nights in a giant wine barrel overlooking a beautiful vineyard and the second highlight is the unique opportunity to learn about and assist with the olive harvest at Quinta da Pacheca.

NOTE: This program begins in Oporto, Portugal; therefore, arriving flights must be booked into the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto. The program ends in Lisbon where guests will embark the ship.

This program is limited to a maximum of 10 guests and is not recommended for guests who require use of a wheelchair.

DAY 1

After flying into Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto, you will proceed through Customs and claim your luggage. You will then be met and transferred to your hotel.

Check-in is 3:00pm. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available earlier, this cannot be guaranteed. If you are arriving early, you may wish to book an extra night to guarantee immediate check-in.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure, and lunch and dinner will be on your own.

DAY 2

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will travel toward Oporto’s city center for an enlightening tour of its landmarks. For the ultimate view of the Douro River that runs through the city, you will ride a cable car above its banks. You will likely see plenty of rabelo boats, traditional vessels that were once used to transport port wine barrels from the Douro region to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Later, after driving to the Serra do Pilar lookout, you will enjoy a sweeping view of Oporto. Upon reaching upper Gaia town, you will stop at a wine cellar to learn about the production of port wine step by step. It is a fascinating process made even more relevant with a sampling of several port wines.

Lunch follows at the RC Restaurant. Founded in 1894, it is considered the most emblematic restaurant in the city. The setting couldn’t be more exquisite and the cuisine is both traditional and innovative. RC restaurant is located within Oporto’s historic old quarter, an area that UNESCO has deemed worthy of a World Heritage site designation for being an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year-old history.

After dining, you will continue touring the old quarter, where you will see one landmark after another, including the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, the São Bento Railway Station and the soaring bell tower that rises above the Clerigos Church. The Church of São Francisco is considered the finest example of Gothic architecture in Oporto.

In time, you will proceed inland and upriver into the Douro Valley wine region, a beautifully terraced landscape that produces some of Portugal’s finest port wine. Upon arriving at the Quinta da Pacheco winery hotel, you will check into one of the most unusual suites that you could ever imagine.

Your accommodations will be one of 10 giant wooden wine barrels overlooking the vineyards. Each wooden barrel is named after a wine grape and features a skylight and an oversized round glass door that opens onto a private terrace and bathes the interior with natural light. Considering their setting in a wine estate, the barrels couldn’t be more a fitting or entertaining place to stay.

This evening, dinner is included at Quinta da Pacheca, one of the valley’s oldest and most esteemed wineries.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The wine barrel rooms are glamping-type units and include a sink, toilet, shower, rounded double bed, small desk and are 98-feet in size.

They are outfitted with air-conditioning and wi-fi and there is even a skylight so you can gaze at the stars that look over the beautiful vineyard. Guests will be taken to their rooms by golf cart. There is a spa, pool, restaurant and gift shop on site.

We encourage you to review them on-line prior to booking to ensure this is the right program for you – search Quinta da Pacheco wine barrel rooms for photos and videos. For the adventurous wine lovers who don’t mind unique settings without all the luxuries of a 5-star hotel, this is a fun program for you! The whole experience is quite authentic.

DAY 3 - Olives are typically ready to harvest at the end of October. If ready to be picked, this will be the day’s activity:

The end of October marks the time to harvest olives from the Pacheca grove and mid-morning, you will have the unique experience of getting in the grove and assisting with the long-awaited olive harvest.

You will be welcomed with a treat of traditional corn bread and cured olives before walking through the olive grove where the history and process of harvesting is explained. Guests will also learn how to check if the olives are ripe enough to pick before actually helping to harvest the olives. A true hands-on experience!

Following the harvest, enjoy a tasting of Quinta da Pacheca olive oils including Pacheca Extra Virgin Olive Oil 100% Verdeal, Pacheca Extra Virgin Olive Oil 100% Cobrançosa, Pacheca 100% Madural Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Pacheca Biological Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

After all that hard work harvesting olives, enjoy a traditional 4-course wine pairing lunch.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Note: Comfortable clothes and closed toe shoes should be worn. Olive oil production takes place off-site so this process will not be seen.

DAY 3 – Alternate itinerary IF the olives are not ready for harvest:

After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel deeper into the Douro Valley, an area that has been producing wine for at least 2,000 years. Fortified port wine has been a staple since the 18th century, which together with the long tradition of viticulture prompted UNESCO to declare the valley a World Heritage site.

Upon arriving at Quinta da Aveleda, you will begin with an overall tour of the winery that was founded more than 150 years ago. The fifth generation of the Guedes family now runs Quinta da Aveleda and its many vineyards throughout the Douro Valley.

A sumptuous lunch of traditional Portuguese cuisine follows. The dishes will be thoughtfully paired with wines produced with grapes from various vineyards. They may include a varietal made with Alvarinho grapes from two different terroirs, a varietal from Loureiro grapes that boasts aromas of passionfruit and citrus fruits, and a blend from the two grapes that is named for the winery’s founder Manoel Pedro Guedes. Quinta da Aveleda almost entirely produces white wines.

After lunch, you will meander through the botanical gardens that surround the lake and tea house. Some of the specimens, such as the Japanese cedars and American sequoias, were planted more than a century ago. If in bloom, the more than 100 species of camellias will add glorious splashes of color to the lush greenery.

