Oporto is an awarded city of Port Wine, and Douro River- considered one of the most attractive European destinations would enchant you with its open-air museums, narrow streets and sites classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. A highlight will be spending 2 nights in a giant wine barrel overlooking a beautiful vineyard.

NOTE: This program begins in Lisbon and ends in Oporto, Portugal; therefore, departing flights must be booked into the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto.

This program is limited to a maximum of 10 guests and is not recommended for guests who require use of a wheelchair.

DAY 1

Disembark the ship in Lisbon and meet your guide.

Begin the drive to Oporto but first enjoy a brief city tour of the city of Lisbon and then proceed up the coast approximately 2 hours to Coimbra where you will view from the outside the Santa Clara Monastery and the University of Coimbra, which consists of several colleges that together UNESCO declared a World Heritage site for the centuries of interdependence between the city of Coimbra and the university.

For a literal taste of Coimbra, you will sample its signature egg-custard filled pastry: Pastel de Tentugal.

Continue inland and into the Douro Valley wine region, a beautifully terraced landscape that produces some of Portugal’s finest port wine. Upon arriving at the Quinta da Pacheco winery hotel, you will check into one of the most unusual suites that you could ever imagine.

Your accommodation will be one of 10 giant wooden wine barrels overlooking the vineyards. Each wooden barrel is named after a wine grape and features a skylight and an oversized round glass door that opens onto a private terrace and bathes the interior with natural light. Considering their setting in a wine estate, the barrels couldn’t be more a fitting or entertaining place to stay.

This evening, dinner is included at Quinta da Pacheca, one of the valley’s oldest and most esteemed wineries.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The wine barrel rooms are glamping-type units and include a sink, toilet, shower, one rounded double bed (bed cannot be split), small desk and are 98 feet in size. They are outfitted with air-conditioning and wi-fi and there is even a skylight so you can gaze at the stars that look over the beautiful vineyard. Guests will be taken to their rooms by golf cart. There is a spa, pool, restaurant and gift shop on site. We encourage you to review them on-line prior to booking to ensure this is the right program for you – search Quinta da Pacheco wine barrel rooms for photos and videos. For the adventurous wine lovers who don’t mind unique settings without all the luxuries of a 5-star hotel, this is a fun program for you! The whole experience is quite authentic.

DAY 2

After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel deeper into the Douro Valley, an area that has been producing wine for at least 2,000 years. Fortified port wine has been a staple since the 18th century, which together with the long tradition of viticulture prompted UNESCO to declare the valley a World Heritage site.

Upon arriving at Quinta da Aveleda, you will begin with an overall tour of the winery that was founded more than 150 years ago. The fifth generation of the Guedes family now runs Quinta da Aveleda and its many vineyards throughout the Douro Valley.

A sumptuous lunch of traditional Portuguese cuisine follows. The dishes will be thoughtfully paired with wines produced with grapes from various vineyards. They may include a varietal made with Alvarinho grapes from two different terroirs, a varietal from Loureiro grapes that boasts aromas of passionfruit and citrus fruits, and a blend from the two grapes that is named for the winery’s founder Manoel Pedro Guedes. Quinta da Aveleda almost entirely produces white wines.

After lunch, you will meander through the botanical gardens that surround the lake and tea house. Some of the specimens, such as the Japanese cedars and American sequoias, were planted more than a century ago. If they are in bloom, the more than 100 species of camellias will add glorious splashes of color to the lush greenery.

In the late afternoon, you will return to the Quinta da Pacheca hotel for the evening.

Dinner is included at the hotel.

DAY 3

Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will travel toward Oporto’s city center for an enlightening tour of its landmarks. For the ultimate view of the Douro River that runs through the city, you will ride a cable car above its banks. You will likely see plenty of Rabelo boats, traditional vessels that were once used to transport port wine barrels from the Douro region to the city of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Later, after driving to the Serra do Pilar lookout, you will enjoy a sweeping view of Oporto. Upon reaching upper Gaia town, you will stop at a wine cellar to learn about the production of port wine step by step. It is a fascinating process made even more relevant with a sampling of several port wines.

Lunch follows at the RC Restaurant. Founded in 1894, it is considered the most emblematic restaurant in the city. The setting couldn’t be more exquisite and the cuisine is both traditional and innovative. RC restaurant is located within Oporto’s historic old quarter, an area that UNESCO has deemed worthy of a World Heritage site designation for being an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year-old history.

After dining, you will continue touring the old quarter, where you will see one landmark after another, including the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, the São Bento Railway Station and the soaring bell tower that rises above the Clerigos Church. The Church of São Francisco is considered the finest example of Gothic architecture in Oporto.

