Cruising the Douro, River of Gold with CroisiEurope
June 16-28, 2026
The Douro river offers some of the best scenery of any river cruise in Europe.
Travac Tours is pleased to be offering a special cruise on the Douro and into the heart of Portugal and Spain’s wine country at an incredible price.
Travac’s river cruise includes round trip airfare from Canada, an eight day seven night river cruise on the Douro River with refined French cuisine (three meals a day), all your drinks with meals and at the bar (specialty drinks excluded), a gala dinner and evening, a host of onboard activities, two nights’ accommodation in the vibrant city of Lisbon with breakfast daily, one night’s accommodation in Fatima, one night’s accommodation in Porto, and the services a Travac Tours Director.
Space is limited- early booking is essential to take part in this fabulous adventure!
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Ottawa to Lisbon
This late afternoon, we will depart Ottawa by chartered coach for Montreal, where we will board our overnight Air Transat flight to Lisbon.
Day 2
Arrival in Lisbon
Upon our arrival in Lisbon, we will be transferred to our hotel. Check-in is not available until mid-afternoon. Your Travac Tour Director will have a few options to help you discover this fabulous city. (B)
Your hotel for the next 2 nights – Hotel HF Fenix Urban or similar.
Day 3
Lisbon
After breakfast, we will depart for an included full-day tour of Lisbon led by a knowledgeable local guide. A stop will be made for lunch ($). Expect to return to the hotel in the early evening. (B)
Day 4
Lisbon to Fatima
We will travel North from Lisbon to Fatima after breakfast. Before checking in, we’ll visit an important religious pilgrimage site the Catholic shrine of Our Lady, one of the most famous in the world with lunch included. (B, L)
Your overnight hotel – Hotel Santa Maria or similar.
Day 5
Fatima to Porto
Enjoy breakfast before we continue north to Porto. Along the way, we’ll stop in Coimbra for a walking tour, with free time for lunch ($) before arriving in Porto. Upon arrival, you will board your ship, MS Gil Eanes, at 5:00 p.m. After settling comfortably into your cabins, join us for a welcome cocktail and crew introduction before dinner. In the evening, you may choose to take an optional CLASSIC / DISCOVERY excursion by coach to experience Porto by night. (B, D)
Your ship for the next 7 nights – MS Gil Eanes.
Day 6
Porto – Regua
Join us for the excursions proposed: CLASSIC: Guided tour of Porto. We’ll leave for Porto’s city center by coach. Our first stop will be a tour of St. Francis Church. A stone’s throw from the Douro riverbank, it is among the most symbolic buildings in Porto. We’ll then head over to see the inside of Bolsa Palace—also known as the Stock Exchange Palace—a magnificent, neoclassical mansion in the heart of the historic downtown. The next stop will be an azulejo tile workshop. This tour is a unique occasion to discover this age-long art form. We’ll return to the ship.
DISCOVERY: Touring Porto via tram and visiting the tram museum followed by a tasting of some of the local specialties in the old city.
In the afternoon, we’ll cruise through the Douro Valley with its fabulous landscapes. Enjoy an evening of dancing or time at leisure in Regua tonight. (B, L, D)
Day 7
Regua – Vega De Terron
Join us on an optional CLASSIC / DISCOVERY excursion: the Casa de Mateus and the Douro museum. We’ll leave on foot for the Douro Museum to learn about the passionate history and wine-making heritage in the region, an experience combining traditional and modern approaches. We’ll continue on by coach for Mateus Palace, a beautiful 18th-century manor in Vila Real. This baroque-style manor belonged to the same family until a foundation was set up to preserve it in 1970. The dramatic splendor and details of the complex offer a unique visual relationship between geometry and space. Enjoy a stroll through the magnificent tree- and hedge-lined gardens, which include a romantic Mexican-cedar topiary tunnel. After, we’ll return to the ship in Pinhão by coach. In the afternoon, the cruise continues to the heart of the most famous vineyards in Porto to Vega de Terron. We’ll arrive in the evening. Enjoy an evening of Flamenco entertainment. (B, L, D)
Day 8
Vega De Terron – Salamanca – Barca d’Alva
Join us for the excursions proposed:
CLASSIC: Salamanca. This town of dazzling beauty houses some extraordinary Roman, Arabic, and Christian architectural treasures.
DISCOVERY: Salamanca tapas tour.
We’ll return on board in Barca d’Alva. Enjoy an evening of entertainment. (B, L, D)
Day 9
Barca d’Alva – Ferradosa – Pinhao
This morning will be spent cruising. Join us on an optional CLASSIC / DISCOVERY excursion: Port Wine Route and Pinhão. Tonight’s our gala dinner and evening. (B, L, D)
Day 10
Pinhao – Porto
Join us on an optional CLASSIC / DISCOVERY excursion: Guided tour of Lamego. This afternoon will be spent cruising. Enjoy an evening of Fado-themed entertainment. (B, L, D)
Day 11
Porto
This morning, enjoy time at leisure in Porto. In the afternoon, join us for the optional excursions proposed:
CLASSIC: Discover Guimaraes.
DISCOVERY: Quaint Afurada.
Enjoy an evening of traditional folk entertainment. (B, L, D)
Day 12
Porto
Enjoy one final buffet breakfast on board before disembarking the ship at 9:00am. After leaving the ship, we’ll visit the WOW Museum, a unique collective of six different museums, for a self-guided experience. Lunch will be on your own at your leisure. Following the museum visit, we’ll head to the hotel in time for check-in at 3:00pm. The remainder of your day will be free. (B)
Your overnight hotel – Hotel HF Ipanema Park or similar.
Day 13
Porto to Ottawa
Early this morning you will be transferred from the hotel to the airport for your flight to Montreal. On arrival in Montreal, there will be a chartered coach for your return to Ottawa. (B)
Itinerary and hotels are subject to change. Cruise itinerary is subject to change by cruise line.
Please note this is not an appropriate tour for individuals with walking disabilities or limitations. No walkers or wheelchairs are permitted. Accessible rooms are not available.
Hotel Information
Hotel HF Fenix Urban or similar
Hotel Address
Av. António Augusto de Aguiar 14LIsbon, Portugal
1050-016
+351 21 351 5000
Hotel Santa Maria or similar
Hotel Address
R. de Santo António 79, Cova da IriaFatima, Portugal
2495-430
+351 249 530 110
MS Gil Eanes (ship)
Hotel HF Ipanema Park or similar
Hotel Address
R. de Serralves 124Porto, Portugal
4150-702
+351 22 532 2121