In the late afternoon, you will return to the Quinta da Pacheca hotel for the evening.

Dinner is included at the hotel.

DAY 4

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will travel to Lisbon with a brief stop in Coimbra.

There, you will view from the outside the Santa Clara Monastery and the University of Coimbra, which consists of several colleges that together UNESCO declared a World Heritage site for the centuries of interdependence between the city of Coimbra and the university.

For a literal taste of Coimbra, you will sample its signature egg-custard filled pastry: Pastel de Tentugal.

Continuing on to Lisbon, you will enjoy a short panoramic driving tour of the capital city, if time permits. Upon arriving at the pier, you will embark the cruise ship.

Land Program Details Step by Step

•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.

•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.

Extra Nights

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program

•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.

•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.

•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.

DAY 1

Arrive at Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto.

You will be met outside Customs and transferred to your hotel to spend the afternoon and the evening at your leisure.

Check in time at your hotel starts at 3:00pm.

Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed.

Meals are on your own today

Overnight at the Lodge Hotel or similar

Meet and Greet and transfers

•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.

•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.

•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.

DAY 2

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel and check out

9:30am Depart for a tour of Oporto’s city center

10:30am Tour the city center, partially by cable car

11:00am Visit a port cellar for a wine tasting

12:00pm Proceed to RC Restaurant for lunch

1:30pm Continue touring Oporto and see landmarks such as the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, Santa Catarina Street, Clerigos Tower, São Bento Railway Station and S. Francisco Church.

3:00pm Depart for Quinta da Pacheca, where you will stay overnight in a wine barrel

8:00pm Dinner at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 3 – If olives are ready for harvest:

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel

10:30am Welcome with traditional corn bread and cured olives

11:00am Walk through the olive grove and participation in the harvest

12:30pm Tasting of new Quinta da Pacheca olive oils

1:30pm 4-course lunch with wine pairing

Remainder of the day at leisure

8:00pm Dinner at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 3 - Alternate program in case the olives are not ready to be harvested

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel

9:00am Depart for a scenic tour of the Douro Valley

12:00pm Tour the Quinta da Aveleda winery

1:30pm Lunch and wine Tasting at Quinta da Aveleda

3:00pm Browse the botanical gardens at Quinta da Aveleda

5:00pm Return to the hotel

8:00pm Dinner at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 4

7:30am Breakfast at the hotel and check out

8:30am Depart for Lisbon

10:00am Stop in Coimbra for a snack and restrooms

10:40am Proceed to Lisbon

12:30pm Scenic drive through Lisbon’s city center

1:15pm Approximate arrival time at the pier for embarkation

Expected Weather

In June, the average temperature in Oporto is a lovely 18°C (64°F), but it's known to go well over that, particularly in the third and fourth week towards July.

In October, temperatures can drop down to approximately 20 Celsius (68 F).

What to Bring

Comfortable shoes (closed toe for olive harvesting) and a jacket or sweater for cooler temperatures. Casual smart dress for dinners. An umbrella in case of rain, bathing suit, camera, hat, sunscreen.

Local Currency

The Euro

Electricity

220 volts. Bring a travel adaptor for electric devices.

Documents and Visa Requirements

A valid passport is required.

Hotels

The Lodge Hotel

Rua de Serpa Pinto, 60, 4400-037 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Phone: +351 22 015 7540

Quinta da Pacheca

Rua do Relógio do Sol 261 Cambres, 5100-424 Lamego Douro Valley - Portugal

Phone: +351 254 331 229

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.

Program Includes for guests:

•Transfer from the airport to the hotel

•1 night at The Lodge Hotel or similar – Deluxe room

•2 nights at Quinta da Pacheca hotel – Wine Barrel room

•Lunch on Day 2 and Day 3

•Dinner on Day 2 and Day 3

•Wine tastings per the itinerary

•Olive oil harvesting if the olives are ready to be picked (alternate wine tasting excursion if not)

•Tours and entrances per itinerary

•Whisper audio system for the duration of the tour

•English-speaking guide throughout

•Complimentary bottled water on the coach

•Hotel porterage

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided.

Program Excludes for guests:

•Personal expenses

•Gratuities for drivers and tour guides

•Any meals not mentioned in the program

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns should check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.

All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.

Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space will be released.

Discover Oporto’s celebrated Old Quarter, delve into the wine-producing Douro Valley and browse Portugal’s oldest university – all of which UNESCO designated as World Heritage sites.

NOTE: This program begins in Oporto, Portugal; therefore, arriving flights must be booked into the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto. The program ends in Lisbon where guests will embark the ship.

DAY 1

After flying into Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto, you will proceed through Customs and claim your luggage. You will then be met and transferred to your hotel.

Check-in is 3:00pm. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available earlier, this cannot be guaranteed. If you are arriving early, you may wish to book an extra night to guarantee immediate check-in.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with lunch and dinner on your own.

DAY 2

After breakfast, set out with your guide to explore the Cais da Ribeira, the quayside of the fascinating Ribeira district.

The tour will continue in Oporto’s historic center along the hills above the mouth of the Douro River. UNESCO has deemed the old quarter worthy of a World Heritage site designation for being an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year-old history.

There, you will see one landmark after another such as the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, the São Bento Railway Station and the soaring bell tower that rises above the Clerigos Church. The Church of São Francisco is considered the finest example of Gothic architecture in Oporto.

