Mediterranean, Portugal and Spain
Passion for Portugal - 10 Day Cruise
Portugal offers an abundance of attractions from Medieval castles, charming cities, atmospheric towns, idyllic scenery and traditional wine growing regions. The country has one of the oldest borders in Europe and a unique, rich cultural heritage with an extraordinary diversity relative to its size with the legacy of the Celts, Romans, Moors and Christians having each left their mark over the centuries. During this nine night exploration, for which we have combined a four night cruise aboard the all-suite MS Island Sky with hotel stays in Oporto and Malaga, we will discover the cultural diversity of the country from Oporto, the birthplace of port with its Baroque churches and merchant houses, the beautiful Douro Valley, Braga with its elegant old town, Coimbra the Medieval capital and university city, the sophistication of Lisbon with its wide boulevards and vintage trams to the Algarve’s dramatic coastline. Our final day is spent in Spain’s historic city of Malaga where we will stay overnight in a centrally located hotel allowing for time to explore the many wonders of this coastal city.
Our days will be varied as we explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, walk through historic villages and towns and discover the uniqueness of the region as well as enjoying opportunities to sample the local food and wine. In addition to the included, daily guided tours, there will also be time at leisure for individual exploration enabling you to soak up the atmosphere at your own pace.
• Exploring Oporto: Discover the charming city of Oporto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through narrow streets, visit iconic landmarks, and learn about the city's history. Don't forget to sample some delicious port wine at a local wine lodge.
• Douro Valley Excursion: Embark on a full-day tour to the Douro Valley, one of the world's oldest demarcated wine regions. Visit the 18th-century Mateus Manor House, enjoy a traditional lunch at a local Quinta, and witness the stunning terraced vineyards that stretch along the riverbanks.
• Historic Cities and Towns: Explore historic Portuguese towns like Guimaraes, the birthplace of Portugal's first king, and Coimbra, known for its ancient university. Discover medieval architecture, palaces, libraries, and more.
• Malaga's Cultural Heritage: Explore Malaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and visit cultural landmarks such as the Castillo de Gibralfaro and the 16th-century cathedral. Enjoy the mix of Renaissance and Gothic architecture and have free time to explore the city.
Our days will be varied as we explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, walk through historic villages and towns and discover the uniqueness of the region as well as enjoying opportunities to sample the local food and wine. In addition to the included, daily guided tours, there will also be time at leisure for individual exploration enabling you to soak up the atmosphere at your own pace.
Highlights
• Exploring Oporto: Discover the charming city of Oporto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through narrow streets, visit iconic landmarks, and learn about the city's history. Don't forget to sample some delicious port wine at a local wine lodge.
• Douro Valley Excursion: Embark on a full-day tour to the Douro Valley, one of the world's oldest demarcated wine regions. Visit the 18th-century Mateus Manor House, enjoy a traditional lunch at a local Quinta, and witness the stunning terraced vineyards that stretch along the riverbanks.
• Historic Cities and Towns: Explore historic Portuguese towns like Guimaraes, the birthplace of Portugal's first king, and Coimbra, known for its ancient university. Discover medieval architecture, palaces, libraries, and more.
• Malaga's Cultural Heritage: Explore Malaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and visit cultural landmarks such as the Castillo de Gibralfaro and the 16th-century cathedral. Enjoy the mix of Renaissance and Gothic architecture and have free time to explore the city.
Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive and transfer to our hotel for a four night stay. The remainder of the day is at leisure before we meet for dinner this evening. (D)
After breakfast in the hotel we explore Oporto, Portugal’s second largest city and a World Heritage Site. This attractive city was originally a Celtic-Iberian settlement and became a prosperous Roman village thanks to its natural harbour. During our tour we will drive through its narrow streets to find 16th century arcaded buildings, Baroque churches and chapels, as well as the city’s iconic 19th century iron bridge, built by the school of Gustav Eiffel. Our final visit will be to the city’s cathedral, located on the top of the Penaventosa Hill. Inside are beautiful examples of golden carved altarpieces and paintings from the Nasoni period, whilst outside we will enjoy the amazing view over the river. The tour will conclude with a visit to a port wine lodge where we will see the old casks full of port and enjoy a sample of this delicious world famous wine. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore at your own pace. (B)
Today a full day tour takes us into the Douro Valley. This morning we visit the unique 18th century Mateus Manor House and its gardens. This fine looking palace and gardens is still owned by the Count of Vila Real and is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Portugal. On our guided tour of the Palace we will see the rare books library, as well as vestments and religious icons, view the remarkable chestnut wood crafting on the ceilings as well as some beautiful paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. Stroll around the romantic gardens which feature a unique 100 foot long cedar tunnel and formal garden and visit the villa’s pretty chapel. Continue to the heart of the Douro Valley. The region is one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world with a microclimate perfect for grape cultivation. Here we find steep terraced vineyards that stretch up the riverbanks and which boast breathtaking views. Visiting one of the local Quinta we will learn about the production methods and sample some of the local wines over a traditional lunch. Return to our hotel in Oporto this afternoon and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. (B, L)
After breakfast we drive to Guimaraes, the birthplace of Afonso Henriques, the first independent King of Portugal. Guimaraes has beautifully preserved its illustrious past; its Medieval centre is a warren of lanes and picturesque plazas framed by 14th century edifices and on an adjacent hill stands the 1,000 year old castle and the palace built by the first duke of Braganca in the 15th century. Also see the charming Museum Alberto Sampaio in the historical centre. After lunch in the town we return to Oporto where the remainder of the day is free to explore at your own pace. (B, L)
We drive this morning to Braga, an elegant town laced with ancient narrow lanes, plazas and Baroque churches. Later cross to Spain and visit the beautiful walled Medieval city of Tui, located on a hill next to the Portuguese border on the River Mino. Visit Tui’s imposing cathedral, built in the 12th century and later converted into a battlement-studded fortress whose tower forms a magnificent balcony over the river. We also take the chance of tasting some of the local Albarino wine. Our day ends in Vigo where we embark the MS Island Sky and sail this evening. (B, L, D)
Located at the mouth of the Modego River, Figueira da Foz is one of central Portugal’s prime beach resorts. However, the reason for our call is to visit the nearby city of Coimbra, the Medieval capital of Portugal for over 100 years. On a walking tour we will view the stunning buildings from the 16th to 18th centuries before we head to the university which was recently granted UNESCO status. Founded in the 13th century we will see the Chapel of Sao Miguel and the Joanine Library which houses over 300,000 works dating back to the 16th century. After a local lunch, choose to return to Figueira da Foz or stay in Coimbra for some free time.
Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century. It is a city famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marquis de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square. During our morning panoramic tour we will see the Monument to the Discoveries and Belem Tower, and visit the famous Jeronimos Monastery. Alternatively, a full day tour will visit the Alentejo region. Drive to Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where a walking tour will explore the sights and Medieval history of this enchanting city. Evora is one of the oldest towns in the Alentejo region and we can see the well preserved Roman Temple, St Francisco Church and the Chapel of Bones before some time to explore the pretty squares. Alentejo is a highly respected wine region traditionally growing red wines from the Tempranillo and Trincadeira grapes. We will have lunch in a vineyard and enjoy a tasting before returning to the ship via the picturesque port of Setubal.
This morning the MS Island Sky arrives on the Algarve Coast at the fishing port of Portimao on the banks of the Arade River. During a morning call we head west to explore the more rugged Algarve and discover its place in history. We will visit the historic town of Lagos, its sturdy Medieval walls testifying to its importance as a 15th century ship building and trading post. We then head to wild headland of Cabo Sao Vicente, its 200-foot cliffs face the Atlantic waves and it lies at the extreme south western corner of Europe. At nearby Sagres, Henry the Navigator built his school of Navigation and it was from here that many sailors set out to discover the New World. Spend a leisurely afternoon on board as we sail to the coast of Andalucia.
Disembark in the historic city of Malaga where a morning tour will take us to the 14th century Castillo de Gibralfaro, built on a hill overlooking the city and once considered the most impregnable fortress in Iberia. Continue to La Merced Square where we see the birthplace of Pablo Picasso before we visit the impressive 16th century cathedral which was built on the remains of a mosque. With its mix of Renaissance and Gothic styles it has been declared a national landmark. After lunch we will check into our hotel for an overnight stay and the rest of the day and evening is free to explore at your own pace. You may wish to head to the market, visit the botanical gardens or, for the art lovers, visit the Picasso Museum. We will meet this evening for dinner in the hotel. (B, L, D)
Check out this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London or Manchester. (B)
Itineraries are subject to change.
Inclusions
• Voyage on board in selected cabin category
• House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board
• Expedition team
• Shore excursions as per the itinerary (Note: Some itineraries have optional excursions as per the specific exclusions)
• Gratuities
• Port Charges/ Taxes
• Transfers as per the itinerary (Note: Transfers are offered in conjunction with group flights only when booked together, both can be taken off if included in the itinerary and credited)
Exclusions
• Passport and Visa costs where applicable
• Travel insurance
• Beverages other than those listed in inclusions
• Meals when not on board the ship unless otherwise stated
• Pre and post voyage accommodation unless otherwise stated
• Optional excursions as per specific itinerary
• Any items of a personal nature
10 Days from
£4,295 GBP pp
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