Douro River Cruising Spain and Portugal

Transcription

1 Douro River Cruising Spain and Portugal May 20 th to May 27 th 2018 With pre-cruise tour of Barcelona and post-cruise extension to the Island of Madeira I m pleased to announce another chartered cruise program from Northwest Travel Service. The Douro Region, listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, has become the top European destination for many river cruise lines. I am pleased to announce that we ll have three winemakers join us for this cruise. Chris Peterson of Avennia Winery, John Bigelow of JM Cellars and Morgan Lee of Two Vintners and Covington Cellars will share their expertise aboard ship. Uniworld utilizes one of the most luxurious ships in the region for this seven day sailing which begins and ends in Porto. As expected, this tour includes just about everything you can think of, accommodations, taxes, gratuities, shore tours, meals, and beverages of all types. To enhance this program, I ve added a 4-night tour program in the city of Barcelona. Details for this tour program are found at the end of this document. Guests should also consider a 3-night post cruise option on the Portuguese island of Madeira. I had a small group there are few years ago and have been searching for an excuse to get back.

2 Day 1 Porto, cruising the Douro River, Entre-os-Rios FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Porto city tour OR exclusive Do as the Locals Do Porto walking tour The epicenter of the Port wine industry, Porto is experiencing a booming cultural revival. Choose how you wish to experience the city, either with a panoramic tour or an intimate tour of the city on foot. Get a feel for this vibrant town, which is simultaneously profoundly urban and moodily romantic, on your panoramic tour. Take in the UNESCO-designated 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace, seeing its famous Moorish Revival style Arab Room, before visiting Porto s austere hilltop cathedral and the bustling pedestrian shopping street, Santa Catarina. For those wishing to experience the city on foot, climb 249 steps to the top of Clérigos Tower for the best view in Porto. Other views of another kind, no less spectacular, await you at the magnificent interior of the São Bento railway station. Day 2 Cruising the Douro River, Régua, Pinhão FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Douro Museum or Mateus Palace and Gardens, and dinner at a quinta. Should you wish to learn more about the region s unique winemaking history, be treated to a special lecture at the Douro Museum. If you prefer, you can visit the legendary Mateus Palace, which has one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. During the evening, enjoy a special dinner at a local quinta.

3 Day 3 Pinhão, cruising the Douro River, Vega de Terrón FEATURED EXCURSIONS:Choice of Quinta do Seixo guided tour and tasting OR Quinta da Avessada You have a choice to visit one of two quintas. Journey to Quinta do Seixo a prestigious Port wine estate for an enlightening tour of its state-of-the-art facility. Sample some of their famous Sandeman Port, learn more about the production and admire breathtaking views from the estate s tasting room. Others may prefer to enjoy a scenic drive through Pinhão before visiting Quinta da Avessada, complete with an interactive museum the first of its kind in the country, celebrating the Douro s history and culture of wine.

4 Day 4 Vega de Terrón (Salamanca), Barca d Alva FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of full day Salamanca tour OR half day scenic cruise at the Douro International Natural Park. Join a full-day excursion to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Called the Golden City for its tawny sandstone buildings, Salamanca boasts a dozen beautiful and historic churches, including two cathedrals. If you prefer a different type of experience to better understand the flora and fauna of the land, you ll want to go on a half-day scenic cruise at the Douro International Natural Park. Day 5 Barca d Alva (Castelo Rodrigo), Pocinho, cruising the Douro River, Régua FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Castelo Rodrigo and Archaeological Park of the Côa Valley Travel through wonderfully scenic countryside to the walled village of Castelo Rodrigo. Take a tour of this fascinating site that dates back to the 12th century, and while here sample delicious local treats, such as honey, olive oil and cheeses. Later in the day, venture to the UNESCO-designated Archaeological Park of the Côa Valley, considered the world s most important Paleolithic open-air rock art site.

5 Day 6 Cruising the Douro River, Porto (Guimarães) FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Guimarães city tour OR Soul of Porto Ribeira district walking tour Enjoy a panoramic city tour of historic Guimarães, Portugal s first capital and the home to its first king. The wonderfully well-preserved Old Town, with its unique architecture and charming little plazas, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively, you can explore Porto s UNESCOdesignated Ribeira district on foot. In the evening, enjoy a Gala Dinner onboard your ship.

