9 Day Portugal With Premium Douro River Cruise
This tour features a combination of escorted and independent travel. Part of your journey will be enjoyed as a group experience, led by expert tour leaders or local guides. The remainder is self-guided—whether by rail, cruise, or overland—allowing you the freedom to travel between destinations independently and explore at your own pace.
This tour is categorised as 1 out of 5
Explore at your own pace: Discover your destination at your own pace with our self-guided itinerary. Options include driving, rail, or cruising (excluding expeditions). Enjoy included guided day trips for sightseeing as outlined in your itinerary.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
River cruises are a relaxed, informal way to travel - there are fewer passengers on board compared to an ocean cruise, which means ample opportunity to make lifelong friends. You will pass through the world's most loved cities and towns; disembark and enjoy a shore excursion or two, or simply wander around and explore on your own.
✓ Incredible Sightseeing! Discover the Douro Valley's most inspiring destinations including Régua, Pocinho, Pinhao and stunning Salamanca
✓ 7 nights on board an Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, including port taxes and charges, tipping and gratuities
✓ 1 night centrally located 4-star accommodation in Porto
✓ 21 superb meals including 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners, including rural dinner at Quinta da Pacheca
✓ Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board your Star-Ship
✓ Numerous excursions, EmeraldPLUS and EmeraldACTIVE experiences as per the itinerary
✓ Portuguese cooking demonstration and Port wine cocktail lesson on board
✓ The services of an Emerald Cruises cruise director
✓ Transfer from your Star-Ship to Porto International Airport
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Porto, a vibrant city on Portugal's northwest coast, captivating visitors with its unique blend of old-world charm and modern energy.
Make your own way to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.
Check out after breakfast and make your way to the cruise terminal to board your Star-Ship before exploring this vibrant Portuguese city at your own pace today!
With its colourful buildings lining the Douro River, the picturesque Ribeira District invites leisurely strolls along cobbled streets, while iconic landmarks like the Dom Luís I Bridge and Livraria Lello leave lasting impressions on every traveller. Explore the bustling Bolhão Market and the spellbinding Lello Bookstore, a haven for book lovers and admirers of fine architecture. A day in Porto is an adventure of discovery, blending rich history, delicious cuisine, and unparalleled beauty into an unforgettable experience.
Join fellow guests for dinner on board later this evening.
Relax on board today and enjoy a full day of sailing through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Douro Valley. This fascinating area is celebrated because it builds on two millennia of wine producing history, where viticulture has shaped the surrounding landscape and small, sleepy villages are peppered with dozens of sun-drenched vineyards.
Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner and cocktail reception.
Begin your day with a visit to the beautiful Quinta do Tedo vineyard in the heart of Portugal’s Douro Valley, nestled on the confluence of the Douro and Tedo rivers. This 18th-century estate is environmentally sound, creating organic produce by using traditional viticulture methods.
Alternatively, enjoy a guided walk through local vineyards, stopping along the way to admire your surroundings. Or, embark on a kayak excursion along the river, taking in the impressive views from the heart of the Douro Valley.
This afternoon, enjoy sailing to Vega de Terrón, perhaps relaxing on the Sun Deck.
Founded in Roman times, the ancient city of Salamanca and its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Quarter have an illustrious past, having been held by the Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors.
Travel to the beautiful ‘Golden City’ for a walking tour, which includes exploring the postcard-worthy galleries and arcades that adorn Plaza Mayor. You’ll also have the opportunity to see Casa de las Conchas, a building that has been lovingly decorated with more than 300 shells, and Salamanca’s university, one of the oldest universities in Europe that dates back to 1218.
This morning, you’ll arrive in Pocinho where you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Côa Valley Museum. Later, return to your Star-Ship for lunch and soak up your idyllic surrounds, enjoying a Port wine cocktail lesson on board as you sail towards Régua. This evening, a rural dinner at a wine estate is certain to be one of the highlights of your trip.
