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On June 29, 2023, Vantage filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts. All reservation activity is suspended pending the conclusion of the sale proceedings.
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Journey down Portugal’s River of Gold on a special Harvest-themed departure featuring even more Portuguese wine, viniculture, and exclusive events — including a tutorial on decanting a vintage port, multiple winery visits, and a rollicking grape stomping experience at Quinta da Avessada — all while immersing yourself in the culture of one of the world’s most beautiful wine regions. Reap the bounty of the Douro Valley on this special cruise. Space is limited — reserve yours today! *Date available: September 22
About the Harvest Wine Celebration:
Please note that on this special itinerary, winery visits may occur on days other than advertised.
Fly to Madrid
Depart the U.S. and board an overnight flight to Madrid, Spain. Or, depart earlier for your pre-trip extension to Barcelona, Spain.
Welcome to Spain! Enjoy a Welcome Dinner tonight
Arrive in Spain’s capital city. If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, our representative will meet you outside the arrivals area at the airport and assist you with your transfer to the hotel. Travelers on the optional pre-trip extension to Barcelona will meet up with fellow travelers on Day 2. Enjoy a Welcome Briefing and Dinner this evening.
Included meals:
See more of Madrid's landmarks
Explore more of vibrant Madrid on a panoramic tour by foot and motorcoach that showcases the city’s main squares — Playa Sol and Plaza Mayor — as well as the Egyptian Temple of Debod, Segovia Bridge, the Royal Palace of Madrid, Atocha Station, and more. Then, visit the city’s Mercado Central for an included tapas tasting!
Included Feature:
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Enjoy an optional guided tour of Madrid’s incredible Prado Museum. Learn more
Opened in 1819 as the Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture, the Prado Museum is one of Madrid’s most popular attractions. The museum is dedicated to the conservation and dissemination of the world’s most unique art collection and a commitment to the cultural enrichment of society. On this optional tour, you’ll enjoy a guided visit of its world-renowned exhibitions, featuring the largest holdings of Bosch, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Velázquez, and Goya.
Due to high call volume, we recommend you visit MyPortfolio to book this Destination Enhancement. Don’t wait — these optional experiences are limited to a select number of guests and are selling out fast!
Explore Madrid at your leisure
Enjoy a free day to pursue your own interests with recommendations provided by your Cruise Director. Wander the city’s many squares, shop for espadrilles and other classic Spanish products, and get your fill of tapas!
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Visit Toledo, Spain — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — on an optional full-day tour. Learn more
The city of Toledo, known as the “City of Three Cultures” and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, still preserves its original medieval layout. From the ancient fortress of Alcázar and grandiose cathedral to the old Toledo mansion house and the historic Jewish quarter, this is one of Spain’s most fascinating destinations. On a tour through its narrow, winding streets you will discover a series of incredible buildings, still very much alive both inside and out.
Discover Salamanca’s Old City
Discover the magic of Salamanca on a walking tour. Then, explore its UNESCO-listed Old City and see the town’s grand cathedral and baroque Plaza Mayor, where you can seek out churros and do some shopping and independent wandering along the town's main street. Lunch, typically tapas, will be on your own. We’ll depart for Barca d'Alva after lunch; practice your pronunciation during the drive with a with a language lesson and introduction to Portugal. Afterward, transfer to the pier and embark the m/s Douro Serenity. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink and Briefing before your first dinner on board, which includes a stirring flamenco show! Included Feature:
Savor Portugal’s culinary culture at Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
Turn back the clock 600 years today on a visit to the fortified hill town of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. A coach and walking tour takes you to the city’s old walls, 16th-century pillory, the local parish church, and more. You’ll also enjoy a small tasting of local products here, which will introduce you to the culinary culture of the area. Continuing the culinary theme today, you can later participate in an onboard demonstration of the classic Portuguese egg pastry, pastéis de nata. (You'll get to compare your recipe to a local version later in Lisbon.) You'll also enjoy an authentic Portuguese tea experience — complete with pastries — while learning about the traditions surrounding tea drinking and tea production. Included Feature:
Toast the season with a full-day Harvest Celebration at Quinta da Avessada
Today will go down as a highlight of your journey after you make a special full “Harvest Day” visit to Quinta da Avessada, hosted by Luis Barros, the estate’s fifth-generation owner. Located at the highest point on the Douro, this winery produces a staggering 30,000,000 bottles of light, fruity, fortified muscatel wine. Along with a tour of the cellars and museum, pick grapes in the vineyard, enjoy local entertainment, and channel your inner Lucille Ball during a grape stomping experience — a classic way to celebrate the culture of the UNESCO-listed Alto Douro Wine Region. Return to the ship for an afternoon at leisure. After dinner tonight, gather in the lounge for a movie and popcorn. Harvest Season Exclusive:
Lamego’s highlights, enjoy a regional quinta tasting, and the Captain's Dinner