Return to your hotel where the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. Lunch is on your own.

Later, savor dinner at one of the city’s famous port lodges.

DAY 3

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out and drive a small city in the Douro Valley where you will meet a local viscountess to learn about the history of her family and their estate. Enjoy a welcome drink as you get to know the Countess. Enter the old kitchens, where you learn to cook a five-course meal using the original wood-burning stoves.

Indulge in the hearty lunch that you helped prepare, and later journey to Douro Valley where you will stay for the next two nights. Dinner is on your own.

The Vintage House Hotel is a magnificent hotel, which used to house a former 19th Century winery, lies within an idyllic and tranquil riverside setting, surrounded by hills and mountains covered with vines.

DAY 4

Enjoy breakfast before setting out for a drive along the beautiful Douro Valley, a place of lush, rolling hills terraced by rows of grapevines that produces some of Portugal’s finest port wine.

This is an area that has been producing wine for at least 2,000 years. Fortified port wine has been a staple since the 18th century, which together with the long tradition of viticulture prompted UNESCO to declare the valley a World Heritage site.

Take to the water as the locals have for centuries on a traditional rabelo boat. Embark on a scenic cruise down the Douro Valley, admiring its vineyards and whitewashed estates.

Cap off your cruise with a winery visit, picnic lunch, tour and tasting.

Then, return to the hotel for an evening at leisure. Dinner is on your own.

DAY 5

Depart this morning and join a local expert for a tour that introduces you to the University of Coimbra, the oldest in Portugal, and its Johannine Library. Built between 1717 and 1728, this library contains over 50,000 volumes and was constructed on the ruins of a medieval prison. Consisting of several colleges, UNESCO declared this a World Heritage site for the centuries of interdependence between the city of Coimbra and the university.

Enjoy some time at leisure for lunch on your own or to explore before you continue to your hotel.

For centuries, Quinta des Lagrimas was a private sanctuary that welcomed Kings and Emperors. Today it’s a member of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” and where romantics can discover the medieval love legend of Prince Pedro and the fair Inês de Castro.

Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.

DAY 6

After breakfast and checking out depart for Alcobaça Monastery, located in the town of Alcobaça. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded by Portugal’s first king in 1153 and became one of the most important monasteries in the country.

Next, savor a seafood lunch and later, arrive in Lisbon where the program ends and you will board your ship.

Land Program Details Step by Step

•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.

•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.

Extra Nights

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program

•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.

•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.

•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.

DAY 1

Arrive at Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto

You will be met outside Customs and transferred to your hotel

The afternoon and the evening at your leisure

Check-in at your hotel starts at 3:00pm

Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed

Overnight at The Lodge Hotel or similar

Meet and Greet and transfers

•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.

•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.

•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.

DAY 2

8:00am Breakfast at your hotel

9:00am Guided exploration of the Cais da Ribeira, the quayside including Oporto’s historic center

1:00pm Return to your hotel where the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Lunch is on your own

7:00pm Transfer to a famous port lodge for dinner

10:00pm Return drive to your hotel

Overnight at The Lodge Hotel or similar

DAY 3

8:00am Breakfast at your hotel

9:00am Following breakfast and check out, drive to the Douro Valley for an estate tour and cooking class along with lunch

3:30pm Drive to your hotel and check-in

4:30pm Approximate arrival at your hotel

Dinner is on your own

Overnight at The Vintage House Hotel or similar

DAY 4

8:00am Breakfast at your hotel

9:00am Depart for a drive through the Douro Valley

10:30am Scenic cruise

12:30pm Winery visit with tasting, tour and picnic lunch

4:30pm Return to your hotel, dinner on own

Overnight at The Vintage House Hotel or similar

DAY 5

8:00am Breakfast at your hotel and check out

9:00am Depart for Coimbra

11:15am Join a local expert for a tour to the University of Coimbra

1:00pm Time at leisure to explore and enjoy lunch on your own

4:00pm Return drive to your hotel

4:15pm Approximate arrival at your hotel for check-in

Dinner is included at your hotel

Overnight at Quinta des Lagrimas or similar hotel

DAY 6

8:00am Breakfast at your hotel

9:00am After breakfast and checking out depart for Alcobaça Monastery

10:30am Visit the Monastery

12:00pm Transfer to a local restaurant for a seafood lunch

1:30pm Depart for the port of Lisbon

3:00pm Approximate arrival at the port to embark the ship

Expected Weather

In Oporto, the summers are comfortable, dry, and mostly clear and the winters are cold, wet, and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 43°F to 76°F and is rarely below 34°F or above 87°F.

What to Bring

Comfortable shoes and a jacket or sweater for cooler temperatures. Casual smart dress for dinners. An umbrella in case of rain.

Local Currency

The Euro

Electricity

220 volts. We recommend bringing a travel adaptor for electric devices.

Documents and Visa Requirements

A valid passport is required.

Hotels

The Lodge Hotel

R. de Serpa Pinto 60, 4400-307 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Phone: +351 22 015 7540

The Vintage House Hotel

Rua António Manuel Saraiva, 5085-034, Pinhão, Douro, Portugal

Phone: (+351) 254 730 230

Quinta des Lagrimas

Rua António Augusto Gonçalves, 3041-901 Coimbra, Portugal

Phone: +351 239 802 380

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.

