This tour is conducted at a medium-fast pace. Some long travel days may be required to complete this itinerary and you will typically spend two nights at each destination, with some one night stays required. This trip includes a mix of sightseeing and free time to explore at your own pace. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and some activities will be conducted on uneven or steep terrain. You will be required to handle your own luggage.
A portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is self-guided, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.
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.
✓ Travel with Travelmarvel
✓ 3 nights in Lisbon
✓ 2 nights in Barcelona, Madrid, Marbella and Seville
✓ 1 night in Cordoba and Granada
✓ 7 nights on a premium river ship, the MS Douro Serenity
✓ Services of a Travelmarvel Tour Director, Cruise Director and expert local guides
✓ 38 meals - 20 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 12 dinners
✓ Onboard water stations, plus tea and coffee, soft drink, beer
✓ Local wine during lunch and dinner on your cruise
✓ Explore 22 towns, villages and cities
✓ Enjoy a Flamenco show and lunch and be entranced by captivating Flamenco dancers
✓ In Pinhao, enjoy a sumptuous dinner of traditional dishes
✓ Dessert at a picturesque local quinta
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.
On arrival at the airport in Barcelona, be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner tonight.
Explore Barcelona’s famous landmarks on a city tour today. Drive to the famous hill of Montjuic, stop at the Catalunya National Art Museum and continue down to Placa d’Espanya on your way to the iconic Sagrada Familia. On foot, your guide will take you through the Old Town and show you the wonders of this beautiful city.
Today, travel by train to Madrid, Spain’s lively capital. On arrival, enjoy free time to explore before sitting down to a tasty tapas dinner at a local restaurant.
On a guided tour this morning, visit Palacio Real, residence of the Spanish Royal Family, then see a selection of Madrid’s best-loved attractions. With the rest of your day at leisure, perhaps wander the lawns of Parque del Retiro or browse the Prado Museum.
Today, travel to Toledo for a guided tour. Explore the Old Town’s winding cobbled streets and its majestic 13th-century cathedral before continuing to Cordoba.
Enjoy a guided tour of Cordoba, during which you’ll admire the Mezquita of Cordoba, a medieval mosque converted to a cathedral. Continue to Granada, where you’ll pay a visit to the magnificent Alhambra Palace.
Insider Experience: Tonight you’ll experience a revival of grand Spanish hospitality at Hotel Alhambra Palace.
Take a guided tour of Granada. Then enjoy a picturesque drive to Marbella, stopping along the way for your authentic Insider Experience.
Insider Experience: Stop to savour a lovingly home-cooked meal with a local Spanish family, surrounded by olive groves and charming villages.
Today, journey to the British overseas territory of Gibraltar for a guided tour. Here, you’ll marvel at the famous Rock of Gibraltar and discover its fascinating history.
This morning after breakfast, travel to Ronda and see the Puente Nuevo and the Plaza de Toros. Then, continue to Seville.
Today, experience the beauty of Seville with a local guide. This city is filled with gorgeous sites, from palaces to churches and magnificent Moorish buildings. Then, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Enter Portugal and stop to admire the architecture of World Heritage-listed Evora before arriving in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
Today after breakfast, head out to explore Lisbon’s Alfama district and marvel at the World Heritage-listed Jeronimos Monastery. Afterwards, visit the gorgeous Belem Tower and see the Castelo de Sao Jorge.
Enjoy a full day at leisure. Perhaps enhance your journey with an optional visit to nearby Sintra.
After breakfast, travel by coach to Vila Nova de Gaia and board the MS Douro Serenity.
Today as you cruise, you’ll take part in a morning Portuguese language lesson, during which you’ll learn some essential phrases of this beautiful language. Disembark your ship in Regua and join an excursion by coach to the splendid Gardens and Palace of Mateus. Afterwards, travel by coach to Pinhao.
Insider Experience: In Pinhao, enjoy a sumptuous dinner of traditional dishes and dessert at a picturesque local quinta, a Portuguese winery.