On today’s included excursion, you’ll visit the marvellous Baroque village of Lamego, stopping to see the picturesque Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies, a structure that stands gracefully over the town. If you’re feeling active, enjoy an invigorating walk down the 686 steps from the Sanctuary to the main square.
Located at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto is a fascinating and eclectic mix of modern and ancient architecture. Famous for its export of Port wines, it’s easy to imagine how British merchant ships would have once clustered together in the medieval harbour, waiting to take their produce across the water.
Your included tour of the coastal city will touch on the fortified structures of Castelo da Foz and Castelo do Queijo, a building whose pentagonal façades overlook the ocean. For those who wish to see the charms of Porto on foot, our active walk through the town will bring you closer to the vibrant daily life of the locals.
After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell to your Star-Ship and fellow guests, taking memories of sun-drenched vineyards with you. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your onward flight.
This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above.
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
This package is sold as land only, however you do have the option of adding domestic & international airfares to your booking. Simply click on’ book now’, and under upgrades , you will be asked “Would you like us to contact you around our flight service?”. By selecting this option Inspiring Vacations will contact you to discuss adding flights to your chosen destination. We can then assist with turning your booking into a flight inclusive package.
Upon completing the purchase of your package and fulfilling the following booking requirements, you will be granted access to our flight portal via your Traveller Hub.
Once these criteria have been met, access will be made available to you via Traveller Hub to book your flights via our flight portal.
The following requests are able to be processed through the online flight portal:
The online flight portal is unable to process the following requests and you must book these yourself independently:
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorized as a ”2”
Leisurely Paced Tour: This itinerary will be conducted at a relaxed pace. You will typically spend several nights at one location which means less time spent packing and unpacking, and more sightseeing. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and handling your own luggage.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is from $4,280.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Single supplements are seasonal. If booking for travel dates March - June 2024 & September - November 2024, the exact amount will be confirmed upon confirmation.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.
Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveler's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visas may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Children
Children must be 16 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
Why Emerald Cruises?
Sail the world with Emerald Cruises. Interweaving exploration, innovation, and wellness, you'll immerse yourself in enriching onshore experiences whilst life on board the river cruising Star-Ships promises ultimate relaxation.
As small ship experts, Emerald Cruises champion the intimate and spacious lifestyle that takes you to the heart of the globe's premiere travel destinations. With an excellent staff-to-guest ratio, you'll relish world-class cuisine, blissful spa treatments (available at an extra cost), and once-in-a-lifetime excursions, all underpinned by superior service and exceptional people.
The suite of generous inclusions cares for all necessities and comforts, including airport transfers, all gratuities on board and onshore, all on board meals, and illuminating handpicked excursions.
Cabin Types
Emerald Stateroom
The Emerald Stateroom marries excellent comfort and refinement with practical storage solutions, maximising your living space for a comfortable and restorative break. With picture window or port hole river view window, en-suite bathroom, mini-bar and climate control, you have everything you need for a wonderful getaway. Between 153ft2 – 170ft2.
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite
Replacing the traditional French balcony, our innovative all-weather balcony system allows the floor-to-ceiling window to drop down electronically, making the most of the ever-changing scenery. Comfortable and stylish, our Panorama Balcony Suites provide an elegant retreat. Between 160ft2 – 180ft2.
Cabin Inclusions & Upgrades
Emerald Stateroom (Cat F) - Included
Emerald Stateroom (Cat E) - From $101 per person, twin share. Single price on application.
Emerald Stateroom (Cat D) - From $181 per person, twin share. Single price on application.
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite (Cat C) - From $790 per person, twin share. Single price on application.
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite (Cat B) - From $906 per person, twin share. Single price on application.
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite (Cat R) - From $1,066 per person, twin share. Single price on application.
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite (Cat A) - From $1,116 per person, twin share. Single price on application.
Emerald Panorama Balcony Suite (Cat P) - From $1,196 per person, twin share. Single price on application.
Please note your upgrade request in the 'Special Request' field whilst making your booking. Once your upgrade has been confirmed, the additional amount will be added to your invoice and payable with your final payment.
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