Itinerary
- Day 1
Porto
You'll arrive in Porto and board your ship, settling into your suite. Start with a cocktail reception to kick off the journey along the Douro River.
Landmarks Douro River Porto - Day 2
Porto
This morning, pick between a guided city tour or an active cable car and bridge walk to explore Porto's 2,000 years of history. Later this afternoon, you'll create your own Portuguese tile painting during a workshop.
Included Activities
- Portuguese tile painting workshop
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Porto including Palácio da Bolsa
- Active tour of Porto including cable car ride to Dom Luis bridge, walk across bridge towards Porto Cathedral, São Bento railway station, and Rua das Flores
Landmarks Palácio da Bolsa Dom Luis Bridge Porto Cathedral São Bento Railway Station Rua das Flores Vila Nova de Gaia - Day 3
Entre-os-Rios
You'll arrive at Entre-os-Rios, a quiet village along the Douro River where you get to pick your own adventure. There's the Paiva River Walkways if you want to hike through some nice scenery, the Quinta da Aveleda wine estate if you're interested in seeing how they operate, or Guimaraes with its 15th-century palace if you'd rather explore a historic city. Later this afternoon, the cruise heads to Regua where you'll visit the Douro Museum to learn about Port wine and why this region is so known for it.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Douro Museum in Regua
Optional Activities
- Paiva Walkways hike along the Paiva River
- Quinta da Aveleda wine producer estate tour
- Excursion to Guimarães with palace and World Heritage city exploration
Landmarks Douro Museum Paiva River Walkways Quinta da Aveleda Palace of the Dukes of Braganza - Day 4
Regua
This morning starts with your choice of activities. You could head to the Varosa Valley to see the historic monastery in Tarouca, visit a family-run Quinta to taste olive oil, or wander through charming wine villages. After lunch back on the ship, you'll have more options for the afternoon. Lamego has a baroque church with an impressive tiled staircase, Mateus Palace shows off some great architecture, or you can try a hands-on Port wine blending class at Quinta de Pacheca if that interests you more.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Lunch on board
Optional Activities
- Varosa Valley, Tarouca & Ucanha excursion with Monastery of Saint John of Tarouca visit
- Quinta visit with olive oil tasting
- Excursion to Lamego with Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies tour and local produce tasting
- Mateus Palace coach tour
- Port Wine Blending Class at Quinta de Pacheca
Landmarks Monastery of Saint John of Tarouca Fortified Bridge of Ucanha Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies Mateus Palace Quinta de Pacheca - Day 5
Vinhateiro to Vega de Terrón
You'll cruise through the Vinhateiro wine region with its terraced vineyards and traditional farmhouses. By evening, you arrive in Vega de Terrón.
Included Activities
- Scenic cruise through Vinhateiro wine region
Landmarks Vinhateiro Douro Valley Vega de Terrón - Day 6
Vega de Terrón to Salamanca
You wake up in Vega de Terron, a small unspoiled village right on the Portugal-Spain border. You'll choose between heading to Salamanca for a full day to see two historic cathedrals and check out local markets, or going to Freixo de Espada a Cinta where you can visit a museum about traditional hand-processed silk and sample regional products at a family estate.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Salamanca Full Day Excursion with cathedral tour and market visit
- Visit to Freixo de Espada à Cinta with silk museum tour and Quinta tasting
Landmarks Salamanca Cathedral (Old Cathedral) Salamanca Cathedral (New Cathedral) Freixo de Espada à Cinta - Day 7
Pocinho
Starting in Pocinho, which is actually where the historic 1887 Douro Railway line ended, you have two main options. One is visiting the Coa Valley Museum to see the world's largest open-air Paleolithic rock art site and try a prehistoric workshop. The other takes you to Freixo Numao to visit Casa Painova and watch how traditional sugared almonds are made, plus taste what they produce there. After either option, you'll have the afternoon to relax on the cruise as it moves toward Pinhao.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Côa Valley Museum tour with pre-historic workshop
- Village life in the Côa Valley with Freixo Numão visit and Casa Painova estate tour including sugared almond production demonstration and tasting
Landmarks Côa Valley Museum Freixo Numão Casa Painova - Day 8
Pinhão
You wake in Pinhão among Port wine vineyards and head to Provesende village for church visits, bakery stops, and handicraft watching. Try bola at a historic estate, then choose afternoon kayaking, vineyard hiking, or wine tasting.