Program Includes for guests:

•Transfer from the airport to the hotel

•2 nights at The Lodge Hotel or similar - Deluxe room

•2 nights at the Vintage House Hotel or similar – Standard room

•1 night at Quinta des Lagrimas or similar – Palace room (In September 2025, the group will stay in Spa Rooms)

•Lunches as indicated in the itinerary 2-course menu – main course + dessert, + 1 glass of wine per person soft drink, mineral water, tea/coffee

•Dinners as indicated in the itinerary, 3-course menu – starter + main course + dessert + ½ bottle of wine per person, soft drink, mineral water, tea/coffee

•Whispers audio

•Tours and entrances per the itinerary with English-speaking guide

•Hotel porterage

•Water on the tour coaches

•Gratuities for drivers and tour guides

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.

Program Excludes for guests:

•Personal expenses

•Any meals not mentioned in the program

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns should check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.

All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.

Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space will be released.

Oporto is an awarded city of Port Wine, and Douro River- considered one of the most attractive European destinations would enchant you with its open-air museums, narrow streets and sites classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. A highlight will be spending 2 nights in a giant wine barrel overlooking a beautiful vineyard.

NOTE: This program begins in Lisbon and ends in Oporto, Portugual; therefore, departing flights must be booked into the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto.

This program is limited to a maximum of 10 guests and is not recommended for guests who require use of a wheelchair.

DAY 1

Disembark the ship in Lisbon and meet your guide.

Begin the drive to Oporto but first enjoy a brief city tour of the city of Lisbon and then proceed up the coast approximately 2-hours to Coimbra where you will view from the outside the Santa Clara Monastery and the University of Coimbra, which consists of several colleges that together UNESCO declared a World Heritage site for the centuries of interdependence between the city of Coimbra and the university.

For a literal taste of Coimbra, you will sample its signature egg-custard filled pastry: Pastel de Tentugal.

Continue inland and into the Douro Valley wine region, a beautifully terraced landscape that produces some of Portugal’s finest port wine. Upon arriving at the Quinta da Pacheco winery hotel, you will check into one of the most unusual suites that you could ever imagine.

Your accommodations will be one of 10 giant wooden wine barrels overlooking the vineyards. Each wooden barrel is named after a wine grape and features a skylight and an oversized round glass door that opens onto a private terrace and bathes the interior with natural light. Considering their setting in a wine estate, the barrels couldn’t be more a fitting or entertaining place to stay.

This evening, dinner will be included at Quinta da Pacheca, one of the valley’s oldest and most esteemed wineries.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The wine barrel rooms are glamping-type units and include a sink, toilet, shower, rounded double bed, small desk and are 98-feet in size. They are outfitted with air-conditioning and wi-fi and there is even a skylight so you can gaze at the stars that look over the beautiful vineyard. Guests will be taken to their rooms by golf cart. There is a spa, pool, restaurant and gift shop on site. We encourage you to review them on-line prior to booking to ensure this is the right program for you – search Quinta da Pacheco wine barrel rooms for photos and videos. For the adventurous wine lovers who don’t mind unique settings without all the luxuries of a 5-star hotel, this is a fun program for you! The whole experience is quite authentic.

DAY 2

After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel deeper into the Douro Valley, an area that has been producing wine for at least 2,000 years. Fortified port wine has been a staple since the 18th century, which together with the long tradition of viticulture prompted UNESCO to declare the valley a World Heritage site.

Upon arriving at Quinta da Aveleda, you will begin with an overall tour of the winery that was founded more than 150 years ago. The fifth generation of the Guedes family now runs Quinta da Aveleda and its many vineyards throughout the Douro Valley.

A sumptuous lunch of traditional Portuguese cuisine follows. The dishes will be thoughtfully paired with wines produced with grapes from various vineyards. They may include a varietal made with Alvarinho grapes from two different terroirs, a varietal from Loureiro grapes that boasts aromas of passionfruit and citrus fruits, and a blend from the two grapes that is named for the winery’s founder Manoel Pedro Guedes. Quinta da Aveleda almost entirely produces white wines.

After lunch, you will meander through the botanical gardens that surround the lake and tea house. Some of the specimens, such as the Japanese cedars and American sequoias, were planted more than a century ago. If in bloom, the more than 100 species of camellias will add glorious splashes of color to the lush greenery.

In the late afternoon, you will return to the Quinta da Pacheca hotel for the evening.

Dinner is included at the hotel.

DAY 3

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will travel toward Oporto’s city center for an enlightening tour of its landmarks. For the ultimate view of the Douro River that runs through the city, you will ride a cable car above its banks. You will likely see plenty of rabelo boats, traditional vessels that were once used to transport port wine barrels from the Douro region to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Later, after driving to the Serra do Pilar lookout, you will enjoy a sweeping view of Oporto. Upon reaching upper Gaia town, you will stop at a wine cellar to learn about the production of port wine step by step. It is a fascinating process made even more relevant with a sampling of several port wines.

Lunch follows at the RC Restaurant. Founded in 1894, it is considered the most emblematic restaurant in the city. The setting couldn’t be more exquisite and the cuisine is both traditional and innovative. RC restaurant is located within Oporto’s historic old quarter, an area that UNESCO has deemed worthy of a World Heritage site designation for being an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year-old history.

