Douro River and the magic of Portugal

Douro River and the magic of Portugal
SEPTEMBER 12 monday–22 thursday
2016 | Join fellow Madison Club members
on an intriguing 11-day adventure! We begin
in Lisbon, the lively Portuguese capital, known
for a vibrant cafe scene and soulful Fado music.
Tour hilly Sintra and explore the Pena Palace.
Traveling north we visit Fatima, the famous
pilgrimage site. From Porto with its 18th-century
port warehouses we join the AmaVida for our
cruise up the Douro River valley—treasured for
dramatic gorges, lush vineyards, port wines,
and tranquil fishing villages.
CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS
• Sail aboard the 106-passenger AmaVida, one of the
loveliest and most modern European river cruise
ships, featuring stateroom French balconies, sun deck
swimming pool, al fresco dining, and fitness center.
• Culinary masterpieces prepared by Chaine Des
Rotisseurs culinary staff; free-flowing local wines from
Portugal’s finest wine regions at lunch and dinner.
• Exclusive visits to port wine quintas and distilleries
such as the famed Sandeman and W& J Graham’s.
• Shore excursions include historical Lamego, Régua,
Pinhão, Entre-os-Rios, and Salamanca, Spain’s
golden city.
“Chances are, you’ll be dreaming of that
Douro magic long after you get home.”
— Cruise Critic
Published Price$5,198 - $5,498
Madison Club Members $4,339–$4,549 *
* Airfare and Lisbon-Fatima pre-tour additional, plus a $168 port
charge/person. Rates are per person double occupancy. A $700
deposit per participant by December 1, 2015 secures one of the
15 Madison Club staterooms.
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Registration: www.madisonclub.org/aboutClub_travel
Douro river anD the Magic of Portugal
MaDiSon club Daily itinerary
SePteMber 12-22, 2016
Sept 12 Depart U.S.A. for overnight flights to Lisbon, Portugal. (D)
Sept 13 LISBON, PORTUGAL On arrival get comfortable at our hotel. Lisbon, one of Europe’s most
beautiful cities, sprawls across several hills along the Tagus River. Guided city tour in English. See Belem Tower, a
fortified four-story limestone ediface, visit the Late Gothic Jerónimos Monastery, burial place of Portuguese kings and
heroes, and Discoveries Monument, the city’s most famous, built to honor Portugal’s greatest maritime explorers. (B)
Sept 14 LISBON—SINTRA We explore Serra de Sintra, one of the loveliest mountain villages in Portugal, a
favorite summer residence of the Portuguese royal family for more than 500 years. Long an inspiration for artists and
poets, Lord Byron once called it “perhaps the most delightful [village] in Europe.” High up on a rocky peak, tour the
Castelo da Pena, a castle dating from Portugal’s Romantic period. Return to Lisbon for the evening. (B)
Sept 15 LISBON—FATIMA—PORTO & AMAVIDA EMBARKATION After breakfast, we visit Fatima,
world-pilgrimage site, famous for its shrine to the Virgin Mary. Explore the town and enjoy lunch on our own before
continuing on to Porto to board the AmaVida. Welcome Dinner. (B, D)
Sept 16 PORTO—RÉGUA Soak up the beauty of the Douro River as we cruise to Régua, a Portuguese town
renown for spectacular scenery. A port wine tasting at Quinto do Seixo, a lovely 108-acre country estate offers an
interactive wine museum and breathtaking views of steeply terraced hillside vineyards, the Douro River and the nearby
village of Pinhão. All port made here is destined for Sandeman, known worldwide for quality wines. Visit the Douro
Museum, for a comprehensive and fascinating look at the unique Douro wine-growing region. Our ship moors in
Régua. (B,L,D)
Sept 17 RÉGUA—BARCA D’ALVA A morning excursion to ancient and picturesque Lamego, home to one of
most important pilgrimage sites in Portugal, the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies). The
shrine features a staircase of nearly 700 steps, decorated with white and blue tiles. We can explore the Gothic cathedral,
a museum, and charming cafés. After lunch enjoy wild, rugged scenery as we cruise through dramatic Douro River
gorges enroute to Barca d’Alva. (B,L,D)
Sept 18 SALAMANCA—VEGA TERRÓN, SPAIN A full-day tour of Salamanca, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, awaits us. Built of golden sandstone, Salamanca is known as a living museum. The city’s historic centre
has important Romanesque, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque monuments. We rejoin the AmaVida in Vega
Terrón. (B,L,D)
Sept 19 VEGA TERRÓN—PINHÃO This morning we visit Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, a small fortified
village perched high on a hilltop with 16th-century walls and steep, narrow streets. Admire the Chafariz dos Pretos, a
strikingly unique fountain. We cruise to Pinhão to enjoy a wine tasting and dinner at a local quinta. Overnight Pinhão.
(B,L,D)
Sept 20 RÉGUA—ENTRE-OS-RIOS Our morning cruise brings us to Régua and the Baroque-style Palacio de
Mateus and gardens located in the beautiful Trás-os-Montes region. It features religious images, beautiful furnishings,
paintings and a ceiling of intricately carved wood. The gardens are some of the most beautiful in Portugal. Lunch
onboard as our ship cruises to Entre-Os-Rios. This evening we enjoy a traditional home-cooked Portuguese meal at the
Alpendurada Monastery. Savor a glass of port while enjoying the gorgeous view from the monastery’s terrace. (B,L,D)
Sept 21 PORTO We arrive in Porto early this morning. A guided tour of the historical quarter, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site includes a number of iconic sights: the Porto Cathedral, one of the city’s oldest and most
impressive monuments; the lively main square; and the bustling Sao Bento Railway Station with its magnificent blue
and white tile panels depicting scenes from Portuguese history. We will enjoy a port wine tasting. Port derives its
name from this city. Overnight Porto. (B,L,D)
Sept 22 PORTO—DISEMBARKATION & RETURN HOME
Our cruise comes to an end. Following
breakfast onboard the AmaVida we depart from Porto airport for flights to the U.S.A. (B,L,S)
B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner, S = snack
— Itinerary subject to change