Included Activities
- Transfer to Provesende village
- Visit to Provesende church
- Visit to historic Morgadio da Calçada manor house
- Tasting of bola at Morgadio da Calçada
Optional Activities
- Kayaking along the Pinhão River - glide past impressive landscapes via kayak on Pinhão River tributary
- Quinta vineyard hike - guided hike through Quinta da Roêda vineyards in Douro Valley
- Quinta tasting - visit Quinta da Roêda estate for guided walking tour and wine tasting of region's most famous export
Landmarks Pinhão Pinhão River Provesende Morgadio da Calçada Quinta da Roêda Douro Valley - Day 9
Pinhão to Porto
Spend the day relaxing as you sail back down the Douro River toward Porto. You'll arrive this afternoon and attend an exclusive classical concert at São Francisco Church this evening.
Included Activities
- Classical concert at São Francisco Church
Landmarks São Francisco Church Douro River Porto - Day 10
Porto
Choose from traditional boat rides, golf at Quinta do Fojo, or wine tasting at Cockburn's Port cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. The afternoon is free to explore Porto, followed by a farewell dinner and illumination cruise.
Included Activities
- Illumination cruise through Porto
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Aveiro with guided walking tour and moliceiros flat-bottomed boat cruise on waterways
- Round of golf - play 6 holes at Quinta do Fojo Golf Club
- Wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia - visit Cockburn's Port famous cellar with guided visit and tasting
Landmarks Porto Aveiro Quinta do Fojo Golf Club Vila Nova de Gaia Cockburn's Port Douro River - Day 11
Porto to Bordeaux
You'll board your included flight from Porto to Bordeaux and transfer to your new ship for the next leg of your journey.
Landmarks Porto Bordeaux - Day 12
Bordeaux to Libourne
The ship sails toward Libourne with peaceful riverside views. After lunch, you'll visit Saint-Émilion with its medieval buildings and the unique Monolithic Church carved into limestone. You dock overnight in Libourne.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Tour to Saint-Émilion
- Visit to Monolithic Church
Landmarks Libourne Saint-Émilion Monolithic Church - Day 13
Libourne to Fort Médoc
Choose a walking tour of Libourne's trading history, Saint-Émilion vineyard exploration, cycling to Château Siaurac, or a paint and pour class. The ship sets sail this afternoon for Fort Médoc.
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Libourne - guided tour of rich history linked to trade of wool, wine, salt and wood
- Wines and Vineyards of Saint-Émilion - journey to countryside and explore vineyards before tasting
- Biking and tasting at Château Siaurac - cycle through wine-growing region to impressive estate for tasting
- Paint and Pour - local artist class on Sun Deck learning watercolour techniques while sipping local wines
Landmarks Libourne Saint-Émilion Château Siaurac Fort Médoc - Day 14
Fort Médoc
You'll explore the Médoc region on coach or bicycle tours with wine tasting at local wineries. Later this evening, there's a classical concert at the 13th century Château d'Agassac.
Included Activities
- Classical concert at Château d'Agassac
Optional Activities
- Médoc wine tasting by coach - travel through scenic region with 16,000 hectares of vineyards across eight appellations to local winery for wine tasting
- Médoc wine tasting by bicycle - discover Médoc countryside by e-bike, see grand aristocratic châteaux, sample finest wines at prestigious estate
Landmarks Médoc Route des Châteaux Château d'Agassac - Day 15
Fort Médoc to Cadillac
On board, you can book optional spa treatments or take a French cuisine class at the cooking school. After lunch, you arrive in Cadillac, a town founded in 1280.
- Meals
- Lunch
Optional Activities
- Spa treatment on board
- Scenic Culinaire cooking school class
Landmarks Cadillac - Day 16
Cadillac
In the morning, choose between coach or bicycle tours through the rolling Sauternes wine region. Afternoon options include Roquetaillade Castle, cycling in Loupiac, or visiting Château Toulouse-Lautrec.
Optional Activities
- Sauternes by coach - coach through Sauternes to vineyard for chateau wine tasting
- Sauternes by bike - cycle through rolling vineyards of Sauternes for tasting
- Roquetaillade Castle - tour ancient castle with family residing there for 700+ years
- Biking in the Loupiac wine region - cycle Gironde landscapes in Loupiac wine region, admire Château Benauge
- Château Toulouse-Lautrec - guided tour discovering historic rooms and apartments of famous painter
Landmarks Sauternes Roquetaillade Castle Loupiac Château Benauge Château Toulouse-Lautrec Gironde - Day 17
Bordeaux
You'll have several options for exploring Bordeaux today depending on what interests you most. Start your day with either a guided city tour that takes you through the Gothic cathedral and Place de la Bourse, a bike ride through the historic streets where you'll stop for local treats, or head to a local market with the ship's chef to pick up ingredients before heading back on board for a cooking demonstration. Later in the afternoon, you'll taste fresh oysters from Arcachon Bay. If you're interested in something different for the evening, there's an exclusive after-hours visit to Bassins des Lumières, a former WWII submarine base that's now a digital art installation, and Champagne will be included with that option.
