| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 24th24 | AprApr | 202525 | Porto, Portugal, embark on the MS Douro Elegance | | |
Lively, commercial Oporto is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon. Also called Porto for short, the word easily brings to mind the city's most famous product - port wine. Oporto's strategic location on the north bank of the Douro River has accounted for the town's importance since ancient times. The Romans built a fort here where their trading route crossed the Douro, and the Moors brought their own culture to the area. Oporto profited from provisioning crusaders en route to the Holy Land and enjoyed the riches from Portuguese maritime discoveries during the 15th and 16th centuries. Later, port wine trade with Britain compensated for the loss of the spice trade and the end of gold and gem shipments from Brazil. In the 19th century, the city went through a period of new prosperity with the rise of industries. In its wake followed the building of workers' quarters and opulent residences. Since the declaration of Oporto as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the city aims to build up a cultural reference that will provide it with a new image, based on deep historical roots. Among the attractions that make Oporto such an interesting place are its graceful bridges spanning the Douro River, a picturesque riverfront quarter and, most notable, its world-famous port wine lodges. Although Oporto is a bustling centre and home to many different businesses, the source of its greatest fame is the rich, sweet fortified red wine we know as port. Arrival in Porto - Arrive in Porto and transfer to our luxurious ship. From the moment you board, the welcoming crew will be at your service. In no time you’ll be settled into your luxurious, thoughtfully furnished accommodation and familiarising yourself with all the first-class aspects of this floating boutique hotel. |
| 25th25 | AprApr | 202525 | Régua, Portugal | | |
| Pinhao - One of the benefits of life aboard a river cruise is the sheer sense of relaxation it brings; our elegant ship slips its moorings during breakfast and we enjoy most of the day sailing. There is plenty of time for a spot of pampering in the on-board spa, or simply watch the seamless changing of the riverbank scenery passing by from the comfort of a cosy seat in the lounge. We’re in port wine territory, where the lush hillsides have largely given way to a patterned landscape of terraced vineyards. Inland from the Atlantic, the climate has changed, too; it’s noticeably warmer and drier, while the area has a Mediterranean appearance with orangey, earthy colours replacing verdant greens. Later we arrive back in the pretty little town of Pinhao. This afternoon we enjoy a visit to a local historic quinta to learn all about the stages of wine production, from the planting of the vines, harvesting, the wine-making process and finally tasting and labelling. No visit would be complete without sampling some of their excellent produce of course, so we enjoy a tasting before returning to the ship. We are moored overnight in Pinhao. |
| 26th26 | AprApr | 202525 | Cruising | | |
| 27th27 | AprApr | 202525 | Salamanca, Spain | | |
| Salamanca & Battlefields - We'll visit historic Salamanca, one of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites on this journey, regarded by many Spaniards as their nation’s most beautiful city. Founded by the Romans, who erected its 389-yard-long bridge, Salamanca is mostly built from local sandstone that emanates a gorgeous rose-coloured glow in the sunlight. Perched on a hill on a bend in the serene River Tormes, the city is a picture of tranquillity, but its history is turbulent, having been successively fought over by Hannibal, the Moors, then the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon. Founded in 1218, Salamanca's university is the oldest in Spain and was one of the civilised world’s most important seats of study for over 400 years. The Spanish Inquisition’s records are still kept here, and as early as the 16th century it boasted some 12,000 students. Seeing its immaculately preserved lecture halls with their vaulted ceilings, it’s easy to conjure an image of Christopher Columbus addressing the learned men of the day or legal experts constructing the international laws that originate here. In Salamanca, you’ll have some time to explore as you wish. You may choose to linger, admiring the ornate interiors of its cathedrals – the more recent structure dates from the 16th century – or explore its tiny streets, medieval squares, traditional shops, gardens and marketplaces. Or, if you're looking for a taste of Salamanca's history, you could head to the former Colegio de San Ambrosio to the archives of the Spanish Civil War or the Palacio Episcopal - the former headquarters of General Franco during the Spanish Civil War (whose connections to Hitler led to the removal of his medallion from the Plaza Mayor). Our guides will be on hand to show you the highlights. Over lunch, we'll enjoy a traditional flamenco show. Then we'll venture outside the city to visit the Battlefields of Salamanca. With a guide bringing the history of the battle to life, you'll explore the sights and learn more about the military strategy that defined Wellington's reputation as a defensive general and shattered French dominance on the Iberian Peninsula. This evening, after dinner, head up onto the sun deck to listen to the unmistakable sound of crickets and breathe in the scents from the surrounding valley slopes that pervade the warm evening air. |
| 28th28 | AprApr | 202525 | Cruising | | |
| 29th29 | AprApr | 202525 | Lamego, Portugal | | |
