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Douro Explorer

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To book this holiday please contact our Travel Experts directly on

or

A relaxed, sun-kissed cruise

Board the sleek A-ROSA ALVA for a voyage that begins and ends in friendly, authentic Porto. After a first night here, sail east to delightful wine-producing Pinhão, where you will sample port wines and enjoy an included tour and dinner in the stunning setting of a local vineyard, and then on to Spains Vega de Terrón. Turning back downstream, youll head to Barca DAlva, gateway to great the Spanish city of Salamanca which we will visit on an included excursion! After a second night in pretty Pinhão, a final call is made at Régua, where vineyards have lined the river and covered the hillsides for over 2000 years.

Return to Porto with its old town clinging haphazardly to granite bluffs, the colourful, rambling UNESCO-listed riverside Ribeira district, and, across the river, wine-producing Vila Nova de Gaia. With plenty of time to enjoy the ships spacious top-deck, passing sun-kissed days and evenings under the stars, as well as opportunities to step ashore or explore some wonderful places on optional shore excursions, this is river cruising at its most glorious.

Taste the Destination

We'll complement our delicious international dining with the very best authentic Portuguese cuisine. Here's a sample of what to expect...

The main event

Alentejo-style pork - a delicious combination of marinated pork shoulder and clams in a white wine and red pepper sauce

Traditional flavours

Octopus à lagareiro - a traditional baked recipe of potatoes, octopus, garlic, pepper and chopped parsley

Something sweet

Pastel de nata - iconic Portuguese custard tarts



Customer Experiences

Take a look at some of the highlights and experiences shared by our customers

1/3

Fabulous trip on the river Douro from Porto to Salamanca in July. Dramatic scenery and interesting stops.

What does this price include?

  • Seven nights' Premium All-Inclusive cruise accommodation
  • Return travel from the UK to Porto (unless you select our Tour Only option)
  • Included coach transfers to the ship (unless you select our Tour Only option)
  • Portuguese evening at a local vineyard with traditional music, aperitif, a short vineyard tour and meal with wine.
  • Free Wi-Fi on board
  • On-board activities and entertainment
  • Gourmet buffet dining with live cooking stations
  • Flexible mealtimes
  • A FREE unlimited Premium All-Inclusive drinks package including water, soft drinks, speciality teas and coffees, beer, wine, spirits and cocktails throughout the day and evening
  • Occasional regional treats and specialities to complement your destination that day
  • Afternoon tea with freshly prepared cakes and pastries
  • 15 per cent off on a range of beauty and wellness treatments in the on-board spa, SPA-ROSA
  • The services of a Cruise Director and experienced English-speaking crew
  • All port taxes and surcharges

Your Itinerary

View a full breakdown of your holiday to help you plan your trip

  • Fly, or make your own way, to Porto, and board A-ROSA ALVA, your home-from-home for your cruise on the Golden River, at the quayside. As the ship does not sail until the morning, you'll have the chance to step ashore after you've settled in to your cabin, and before or after you’ve enjoyed your first gourmet buffet dinner on board.

  • This morning, A-ROSA ALVA slips away to begin your journey up-river, passing through the gorges beyond the city and out into the countryside. This morning you’ll cruise past the dams at Crestuma/Lever and Carrapatelo, make a short call at Régua for those joining shore excursions, and meander on through ever more beautiful scenery to tiny, picture-book Pinhão, which stands on the Douro's north bank surrounded by vineyard-covered hills. 

    This evening enjoy a traditional Portuguese evening at a local vineyard. You'll be welcomed with traditional music and an aperitif, and a short vineyard tour followed by a traditional Portuguese meal with wine.

     

  • This morning, you will be treated to another included off-ship experience - the opportunity to enjoy port wine tasting at one of the finest Douro Valley estates, Quinta da Roeda.

    In the afternoon A-ROSA ALVA will continue her cruise towards the Spanish border, where the Douro becomes the Spanish Duero, and you spend the night in sleepy Vega de Terrón, at the easternmost point of the cruise.

  • This morning brings an opportunity to enjoy an included excursion to Salamanca, said to be the most beautiful city in Spain, to see its Baroque sandstone buildings and two sumptuous cathedrals. Later, A-ROSA ALVA begins her languid downstream journey towards the tiny hamlet of Barca d’Alva, for an afternoon spent among its almond trees. If it’s a clear night, don’t miss the opportunity to stargaze from the top deck this evening, taking advantage of the famously unpolluted skies.

