 4* Porto, Salamanca & Douro Valley river cruise itineraryDay 1 Porto Fly direct from Liverpool, London Stansted or Gatwick to Porto. On arrival, you will be transferred to the 4* Fernão de Magalhães*. After time to settle into your cabin, enjoy a welcome on board cocktail reception in the lounge, followed by dinner at the vessel’s restaurant. Later on in the evening, join our optional coach trip to see the fantastic Porto Illuminations. *Except on 4 & 9 April 2008 when your 4* vessel will be the Vasco da Gama or Infante Don Henrique. Day 2 Porto - Régua After breakfast, you’re free to explore vibrant Porto for yourself, but our highly recommended optional excursion will take you right to the most iconic and atmospheric attractions. Stroll the cobbled streets of Porto’s Unesco World Heritage riverside neighbourhood, take in the panoramic view over the city and the Douro from the Clérigos Tower, visit the Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis, marvel at the stunning gilded interior of the Church of São Francisco, or head for the Cais de Ribeira, where locals come for the low-cost tascas (taverns) and seafood restaurants. If you have time, perhaps visit Rua das Flores (Street of Flowers), considered by many to be the most romantic street in Porto with its beautiful wrought-iron balconies. If, however, you join the optional excursion, you’ll be treated to a Port wine tasting session at an original Port wine lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia, across the Douro River from Porto. In the past all the Port wine was transported to Vila Nova de Gaia (or simply Gaia) on barcos rabelos, (boats with tails) that used to flutter like swallows down the Douro. Port wine is still aged, blended and processed in up to 25 famous Port wine companies in Gaia, including Sandemans, Niepoort, Dows and Ramos Pinto. After lunch on board, we cruise leisurely to Régua along the Douro Valley, admiring the picture-perfect landscape and terraced vineyards along the way, and passing the locks of Crestuma and Carrapatelo, the highest in Europe at 35m. The official centre of the Port-wine-growing region, Régua is a peaceful little town backed by the Serra do Marão mountains and overlooking the wide valley of the River Douro. Later on, enjoy a dinner-dance and gala evening on board. Day 3 Régua - Ferradosa Quay - Vega de Terrón Enjoy a buffet breakfast on board before joining our optional Port wine tasting excursion, as we follow the wine road which runs through the heart of this region, which is also home to the famous nine chapels of São Salvador do Mundo, stopping to sample some fine vintages in charming wine-making quintas, or estates. Return to the ship at Ferradosa Quay, a small town near the city of Viseu, for an afternoon cruise after lunch through the famous Vinho Porto vineyards and the locks of Valeria and Pocinho. We then arrive at the town of Vega De Terrón in Spain’s Castile-León (or Castilian) region in time for dinner and a crew show on board. Day 4 Vega de Terrón After breakfast, don’t miss our optional excursion to the World Heritage city of Salamanca, a vision in golden sandstone. Surrounded by countryside that’s home to wild animals and the fighting black bulls, honey-coloured Salamanca is one of Spain’s finest historic cities. Admire the centuries-old monuments and buildings, such as the spellbinding palaces of Castellanos and Monterrey, wander the narrow cobblestone streets, or relax in one of the beautiful plazas, like Plaza Mayor, Calle Clavel, the Arco del Toro, or Plaza San Juliá, perfect settings for sampling the spicy chorizo sausages from Guijuelo and rich red wines. Return to the ship in Vega de Terrón for dinner and a Spanish evening on board. Day 5 Vega de Terrón - Pinhão - Régua - Bitetos An early morning start as we cruise to Pinhão, located at the confluence of the Douro and Pinhão rivers. After lunch, join our optional excursion past fruit orchards and vineyards to the Royal Town of Vila Real, where a stroll down the historic Avenida Carvalho Araújo is immensely rewarding. Just around the corner lies Solar de Mateus manor, which is included on this excursion, a storybook estate belonging to the Counts of Vila Real, complete with an ornamental lake and a tunnel of cypress trees shading a pathway through one of Europe’s most exquisite gardens. We return to the ship in Régua for the cruise past wild landscapes and dramatic rocky outcrops to Bitetos, nestled in the Douro Valley and close to the 14th century Benedictine Monastery of Alpendurada. We remain berthed in Bitetos for the night, enjoying dinner and a folk evening on board. Day 6 Bitetos - Porto Buffet breakfast on board before sailing on to Porto through the Alto Douro landscape of terraces, quintas, villages and churches that cling to the almost vertical slopes. On arrival in Porto, join the coach for the transfer to Porto airport and the return flight to the UK. 
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