Experience the renaissance of Lisbon, newly invigorated with trending galleries and restaurants. Explore two of Iberia’s oldest university towns: Coimbra, Portugal and Salamanca, Spain. Roam the port warehouses of Porto. Enjoy traditional cuisine, wine and fado singing. Cruise the Douro River Valley aboard one of the Viking Cruise ships. The Duoro River Valley is the world’s oldest demarcated wine region and a UNESCO Site. Our 10-day cruisetour includes a hotel stay in Lisbon and the added bonus of a visit to Spain.
Note: This lovely River Cruise Ship will only allow 98 passengers, so please act quickly to get the cabin of your choice.
Day 1: Lisbon, Portugal
Welcome to Lisbon; we will be met at the airport and transfered a superior first- class in the heart of Lisbon. Relax this afternoon and evening or explore the city a bit on your own.
Day 2: Lisbon, Portugal
After breakfast, embark on a half-day tour of Lisbon. Begin at Belém with a tour of the Jerónimos Monastery, one of the most prominent examples of Portuguese late Gothic Manueline style of architecture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Tower of Belém that you also explore. Then take a walking tour through the narrow streets of the Alfama District where you learn about Lisbon’s long, multicultural history. (B)
Day 3: Porto, Portugal
Have breakfast, then check out of your hotel and take a scenic ride to Porto. You will stop for lunch in Coimbra, birthplace of six Portuguese kings and home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. Upon arrival in Porto, proceed to the dock at Vila Nova de Gaia to board your ship. Then, after boarding, you can relax and get settled in your stateroom before a welcome cocktail and dinner is served. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Porto, Portugal
After breakfast, take a city tour of Porto, a charming riverside community whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire its graceful bridges, baroque cathedrals and romantic 16th- through 19th-century buildings nestled together on narrow cobbled streets. Visit a typical port wine–making facility, then return to your ship for lunch.
Day 5: Régua, Portugal
This morning we sail along the Douro, arriving at Régua in early afternoon. Disembark for an excursion to Vila Real, site of the extraordinary Mateus Palace (the building depicted on the Mateus Rosé wine labels). This stunning baroque palace was the home of the last count of Vila Real; its pinnacled facade, grand stairway, richly appointed interiors and priceless objects on display will astonish you, as will the palace’s enchanting formal gardens featuring cedar-lined walkways, exquisite sculpted hedges and statuary and serene bodies of water. As you depart, catch glimpses of the town’s ornamental carvings and tiled walls. Visit one of the area’s iconic port wine–making institutions. See its vineyard and tour the facility to learn how these unique Portuguese products are crafted, then sample the libation in their tasting room. Rejoin your ship in Pinhão for dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Barca D'Alva, Portugal
Barca D’Alva, Portugal. This morning, we sail east along the Douro. You will see dramatic, sheer rock formations, picturesque terraced vineyards and graceful bridges and trestles along the way; you will also pass through two of the river’s locks at the Valeira and Pocinho Dams. We’ll arrive at Barca d’Alva, not far from the Spanish border, in mid-afternoon.
This afternoon, enjoy a tour to Castelo Rodrigo. Located approximately 2,200 feet above sea level and surrounded by almond trees, Castelo Rodrigo [photo at right] is one of Portugal’s 12 historic parishes; its streets are narrow and steep and its houses still present 16th-century facades and the distinctively Portuguese Manueline-style windows. Here you will see Sinagoga Street, a remembrance of the Jewish community established by refugees from the Spanish Inquisition; you can visit the local church as well. As we ride back to our ship, we’ll stop along the way to admire panoramic views. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Salamanca, Spain
Today you have a full-day excursion to Salamanca, Spain. This ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a living museum that takes visitors back to the Middle Ages; yet it is also a cosmopolitan and multicultural city with a large population of international students. Take a ride through the Iberian countryside to Salamanca, then spend some time exploring the shops and cafés of the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) on your own. Your afternoon guided city tour takes you to the Gothic House of Shells, the 13th-century Salamanca University and the New Cathedral, built from 1513 through 1733. The Old Cathedral still exists and can be visited during free time. Rejoin your ship in Vega de Terrón. (B, D)
Day 7: Salamanca, Spain