  • Slipping away from Barca d’Alva at breakfast time, you’ll cruise back downstream, pausing briefly at Pocinho and its dam, to arrive once more in idyllic Pinhão by early evening. Don’t miss the the town's lovely railway station and its exquisite tiles depicting the grape harvest, as you spend another night beneath Pinhão's rolling hills.

  • We return to Regua this morning, youll be familiar by now with the pretty historic centre here. Take a walk to the popular viewing platforms São Leonardo da Galafura and São Salvador do Mundo and enjoy the panoramic views of the river landscape. Why not join an excursion to the Mateus Palace and Gardens. You might just recognise it from somewhere - the rosé wine label of the same name!  This afternoon, enjoy scenic sailing along the Douro before arriving in Leverinho. This evening, you'll be fully immersed in authentic Portuguese culture with time at leisure to explore the town's waterfront and neighbouring Lixa.

     

  • This morning, set off from Leverinho for the final leg of your journey along the Douro, stopping in Portugal's second city, Porto. This northern Portuguese city has many links to the UK, most particularly the production of port wine. Visit a wine cellar and appreciate this famous tipple – its a must here! The atmospheric centre, the Ribeira, is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Its a glorious maze of crumbling rainbow-coloured buildings presiding over winding cobbled streets. Discover the shining azulejo facades on church walls and town houses. Optional tours of Porto and Guimaraes are available if youd like to explore with an expert.

  • Bid "Adeus" to your ship and her crew, as you begin your journey home.

Dates & Prices

To book this holiday please contact our Travel Experts directly on

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Accommodation

A-ROSA ALVA

Each of A-ROSA's elegant river cruise vessels has been built specifically for the river upon which it sails, offering spacious, contemporary public areas, light, bright cabins and a casual-yet-stylish cruising experience.

View Ship

Further Information

  • If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

  • Optional excursions are available on all cruises. If the number of bookings needed to operate any excursion is not reached, the excursion may be cancelled.

  • Tipping is not compulsory, but from experience we know that many passengers like to leave gratuities for the crew. At the end of the cruise you will find a tip box for the entire crew at the reception and the suggested amount is five Euros per guest per day. Of course, you are free to tip individual crew members at any time, should you wish.

  • All ships have stairs, are not equipped with lifts, and may not be suitable for passengers with restricted mobility. Wheelchairs cannot be used on board.

  • The dress code on board and ashore is comfortable and casual; we recommend that you bring sturdy footwear for excursions. For the restaurant we recommend smart casual dress. Please remember to bring warmer clothes for evenings out on deck.

  • Wi-Fi is provided free of charge in accordance with A-ROSA's conditions of use. You can request a login and password from reception. Internet reception is limited and will vary from location to location.

  • Where possible, we recommend non-rigid suitcases as these are easier to store within your cabin.

  • In your cabin you will find a safe installed in the wardrobe, a hairdryer, bathrobes and slippers, insect screens and pool towels. The power supply in your cabin is 220 V/50 Hz. All sockets are European two-pin, meaning you will need to bring an adaptor.

  • All A-ROSA vessels are air-conditioned throughout, with individual climate control in each cabin.

  • The water on board is potable and bottled water is provided in your cabin.

  • On rare occasions, the Captain may need to alter the Cruise Itinerary. If this happens, the Cruise Manager will keep passengers informed.

  • Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Why book with us

The smallest details are what matter the most when it comes to your holiday, and we aim to elevate every experience you encounter on each one of our award-winning tours.

Complete financial protection

We offer complete financial protection through our membership of ABTA and our ATOL licence, giving you total peace of mind with regards to your money.

Dedicated tour managers and local guides

Every one of our holidays is escorted by friendly, dedicated tour managers and local guides. It's their local knowledge that will turn your wish-list holidays plans into lifelong memories.

Award-winning service

We've won more than 70 awards during our 40-year history, and best of all, you've voted us winners at the British Travel Awards 11 years in a row.

Available 24/7

Wherever you are in the world, you'll be able to contact us. There are many ways to get in touch, and we promise you'll always be speaking to a human, not a computer.

So much included

The price you pay includes all your travel, accommodation, touring itinerary, tour manager and much more. There's no need to pay for annoying extras you weren't expecting with us either.

Holding your hand

Wherever you choose to go next, our team of experts are on hand to assist you before, during and after your holiday, so you can focus on relaxing and enjoying your experience.

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0330 341 1927

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Good Friday (29th March) 10am to 4pm
Saturday (30th March) 9am - 5pm
Easter Sunday (31st March) CLOSED
Easter Monday (1st April) 10am - 4pm