After dining, you will continue touring the old quarter, where you will see one landmark after another, including the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, the São Bento Railway Station and the soaring bell tower that rises above the Clerigos Church. The Church of São Francisco is considered the finest example of Gothic architecture in Oporto.

Later, check in to your Oporto hotel where the remainder of the day is at your leisure and dinner is on your own.

DAY 4

Following breakfast and check out, you will be transferred to the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport according to the flight details provided. Should you have a late flight, luggage storage will be available at the hotel. Check out time is at 12:00pm.

Land Program Details Step by Step:

•Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. All program timings are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.

•Itineraries with the most up to date details (at the time) will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. Final itineraries with the most up to date details will be provided by the Destination Services Team once you board the ship. Please review your final itinerary carefully for any amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•A departure transfer is not included if guests leave before the last day of the program.

DAY 1

8:00am Disembark the ship in Lisbon, meet your guide

10:00am Arrive in Coimbra for a snack and restrooms

11:00am Depart Coimbra and continue to the Douro Valley

1:00pm Arrive at Quinta da Pacheca, where you will stay overnight in a wine barrel

Afternoon at leisure

TBA Dinner included at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 2

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel

9:00am Depart for a scenic tour of the Douro Valley

12:00pm Tour the Quinta da Aveleda winery

1:30pm Lunch and wine Tasting at Quinta da Aveleda

3:00pm Browse the botanical gardens at Quinta da Aveleda

5:00pm Return to the hotel

8:00pm Dinner included at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 3

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel and check out

9:00am Proceed to Oporto

10:30am Tour the city center, partially by cable car

11:00am Visit a port cellar for a wine tasting

12:00pm Proceed to RC Restaurant for lunch

1:30pm Continue touring Oporto and see landmarks such as the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, Santa Catarina Street, Clerigos Tower, São Bento Railway Station and S. Francisco Church.

3:00pm Transfer to your hotel to check in

3:30pm Afternoon at leisure

Dinner on own

Overnight at The Lodge Hotel

DAY 4

AM Breakfast at the hotel

12:00pm Check out time at the hotel

TBA Transfer to the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto based on the flight details provided. Guests with late flights can store luggage at the hotel until their transfer. Day rooms can only be booked on site directly with the hotel.

Extra Nights:

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the same hotel used on the LAST NIGHT of your program.

•When you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be transferred to the airport per the flight details provided. Check-out time is 12:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast are on your own after Day 4 of your program.

Transfers:

•All guests booking their flights independently are required to ensure the cruise line has their most up to date flight details so that transfers to the airport can be arranged. If flight details are not received 14 days before your cruise start date, transfers will not be arranged.

•Should you book any extra nights on your own or your flight is not on the last day of the program, transfers are not included.

•Should you have a late departing flight you may wish to book an extra night so that you have occupation of your room until your departure. You will be asked to vacate your room by 12:00pm. Day rooms can only be purchased directly through the hotel.

Expected Weather

In Oporto, the climate is temperate oceanic, with mild, rainy winters and pleasantly warm, sunny summers. In the months of October through May expect rainfall.

March – 12°C (54°F)

What to Bring

Comfortable shoes and a jacket or sweater for cooler temperatures. Casual smart dress for dinners. An umbrella in case of rain, bathing suit, camera, hat, sunscreen.

Local Currency

The Euro

Electricity

220 volts. Bring a travel adaptor for electric devices.

Documents and Visa Requirements

A valid passport is required.

Hotels

Quinta da Pacheca

Rua do Relógio do Sol 261 Cambres, 5100-424 Lamego Douro Valley - Portugal

Phone: +351 254 331 229

The Lodge Hotel

Rua de Serpa Pinto, 60, 4400-037 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Phone: +351 22 015 7540

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.

Program Includes for guests:

•Transfers

•2 nights at Quinta da Pacheca hotel – Wine Barrel stay

•1 night at The Lodge Hotel or similar – Deluxe room

•Tours and entrances per itinerary

•Wine tastings Day 2 and 3

•Lunches Day 2 and 3 - 2-course menu – main course + dessert, + 1 glass of wine per person soft drink, mineral water, tea/coffee

•Dinner Day 1 and 2 - 3-course menu – starter + main course + dessert + ½ bottle of wine per person, soft drink, mineral water, tea/coffee

•Whisper audio system for the duration of the tour

•English-speaking guide throughout

•Complimentary bottled water on the coach

•Hotel porterage

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated departure information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, a departure transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.

Program Excludes for guests:

•Personal expenses

•Gratuities for drivers and tour guides

•Any meals or beverages not mentioned in the program

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.

Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program.

Oporto is an awarded city of Port Wine, and Douro River- considered one of the most attractive European destinations would enchant you with its open-air museums, narrow streets and sites classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. A highlight will be spending 2 nights in a giant wine barrel overlooking a beautiful vineyard.

NOTE: This program begins in Oporto, Portugual; therefore, arriving flights must be booked into the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto. The program ends in Lisbon where guests will embark the ship.

This program is limited to a maximum of 10 guests and is not recommended for guests who require use of a wheelchair.

DAY 1

After flying into Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto, you will proceed through Customs and claim your luggage. You will then be met and transferred to your hotel.

