Cruises

Douro River Valley (2022)

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Porto to Porto | 8 Days

Date Range: Apr 2022 - Nov 2022

Ships : S.S. São Gabriel

Countries: Portugal & Spain

On this captivating journey that pays tribute to the “Age of Exploration,” experience the “sunny side” of Europe, following the Douro River through Portugal and into Spain.

On this captivating journey that pays tribute to the “Age of Exploration,” experience the “sunny side” of Europe, following the Douro River through Portugal and into Spain.

An extraordinary journey designed for culturally curious travelers.


As you follow the Douro River through Portugal and into Spain, you’ll cruise past steeply terraced hillsides, quaint villages and acres of ripe vineyards. Enjoy private tastings of Port. Explore Porto’s historic Ribeira district, home to iconic rabelo boats, cutting-edge cuisine and a thriving art scene. Wind your way through the dramatic landscapes of the UNESCO-designated Douro Valley, heading ashore to visit charming quintas and meet the winemakers who operate them. In Salamanca, Spain, you’ll see the city’s famous university. Return to Portugal with a visit to the fortified village of Castelo Rodrigo and historic Guimarães. There’s no better way to discover Europe’s best-kept secret than this scenic and all-inclusive river cruise!


Uniworld also offers an 11-day version of this itinerary, featuring additional excursions in Lisbon and Coimbra. Click here for more information.

Porto to Porto | 8 Days
Note: The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This day-to-day schedule is subject to change. Your final day-to-day schedule will be provided onboard on the first day of your cruise.

DAY 1 Porto (Embark)
Arrive in Porto, the port city at the mouth of the Douro.
DAY 2 Porto, Entre-os-Rios
Portugal’s second city (after Lisbon), Porto gave its name to the nation’s most famous export, Port wine, and to the nation itself. Today, choose between two distinctively Portuguese ways to explore Porto.

Other Excursions:

Of course it is the longtime hub of the Port wine trade, but Porto is also much more. Take in the UNESCO-designated, 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace, seeing its famous Moorish Revival–style Arab Room, during your panoramic tour. Get a feel for this vibrant town, which is simultaneously profoundly urban and moodily romantic. Colorful multistory townhouses sheathe the hills that climb precipitously from the Douro estuary, medieval alleys snake through UNESCO-designated neighborhoods enclosed by 14th-century walls—which were erected on Roman foundations—and baroque church towers crown the hilltops. The Clérigos Tower is an unmistakable landmark, visible from almost anywhere in the Old Town—in fact, at one time sailors used it as a guide to navigate their way through the estuary. Visit Porto’s austere hilltop cathedral before driving down to the Ribeira.

Porto city tour
or

Depart by coach for Mosteiro do Serra do Pilar where your excursion with extensive walking will offer great panoramic views. Walk over the Ponte Dom Luis and embark on Porto’s historical tram (the Eléctrico) to Clérigos quarter. The tram is a splendid way to discover Porto as its cars are beautifully maintained, and the group will have the opportunity to enjoy this popular form of transportation among locals. Enjoy some free time around Clérigos Tower before discovering the Sao Bento Station & Azulejos Murals portraying Porto’s rich history. The group will enjoy a panoramic view from the Cathedral “Sé” then wind its way down through narrow old town alleys before stopping for a refreshment at Portuguesa da Gema.

“Do as the Locals Do” Porto walking tour

In the evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
DAY 3 Entre-os-Rios, Régua, Pinhão
Today is all about wine, which has been cultivated in the Douro River Valley since ancient Roman times. Get a crash course on the history of Port during your visit to the Douro Museum.

Featured Excursions:
DAY 4 Pinhão, Pocinho, Vega de Terrón
Head ashore for a choice of excursions, including a tasting at a prestigious Port wine estate or a vineyard hike with a wine tasting at a local quinta. Later, lace up your hiking boots and unleash your inner Indiana Jones with an up-close gander at some prehistoric carvings at an archaeological park.

Featured Excursion:

Other Excursions:

As you journey through the hills to Quinta do Seixo, a prestigious Port wine estate, you will see a unique landscape that has been shaped by wine growers for two millennia. The stone terraces curving around the steep slopes hold soil that is largely the creation of human intervention: People have laboriously broken up the native silver schist stone over the centuries and turned it into usable sandy earth; it’s called “anthroposoil.” The process of producing Port wine is a fascinating blend of tradition and modernity; the steepness of the slopes requires that grape vines be tended almost entirely by hand, but the wine itself is made using the most modern techniques. You’ll tour the state-of-the-art facility and sample some exceptional Ports in a tasting room whose wall of windows looks out over spectacular views of the Douro Valley.