Later, check in to your Oporto hotel where the remainder of the day is at your leisure and dinner is on your own.

DAY 4

Following breakfast and check out, you will be transferred to the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport according to the flight details provided. Should you have a late flight, luggage storage will be available at the hotel. Check out time is at 12:00pm.

Land Program Details Step by Step:

•Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. All program timings are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.

•Itineraries with the most up to date details (at the time) will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. Final itineraries with the most up to date details will be provided by the Destination Services Team once you board the ship. Please review your final itinerary carefully for any amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•A departure transfer is not included if guests leave before the last day of the program.

DAY 1

8:00am Disembark the ship in Lisbon, meet your guide

10:00am Arrive in Coimbra for a snack and restrooms

11:00am Depart Coimbra and continue to the Douro Valley

1:00pm Arrive at Quinta da Pacheca, where you will stay overnight in a wine barrel room

Afternoon at leisure

Lunch on own

TBA Dinner is included at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 2

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel

9:00am Depart for a scenic tour of the Douro Valley

12:00pm Tour the Quinta da Aveleda winery

1:30pm Lunch and wine Tasting at Quinta da Aveleda

3:00pm Browse the botanical gardens at Quinta da Aveleda

5:00pm Return to the hotel

8:00pm Dinner included at the hotel

Overnight at Quinta da Pacheca

DAY 3

8:00am Breakfast at the hotel and check out

9:30am Proceed to Oporto

10:30am Tour the city center, partially by cable car

11:00am Visit a port cellar for a wine tasting

12:00pm Proceed to RC Restaurant for lunch

1:30pm Continue touring Oporto and see landmarks such as the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhão Market and Lello Bookshop, Santa Catarina Street, Clerigos Tower, São Bento Railway Station and S. Francisco Church.

3:00pm Transfer to your hotel to check in

3:30pm Afternoon at leisure

Dinner on own

Overnight at The Lodge Hotel

DAY 4

AM Breakfast at the hotel

12:00pm Check out time at the hotel

TBA Transfer to the Francisco Sá de Carneiro Airport in Oporto based on the flight details provided. Guests with late flights can store luggage at the hotel until their transfer. Day rooms can only be booked on site directly with the hotel.

Extra Nights:

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the same hotel used on the LAST NIGHT of your program.

•When you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be transferred to the airport per the flight details provided. Check-out time is 12:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast are on your own after Day 4 of your program.

Transfers:

•All guests booking their flights independently are required to ensure the cruise line has their most up to date flight details so that transfers to the airport can be arranged. If flight details are not received 14 days before your cruise start date, transfers will not be arranged.

•Should you book any extra nights on your own or your flight is not on the last day of the program, transfers are not included.

•Should you have a late departing flight you may wish to book an extra night so that you have occupation of your room until your departure. You will be asked to vacate your room by 12:00pm. Day rooms can only be purchased directly through the hotel.

Expected Weather

In Oporto, the climate is temperate oceanic, with mild, rainy winters and pleasantly warm, sunny summers. In the months of October through May expect rainfall.

What to Bring

Comfortable shoes and a jacket or sweater for cooler temperatures. Casual smart dress for dinners. An umbrella in case of rain, bathing suit, camera, hat, sunscreen.

Local Currency

The Euro

Electricity

220 volts. Bring a travel adapter for electric devices.

Documents and Visa Requirements

A valid passport is required.

Hotels

Quinta da Pacheca

Rua do Relógio do Sol 261 Cambres, 5100-424 Lamego Douro Valley - Portugal

Phone: +351 254 331 229

The Lodge Hotel

Rua de Serpa Pinto, 60, 4400-037 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Phone: +351 22 015 7540

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.

Program Includes for guests:

•2 nights at Quinta da Pacheca hotel – Wine Barrel stay

•1 night at The Lodge Hotel or similar – Deluxe room

•Transfers

•Tours and entrances per itinerary

•Wine tastings Day 2 and 3

•Lunches Day 2 and 3 - 2-course menu – main course + dessert, + 1 glass of wine per person soft drink, mineral water, tea/coffee

•Dinner Day 1 and 2 - 3-course menu – starter + main course + dessert + ½ bottle of wine per person, soft drink, mineral water, tea/coffee

•Whisper audio system for the duration of the tour

•English-speaking guide throughout

•Complimentary bottled water on the coach

•Hotel porterage

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated departure information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, a departure transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.

Program Excludes for guests:

•Personal expenses

•Gratuities for drivers and tour guides

•Any meals or beverages not mentioned in the program

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.

Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program.

Price: $4,199 per guest based on double occupancy.

Land program promotions are per person for guests 1 and 2 for one pre- or post-cruise program only, subject to terms.