6 Day 7 Porto (disembark), transfer to the airport Disembark the ship and transfer to Porto Airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in Porto. The Ship Queen Isabel is an intimately sized vessel with just 58 cabins on board. She was built in 2013 specifically for cruising the Douro and is one of the most luxurious ships on the river. Note: If you are comparing cabin descriptions with an older brochure or web page, the cabin categories were re-aligned for the 2017 season. Junior suites became category 1, category 1 cabins were split into category 2 & 3. Category 2 & 3 became category 4 & 5. Accommodations on board Suites (2) Upper Deck Aft Category One (18) Upper Deck Category Two (16) Main Deck Category Three (7) Main Deck Category Four (10) Lower Deck Category Five (5) Lower Deck Suites on board Beautifully appointed river view suites (323 sq ft - 30 sq m) have full balconies, hotel beds draped in fine linens with choice of pillows, built-in closets, slippers, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flatscreen television, radio, alarm clock, iphone/ipod charger and player, Nespresso and tea station, bottled water, and fresh fruit daily. Bathrooms with L'Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, a choice of bathrobes, and slippers.

7 Category One (Junior Suite in older brochure descriptions) Beautifully appointed riverview Category 1 (215 sq ft - 20 sq m)have full balconies, hotel beds draped in fine linens with choice of pillows, built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen television, radio, alarm clock, iphone/ipod charger and player, bottled water daily. Bathrooms with L'Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, a choice of bathrobes, and slippers. Category Two & Three Stateroom (161 sq ft - 15 sq m) amenities include French Balcony, built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flatscreen TV, radio, alarm clock, and bottled water. Bathroom amenities include L'Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, comfy bathrobes and slippers.

8 Category Four & Five Stateroom (161 sq ft - 15 sq m) amenities include built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flatscreen TV, radio, alarm clock, and bottled water. Bathroom amenities include L'Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, comfy bathrobes and slippers. Barcelona Tour program May 16 th -20 th When I first started looking into Barcelona as a pre-cruise destination, I thought 3 nights would be sufficient. It s been many years since I visited and the city has become a world class destination for architecture, cuisine, and wine. The tour that I ve added here as an add-on before the cruise will be four nights in Barcelona, allowing 3 full days of touring in and around the city. The Barcelona Tour includes 4 nights at a 5-star hotel located in the Eixample Section of the city Breakfast each morning Welcome cocktail Tapas Evening All hotel taxes Round trip airport/hotel/airport transportation Three full days of touring with a local guide o Modernism Architecture tour including Gaudi s Sagrada Familia o City Tour o Montserrat Monastery o Wine tasting o The Rambla o Fisherman s Market and Boqueria Market Local flight from Barcelona to Porto and transportation to the ship

9 Cost for this tour is $1645 per person, based on double. For guests wishing to pay by check, you may deduct $60 per person from the final payment. Madeira Tour Program May 27 th -30 th We fly from Porto to Funchal, the capital of Madeira for three nights on the island. We ll visit fishing villages, enjoy vistas from the island peaks, sample Madeira Wine, and enjoy the nightlife of Funchal. This tour includes the following: Air fare from Porto to Funchal, returning to Lisbon Airport/Hotel/Airport transportation Three nights in central Funchal at a 4-star property Breakfast each day Services of a local guide Walking tour of Funchal, including the Toboggan at Monte Two days of island touring by coach Two wine visits Farewell dinner This tour is limited in number to 22 guests. Extra nights are available in Madeira if you choose to extend your stay. Cost is 1495 per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement is $400. Deposit to confirm this part of the tour is $400 per person. Balance is due when the cruise balance is paid, January 31 st, As always, there is a discount for guests choosing to pay by check instead of visa/mastercard. The discount, taken at final payment, is $60 per person. Cruise pricing is per person, based on double occupancy Accommodation Uniworld NW Travel Savings Check Payment Early Booking Category Rate Rate savings Discount* Suites $7,899 $7,439 $460 $250 $200 One $6,199 $5,339 $860 $200 $200 Two $5,499 $4,939 $560 $200 $200 Three $5,199 $4,699 $500 $175 $200 Four $4,699 $4,139 $560 $150 $200 Five $4,349 $3,739 $610 $150 $200

10 Your discount increases with an early booking deduction of $200 per person for the first 40 cabins aboard ship. Save an additional $150-$250 per person by paying for your cruise by check in instead of Visa/Mastercard. Pricing includes accommodations aboard Queen Isabel for seven nights, all taxes, gratuities, meals, beverages, and shore tours coordinated by Uniworld. As we have done in the past, optional tours with a wine focus will be offered as an option. These tours will be listed in early To reserve your stateroom: A deposit of $1000 per person will confirm your reservation. A second deposit of $1500 per person is due August 31 st, Balance of payment is due January 31 st, Booking Early has its benefits Booking early will guarantee: Best choice of stateroom selection Priority for pre- and post-cruise tours Priority for limited-capacity shore tours $200 per person booking discount (first 50 cabins)