Check-in is 3:00pm. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available earlier, this cannot be guaranteed. If you are arriving early, you may wish to book an extra night to guarantee immediate check-in.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure, and lunch and dinner will be on your own.

Note: Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space will be released.

DAY 2

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will travel toward Oporto’s city center for an enlightening tour of its landmarks. For the ultimate view of the Douro River that runs through the city, you will ride a cable car above its banks. You will likely see plenty of rabelo boats, traditional vessels that were once used to transport port wine barrels from the Douro region to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Later, after driving to the Serra do Pilar lookout, you will enjoy a sweeping view of Oporto. Upon reaching upper Gaia town, you will stop at a wine cellar to learn about the production of port wine step by step. It is a fascinating process made even more relevant with a sampling of several port wines.

Lunch follows at the RC Restaurant. Founded in 1894, it is considered the most emblematic restaurant in the city. The setting couldn’t be more exquisite and the cuisine is both traditional and innovative. RC restaurant is located within Oporto’s historic old quarter, an area that UNESCO has deemed worthy of a World Heritage site designation for being an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year-old history.

After dining, you will continue touring the old quarter, where you will see one landmark after another, including the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, the São Bento Railway Station and the soaring bell tower that rises above the Clerigos Church. The Church of São Francisco is considered the finest example of Gothic architecture in Oporto.

In time, you will proceed inland and upriver into the Douro Valley wine region, a beautifully terraced landscape that produces some of Portugal’s finest port wine. Upon arriving at the Quinta da Pacheco winery hotel, you will check into one of the most unusual suites that you could ever imagine.

Your accommodations will be one of 10 giant wooden wine barrels overlooking the vineyards. Each wooden barrel is named after a wine grape and features a skylight and an oversized round glass door that opens onto a private terrace and bathes the interior with natural light. Considering their setting in a wine estate, the barrels couldn’t be more a fitting or entertaining place to stay.

This evening, dinner is included at Quinta da Pacheca, one of the valley’s oldest and most esteemed wineries.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The wine barrel rooms are glamping-type units and include a sink, toilet, shower, rounded double bed, small desk and are 98-feet in size. They are outfitted with air-conditioning and wi-fi and there is even a skylight so you can gaze at the stars that look over the beautiful vineyard. Guests will be taken to their rooms by golf cart. There is a spa, pool, restaurant and gift shop on site. We encourage you to review them on-line prior to booking to ensure this is the right program for you – search Quinta da Pacheco wine barrel rooms for photos and videos. For the adventurous wine lovers who don’t mind unique settings without all the luxuries of a 5-star hotel, this is a fun program for you! The whole experience is quite authentic.

DAY 3

After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel deeper into the Douro Valley, an area that has been producing wine for at least 2,000 years. Fortified port wine has been a staple since the 18th century, which together with the long tradition of viticulture prompted UNESCO to declare the valley a World Heritage site.

Upon arriving at Quinta da Aveleda, you will begin with an overall tour of the winery that was founded more than 150 years ago. The fifth generation of the Guedes family now runs Quinta da Aveleda and its many vineyards throughout the Douro Valley.

A sumptuous lunch of traditional Portuguese cuisine follows. The dishes will be thoughtfully paired with wines produced with grapes from various vineyards. They may include a varietal made with Alvarinho grapes from two different terroirs, a varietal from Loureiro grapes that boasts aromas of passionfruit and citrus fruits, and a blend from the two grapes that is named for the winery’s founder Manoel Pedro Guedes. Quinta da Aveleda almost entirely produces white wines.

After lunch, you will meander through the botanical gardens that surround the lake and tea house. Some of the specimens, such as the Japanese cedars and American sequoias, were planted more than a century ago. If in bloom, the more than 100 species of camellias will add glorious splashes of color to the lush greenery.

In the late afternoon, you will return to the Quinta da Pacheca hotel for the evening.

Dinner is included at the hotel.

DAY 4

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will travel to Lisbon with a brief stop in Coimbra.

There, you will view from the outside the Santa Clara Monastery and the University of Coimbra, which consists of several colleges that together UNESCO declared a World Heritage site for the centuries of interdependence between the city of Coimbra and the university.

For a literal taste of Coimbra, you will sample its signature egg-custard filled pastry: Pastel de Tentugal.

Continuing on to Lisbon, you will enjoy a short panoramic driving tour of the capital city, if time permits. Upon arriving at the pier, you will embark the cruise ship.

Land Program Details Step by Step

•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.

•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.

Extra Nights

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program

•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.

•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.

•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.

DAY 1

Arrive at Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto.

You will be met outside Customs and transferred to your hotel to spend the afternoon and the evening at your leisure.

Check in time at your hotel starts at 3:00pm.

Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed.

Meals are on your own today

Overnight at the Lodge Hotel or similar

Meet and Greet and transfers

•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.

•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.

•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.

DAY 2

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel and check out

9:00am Depart for a tour of Oporto’s city center

10:30am Tour the city center, partially by cable car

11:00am Visit a port cellar for a wine tasting

12:00pm Proceed to RC Restaurant for lunch

1:30pm Continue touring Oporto and see landmarks such as the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, Santa Catarina Street, Clerigos Tower, São Bento Railway Station and S. Francisco Church.

