What's Included
Enjoy the Douro’s beauty and history on this 9 night river cruise from Lisbon to Porto with return flights included
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, the world’s oldest demarcated wine region and a UNESCO Site. This 10-day cruise-tour includes a hotel stay in Lisbon and the added bonus of a visit to Spain.
With Viking Inclusive value, all you need is included.
⚓ One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call
⚓ Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
⚓ Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner
⚓ 24-hour specialty coffees, teas & bottled water
⚓ Port taxes & fees
⚓ Visits to UNESCO Sites
⚓ Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances
⚓ Onboard gratuities
Book now and Fly Free to Europe!
This voyage operates from March to November each year, pricing will vary by departure date. Ask your Cruiseabout Travel Advisor for your preferred travel dates.
YOUR ITINERARY
Arrive and check in to your hotel. Lisbon has inspired explorers ...
Arrive and check in to your hotel. Lisbon has inspired explorers for centuries with its stunning setting at the Tagus River’s mouth. Its labyrinthine streets carry echoes of 16th-century navigators who sailed on the winds of the Age of Discovery. The city prospered greatly from its trade. And today’s streets are lined with the legacies of wealthy builders, including the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, stunning works that introduced Manueline architecture. Savouring local cuisine and port wine are favourite pastimes here. On any evening, the strains of fado spill from clubs in the historic Alfama District.
Throughout Lisbon, fascinating monuments tell this ...
Throughout Lisbon, fascinating monuments tell this proud city’s story. Along the riverfront, in Praça do Comércio, an equestrian statue at its centre represents Portugal’s King José I, who capably rebuilt the city following the devastating 1755 earthquake. Among the most recognized of Lisbon’s monuments is the grand Monument to the Discoveries on the banks of the Tagus River, displaying statues of more than 30 contributors to exploration, whose bravery and spirit still shape the culture of this vibrant European capital.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begi ...
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 neighbourhoods, fashionable restaurants and lively markets. Like Lisbon, Porto has a rich past; its historic centre 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.
The peaceful town of Peso da Régua, commonly known as Régua, ...
The peaceful town of Peso da Régua, commonly known as Régua, overlooks the Douro River with the Serra do Marão mountains as a stunning backdrop. In 1756, the Marquês de Pombal proclaimed this city as the centre of his newly demarcated wine region, and it has remained so since. As such, the town is steeped in the wine-making culture. This is particularly true at Casa do Douro, the headquarters of the Port Wine Institute. Its beautiful stained glass windows are a tribute in light and glass to the rich history of port wine and its cultural significance to the region.
Journey through the Douro River valley into the history of fin ...
Journey through the Douro River valley into the history of fine Portuguese wine. Surrounded by terraced hills, spot some of the area’s quintas, or wine estates, clinging to the slopes, nestled snugly among their vines. In this beautiful and largely unspoiled region, olive and almond groves share the river’s banks with vineyards. And it is hard to ignore the fact that this journey follows in the wake of traditional barcos rabelos that once transported wine downriver to the waiting casks in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Founded by a Celtic tribe before the rise of the Roman Empire, ...
Founded by a Celtic tribe before the rise of the Roman Empire, Salamanca was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 due to its beautifully preserved buildings. It is home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, founded in 1134, and its main square, bustling with students, is often called the most beautiful in Spain. The beauty of this richly historic city, besides the enormous Romanesque cathedral whose profile dominates the town, is the grace with which Salamanca retains a traditional Spanish village feel. It is a living museum that takes visitors back to the Middle Ages.
Pinhão is surrounded by picture-postcard terraced hillside ...
Pinhão is surrounded by picture-postcard terraced hillsides that are synonymous with the Douro River Valley. Its slow pace and quiet atmosphere belie the fact that it produces world-renowned port wines; some of the most recognizable names in port production operate wine estates near here. One of the “station towns” along the Douro River, Pinhão boasts a relaxing and scenic promenade along the river, perfect for strolling and drinking in the beauty of vineyard-clad hills. The village’s railway station is decorated with 24 spectacular scenes depicted in azulejos, Portugal’s distinctive blue-and-white tiles.
In Portuguese cuisine, pork plays a central role, appe ...
In Portuguese cuisine, pork plays a central role, appearing in paio, a pork loin sausage, and chouriço, a spicy sausage often flavoured with paprika or wine. These cured meats are nicely complemented by the smooth and creamy cheeses of the region. Among main dishes, the addictive pastéis de bacalhau (small cod cakes) are enjoyed hot or cold. And Portugal’s famed soup, caldo verde, gets its deep green colour from a variant of kale. At meal’s end or just as a treat, the city’s pastelarias are well worth a visit for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Porto’s prosperous future was sealed when the distinctive, ...