After breakfast, get “A Look Inside Portugal” with another lecture, then visit a local quinta to sample more fantastic regional wines in yet another breathtaking Douro setting. Return to the ship for lunch as you sail to Lamego, site of your afternoon explorations. This quaint town is filled with terra-cotta rooftops, tree-lined streets, and a 700-step staircase that leads to the grand Santuário de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios. Your tour begins at the church. Then, you can descend all 700 steps and admire the surrounding gardens filled with monuments, terraces, fountains, and pretty tile mosaics. You’ll also visit a former episcopal palace that’s now the Lamego Museum, which houses a collection of works by Portuguese painter Grão Vasco. Before dinner, catch a demonstration on how to open and decant a fine vintage port in preparation for serving, followed by a tasting — the perfect prelude to tonight's delightful Captain's Dinner, complete with traditional Portuguese fado music. Harvest Season Exclusive:
Tour Régua, then sample vintages and regional delicacies at Aveleda Winery
A plethora of cultural delights awaits you today! Begin the day in Régua to visit its Museu do Douro to learn about the storied Douro River during a lecture and wine tasting. Alternately, skip the museum and explore more of the town on an active walk. Lunch is on board as the ship sails to Bitetos. Here, a short drive brings us to Aveleda Winery for an upgraded tasting of Vinho Verde and snacks, including Portuguese sausage and cheeses. Enjoy dinner on board tonight, then let music transport you back in time when local performers come on board to play favorites from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Harvest Season Exclusive:
Discover Porto and enjoy a port wine sampling at a local wine cellar
Following breakfast on board, get to know Porto better with a full city tour and panoramic drive, including a visit to the historic center — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and the market area. No visit to Porto is complete without enjoying its signature wine, of course! So, you’ll seek out port wine at one of the city’s best-known cellars. Learn about and sample the varieties of this digestif while enjoying views of Porto and the Douro River. Following dinner on board, enjoy a lively performance by a local tuna band.
Vantage Exclusive:
Cultural Connection:
Join a walking tour of Porto’s Ribeira district
Discover more of Porto with a walking tour of its oldest district, Ribeira. Located on the banks of the Douro River, Ribeira is one of Porto’s most picturesque neighborhoods. Before dinner on board, learn about Portugal's thriving cork industry in the lounge; then, let music transport you back in time when local performers come on board to play favorites from the '60s, '70s, and '80s.
Cultural Connections:
Scenic Sailing:
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Embark on an optional guided sightseeing tour of Guimarães. Learn more
On this optional excursion, you’ll visit the exceptionally well-preserved medieval town of Guimarães. As the birthplace of Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques, Guimarães’ roots in the Portuguese national identity run deep. Today, the town center is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll delve into the fascinating history of this destination and discover its medieval center, labyrinthine lanes, and picturesque plazas for yourself.
The storied walls of Óbidos and seaside Nazaré; disembarking the ship in Lisbon
This morning, say goodbye to the m/s Douro Serenity and transfer to the final city on your tour: Lisbon. On the way, stop for lunch in Nazaré, a beach town famous for its monstrous waves and surfing culture before exploring Óbidos, a town full of beauty and medieval history. Tonight, gather in the hotel restaurant for a Farewell Dinner. Included Features:
Tour Lisbon’s famed monuments and sample a culinary favorite
Begin the day with a guided panoramic and walking tour of Lisbon’s famed monuments, including Belém Tower and the courtyards of the Jeronimos Monastery, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. During your city tour, you’ll sample a classic Portuguese pastry: the mouthwatering pastéis de Belém. One taste of this creamy egg custard wrapped in buttery, flaky crust, and you’ll see why this is Portugal’s favorite treat! Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure by exploring Lisbon’s cobblestoned charm on your own, perhaps even joining your Cruise Director for a pub crawl. Included Feature:
Enjoy Lisbon at your leisure
After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll have a full day at leisure to explore more of Lisbon on your own.
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Set out on an optional tour of Sintra and Cascais, with a visit to Queluz Palace. Learn more
Embark on a coastal trek that begins at Lisbon’s ornate Queluz National Palace before exploring the town of Sintra, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its wealth of 19th-century Romantic architectural monuments. Your tour continues with a scenic drive along the coastline to the quiet fishing village of Cascais. Following a short walk, you can enjoy lunch on your own at one of the town’s many restaurants, all offering fresh regional specialties. Enjoy the picture-perfect scenery on your drive back to Lisbon.
Fly home — or head to Madeira on an optional extension
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or continue your travels by next heading to the island of Madeira on an optional extension.
Important Notice: The above day-by-day itinerary is preliminary and subject to change. If changes occur while on tour, you will be notified by your Cruise Director or regional expert. In addition, should there be an extreme change in water levels, Vantage will do everything possible to provide either the included excursion or an alternate excursion at Vantage’s discretion.
Please Note: Port times & itineraries are subject to change. Fluctuating water levels may affect itinerary.
*Note that on our special harvest itineraries, winery visits may occur on days other than advertised.