Included Activities
- Tasting of fresh oysters from Arcachon Bay
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Bordeaux including Gothic cathedral and Place de la Bourse
- Cycling tour of Bordeaux with local treats including canelé
- Shop with a chef at local food market and cooking demonstration on board
- Afterhours access to Bassins des Lumières with Champagne and exclusive digital art show
Landmarks Bordeaux Cathedral Place de la Bourse Bassins des Lumières Arcachon Bay - Day 18
Bordeaux
Check out an interactive wine museum, try thrilling motorcycle and sidecar tours, or walk through the charming bayside town of Arcachon with its food market. The afternoon is yours to relax on board as you sail toward Bourg.
Optional Activities
- Cité du Vin Museum - take local tram to interactive wine discovery museum
- Tour Bordeaux by motorbike & sidecar - cruise through Bordeaux in sidecar and/or on motorcycle
- Visit Arcachon - guided walking tour of charming bayside town, finishing at Baltard market undercover food hall
Landmarks Cité du Vin Arcachon Baltard Market Bourg - Day 19
Bourg
In the medieval town of Bourg, you can visit the Carriages Museum inside Bourg Castle, explore the historic town of Saintes, or take a full day trip to Cognac for a brandy estate tour.
- Meals
- Lunch
Optional Activities
- Bourg with Carriages Museum - visit museum inside Bourg Castle grounds, discover unique collection of horse-drawn carriages
- Historic Saintes - tour charming Charente-Maritime town steeped in 2,000 years history and lush gardens
- Full day excursion to Cognac - walking tour of fortified brandy city, lunch, estate tour of Rémy Martin, cognac sampling
Landmarks Bourg Bourg Castle Dordogne River Saintes Cognac Rémy Martin Estate - Day 20
Blaye
You'll arrive in Blaye to see the World Heritage citadel built to protect Bordeaux. Choose walking tours of the city, active citadel exploration, cycling the Captain's Road, or visiting Château de la Roche Courbon.
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Blaye - stroll through charming city with local guide, view World Heritage-listed monument overlooking Gironde Estuary
- Active walking tour of Blaye - tour fascinating citadel with local guide, understand defense system by architect Sébastien Vauban
- Cycling along the Captain's Road - active cycling tour along Captain's Road
- Visit Château de la Roche Courbon - guided visit to fortified castle transformed into historic château with sprawling manicured gardens
Landmarks Blaye Citadel of Blaye Gironde Estuary Captain's Road Château de la Roche Courbon - Day 21
Bordeaux to Madrid
Board your included flight from Bordeaux to Madrid, where you'll stay for three nights.
Landmarks Bordeaux Madrid 
- Day 22
Madrid
You'll take a guided tour of Madrid's 17th century Austrian Quarter, Sabatini Gardens, Cibeles and Neptuno fountains, the bullfighting ring, and the Egyptian Templo de Debod. Dinner is at a local restaurant this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Madrid including Austrian Quarter, Sabatini Gardens, Cibeles Fountain, Neptuno Fountain, traditional bullfighting ring, Royal Palace panorama, and Templo de Debod
- Dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Madrid Austrian Quarter Sabatini Gardens Cibeles Fountain Neptuno Fountain Royal Palace Templo de Debod 
- Day 23
Madrid
You've got options today in Madrid, so pick what sounds right for you. There's a guided tour through the Prado Museum if you're interested in Spanish art across different periods, or you could do a walking food tour instead where you'll taste jamón ibérico and tapas around the city, including a stop at Mercado de San Miguel. After that, the afternoon is yours to fill however you want. Browse through boutiques, spend time in the parks, or just wander Madrid at whatever pace feels good.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Prado Museum visit with guide escort through 12th-20th century collections
- Tastes of Madrid walking tour with local guide including stop at Mercado de San Miguel, tasting jamón ibérico and tapas
Optional Activities
- Stroll fashionable boutiques in city centre plazas
- Relax in Madrid's manicured gardens
- Explore surrounding area at leisure
Landmarks Prado Museum Mercado de San Miguel - Day 24
Madrid
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Madrid airport with memories of the entire journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Madrid