Porto’s prosperous future was sealed when the distinctive, single-masted barcos rabelos delivered the first wine shipments here from vineyards up the Douro River. Before the advent of the railroad, these wooden cargo boats provided the fastest and most efficient transport of wines between the Douro River valley’s wineries and the city, from which bottles were exported all over the world. Today, the vessels are owned by port wine companies along the Douro. Though no longer in use, they still grace the river’s edge nonetheless, enriching the city’s character and cultural identity.
Porto’s culinary scene reflects its long history, dating back to ...
Porto’s culinary scene reflects its long history, dating back to Roman times. As a port and cultural crossroads, Porto has incorporated elements from different cultures, such as the spices and exotic ingredients brought by the Portuguese explorers during the Age of Discovery. Today, local cuisine is influenced by the products and traditions of the Douro Valley, as well as the city’s maritime heritage. Porto is known for its hearty dishes, such as the francesinha, a meat-and-cheese sandwich smothered in sauce, and the tripas à moda do Porto, a stew made with tripe and beans. After breakfast, disembark your ship and journey home. Alternatively, ask your Cruiseabout Travel Advisor about our incredible range of accommodation packages, touring and cruise extensions.
Important Notice
The following product terms and conditions apply in addition to our Booking Terms and Conditions (available on our website) and terms and conditions of the relevant travel service provider. Prices quoted are valid for sale until 15 November 2024 for travel during the period specified (if applicable) unless otherwise stated or sold out prior. All prices are per person, twin share (unless otherwise stated), subject to availability and may be withdrawn or varied without notice. Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes, levies and government charges current at the time of publication. Additional supplier conditions and travel restrictions may apply. Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store or by BPAY. Payments made in store by credit card will incur a surcharge (see Booking Terms and Conditions for further details). Prices quoted are accurate as of 1 August 2024 and may be higher depending on date of purchase and date of travel. Cruiseabout cannot guarantee that any particular product will still be available at the following prices, or for your exact dates of travel. At the time of making your booking, prices may differ to the price displayed on the website. Fly Free Economy Flights up to the value of AU$2300pp when booking flights with Viking: Fly Free is economy flight(s) for both guests up to the value of AU$2300 per person (pp) to/from Australia/New Zealand. If the flight cost exceeds AU$2300pp the guest will cover the difference. If flights are cheaper than AU$2300pp the unused portion of the air funds will be waived and cannot be transferred towards any other portion of the booking or any other person. A guest can use the AU$2300pp to instead upgrade to business class or premium economy (booked through Viking) with the difference to be covered by the guest. Any flight cost difference is to be paid at the time of flight booking. Applicable if flights are booked through Viking and must be booked in conjunction with a selected 2025/2026/2027 Viking River cruise. Flights are Viking’s choice of airline for selected major gateways in AU: ADL/BNE/CBR/CNS/DRW/HBA/LST/MEL/OOL/PER/SYD. Guest must return their air form to Viking within 14 business days of receiving request for flights, otherwise Viking reserve the right to remove the free air promo and apply the respective in lieu of flights discount. Valid on bookings made between 01 August 2024 – 15 November 2024. Guest may not request to change to flights included promotion post campaign end date of 15 November 2024. Viking will reach out to you or your travel advisor once flights are in the date range, at this point you may nominate your preferred in / out dates. Both guests must be on the same airline booking (PNR) and fly together in both directions. Solo guests for River can use up to AU$4600 towards their flights. Any unused portion of the air funds will be waived and cannot be transferred towards any other portion of the booking or any other person or booking. Save AU$2300pp and book flights independently: Guests are eligible to get a discount of AU$2300 per person (pp) off the cruise fare at the time of booking in lieu of the Free Economy Class flights. Solo guests for River are eligible to get a discount of AUD$4600 per booking off the cruise fare in lieu of the free flights. Guests book their own flights independently of Viking. Valid on bookings made between 01 August 2024 – 15 November 2024. Guest may not request to change to flights included promotion post campaign end date of 15 November 2024. All savings are included in the advertised price. Please contact your Cruiseabout Travel Advisor to obtain the latest up to date information regarding applicable prices, fees and charges, taxes, availability, blackout dates (such as school holidays), seasonal surcharges and other terms and conditions which may apply.