3:00pm Depart for Quinta da Pacheca, where you will stay overnight in a wine barrel

8:00pm Dinner included at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 3

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel

9:00am Depart for a scenic tour of the Douro Valley

12:00pm Tour the Quinta da Aveleda winery

1:30pm Lunch and wine Tasting at Quinta da Aveleda

3:00pm Browse the botanical gardens at Quinta da Aveleda

5:00pm Return to the hotel

8:00pm Dinner included at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 4

7:30am Breakfast at the hotel and check out

8:00am Depart for Lisbon

10:00am Stop in Coimbra for a snack and restrooms

10:40am Proceed to Lisbon

12:30pm Scenic drive through Lisbon’s city center

1:15pm Approximate arrival time at the pier for embarkation

Expected Weather

In Oporto, the climate is temperate oceanic, with mild, rainy winters and pleasantly warm, sunny summers. In the months of October through May expect rainfall.

March – 12°C (54°F)

April - 13°C (56°F)

June - 18°C (64°F)

September - 18°C (64°F)

What to Bring

Comfortable shoes and a jacket or sweater for cooler temperatures. Casual smart dress for dinners. An umbrella in case of rain, bathing suit, camera, hat, sunscreen.

Local Currency

The Euro

Electricity

220 volts. Bring a travel adaptor for electric devices.

Documents and Visa Requirements

A valid passport is required.

Hotels

The Lodge Hotel

Rua de Serpa Pinto, 60, 4400-037 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Phone: +351 22 015 7540

Quinta da Pacheca

Rua do Relógio do Sol 261 Cambres, 5100-424 Lamego Douro Valley - Portugal

Phone: +351 254 331 229

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.

Program Includes for guests:

•Transfer from the airport to the hotel

•1 night at The Lodge Hotel or similar – Deluxe room

•2 nights at Quinta da Pacheca hotel – Wine Barrel stay

•Tours and entrances per itinerary

•Wine tasting Day 2 and 3

•Lunches Day 2 and 3 - 2-course menu – main course + dessert, + 1 glass of wine per person soft drink, mineral water, tea/coffee

•Dinner on Day 2 and 3 - 3-course menu – starter + main course + dessert + ½ bottle of wine per person, soft drink, mineral water, tea/coffee

•Whisper audio system for the duration of the tour

•English-speaking guide throughout

•Complimentary bottled water on the coach

•Hotel porterage

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided.

Program Excludes for guests:

•Personal expenses

•Gratuities for drivers and tour guides

•Any meals or beverages not mentioned in the program

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns should check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.

All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.

Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space will be rele

Oporto is an awarded city of Port Wine, and Douro River- considered one of the most attractive European destinations would enchant you with its open-air museums, narrow streets and sites classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. A highlight will be spending 2 nights in a giant wine barrel overlooking a beautiful vineyard.

NOTE: This program begins in Oporto, Portugal; therefore, arriving flights must be booked into the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto. The program ends in Lisbon where guests will embark the ship.

This program is limited to a maximum of 10 guests and is not recommended for guests who require use of a wheelchair.

DAY 1

After flying into Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto, you will proceed through Customs and claim your luggage. You will then be met and transferred to your hotel.

Check-in is 3:00pm. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available earlier, this cannot be guaranteed. If you are arriving early, you may wish to book an extra night to guarantee immediate check-in.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure, and lunch and dinner will be on your own.

DAY 2

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will travel toward Oporto’s city center for an enlightening tour of its landmarks. For the ultimate view of the Douro River that runs through the city, you will ride a cable car above its banks. You will likely see plenty of rabelo boats, traditional vessels that were once used to transport port wine barrels from the Douro region to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Later, after driving to the Serra do Pilar lookout, you will enjoy a sweeping view of Oporto. Upon reaching upper Gaia town, you will stop at a wine cellar to learn about the production of port wine step by step. It is a fascinating process made even more relevant with a sampling of several port wines.

Lunch follows at the RC Restaurant. Founded in 1894, it is considered the most emblematic restaurant in the city. The setting couldn’t be more exquisite and the cuisine is both traditional and innovative. RC restaurant is located within Oporto’s historic old quarter, an area that UNESCO has deemed worthy of a World Heritage site designation for being an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year-old history.

After dining, you will continue touring the old quarter, where you will see one landmark after another, including the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, the São Bento Railway Station and the soaring bell tower that rises above the Clerigos Church. The Church of São Francisco is considered the finest example of Gothic architecture in Oporto.

In time, you will proceed inland and upriver into the Douro Valley wine region, a beautifully terraced landscape that produces some of Portugal’s finest port wine. Upon arriving at the Quinta da Pacheco winery hotel, you will check into one of the most unusual suites that you could ever imagine.

Your accommodations will be one of 10 giant wooden wine barrels overlooking the vineyards. Each wooden barrel is named after a wine grape and features a skylight and an oversized round glass door that opens onto a private terrace and bathes the interior with natural light. Considering their setting in a wine estate, the barrels couldn’t be more a fitting or entertaining place to stay.

