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Flavors of Portugal & Spain
- Taste of Christmas
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Flavors of Portugal & Spain – Taste of Christmas
On the evening you board in Porto, AmaWaterways‘ Flavors of Portugal & Spain – Taste of Christmas River Cruise puts you on an illuminated cruise along the Douro with Porto’s festive waterfront lit up around you. From there, the week heads east through the UNESCO Douro Valley, taking in the Baroque Mateus Palace and its gardens in Regua, Lamego’s hilltop sanctuary and its Holy Staircase, the medieval hilltop village of Castelo Rodrigo, and more. It’s an itinerary built around the slower pleasures of the Douro: local food, estate lunches and river views.
4.67
from
156 reviews
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Cruise Line: AmaWaterways -
Ship: AmaVida -
Duration: 6 Nights
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Departure: Nov - Dec
Flavors of Portugal & Spain – Taste of Christmas Cruise Prices
Flavors of Portugal & Spain – Taste of Christmas Gallery
Flavors of Portugal & Spain -Taste of Christmas Cruise Itinerary
Enjoy seven nights heading east along the Douro, where the valley grows wilder and more scenic the further you go.
Day 1
Porto (EMBARK)
You board in Porto, and the evening begins with an illuminated cruise along the Douro, taking in the city’s lit-up waterfront from the river.
Day 2
Porto
A full day in Porto, with a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed historic quarter taking in the Cathedral, the main square and the blue-and-white tile panels of São Bento Railway Station. A Porto hike through the medieval streets of the old harbour quarter is the active alternative. A port wine tasting is also available.
Day 3
Entre-os-Rios
Entre-os-Rios is a quiet village at the confluence of the Tamega and Douro rivers. Your excursion today is a traditional lunch at a local quinta.
Day 4
Régua
A visit to the Baroque Mateus Palace awaits you today, where old-world furnishings, distinctive paintings and an intricately carved wooden ceiling are set against the site’s famed gardens.
Day 5
Régua / Pinhão
The morning brings an excursion to Lamego, where a guided city tour visits the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies and concludes with a tasting of local specialities, including Bolas de Lamego and Presunto. The more active option is the 686-step Holy Staircase hike, adorned with blue and white tiles, with the same tasting at the end. Later, the ship cruises to Pinhao, with a wine tasting at a local quinta available on arrival.
Day 6
Pinhão
A walk to Pinhao Railway Station, known for its blue tile panels depicting scenes from the Douro region, is the morning option. The afternoon brings a lunch at Quinta da Roeda, a historic estate in the heart of the Douro Valley.
Day 7
Pinhao
Enjoy a scenic cruise to Barca d’Alva before heading to Castelo Rodrigo, a village home to 16th-century facades and Manueline-style windows. A guided tour concludes with a tasting of almonds, cheese and fresh bread. A hike to the village is the active alternative, with the same tasting at the end.
Day 8
Vega de Terron
Disembark in Pinhao.
Day 1
Vega de Terron
Board the ship in Vega de Terron, your very first port of call on this Flavors of Portugal & Spain cruise.
Day 2
Pinhao
Enjoy a scenic cruise to Barca d’Alva before heading to Castelo Rodrigo, a village home to 16th-century facades and Manueline-style windows. A guided tour concludes with a tasting of almonds, cheese and fresh bread. A hike to the village is the active alternative, with the same tasting at the end.
Day 3
Pinhão
A walk to Pinhao Railway Station, known for its blue tile panels depicting scenes from the Douro region, is the morning option. The afternoon brings a lunch at Quinta da Roeda, a historic estate in the heart of the Douro Valley.
Day 4
Régua / Pinhão
The morning brings an excursion to Lamego, where a guided city tour visits the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies and concludes with a tasting of local specialities, including Bolas de Lamego and Presunto. The more active option is the 686-step Holy Staircase hike, adorned with blue and white tiles, with the same tasting at the end. Later, the ship cruises to Pinhao, with a wine tasting at a local quinta available on arrival.
Day 5
Régua
A visit to the Baroque Mateus Palace awaits you today, where old-world furnishings, distinctive paintings and an intricately carved wooden ceiling are set against the site’s famed gardens.
Day 6
Entre-os-Rios
Entre-os-Rios is a quiet village at the confluence of the Tamega and Douro rivers. Your excursion today is a traditional lunch at a local quinta.
Day 7
Porto
A full day in Porto, with a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed historic quarter taking in the Cathedral, the main square and the blue-and-white tile panels of São Bento Railway Station. A Porto hike through the medieval streets of the old harbour quarter is the active alternative. A port wine tasting is also available.
Day 8
Porto
Disembark in Porto.
FLAVORS OF PORTUGAL & SPAIN – TASTE OF CHRISTMAS SHIPS
FLAVORS OF PORTUGAL & SPAIN – TASTE OF CHRISTMAS HIGHLIGHTS
Douro River Cruise Deals
Browse our latest AmaWaterways sailings and find the departure that works for you, whether you’re looking for quinta lunches, Baroque palaces, or a cruise as unforgettable as it is scenic.
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Flavors of Portugal & Spain – Taste of Christmas Cruise Review
Flavors of Portugal & Spain – Taste of Christmas FAQs
What is included in the fly-cruise price?
Fly-cruise fares include port charges, group overseas transfers between the airport and ship, and return economy flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, or Manchester Airport. Land programmes and gratuities are additional.
What is the Holy Staircase in Lamego, and how demanding is the hike?
The Holy Staircase at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies in Lamego is a 686-step pilgrimage staircase adorned with blue and white tile panels. The itinerary offers it as the active alternative to the standard Lamego city tour, with a tasting of local specialities, including Bolas de Lamego and Presunto at the end of both options.
What is Manueline architecture?
Manueline is a distinctive Portuguese architectural style from the early 16th century, characterised by elaborate stone carvings incorporating maritime motifs, ropes, armillary spheres and natural forms.
What are Bolas de Lamego and Presunto?
Bolas de Lamego are a traditional local bread roll, and Presunto is Portuguese cured ham, similar in style to Spanish jamon.
Is this itinerary available in both directions?
Yes. Sailings run both from Porto to Vega de Terron and from Vega de Terron to Porto across November and December.
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