Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection passengers who pay in full by Dec. 31 can double Uniworld’s Early Booking Discount for the line’s 2010 cruises in Portugal’s Douro Valley. Uniworld will also waive the single supplement on selected departures that are booked and deposited by Dec. 31.
The Douro Valley was rated seventh on National Geographic Traveler’s sixth annual list of the World’s Great Places: 133 Destinations. In addition, UNESCO rated the Douro River Valley as a World Heritage Site in 2001. Attractions include the region’s Port wine heritage that dates back more than 2,000 years as the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. The region’s beautiful and picturesque landscape features local vineyards and farms clinging to the steep sides of the valley.
Uniworld offers cruises along the river valley through Portugal and Spain. A three-night pre-cruise stay in Lisbon, Portugal, explores the extraordinary architecture of the city and visits Coimbra, known as the Birthplace of Kings, and the Cloister of San Jeronimo.
Guided shore excursions take guests to Porto, also know as the beautiful City of Bridges with its UNESCO World Heritage-designated medieval city center and Bitetos and its famous Monastery of Alpendurada, dating from 1024, where guests can enjoy a traditional meal.
Regua, headquarters of the Port Wine Institute and Pinhao, with its tiles and famous local craft shopping, are also among the destinations. There is time to appreciate the Renaissance world of Salamanca, Spain, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and opportunities for guests to taste wonderful local wines from village vineyards, including the famed Port. They also enjoy an authentic Spanish-style lunch complete with a flamenco show and dine at the Vintage House Hotel, a magnificent 18th-century wine quinta, or farm, overlooking the Douro River.
The 126-passenger Douro Queen is the only ship on the river with a swimming pool and two whirlpools; it also has an elevator and Wi-Fi access in public rooms. Staterooms are all river view, with flat-screen televisions and L’Occitane toiletries, and the upper deck has private balconies.
Uniworld’s Douro River Valley package with three nights in Lisbon is priced from $2,099 per person, exclusive of airfare, without Lisbon from $1,699 per person, exclusive of airfare. Departures are scheduled from March 17 through Oct.27.
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