Explore Portugal’s Douro Valley This Autumn with Emerald Cruises. Two additional sailing dates on this UNESCO world heritage site extend cruise season through November
Portugal’s Douro River valley is one of Europe’s most spectacular river cruise regions, especially in autumn when the surrounding hills show off in hues of green and gold.
To ensure guests can experience Portugal’s autumn magic and temperate climate, Emerald Cruises has extended their Douro sailing season with two additional sailing dates—November 18 and 25, 2023—of their popular eight-day Secrets of the Douro itinerary aboard Emerald Radiance.
Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage listed Douro Valley puts travelers in the heart of Portugal’s wine country. Most of the region’s vineyards stand upon the steep hillsides along the Douro River, Europe’s first region legally designated to produce Port, providing a stunning backdrop for river cruisers. Guests on Emerald Radiance can uncover the history of Port and other national varietals through an array of tours and activities, including a guided active walk and tasting at the beautiful Quinta do Tedo vineyards, an environmentally sound 18th-century estate creating organic produce using traditional viticulture methods. In Régua—a town instrumental in Portugal’s winemaking industry for centuries—a relaxed dinner at rural wine estate, Quinta da Pacheca, provides a uniquely local experience, while a Port wine cocktail-making class onboard introduces guests to novel ways to savor the region’s most popular beverage.
Vinho Verde—a popular Portuguese varietal that literally translates to “green wine”— grows in the coastal wine region of the same name. Guests looking to learn more can visit Quinta da Aveleda, a historic estate that produced one of the first wines in what was to become an iconic region. A DiscoverMORE tour here treats guests to an inside look at the estate, where extensive gardens and parks provide the perfect backdrop for wine tasting.
When visiting the Douro Valley in fall, guests will find also they can avoid the crowds in eclectic Porto, a city best seen by foot, wandering winding streets to take in historic architecture, sample the local cuisine and climb to a high vista for view of the river and ocean below. With Emerald Radiance’s dock located on the Porto side of the river, exploring the city’s key sights is especially easy. For those looking to see more, a guided bike tour from Porto to the Atlantic Ocean provides incredible scenery and the opportunity to keep active while on vacation.
Guests booking their 2023 Douro River sailing by June 30 will receive two-for-one fares, with pricing starting at $4,195 per person based on double occupancy for the November 18 and 25 departures. Guests who pay in full within 30 days of booking will receive free economy or premium economy air, or up to $3,000 per cabin in savings, depending on cabin category booked.
