Portugal’s River of Gold

  • From £5,595
  • |
  • 10 Days
  • |
  • 8 Guided Tours
  • |
  • 2 Countries

Porto, Portugal

  • Historic church overlooking city at sunset

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your journey to your embarkation city. Porto holds a place of great traditional importance. The town lends its name to the port wine produced in the region and throughout the nation. Located along a rocky embankment, the city boasts picturesque neighborhoods, fashionable restaurants and lively markets. Like Lisbon, Porto has a rich past; its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of narrow cobblestone streets brimming with romantic buildings spanning the centuries and a Romanesque cathedral. At the riverside, small barcos rabelos, boats once used to transport casks of wine, paint a charming scene.

Shore Excursions

Shore excursions vary by each itinerary and are subject to change.

Historic building with ornate facade and staircase

Coimbra University

En route to Porto, explore one of Portugal’s oldest cities and visit its medieval-era university.

Included
Historic building with ornate facade and staircase

Coimbra University

Duration: 8 hours 30 minutes      

Portugal’s Oldest University Town

En route to Porto, explore one of Portugal’s oldest cities and visit its medieval-era university. Depart Lisbon in the morning and arrive in Coimbra for lunch. The Portuguese hold this city close to their hearts, as it was the birthplace of six of their kings. The most beloved of them all, Afonso Henriques, moved his capital to this burgeoning city along the Mondego River in 1139 soon after it was taken back from the Moors. See the Santa Clara-a-Velha, once an active convent. Then, cross the river and ascend the hill to the university where 700 years of learning whisper down hushed corridors. View the library, its shelves lined with 300,000 books, and chapel, with its baroque organ. After, enjoy a delicious lunch accompanied by fado music and continue your drive to Porto.

* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.
Equestrian statue near Gothic cathedral facade

Batalha & Fátima

Visit two of Portugal’s most significant religious sites en route to your ship.
Equestrian statue near Gothic cathedral facade

Batalha & Fátima

Duration: 9 hours      

Witness Deeply Held Religious Tradition

Visit two of Portugal’s most significant religious sites en route to your ship. Depart Lisbon and drive with your guide to Batalha, home to the Santa Maria da Vitoria Monastery. This stunning 14th-century complex, built in the Gothic and Manueline styles, was constructed over the reign of seven kings, from 1386 to 1517. After a fascinating tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, continue to Fátima. Visit the sacred shrine where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to three shepherd children in 1917. At this hallowed pilgrimage site, view Our Lady of the Rosary shrine and marvel at the stunning basilica. Step inside and admire its ornate interior and visit the chapel that marks the exact location of the Marian apparitions. After time to explore and lunch at a local restaurant, you will continue to Porto to embark your ship.

* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.
Three wine glasses with red wine on table

Graham’s Port Dinner

Visit one of Portugal’s prestigious winemakers for a port tasting and indulge in a traditional Portuguese meal.
Three wine glasses with red wine on table

Graham’s Port Dinner

Duration: 4 hours      

A Complete Culinary Experience

Visit one of Portugal’s prestigious winemakers for a port tasting and indulge in a traditional Portuguese meal. W. & J. Graham’s has been refining the art of port since 1820. This winery is run by five cousins, the Symingtons, whose ancestors were among the first to invest in their own Douro vineyards. Today, they stand at the cutting edge of wine-making techniques. Drive to Porto’s famed Graham’s 1890 Lodge, perched on a dramatic ridge in Vila Nova de Gaia. Tour their expansive cellars and sample several ports, learning about the flavor and bouquet notes of each. Then, settle in at the lodge’s award-winning Vinum Restaurant and Wine Bar, and enjoy an elegant and delectable wine pairing menu with a new glass selected for each course. After your delicious culinary experience, you will return to your awaiting ship.

* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.
Shore excursions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.

Videos

Scenic view of Porto riverside architecture

Portuguese Language Lesson

Learn a few useful Portuguese words and phrases with Maria, your Viking tutor. Saúde!
Mediterranean skillet with fish and olives

Bacalhau: Portuguese or Norwegian?

Watch as chef Rui Paula shows Karine his unique nouvelle cuisine twist on bacalhau, the beloved Portuguese national dish that is based on cod, one of Norway’s national fish.