DOURO RIVER CRUISE 2025

September 9-17, 2025

ESCORTED BY SHELLEY

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 Avalon Waterways' newest addition to their award-winning fleet of Suite Ships® – the Avalon Alegria to be swept away by Douro’s timeless treasures and traditions, family farms, fevered Fado music, and mouth-watering culinary creations in the world’s oldest demarcated wine region.

Itinerary

Welcome to Portugal!

Your day in Porto is free to explore at your leisure. You may choose to join an afternoon guided optional culinary tour if arriving early today. Experience some of Porto’s most famous sights and most delectable dishes with regional wine.

Your Suite Ship® is ready for boarding late afternoon.

This evening an illumination sailing will show you Porto from a different perspective. Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.

Overnight docking in Porto

Inclusions today: Dinner

Porto

Porto Historical Houses

Porto illuminated

Porto

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Régua

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 an olive oil and 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 and sparkling wine in a local pastry shop.

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

Inclusions today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Régua

Pinhão

Casa de Mateus

Régua

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Porto Antigo

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

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

Inclusions today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Braga

Guimarães

Braga

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Pocinho

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

Inclusions today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Pocinho

Vila Nova de Foz Côa

Pocinho

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Barca d'Alva - Salamanca, 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 delicacy, tostón asado (traditional roast suckling pig).

Overnight docking in Ferradosa

Inclusions today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Salamanca

Freixo de Espada à Cinta2_edited_edited

Salamanca

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Porto Overnight

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. 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

Inclusions today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Porto

Aveiro

Matosinhos

Porto

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Ferradosa - Leverinho - Amarante

During your morning sailing, a professional painter will guide you through the process of painting an azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile) to take home a piece of Portugal’s tradition. You may alternatively join an onboard pastry demonstration.

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

Inclusions today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amarante

Tâmega River

Amarante

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Avalon Alegria

Learn More

Booking Information

Pricing

Deluxe Category D: $5805.00 per person (double occupancy)

Panorama Category B: add $1699.00

Panorama Category A: add $1749.00

Port charges: $280.00 per person

Optional pre-night in Porto: $210.00 per person

Single occupancy: please call for pricing and availability

Flights are not included and will be purchased early 2025.

Travel insurance is not included and strongly advised.

Group Information

This is a mixed group tour and is open to everyone.

The maximum group size for this tour is 22 people.

Payment Terms

Non-refundable deposit of $250.00 per person, plus booking fee of $100.00+gst is required to hold your spot.

Final payment will be due May 2025.

Optional Add-on

Add a 3-day pre-cruise tour in Lisbon for $1350,00 per person (double occupancy). Other extensions possible dependent on availability. Please contact Shelley for more information.

Interested? Let's Chat!

DOURO RIVER CRUISE 2025

September 9-17, 2025

ESCORTED BY SHELLEY

Itinerary

Welcome to Portugal!

Avalon Alegria

Booking Information

​Pricing

Group Information

Payment Terms

Optional Add-on

Pricing