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Portugal & Spain: Treasures Along the Golden Douro
Follow the path of one of loveliest river valleys on the continent on this popular European river cruise through the land where the Age of Discovery began. Your Douro River cruise follows Portugal's storied river through the spectacular Douro River Valley. Meaning "River of Gold" and now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Douro was unnavigable until a series of dams built in the 1950s and '60s tamed its rapids.
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Harvest Season Departures
Visit wineries, taste fine port wines, and participate in harvest activities on our special fall harvest sailings.
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Walk through History in the Streets of Lisbon
Lasting from the early 15th to the 17th century, the Age of Discoveries saw explorers setting off from Europe to discover new lands. This remarkable era launched in Lisbon, and your guided tour of the Portuguese capital features UNESCO World Heritage monuments dedicated to this rich history.
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Explore the Historic Center of Porto — a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city and the center of the port wine trade. Your Vantage river cruise includes a city tour of Porto complete with a visit to the Port Wine Lodge.
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Mateus Manor House and Gardens
Visit Mateus Manor House and Gardens, a magnificent 18th-century historic estate known for its rosé production. (Not available on Harvest departures).
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Douro River Cruise
Admire the stunning scenery in one of Europe’s most picturesque locales.
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Visit Figueria Castelo Rodrigo
Figueira Castelo Rodrigo is a well-preserved medieval town in Portugal. A visit to this picture-perfect village is an included feature on your Portugal river cruise.
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Lamego
Lamego is known for the baroque-style shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Remedies. Outside the shrine you'll see its dramatic stairways, decorated with the blue azulejo tiles typical of Portugal, zigzagging down the terraced hillside. A visit to this historic wine region town is one of the many included tours on your Douro River cruise.
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Quinta da Avessada Winery Tour
Your Portugal river cruise features a wonderful selection of food and wine, served up to you in a number of tantalizing venues — including the Avessada Winery. And on our special Harvest departures in September and October, you'll enjoy a full-day excursion to the winery with lunch included. This special visit includes being hosted for a wine tasting by a Douro River vintner and expert on wine; a grape-harvesting demonstration; and more!
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Madrid City Tour
Truly one of the world’s great capitals, Madrid is teeming with fascinating sights. You'll explore this vibrant city on foot, walking the new Madrid-Rio area, savoring city views, and passing multiple other historic monuments. A panoramic drive continues your city tour, including the Plaza Mayor, Cibeles Fountain, the memorial Retiro Park, Las Ventas (the bullring), and more, as well as entrance to the Royal Palace.
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Manuela Cunha, Cruise Director, Portugal & Spain: Treasures Along the Golden Douro
An international tour guide since she was 19, Manuela describes herself as “hungry to learn about our fantastic planet” as far back as she can remember. Her appetite has taken her to Goethe University for language studies (she speaks six European languages), and all over the world, but her home is still her birthplace: Funchal, on the beautiful Portuguese island of Madeira. All of which makes her an ideal Cruise Director for a sail on the Douro River.
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Toledo Optional Tour
In the UNESCO World Heritage City of Toledo, southwest of Madrid, visitors enjoy a cross-sectional view of Spanish heritage spanning more than 2,000 years. Buildings dating to the Roman era have been repurposed and transformed through decoration by successive rulers, from the Visigoths to the Moors, right through the Spanish Civil War! Within the city walls you’ll find exquisite examples of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian houses of worship, proving that at one time, people of different religions could exist peacefully side-by-side.
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Optional Extension to Barcelona
Sunny, sandy beaches give way to a vibrant city set against the wooded Montserrat mountain range. Gothic squares meet trendy restaurants and bars. Palm-lined parks sprinkle greenery among one of Europe's greatest displays of historic and modern architecture. This is Barcelona, an exciting Mediterranean city boasting a distinct flavor. Add Barcelona to your river cruise and prepare to be completely dazzled by Spain's most cosmopolitan city.
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Optional Extension to Madeira
You'll experience a different side of Portugal when you visit Madeira, the "Floating Garden of the Atlantic." Prince Henry the Navigator claimed this mid-Atlantic island for Portugal in the early 15th century, and since the 19th century, it has been a favorite of travelers seeking a pastoral retreat. During your three-day stay in the island capital, Funchal, enjoy a half-day city tour — including a ride in a wicker toboggan, once a common mode of local transportation.
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European River Cruising
In Europe, civilization developed along the rivers, so there's no better route along which to explore. Voyages aboard our own private and privately chartered fleet span the entire continent. Our tantalizing array of itineraries reveals storybook castles, half-timbered villages, medieval town squares, and dramatic landscapes of rolling vineyards and lofty mountains. And because your river ship is your home throughout your voyage, you'll unpack just once and feel comfortable in no time.
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The World of Vantage
Discover the world with Vantage Deluxe World Travel — at the best values available today — for worldwide river cruises, small ship discoveries, and escorted land tours for small groups