This evening, dinner is included at Quinta da Pacheca, one of the valley’s oldest and most esteemed wineries.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The wine barrel rooms are glamping-type units and include a sink, toilet, shower, rounded double bed, small desk and are 98-feet in size. They are outfitted with air-conditioning and wi-fi and there is even a skylight so you can gaze at the stars that look over the beautiful vineyard. Guests will be taken to their rooms by golf cart. There is a spa, pool, restaurant and gift shop on site. We encourage you to review them on-line prior to booking to ensure this is the right program for you – search Quinta da Pacheco wine barrel rooms for photos and videos. For the adventurous wine lovers who don’t mind unique settings without all the luxuries of a 5-star hotel, this is a fun program for you! The whole experience is quite authentic.

DAY 3

After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel deeper into the Douro Valley, an area that has been producing wine for at least 2,000 years. Fortified port wine has been a staple since the 18th century, which together with the long tradition of viticulture prompted UNESCO to declare the valley a World Heritage site.

Upon arriving at Quinta da Aveleda, you will begin with an overall tour of the winery that was founded more than 150 years ago. The fifth generation of the Guedes family now runs Quinta da Aveleda and its many vineyards throughout the Douro Valley.

A sumptuous lunch of traditional Portuguese cuisine follows. The dishes will be thoughtfully paired with wines produced with grapes from various vineyards. They may include a varietal made with Alvarinho grapes from two different terroirs, a varietal from Loureiro grapes that boasts aromas of passionfruit and citrus fruits, and a blend from the two grapes that is named for the winery’s founder Manoel Pedro Guedes. Quinta da Aveleda almost entirely produces white wines.

After lunch, you will meander through the botanical gardens that surround the lake and tea house. Some of the specimens, such as the Japanese cedars and American sequoias, were planted more than a century ago. If in bloom, the more than 100 species of camellias will add glorious splashes of color to the lush greenery.

In the late afternoon, you will return to the Quinta da Pacheca hotel for the evening.

Dinner is included at the hotel.

DAY 4

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will travel to Lisbon with a brief stop in Coimbra.

There, you will view from the outside the Santa Clara Monastery and the University of Coimbra, which consists of several colleges that together UNESCO declared a World Heritage site for the centuries of interdependence between the city of Coimbra and the university.

For a literal taste of Coimbra, you will sample its signature egg-custard filled pastry: Pastel de Tentugal.

Continuing on to Lisbon, you will enjoy a short panoramic driving tour of the capital city, if time permits. Upon arriving at the pier, you will embark the cruise ship.

Land Program Details Step by Step

•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.

•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.

Extra Nights

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program

•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.

•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.

•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.

DAY 1

Arrive at Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto.

You will be met outside Customs and transferred to your hotel to spend the afternoon and the evening at your leisure.

Check in time at your hotel starts at 3:00pm.

Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed.

Meals are on your own today

Overnight at the Lodge Hotel or similar

Meet and Greet and transfers

•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.

•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.

•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.

DAY 2

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel and check out

9:30am Depart for a tour of Oporto’s city center

10:30am Tour the city center, partially by cable car

11:00am Visit a port cellar for a wine tasting

12:00pm Proceed to RC Restaurant for lunch

1:30pm Continue touring Oporto and see landmarks such as the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, Santa Catarina Street, Clerigos Tower, São Bento Railway Station and S. Francisco Church.

3:00pm Depart for Quinta da Pacheca, where you will stay overnight in a wine barrel

8:00pm Dinner at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 3

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel

9:00am Depart for a scenic tour of the Douro Valley

12:00pm Tour the Quinta da Aveleda winery

1:30pm Lunch and wine Tasting at Quinta da Aveleda

3:00pm Browse the botanical gardens at Quinta da Aveleda

5:00pm Return to the hotel

8:00pm Dinner at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 4

7:30am Breakfast at the hotel and check out

8:30am Depart for Lisbon

10:00am Stop in Coimbra for a snack and restrooms

10:40am Proceed to Lisbon

12:30pm Scenic drive through Lisbon’s city center

1:15pm Approximate arrival time at the pier for embarkation

Expected Weather

In June, the average temperature in Oporto is a lovely 18°C (64°F), but it's known to go well over that, particularly in the third and fourth week towards July.

In October, temperatures can drop down to approximately 20 Celsius (68 F).

What to Bring

Comfortable shoes and a jacket or sweater for cooler temperatures. Casual smart dress for dinners. An umbrella in case of rain, bathing suit, camera, hat, sunscreen.

Local Currency

The Euro

Electricity

220 volts. Bring a travel adaptor for electric devices.

Documents and Visa Requirements

A valid passport is required.

Hotels

The Lodge Hotel

Rua de Serpa Pinto, 60, 4400-037 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Phone: +351 22 015 7540

Quinta da Pacheca

Rua do Relógio do Sol 261 Cambres, 5100-424 Lamego Douro Valley - Portugal

Phone: +351 254 331 229

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.

Program Includes for guests:

•Transfer from the airport to the hotel

•1 night at The Lodge Hotel or similar – Deluxe room

•2 nights at Quinta da Pacheca hotel – Wine Barrel stay

•Lunch and wine tasting on Day 2 and Day 3

•Dinner on Day 2 and Day 3

•Tours and entrances per itinerary

•Whisper audio system for the duration of the tour

•English-speaking guide throughout

•Complimentary bottled water on the coach

•Hotel porterage

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided.

Program Excludes for guests:

•Personal expenses

•Gratuities for drivers and tour guides

•Any meals not mentioned in the program

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns should check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.

All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.

Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space will be released.