October 18 – 27, 2027

Come and sail on Portugal’s “River of Gold”, one of Europe’s most beautiful rivers! Travel 8 days from Porto roundtrip on Avalon’s Alegria Suite Ship.  Experience some of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes, vineyards, charming towns, old farms, incredible UNESCO sites, and countless other treasures.  And of course, sampling delicious wines, including famous port wine. 

Intinerary

Day 1: Fly to Porto

Day 2: Welcome to Porto! Overnight Porto Hotel
Arrive in Porto from your overnight flight. Transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 3: Porto at your leisure. Overnight docking in Porto. Your  Suite Ship® is ready for boarding in the afternoon. Guests must be on board the ship by 5 pm. Your day in Porto is free to explore at your leisure. This evening, see Porto from a unique perspective on a scenic sailing. Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board. 

Day 4: Porto to Porto Antigo. Overnight docking in Porto Antigo. Join a guided sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue your experience with a ride to the riverside city of Matosinhos and up Avenida da Boavista to admire some of the modern charms of Porto – from ancient avenues to avant-garde graffiti street art, OR: Enjoy a scenic bike tour, OR: Enjoy a Porto wine tasting.

Day 5: Peso Da Reguna. Overnight docking in Pinhão. Today experience life on one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley with a personal tour by the owner of the house, including a wine tasting, OR: Join a wine painting class with the guidance of a resident artist for a unique and new experience OR: Take a guided walking tour of the charming town of Lamego.

​After a short sailing to Pinhão, take a peaceful stroll through the quaint riverside town of Pinhão or consider joining an optional excursion to learn about the Douro Valley’s “liquid gold” at a traditional olive-oil mill.

Day 6: Pocinho. Overnight docking in Barca D’Alva. Join a Workshop conducted by a professional painter to discover the process of painting azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile), OR: Discover the Douro River by bike on a guided adventure, OR: Experience the charm of the Douro region with a visit to a historic vineyard estate. Enjoy a tasting of exquisite red, white, and port wines while soaking in stunning views and uncovering the rich heritage of this renowned winemaking region, OR Join an onboard workshop to learn Portuguese language and culture. Discover essential words, charming stories, and clever tricks that bring this centuries-old language to life in an interactive and memorable way.

Day 7: Barca d’Alva. Overnight docking in Ferradosa. Join a guided tour in the morning to of one of the most remote villages of the country, Freixo de Espada à Cinta village in the Douro International Natural Park, home to majestic birds of prey, OR: Enjoy a guided tour to the historical village of Castelo Rodrigo, which, from the top of a hill, dominates the plateau that stretches from Spain in the east to the deep valley of the Douro in the north, OR: Get a taste of Spain with a full-day excursion to Salamanca. This Spanish city will take your breath away with its stunning streets and squares, featuring a feast for the eyes with Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and “Plateresque” architecture.​

Day 8: Ferradosa-Leverinho. Overnight docking in Leverinho. In the morning, enjoy a leisurely sailing through the Douro River. Enjoy an onboard pastry demonstration and lecture to learn more about the wines of the region.

In the afternoon, take a visit to a wine-producing property and taste the freshness and lightness of iconic Vinho Verde wine, considered one of the world’s unique white wines, OR: Join a guided visit to Casa de Mateus, iconic symbol of the well-known “Mateus Rosé” wine and enjoy a tasting of locally produced wine.

Day 9: Porto. Overnight docking in Porto. Enter a world of Celtic history and the reign of Cesar Augustus where five roads diverged to form an empire with a full-day guided tour of Braga. Marvel at the magnificent castle and San Miguel church in Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,  OR: Join a guided sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

In the afternoon, choose to join in a guided optional excursion to a family-owned factory to witness the Portuguese art of cork and barrel production or a culinary tour experience. Or perhaps spend the afternoon and evening in Porto at your leisure. 

Day 10: Porto – Disembarkation. The cruise ends with breakfast in the morning.