Quinta do Seixo guided tour with tasting
or

Although many Port wine estates are owned by international corporations nowadays, the tradition of the family-owned estate remains strong. Start this expedition in pretty Pinhão, heading up into the hills to a family-owned quinta, where you can get a firsthand look at how the vineyards are tended and grapes harvested. Although some 80 varieties of grapes are approved for the creation of Port, six grape varieties dominate. Discover which ones are grown here and learn why.

Vineyard hike and wine tasting at a local quinta
DAY 5 Vega de Terrón (Salamanca), Barca d’Alva
Today, you can visit the historic university town of Salamanca—the “Golden City”—famous for its sand-colored buildings and abundance of churches. Feel the centuries fall away as your ship winds its way through the pristine, dramatic UNESCO-protected landscapes of the Douro River Valley.

Featured Excursion:
DAY 6 Barca d’Alva, Régua
Go medieval today at Castelo Rodrigo, both the name of a hilltop castle as well as the village that surrounds it. The view from the top is incredible and the village is a charming place to ramble, relax and replenish.

Featured Excursion:
DAY 7 Régua (Guimarães), Porto
Explore Guimarães, the town where Portugal was born. Its well-preserved architecture and stylish young residents make it a pleasure to visit. Or opt for a leisurely walking tour through Ribeira’s quaint cobbled streets.

Other Excursions:

“Portugal was born here.” So the sign on the city wall proclaims. Guimarães was home to the first king of Portugal, Afonso I, who managed to win his kingdom’s independence in the 12th century from neighboring suzerains. The wonderfully well-preserved Old Town, with its unique architecture (houses here combine granite with half-timbering) and charming little plazas, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; overlooking it is the grand castle that appears on Portugal’s coat of arms. Rove with your guide from the castle toward the beautiful main square, the Largo da Oliveira, and to the splendid Monastery and Church of Our Lady of Oliveira and the 14th-century Gothic Padrão do Salado. But remember that despite these historic beauties, Guimarães has the youngest population of any city in Europe, so the pedestrian area is full of lively and fun cafés and shops.

Guimarães city tour
or Ribeira walking tour

In the evening, a special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.
DAY 8 Porto (Disembark)
If your cruise/tour package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Porto Airport for your flight home.
Cruise Departure Double Occupancy Pricing Ship
Sun, 03 Apr 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 17 Apr 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 24 Apr 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 01 May 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 08 May 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 22 May 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 29 May 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 12 Jun 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 19 Jun 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 26 Jun 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 03 Jul 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 10 Jul 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 17 Jul 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 24 Jul 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 31 Jul 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 07 Aug 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 14 Aug 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 21 Aug 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 28 Aug 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 04 Sep 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 11 Sep 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 18 Sep 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 25 Sep 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 02 Oct 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 09 Oct 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 16 Oct 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 23 Oct 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,599.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 30 Oct 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,199.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 06 Nov 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$5,199.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Sun, 13 Nov 2022
(Porto to Porto)
$4,699.00 S.S. São Gabriel
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Line Number: 184

  • All fares are per guest in US Dollars based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted.
  • Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice.
  • Availability of all stateroom categories cannot be guaranteed.
  • Single Supplement applies for single accommodation.
  • Itineraries, hotels, and vessels may change, and substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water level fluctuations and other uncontrollable factors.
  • The order of sightseeing and docking ports are subject to change according to port authority assignments.
  • Prices exclude additional port charges of $200 per person

Dining

  • All meals onboard, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
  • Gala Dinner
  • Unlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water

Dining

Excursions

  • 6 days of excursions, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts
  • Guided “Do as the Locals Do” program
  • State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursions
  • Use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks

Excursions

Accommodations

  • 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the chic S.S. São Gabriel
  • Beautifully appointed riverview staterooms and suites with hotel-style beds, draped in fine linens with a choice of pillows
  • Free Internet and Wi-Fi access

Accommodations

Experiences

  • 1 country: Portugal
  • Multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites
  • Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise Manager
  • All transfers on arrival and departure days
  • Gratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tour
  • Captivating onboard local entertainment

Experiences