Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages along the Douro

Embarkation from Porto

Pricing based on Deluxe Stateroom for departure date 21st Nov 2025

Plan in advance and take advantage of latest offer with wide range of departures available.

Itinerary highlights

Ship: Avalon Alegria

Cabin: Deluxe Stateroom - Category E

Sail Date: 21st Nov 2025

Duration: 07 Nights

Day-wise itinerary:

DAY 1: PORTO, PORTUGAL (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to Portugal. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

Flights into Porto must arrive by 3:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Your day in Porto is free to explore at your leisure.

This evening an illumination sailing will show you Porto from a different prospective.

Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO

Meals: Dinner

DAY 2: PORTO–PORTO ANTIGO. EXCURSION BRAGA AND GUIMARÃES

Portuguese Panoramas

Visit the Adventure Center on board for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

Discovery Excursion

Step back in time within the walls of the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque with a fascinating introduction to its symbolism and architecture. Enjoy an excursion with an exclusive visit to one of the most iconic monasteries of the Romanesque era with entrance to a XIII century church and be enchanted by sounds of Gregorian Chant from the high choir, OR:

Classic Excursion

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. Celebrate your experience with a stop at one of the area’s many wine farms and enjoy a tasting.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO ANTIGO

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 3: PESO DA RÉGUA

Pastoral Pleasures of Portugal

Discovery Excursion

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:

Classic Excursion

Take a guided walking tour of the charming town of Régua —with its religious architecture, narrow streets, beautiful tiles, and stained-glass window of Casa do Douro. Continue to Lamego to visit the cathedral, followed by a delicious tasting of bola de Lamego.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy free time in Pinhão to browse the artisanal markets for woven textiles, terra cotta creations, and culinary delights, or consider joining an optional excursion to learn about the Douro Valley’s “liquid gold” at a traditional olive-oil mill.

This afternoon, consider an optional excursion to Casa de Mateus.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PINHÃO

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 4: POCINHO

Written in Stone

Enjoy a relaxing cruise to Pocinho for a day in the Terra Quente region.

Discovery Excursion

Discover Vila Nova de Foz Côa at the eastern terminal of the legendary Douro Railway line. Marvel at the amazing archaeological site along the River Côa where a wealth of remarkable prehistoric rock paintings and carvings were discovered as the most significant collection of Palaeolithic figurations known today. OR:

Classic Excursion

Join a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, a charming village nestled between the nearby mountains filled with vast vineyards and granite houses. This little suburb is filled with Roman, Medieval, and modern ruins.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BARCA D’ALVA

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 5: BARCA D’ALVA. EXCURSION TO SALAMANCA

The Reign in Spain

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

Classic Excursion

Join our guide for a guided tour this 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:

Classic Excursion

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. Dive into a delicious dish of the traditional Spanish paella.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN FERRADOSA

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 6: FERRADOSA–LEVERINHO. EXCURSION TO AMARANTE

Mountains and Moving Music

This morning enjoy a nice and relaxing sailing through the Douro River.

Classic Excursion

Join a guided sightseeing tour of Amarante – poised against a breathtaking backdrop of the great Serra do Marão mountain and the Tâmega River, which courses through the heart of the city and assortment of houses lining the riverbanks.

Later, feel the passion of Portugal’s soulful and stirring Fado music during a visit with local musicians on board.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LEVERINHO

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 7: PORTO

Ancient Charm Meets Avant-Garde

Active Excursion

Enjoy the wharfs of the Douro River and the coastal magnificence of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, on a bicycle and accompanied by a professional biologist tour guide, OR;

Classic Excursion

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:

This afternoon, you may choose to join in a guided optional excursion such as a scenic canal cruise on the Aveiro (Venice of Portugal) or explore a family-owned factory to witness the Portuguese art of cork and barrel production or a culinary tour experience. Perhaps simply spend time strolling through Porto’s cobblestone lanes, lovely shops, and tempting tapas bars this afternoon before experiencing the energy of Porto’s buzzing nightlife.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 8: PORTO (DISEMBARKATION)

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.

Meals: Breakfast

Cruise Overview

Like a blue ribbon threading through the green Douro Valley, the River Douro carries you through some of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes. Meaning “River of Gold,” the Douro River lives up to its name by revealing priceless gems along sloping vineyards and sleepy villages where rugged landscapes have been tamed for centuries to produce a bounty of wines and cuisine. Welcome aboard the newest addition to our award-winning fleet of Suite Ships – the Avalon AlegriaSM to be swept away by Douro’s timeless treasures and traditions, family farms and fevered Fado music, and mouth-watering culinary creations in the world’s oldest demarcated wine region.

Embark on your Suite Ship® in the city of Porto. Take a guided tour to Braga and Guimarães or explore ancient architecture, including a visit to the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque. Enjoy a guided tour in the charming towns of Peso da Régua and Lamego, where historical sights are mixed with delicious tastings, or meet the owner of one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley to sample the proud traditions of olive oil and wine. Take a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, where vineyards and granite houses dot the river shores. Consider a fascinating guided tour to Vila Nova de Foz Côa, home of the remarkable Côa Valley Palaeolithic discoveries – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a cozy village with narrow streets, flowered houses, and grand Gothic Manueline windows or choose a full-day experience in Spain with a guided sightseeing excursion to Salamanca. Immerse yourself in an emotionally stirring experience in Portugal’s city of Amarante.

Your Douro River cruise returns to Porto to soak in the scenic mysteries of this city’s Historical Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These and countless other treasures await you on the River of Gold in Portugal’s dazzling Douro Valley. 

Your Ship: Avalon Alegria

Explore Portugal's dazzling Douro River on Avalon's newest addition to our award-winning fleet of Suite Ships®. The Avalon Alegria delights river cruisers with exceptional experiences and the elegant yet relaxed luxury you've come to expect from Avalon Waterways. As the newest addition to our fleet of Suite Ships, the Avalon Alegria certainly lives up to its name, meaning happiness, which flows from stem to stern on this 262-foot ship. Choose from 14 deluxe staterooms or 37 Panorama Suites® with a spacious capacity of just 102 passengers. Choose from two full decks of award-winning Panorama Suites, featuring wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that transform your living space into a unique Open-Air Balcony. The 200-square-foot Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than the industry standard, with Avalon's signature window-facing "Beds with a View." Onboard amenities include complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi access, a Fitness Center, an Adventure Center with complimentary active gear, and an Avalon Adventure Host to assist with active excursions and on board fitness classes and activities. Enjoy exceptional onboard cuisine, including Avalon Fresh® menu options, premium coffee and spirits, and versatile FlexDining venues, including the casual Panorama Bistro, al fresco Sky Grill, or elegant glass-walled Dining Room. Make yourself at home in the Club lounge with a variety of coffees, teas, cold beverages, and pastries while settling in with your pick of books, cards, and board games. Relax and watch the world go by in our Observation Lounge for the perfect vantage point to peruse Portugal's stunning Douro Valley and vineyards. Stretch out on the Sky Deck with a swimming pool, premium lounge chairs, and shade system to relax while sailing through Portugal's most spectacular views!

Enquire Now!

All fares are displayed in Great British Poiund, and pricing is per person based on twin share occupancy unless stated otherwise. Although all due care is taken to keep information as up-to-date as possible, pricing and availability are subject to change without notice: due to varying timing schedules of supplier automated update processes; currency fluctuations; fuel surcharges or government tax & fee changes and may not be guaranteed until paid in full. Gratuities may be an additional onboard charge depending on particular cruise line selected. Please ask your cruise consultant for any clarification of Terms & Conditions.