Click to Enlarge
OPTIONAL PRE-CRUISE TOUR: 3 NIGHTS LISBON. oPERATED BY AMAWATERWAYS
Saturday March 27 – Tuesday, March 30, 2027
DAY 1: SATURDAY, MARCH 27
ARRIVE IN LISBON, PORTUGAL
Arrive and transfer to your Lisbon hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Hotel TBD
DAY 2: SUNDAY, MARCH 28
LISBON
LISBON. One of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Lisbon, stretches across several hills along the Tagus River. On your escorted tour, you’ll see Belém Tower, a
fortified 4 story tower made of limestone, and visit the late Gothic Jerónimos Monastery, the burial place of many Portuguese kings and heroes. You will also taste a typical Portuguese pastry, Pastéis de Belém, before going to Discoveries Monument, built in honor of Portugal’s greatest maritime explorers. (B,)
DAY 3: MONDAY, MARCH 29
LISBON / SINTRA
Enjoy a morning excursion to Serra de Sintra, one of the loveliest mountain villages in Portugal and a favorite summer residence of the Portuguese royal family for more than 500 years. Long an inspiration for artists and poets, Lord Byron once called it “perhaps the most delightful village in Europe.” High up on a
rocky peak, you will tour Pena Palace, a wonderful fairytale castle dating back to Portugal’s Romantic period. (B)
DAY 5: TUESDAY, MARCH 30
TRANSFER TO PORTO / EMBARKATION
Ride a motorcoach to Tomar and take in the Castle and Covent of the Order of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage For more information: contact your preferred travel advisor, call 1.800.626.0126 or visit AmaWaterways.com.
Site that is a brilliant work of 12th to 16thcentury architecture. Continue on to Porto and board the ship for your Enticing Douro cruise. (B,D)
7- Night Enticing Douro River Cruise
Tuesday, March 30 – Tuesday, April 6, 2027
DAY 1: TUESDAY, MARCH 30
EMBARKATION / PORTO
Make your way to the AmaDouro for your Enticing Douro cruise. (D)
For those arriving at Porto (OPO) on Embarkation Day, AmaWaterways offers transfers from the airport to the ship for $30 per person. Transfers must be booked with Expanding Horizons no later than 30 days prior to embarkation.
DAY 2: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31
RÉGUA
This tranquil village offers an authentic slice of Douro River life. Today, visit the Baroque-style Palacio de Mateus and its gardens. Inside the house, you’ll see interesting furnishings, paintings and a ceiling of intricately carved wood. The gardens here are considered some of the most beautiful in Portugal. (B,L,D)
DAY 3: THURSDAY, APRIL 1
VEGA DE TERRÓN, SPAIN
In the morning, spend time soaking up the beauty of this picturesque port before you visit Castelo Rodrigo, a small, fortified village perched high on a hilltop with centuries-old walls, steep narrow streets and fantastic views. You can also opt to hike up to the village should you wish a more active exploration. (B,L,D)
DAY 4: FRIDAY, APRIL 2
VEGA DE TERRÓN / SALAMANCA
Drive to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built of golden sandstone, Salamanca is known as a “living museum,” and you will have an opportunity to step back in time to the Middle Ages during your escorted tour, which includes the city’s elegant university buildings, the New Cathedral, the intriguingly decorated House of Shells and Plaza Mayor. (B,L,D)
DAY 5: SATURDAY, APRIL 3
PINHÃO
Spend time soaking up the beauty of the Douro River as you cruise to Pinhão. Be treated to an exclusive lunch at Quinta da Avessada, where you’ll enjoy an authentic and traditional dining experience complete with entertainment. Quinta da Avessada is also a fascinating interactive museum commemorating the history and culture of wine in the Alto Douro region, so you’ll have fun discovering all the various stages of wine production as well as doing plenty of tasting. Savor the flavors of Portugal’s renowned fortified wine, vinho do porto, made exclusively in the Douro Valley. Head to a local quinta for your authentic Portwine tasting experience and enjoy the sweet nectar of this fascinating region. (B,L,D)
DAY 6: SUNDAY, APRIL 4
RÉGUA
Travel to picturesque Lamego, home to one of the most important pilgrimage sites in all of Portugal, where you’ll go to the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies). The shrine features a staircase of nearly 700 steps, beautifully decorated with white and blue tiles, which the more active adventurer will want to climb on a guided hike. Concluding both tours, you will have the opportunity to sample local traditional specialties, such as Bôlas de Lamego, bread filled with smoked ham; Presunto, a type of dry-cured ham; and Espumante, a Portuguese sparkling wine. Afterwards, head to a local quinta for a delicious lunch. (B,L,D)
DAY 7: MONDAY, APRIL 5
PORTO
The colorful city of Porto blends the best of old and new, which you can discover on an escorted tour of the historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest monuments; and the São Bento Railway Station, known for its blue and white tile panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history. You’ll also enjoy a tasting of Port, Portugal’s most renowned contribution to the world of wine. If you prefer to get more active, you can go on a guided hike and then enjoy a Port wine tasting. Later in the day, visit the charming town of Guimarães, known as the “birthplace of the Portuguese nationality,” as well as the official residence of the President of Portugal. You will visit the Quinta de Sezim and enjoy a visit to the baron’s winery for a wine tasting on the terrace. In the evening, enjoy the illuminated landscapes of Porto on a scenic cruise aboard your ship. (B,L,D)
DAY 8: TUESDAY, APRIL 6
PORTO / DISEMBARKATION
Bid farewell to your Douro shipmates. Disembark the ship and prepare for your flight home. (B)
PLEASE NOTE:
A reasonable degree of mobility is required for all passengers on this program. Most of the guided tours provided on your cruise are walking tours. Many historic villages in Europe are located on hilltops, where it is necessary to walk up and down hilly, cobblestone streets that may have narrow passageways. Ships docked in port are often rafted side-by-side to another river ship. Passengers are then required to ascend and descend flights of 12 or more stairs to walk up to observation deck, down to gang planks to enter or exit the rafted ships. To participate in tours and get on and off the ship, travelers must be able to walk unaccompanied.
Disabilities and Wheelchairs
Persons with a walking disability or an injury, or who require a wheelchair/scooter or other mobility device, must have another dedicated person traveling with them to assist/push etc. The ship’s crew and other cruise guests are not available to assist persons with limited mobility. On customized pre or post cruise land programs, the Expanding Horizons tour manager is authorized to remove, or ask to leave from the tour, any traveler incapable of, unwilling to, or impeding the overall movement and progress of the tour group.