Today, cruise across the border into Vega de Terron in Spain. Enjoy some time at leisure before joining an excursion to Castelo Rodrigo. This tiny village sits atop a hill overlooking both Spain and Portugal, and features a number of well-preserved ruins, an impressive castle and a magnificent stone statue of Santiago Matamoros. After exploring this charming little town, you’ll board a coach and return to your ship.
Today you’ll disembark and board a coach to set off for the glorious Spanish city of Salamanca. This gorgeous city is arguably one of the most beautiful in Spain, and boasts sunlit sandstone buildings along with a majestic city square and an ancient university. After your Insider Experience, return by coach back over the border to Barca d’Alva, the last Portuguese village along the Douro, where your ship awaits. Back on board this evening, enjoy a traditional Portuguese BBQ dinner.
Insider Experience: In Salamanca, enjoy a Flamenco show and lunch. Be entranced by captivating Flamenco dancers as they astound you with their stomping feet in a fiery performance.
This morning after breakfast, enjoy a Portuguese cooking demonstration on board as your ship cruises past Pinhao to Regua. After your Insider Experience, board a coach and take a scenic drive past swathes of expansive vineyards. You’ll visit the picturesque village of Lamego and the elaborately decorated baroque cathedral, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, an important Portuguese place of pilgrimage. While in Lamego, visit one of Portugal’s best museums.
Insider Experience: On arrival, head to a local quinta, which boasts outstanding views over the Douro Valley. Here, you’ll enjoy a tasting of local port wine, Portugal’s most famous tipple.
This morning, enjoy free time to explore Regua — you may like to wander along the riverfront, or venture into the lovely Old Town. Afterwards, continue on to the riverside town of Entre-os-Rios. On arrival, enjoy free time to explore this gorgeous, vibrant town as you please. Tonight, be treated to an energetic performance of traditional Portuguese folk music back on board at a special Captain’s Dinner.
After breakfast, cruise back to the enchanting city of Vila Nova de Gaia. On arrival, join a tour of nearby Porto, which sits just across the river. Here, you’ll be led past a collection of the city’s most famous attractions, and visit a local port winery for a tour and tasting. This afternoon, there’s ample time for you to step back out to explore Porto at leisure. Alternatively, you might choose to take an optional excursion to the World Heritage-listed city of Guimaraes. This evening back on board your ship, enjoy a final Farewell Dinner with your fellow guests.
Be transferred to Porto Airport for your flight.
Bedding on board the cruise is restricted to the following configurations. If you wish to upgrade your cabin, the following amounts are payable in addition to the package price prior to travel:
Window Stateroom
Category: D & E, 130 sq. ft / 12 sq. m
Panorama Balcony
Category: B, C & A, 150 sq. ft / 14 sq. m
Junior/Master Suite
Category: Panorama Balcony, 204 sq. ft / 19 sq. m / 312 sq. ft / 29 sq. m
Please request your cabin upgrade in the 'special requests' field. Availability and price will then be confirmed and added to your invoice upon acceptance.
Wind your way through the heavenly scenery of the Douro Valley on a journey aboard the MS Douro Serenity. The pace is gentle, the wine rich and the smiles warm.
Aboard the MS Douro Serenity, you’ll cruise beneath a sapphire sky down Portugal's tranquil waterways, watching as lush hills and plunging valleys dripping with grapevines appear from every side.
Onboard Features
To know more about your ship, please click HERE.
Deposit & Installment Payment Option:
Booking Process
Booking On Request
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
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.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $7,250.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not Available
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including, e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
Group size varies from package to package. Depending on the services provided, the group size might range from private 2 person experiences up to coaches of 50 people depending on your selected holiday.
Children
Children must share a room with parents at all times and are charged the same price as adults.
For all international voyages, it is the traveller's responsibility to ensure that they have a valid passport and they meet the visa requirement. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
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