Day 1 – Depart the USA: Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Lisbon, Portugal.
Day 2 – Lisbon, Portugal: Upon arrival, you will be met by a Mayflower Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Lisbon. This evening, join your Mayflower staff and fellow travelers for an included dinner. Meal: B
Day 3 – Discover Lisbon: After breakfast, an included tour highlights the famous sites of the city. See Jerónimos Monastery, ‘Monument to the Discoveries,’ and Belem Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a free afternoon to shop, dine and experience this cosmopolitan city on your own. Meal: B
Day 4 – Fátima / Coimbra: Enroute to the ship in Porto visit Fátima, home to the Sanctuary of Fátima, an important Catholic pilgrimage site. The city’s fame originates from the apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary that appeared to three shepherd children in the nearby fields. Continue to Coimbra and its famous university before arriving in Porto to embark the MS Emerald Radiance, home for the next seven nights. Meals: B, D
EmeraldPLUS: A sunset illumination cruise
Day 5 – Porto / Pinhão: Today is a day of sailing through the twists and turns of the Douro Valley. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this area is sparsely populated by small quaint villages and typical communities with vineyards and small farms. This afternoon, the ship arrives in the village of Pinhão, perfectly situated on a river bend surrounded by terraced hillsides that produce some of the world’s best Port wine. Meals: B, L, D
EmeraldPLUS: A Portuguese cooking demonstration onboard
Day 6 – Pinhão / Vega de Terron: Begin the day with a visit to a beautiful Quinta Vineyard with spectacular views of the Douro Valley. Learn about wine production and its importance to the culture and economy. This afternoon, the ship sails for Vega de Terron, gateway to Spain. Meals: B, L, D
EmeraldPLUS: A cocktail lesson onboard
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided walk through the vineyards
Day 7 – Salamanca, Spain: Today’s excursion takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Salamanca, Spain. During the guided walking tour, see amazingly detailed and intricately carved buildings of the university, the 12th- century Romanesque church of San Martin and the house of Shells. Regal splendor abounds in the Plaza Mayor, the heartbeat of the city. You’ll have free time for lunch and to explore independently before returning to the ship in Portugal. Meals: B, D
EmeraldPLUS: Local entertainment
Day 8 – Pocinho: Arrive in Pocinho and disembark for a morning excursion to the Coa Valley Museum OR take part in a canoeing experience. The museum is designed to blend in with its surroundings, the concrete structure houses prehistoric stone carvings made by the early inhabitants of the Douro which were uncovered during construction of a nearby dam project. Return to the ship for lunch and relax on deck as the ship sails through idyllic surroundings on the way to Régua. This evening, enjoy an off-ship dinner at a traditional vineyard estate. Meals: B, L, D
EmeraldPLUS: Dinner hosted at a traditional rural vineyard estate in the Régua area
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided canoeing experience
Day 9 – Régua: After arriving in Régua, journey to the marvelous baroque village of Lamego, home to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies - one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Portugal. See the Sanctuary perched atop the hill, with its iconic 686-step granite staircase, decorated with the traditional Portuguese blue and white ‘azulejos’ tiles. Return to the ship in Régua after the excursion. Meals: B, L, D
EmeraldPLUS: Mosaic tile painting lesson onboard
EmeraldACTIVE: Walk up the stairs of the Sanctuary
DiscoverMORE: Visit to Mateus Manor House with wine tasting (additional expense)
Day 10 – Porto: Having traversed the Douro River, the ship returns to Porto – a city with an eclectic mix of modern and ancient architecture. An included tour highlights the sights from historic landmarks to the scenic beauty. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure in Porto. Meals: B, L, D
EmeraldACTIVE: A guided walking tour
EmeraldACTIVE: Visit to Guimarães (additional expense)
Day 11 – Porto / USA: This morning, disembark the MS Emerald Radiance and bid a fond farewell to Portugal, filled with memories of this remarkable cruise along the ‘river of gold.’ Meal: B |
