Selected Itinerary
Welcome to Porto. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the ship where a warm welcome awaits you from your Captain and crew as you board your luxury Emerald Radiance river cruise ship. Tonight, enjoy dinner on board with your fellow travellers. Your Cruise Director will also conduct a port talk to review the activities and itinerary for the days ahead.
EmeraldPLUS: Sunset Cruise Through Porto
Meals Included: Dinner
Today, enjoy a full day sailing the windy turns and twists of the Douro Valley. A UNESCO world heritage site this area is sparsely populated by small quaint villages and typical communities working vineyards and small farms. In the afternoon, your Cruise Director will host a lecture on board showcasing the history and wine culture of the region. Later, arrive in the village of Pinhão which is situated on a river bend surrounded by terraced hillsides producing some of the world’s best Port. Tonight, your captain will be delighted to host the welcome dinner and cocktail reception.
EmeraldPLUS: Cooking Demonstration on Board
EmeraldACTIVE: Yoga Lesson on Board
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin your day with a visit to a beautiful Quinta vineyard in the heart of the Douro Valley. Alternatively, join the EmeraldACTIVE walk through the vineyards. Later, sail to Vega de Terrón, your gateway into Spain.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Walk through Vineyards
EmeraldPLUS: Cocktail Lesson on board
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Founded in Roman times, the city of Salamanca is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, the seat of the Spanish language, and still a lively student town. Board your coach this morning in Vega de Terrón and travel to this beautiful golden city for a guided walking tour passing through its grand squares and medieval structures, where you will feel like stepping back in time. Tapas bars feature on every street and traditional Spanish music trickles out of buzzing bars and restaurants. You will also have plenty of free time to explore independently before returning to the ship later this afternoon.
EmeraldPLUS: Local Entertainment
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, arrive in Pocinho and either embark on an excursion to the Côa Valley Museum or take part on the Emerald Active canoeing experience. The Côa Valley Museum is a concrete structure that details pre-historic stone carvings made by the early inhabitants of the Douro, which were uncovered during the construction of the nearby dam. Later return to your ship for lunch and enjoy your idyllic surroundings as you sail towards Régua.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Canoeing Experience
EmeraldACTIVE: Yoga Lesson on Board
EmeraldPLUS: This evening your highlight dinner will be hosted at a traditional rural wine estate in the Régua area
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will have a choice to visit the marvelous baroque village of Lamego and the picturesque Our Lady of Remedies Sanctuary where history stands still. As part of your EmeraldACTIVE feature, walk up the stairs of the Our Lady of Remedies Sanctuary.
EmeraldACTIVE: Walking up the Stairs of the Sanctuary
EmeraldACTIVE: Yoga Lesson on Board
EmeraldPLUS: Mosaic Tile Painting Lessons on Board
DiscoverMORE: Visit to Mateus Manor House with wine tasting (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Located at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto is a fascinating eclectic mix of modern and ancient architecture. Enjoy your city tour passing by numerous landmarks of this beautiful city.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Active Walking Tour
DiscoverMORE: Visit to Guimarães (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast disembark your river cruise ship and transfer to Porto airport for your flight to Lyon. In Lyon, you will be transferred to the new ship journey.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Chalon–Sur–Saône is best known as the birthplace of photography and the center of Burgundy’s wine region. Travel by road to the quaint village of Beaune, where we visit the Hospices de Beaune, one of the finest examples of French fifteenth–century architecture. Marvel at the multi–colored roofs of this former hospital, now a museum, which has become one of the symbols of Burgundy.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lyon is France’s third largest city, a former Roman capital positioned at the conference of the Rhone and Saone rivers, which is steeped in history. Today be part of the guided tour of Lyon, which starts with a drive to the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, Lyon’s hilltop church, with stunning views over the town. Then, pass by the recently re–discovered Roman amphitheatre and walk through the cobbled streets of the gastronomic old town including the secret laneways. Alternatively, join a guided bike tour of Lyon.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Bike Tour
DiscoverMORE: Tour to Perouges (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Join your local guide for a walking tour of Tournon, which is dominated by the 16th century castle and roman ruins, and is nestled in the valley near the steep slopes of le Massif Central, France's 3rd largest mountain range. The area has a long tradition in wine making, including the renowned wine growing centre of Tain l'Hermitage across the river.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided active walk through vineyards
EmeraldPLUS: Regional wine lecture on board
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided bike tour to Glun
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arrive in Viviers, a town which still has a lot of flare. Viviers is also the home of one of France’s oldest cathedrals, join an included city tour exploring all the architectural heritage of this quaint town.
EmeraldPLUS: Cheese and olive tasting on board
DiscoverMORE: Tour to Grignan (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Avignon has a rich history from Celtic beginnings to being the residence of the Popes and later central to the French Revolution. Although a fortified town, it is the Papal Palace which stands more secure on a hill in the centre of town; its walls are 17–18 feet thick. Your guided walk with a local guide takes you through this historic centre with its cobbled laneways and shops, overlooking the famous 'Pont d’Avignon'. The rest of the day is at leisure.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided active hike in Avignon
EmeraldACTIVE: Yoga Lesson on Board
EmeraldPLUS: Provençale dinner hosted by local Chef Fabien Morreale
DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Pont du Gard (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail into Arles where you will join your local guide for a walking tour showcasing the highlights of the city in particular the 2000-year-old Roman Amphitheatre still in use today, which was originally built to hold 20,000 spectators in the style of the Colosseum in Rome. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax on board and explore Arles further.
DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast disembark your river cruise ship in Arles, transfer to Nice airport for your onward or homebound flight.
Please note: Pre release itinerary subject to change
Meals Included: Breakfast