8 Days Douro, Porto & Salamanca River Cruise - MS Douro Splendour
Duration:
7 Nights
From €2,849pp
13th July 2025
One of Europe’s best kept secrets in one of its most undiscovered corners, explore the sleepy villages and medieval towns unchanged for centuries, amongst the breathtaking rolling hills and terraced vineyard slopes of the stunning Douro Valley.
Commencing in the Roman city of Porto, the home of Port wine, Portugal’s once wild river Douro has been tamed by locks into resembling a series of finger lakes, adding greatly to the valley's ambience. Leaving behind the Atlantic influenced greenery of the coast, you are soon immersed in a Mediterranean land of olives, vines, and picturesque, medieval hilltop villages. Our destination is the higher reaches of the valley from where we visit Salamanca - home of one of Europe’s oldest universities, two of its finest cathedrals, Spain’s finest city square and even the Inquisition!
You will adore the away-from-it-all experience and visit some of Iberia’s most beautiful medieval towns, monasteries and vineyards, and feel you have been away for months!
Day 1- Arrival in Porto
Day 2- Mateus Palace Gardens
Day 3- Castelo Rodrigo
Day 4- Salamanca
Day 5- Peso da Régua
Day 6- Lamego
Day 7- Porto
Day 8- Return Home
MS Douro Splendour
If cruising is an art, then this ship has truly mastered it; constructed with the very latest technology and a strong environmental ethic in mind, yet simultaneously retaining a classic, refined elegance reminiscent of cruising from a bygone era, this five-star, fully-air-conditioned river cruiser has been purpose-built to fit the unique size limitations of the Douro’s five locks and features all the facilities you would expect in a top-class hotel and more so your cruise will be as relaxing as possible and your stay on board will be a uniquely memorable one.
Accommodating just 121 guests in the most exquisite of surroundings, the ship’s spectacular design and high specification ensures this vessel feels exceptionally light and airy. The generous ratio of 4:1 guests per crew member ensures a first-class personal service plus the friendly ‘small ship’ feel so beloved of Riviera Travel cruise aficionados, enables the ever attentive crew to revel in taking care of all those little things – leaving you to simply sit back, relax and enjoy every minute of your sensational Spanish and Portugese river cruise experience.
Facilities
Stunning restaurant on the Main Deck serving buffet breakfast, lunch of served soups and main course with a buffet of starters, salads and desserts and four-course dinner.
Magnificent lounge and bar (where early risers' breakfast is served)
Lift from Main to Upper Deck
Laundry Service
Spa and wellness area featuring a fitness room for those of you who like to enjoy a work-out to kick-start your day
Boutique gift shop for your holiday souvenirs
Reception area open 24hrs
Outdoor swimming pool located on the Sun Deck
Thoroughly air conditioned public areas and individual heating controls in the cabins
Tea and coffee making facilities in every cabin and suite
Fact File
Currency: Euro
Flight time: 2 hrs 30 mins to 3 hrs
Language: Portuguese, Spanish
Time zone: GMT (Portugal), GMT+1 (Spain)
Country: Portugal, Spain
Wi-Fi
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship for the duration of your cruise. Please note that speeds may vary.
Visa Information
Irish Citizens do not require a visa to enter Europe however must have a valid passport. For the most up-to-date passport and visa information visit www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/
We are unable to accept responsibility if you are unable to travel because you have not complied with any passport/entry/immigration requirements.
Mobility
We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to call us to discuss these concerns. General information on mobility in connection with our tours can be found here.
Riviera Plus
Upgrade to a deluxe or superior suite, or an upper deck cabin and benefit from the luxury of Riviera Plus (subject to availability).
Transfers
All transfer times here are approximate, and dependant on traffic
Travel Concierge
Looking to add on a couple of nights pre- or post-trip? Feel like flying a day earlier or from a different airport? Or want door-to-door private transfers? Personalise your holiday with Travel Concierge.
Here's how our Travel Concierge service can help:
Add up to two nights before you sail in the destination your river cruises starts from
Add up to two nights after your cruise in the destination your river cruises ends in
Change your departure airport (depending on flight availability)
Add a stay in an airport hotel
Inclusions
Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a twin cabin with a limited number of sole occupancy cabins available on all decks, at the relevant supplement. The price includes:
Full board during your cruise from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day
Free Superior drinks package
Complimentary on-board tea and coffee
Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi (connection speeds may vary)
All visits and excursions as mentioned
Return flights
Coach travel as mentioned
Transfers from the airport to and from the port of embarkation
92 Patrick Street, Cork, Ireland Registration No 100308
Licensed by Commission Aviation Regulation
TA 0720 - Holidays 100% protected
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