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Lisbon and the Heart of the Douro

Aboard Spirit of the Douro with Saga Cruises

Departure Date

12 September 2024

Duration

7 Nights

Fly Cruise From

£4,592pp

Cruise Reference

ART-3LISA19

Cruise Overview

From the wine cellars of Oporto and Mateus Palace with its exquisite gardens to the lively atmosphere of Lisbon, this holiday combines a seven night, all-inclusive cruise through the Douro Valley with a three-night hotel stay in Portugal’s capital, where an included tour will reveal some of Lisbon’s attractions.

Step aboard Spirit of the Douro and cruise to Régua to visit Mateus Palace, and continue to Vega de Térron to explore the medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo.

Cross the border to Spain to visit the UNESCO-listed city of Salamanca, before heading back to Portugal to visit a local Quinta for a port wine tasting.

See Lamego’s baroque architecture, before arriving in Oporto – the famous centre of port wine production.

Cruise Itinerary

Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century. It is a city famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square, Praça do Comércio. Today there are distinct modern and ancient sections, combining great shopping with culture and sightseeing in the Old Town, built on the city's terraced hillsides. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.

Aboard Spirit of the Douro

Launch Year: 2017 Length: 80 Width: 11 Currency: EUR Capacity: 126 Crew Count: 30 Deck Count: 4 Cabin Count:

Spirit of the Douro combines modern facilities with traditional style. Relax on a sun deck sunlounger or take a dip in the open-air splash pool as the green scenery of the Douro Valley passes by. The restaurant has panoramic windows and seats all guests in one sitting to dine on four-course dinners, buffet-style breakfasts and leisurely lunches. Other facilities aboard the ship include a small gift shop and a spa with a fitness room.

During your cruise there will also be entertainment local to the region through which you are cruising, such as Portuguese folk music.

All 63 cabins are outside facing. Cabins on the upper and main decks have floor-to-ceiling windows which open to form French balconies, while cabins on the lower deck have smaller windows that do not open. All cabins are en suite and have twin or double beds, as well as a television, hairdryer, safe and tea and coffee-making facilities.

Spirit of the Douro Facilities

Spirit of the Douro Includes

If you have any mobility restrictions, disabilities or medical needs, you'll find the information you need here. It's important to check the suitability of any holiday before you book. Our Travel Advisors will be happy to discuss this with you.

Whether you book online or via our sales team, we will ask you if you have any need for assistance at the time of booking. It's best to let us know then if you have any special requirements. To take full advantage of the assistance available, you need to pre-book no less than 48 hours before departure unless specified otherwise.

If you've already booked and now need to notify us of any special requirements please contact our Customer Care team free on 0800 373 034.

River cruises and small ships

It is important to be aware that most river vessels and small ships do not have lifts and the stairs between decks can often be steep.

Some excursions involve a fair amount of walking, sometimes over uneven surfaces.

Please also note that on river cruises and small ships it's common for two or more ships to moor alongside each other at a berth, and on these occasions you'll need to walk through the other vessels when embarking or disembarking. We are not able to confirm in advance when this will be the case.

If you have a disability or reduced mobility and are considering a river cruise or a small ship cruise, please contact one of our advisors on 0800 300 400 to discuss the suitability before booking.

Excursions

Excursions will vary in terms of how active they are. They can range from panoramic tours where the majority of sightseeing will take place from your vehicle, to strenuous activities covering uneven terrain and walking distances of over a mile.

We'll send you a detailed itinerary for your holiday at least eight weeks before departure with information regarding excursions. If you're in any doubt as to the suitability of the excursions, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss these with you.

If you require a wheelchair or scooter to take part in an excursion, this will need to be collapsible so it can be safely stored in the coach. You'll also need to be able to fold or dismantle your wheelchair or scooter yourself and lift it into the coach's luggage hold, or be accompanied by a travelling companion who can do this for you.

While we always try to use the most comfortable, well-equipped vehicles for our excursions, we are often limited by what's available in a particular destination. So regrettably, if you're unable to manage the steps on to a coach or other vehicle, you will not be able to join the excursion. This is due to the variety of vehicles used dependent on destination. In addition, as the vehicles used for excursions differ from place to place, there may be restrictions as to what mobility aids can be carried.

Cabin Details

More information coming soon.