Today you have a full-day excursion to Salamanca, Spain. This ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a living museum that takes visitors back to the Middle Ages; yet it is also a cosmopolitan and multicultural city with a large population of international students. Take a ride through the Iberian countryside to Salamanca, then spend some time exploring the shops and cafés of the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) on your own. Your afternoon guided city tour takes you to the Gothic House of Shells, the 13th-century Salamanca University and the New Cathedral, built from 1513 through 1733. The Old Cathedral still exists and can be visited during free time. Rejoin your ship in Vega de Terrón. (B, D)
Day 9: Régua, Portugal
Arrive in Régua after breakfast then disembark for a visit to Lamego, a small town known for its baroque Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, dating back to the 14th century and still used by pilgrims today. Visit the shrine, decorated with exquisite tile work in the Moorish manner, and descend the grand baroque staircase. You also see the town’s Gothic cathedral and the ruins of 12th-century Lamego Castle with its unusual vaulted cistern. Return to your ship for lunch and scenic afternoon sailing along the Douro, back toward Porto. After arriving in port, we will enjoy a festive farewell dinner; we are docked overnight so feel free to take an evening stroll or join the activities in the Lounge. (B, L, D)
Day 10: Porto, Portugal
After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your time in the region with a 2-night extension to Braga, Portugal and Santiago de Compostela, Spain. (B)
Cruise Benefits
*8 included shore excursions with local guide & headset
*Complimentary Wi-Fi
*Complimentary beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner
*24/7 specialty coffees, teas & bottled water
*All port taxes and fees
*Airport transfers on date of embarkation/disembarkation with Viking Air program
Your experience:
*10-day cruisetour (8-day cruise); 2 countries, 6 ports & 3 additional cities by land; 2 nights at the Hotel Tivoli Lisboa (or similar)
*Visit 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
*Culture Curriculum®: sample some local port wines; enjoy a folkloric music performance; learn about wine-making traditions & Portuguese history; attend a flamenco show
*Meals on board & ashore: 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
*Onboard meals featuring regional specialties & always available American classics
*Welcome Cocktail Reception & Farewell Dinner
*Organic herb garden
24/7 Guest Services for special requests
Your stateroom:
*Riverview stateroom
*Room steward & twice daily housekeeping service
*Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; luxury linens & pillows
*40" flat-screen LCD TV & complimentary Movies on Demand
*Refrigerator, security safe, hair dryer
*110/220 volt outlets
*Heated bathroom floor & anti-fog mirrors
*Glass-enclosed shower
*Premium Freyja® toiletries, bathrobe & slippers (upon request)
Pricing
Note: All prices are Double Occupancy, per person
Category
Price
Group Discount
Net
Description
AA
$6,449
$125
$6,324
Separate Sitting Area; French Balcony
AB
$6,099
$125
$5,974
Separate Sitting Area; French Balcony
A
$5,199
$125
$5,074
Full Balcony 185 Sq. Ft.
B
$4,999
$125
$4,874
Full Balcony 185 Sq. Ft.
C
$4,899
$125
$4,774
French Balcony 150 Sq. Ft.
SOLD OUT.
D
$4,549
$125
$4,424
French Balcony 150 Sq. Ft.
SOLD OUT.
E
$4,049
$125
$3,924
French Balcony 155 Sq. Ft.
F
$3,999
$125
$3,874
French Balcony 155 Sq. Ft.
Pre-Cruise Stay in Madrid
Extend your stay with 3 nights in Madrid. Explore the cultural, artistic and historic center of Spain, where the spirit of neighborhood prevails. Discover the Prado Museum's fine collection of Spanish masterpieces and the city's Hapsburg past in the district known as the Madrid of the Hapsburgs.
Accommodations are at the Intercontinental Madrid, located in the heart of the city, just minutes away from the Prado Museum and the Plaza Mayor.
Pre-Cruise Madrid Pricing
The cost for this 3-day extension is $699. All this is included:
* 3 nights in Madrid
* 3 breakfasts
* Madrid City tour
* Services of a Viking host
* Flight from Madrid to Lisbon
* All transfers
If you are interested, please contact Ruth Bridges.
Registration
Please click the Print Registration button at the top right colum to download the registration form.
Make your check or money order payable to Aviva Travel Group and mail to:
Aviva Travel Group
PO Box 1155
Laveen, AZ 85339
To pay by credit/debit card, please fill out your card information on the registration form. You may email it to Ruth Bridges at avivatravel@aol.com or send it by fax to 630-559-8845.
To pay online with PayPal, make your payment to avivatravel@aol.com.
Contact
Ruth Bridges
Aviva Travel Group
PO Box 1155
Laveen, AZ 85339
602-441-0034
eFax: 630-559-8845
Email: avivatravel@aol.com
www.avivavacations.com