| Lamego - After breakfast, we'll take a short drive to historic Lamego, home of Portugal’s sparkling wine, Raposeira, and one of the first places to be reclaimed from the Moors in the 12th century. It's known for its church, the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, which is situated at the top of a beautifully tiled baroque staircase. If you’re up for a challenge, it’s worth climbing the 686 steps to the top of the staircase for stunning views of the city - don't worry, you can stop to admire the fountains, mosaics and hedges along the way. By the time we return to our ship, our chef and his team will be adding the finishing touches to another delicious lunch, ready to be served as we depart for our next destination. After lunch, you can join an expert for a talk on board on the region’s history that brings untold stories to life. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon cruising down the Douro before this evening’s Chef’s Dinner, a truly memorable experience featuring exquisite regional specialities, followed by a colourful performance of traditional Portuguese folk music. |
| 30th30 | AprApr | 202525 | Porto, Portugal | | |
Lively, commercial Oporto is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon. Also called Porto for short, the word easily brings to mind the city's most famous product - port wine. Oporto's strategic location on the north bank of the Douro River has accounted for the town's importance since ancient times. The Romans built a fort here where their trading route crossed the Douro, and the Moors brought their own culture to the area. Oporto profited from provisioning crusaders en route to the Holy Land and enjoyed the riches from Portuguese maritime discoveries during the 15th and 16th centuries. Later, port wine trade with Britain compensated for the loss of the spice trade and the end of gold and gem shipments from Brazil. In the 19th century, the city went through a period of new prosperity with the rise of industries. In its wake followed the building of workers' quarters and opulent residences. Since the declaration of Oporto as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the city aims to build up a cultural reference that will provide it with a new image, based on deep historical roots. Among the attractions that make Oporto such an interesting place are its graceful bridges spanning the Douro River, a picturesque riverfront quarter and, most notable, its world-famous port wine lodges. Although Oporto is a bustling centre and home to many different businesses, the source of its greatest fame is the rich, sweet fortified red wine we know as port. Porto - As we continue the last leg of our journey, delve into the detail of the ‘Crossing of the Douro’ this morning with another fascinating lecture – this will help you truly appreciate the historic sites of Porto that we’ll visit later today. There’s also time to take advantage of the ship's five-star facilities this morning as we cruise towards our final destination. You could work up a sweat in the fitness room, head up to the sun deck to enjoy a coffee whilst chatting with newly made friends or relax and enjoy the scenery as we return to Porto once more, passing under the city’s spectacular bridges. On our tour of the second largest city in Portugal, we'll pass some of the key historic sites, including the circular dome of the Monastery of Serra do Pilar – which can be seen from the Douro. While it was built as a monastery, it has been utilised for military use, including during the Siege of Oporto, where it was transformed into an improvised fort and, at the beginning of the 20th century, it was used as military barracks. We'll also see the site where Soult blew up the Bridge of Bridges - a bridge made up of 20 boats anchored side by side that provided a crossing over the Douro - having destroyed (almost) every other boat on the south bank. We’ll visit the site of the legendary Crossing of the Douro where a brigade of Anglo-Portuguese forces were ferried across to the Seminary in broad daylight, undetected by the French forces for at least an hour. And see the locations of the fierce fighting at the Seminary. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to explore this truly fascinating city; so perhaps return to the terraced streets of the old town and wander the sloping maze of cobbled alleyways, soaking up the atmosphere whilst stopping to admire the architecture, bell towers, baroque churches, golden rooftops and beautiful tiles of this slice of traditional Portugal. Or you could stop for a drink in a cosy café and be tempted by an array of delicious cakes and pastries. (Top tip: treat yourself to a pastel de nata - the traditional Portuguese custard tart - they're delicious.) This evening, enjoy a final dinner on board expertly served by our restaurant staff under the supervision of the maître d’. Afterwards, perhaps settle into the lounge to chat into the evening and reflect on the splendours of the remarkable Douro River – over a glass of port, of course. |
| 1st01 | MayMay | 202525 | Porto, Portugal, disembark the MS Douro Elegance | | |
Lively, commercial Oporto is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon. Also called Porto for short, the word easily brings to mind the city's most famous product - port wine. Oporto's strategic location on the north bank of the Douro River has accounted for the town's importance since ancient times. The Romans built a fort here where their trading route crossed the Douro, and the Moors brought their own culture to the area. Oporto profited from provisioning crusaders en route to the Holy Land and enjoyed the riches from Portuguese maritime discoveries during the 15th and 16th centuries. Later, port wine trade with Britain compensated for the loss of the spice trade and the end of gold and gem shipments from Brazil. In the 19th century, the city went through a period of new prosperity with the rise of industries. In its wake followed the building of workers' quarters and opulent residences. Since the declaration of Oporto as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the city aims to build up a cultural reference that will provide it with a new image, based on deep historical roots. Among the attractions that make Oporto such an interesting place are its graceful bridges spanning the Douro River, a picturesque riverfront quarter and, most notable, its world-famous port wine lodges. Although Oporto is a bustling centre and home to many different businesses, the source of its greatest fame is the rich, sweet fortified red wine we know as port. Return home |