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12 FAQ for 2018 in Spain and Portugal Uniworld Experience In July 2015, Northwest Travel chartered the River Royale for seven nights in Bordeaux. My previous river cruising experience up to that time had all been with Viking River Cruises. I could not have been more pleased with my personal experience as coordinator and with the comments and reviews provided by my guests during and after the cruise. It was an easy decision to choose Uniworld for the 2017 charter on the Rhone River and this program for 2018 on the Douro. If you have enjoyed other river cruise companies, I guarantee you will love what Uniworld has elevated the experience to. Air Transportation Flight details for arrivals and departures: The ship departs from the port of Porto late in the afternoon on the 20 th. It s suggested that you plan to arrive early to take full advantage of your time aboard. You re able to board the ship as early as 1:00 PM. The ship departs from Porto to head upriver at 5:00 PM. Plan to arrive at least three hours prior to the scheduled departure. If you re not participating in the Barcelona program, consider spending a few days in Porto and environs before the cruise. There are a few carriers that will get you to Porto from the US. Lufthansa operates a connection via Frankfurt. It s likely that you will fly into Lisbon, then either take an hour-long flight to Porto or travel by train from. Tour Extensions A four-night pre-cruise tour to the Barcelona is planned, limited to 22 guests. This tour will feature three full days of touring in and around Barcelona with local guides. We ll see the architecture of Gaudi, shop local markets, see the Barcelona nightlife, and visit wine producers on our way to see the monastery at Montserrat. Your flight will be arranged from Barcelona to Porto as part of this tour. A 3-day post-cruise extension to the island of Madeira will be offered departing from Porto to the island capital of Funchal. We ll employ the services of a local guide, tour the island s mountain region participate in the thrilling Monte Toboggan, and sample the wine that put Madeira on the map. The tour includes flights from Porto to Funchal, returning to Lisbon. More details for this tour will be released in the next few weeks.

13 Aboard Ship The order of the day is casual. There is no reason to pack any formal wear for your time aboard. The cruise line asks that you dress appropriately for dinner and evening time. There will be evening events scheduled both on and off ship. You need not be concerned with motion during the cruise. River cruise ships are not subject to the same type of side to side motion common to ocean-going vessels. There are three scheduled meals per day with table sizes ranging from two to ten guests. Seating is not assigned. Dine with a group of friends each evening or mix it up to enjoy your meal with friends met along the way. Wine, beer, and liquor are included with your cruise. Documentation You ll need a valid passport, which much have at least 6 months validity from the date of entry in France. No additional visa is needed for US or Canadian citizens. Your stateroom The Queen Isabel was launched in She holds 116 guests in a variety of stateroom configurations and sizes. Some cabins offer picture windows, while others provide French or full-sized balconies. Determine what s right for you by looking over the cabin descriptions above or visiting the webpage at: Dining The ship provides three meals a day, beginning with a breakfast buffet, plated lunch and dinner. Tables are not assigned. You re free to dine with different group of friends each evening. The ship is able to accommodate a wide range of dietary restrictions and allergies. Sightseeing All shore tours offered by the cruise line are included in the cost of your tour. There will be additional wine touring options arranged by Northwest Travel at additional cost. I anticipate that additional wine visits will cost approximately $30-$45 each, mostly to cover transportation costs. Early booking guests will earn priority in selecting these tour options. Early booking incentive Guests who book early will have priority in stateroom selection. In additional, early booking will secure priority in selecting optional wine touring throughout the week and well as precruise and post-cruise tour extensions, which will be limited to 22 guests for each tour. A $200 (per person) early booking discount is in place until the first 40 staterooms are booked.

14 Weather May is an excellent time to visit the region. Summer tourists have not yet arrived, and the weather is fairly moderate with average temperatures ranging from in Lyon to in Avignon. Both locations average about 1.5 inches of rain for the month. We ll have over 14 daylight hours for touring in May. Porto is on the coast, so you get a marine climate, with lower temperatures. You should expect to see temperatures around 70 degrees. Porto has about 8 rainy days in the month of May, getting sunnier toward the end of the month. As the ship moves upriver away from the coast, temperatures will increase to a May average of 75. Port or Starboard? Which side should I choose? The ship sails round trip out of Porto. The benefit of port and starboard side is shared, so there is no particular reason to choose one side over another. Deposit and payment schedule Payments made to Northwest Travel Service are non-refundable. If you need to cancel, I will do everything possible to find someone to take your place. Cancellation insurance is an option to protect your deposit. Trip cancellation will cost between 6% and 10% of the total cost of your tour. Please request details about insurance when you make your reservation. An initial deposit of $1000 per person is required to hold your reservation. An additional deposit of $1500 per person is due by August 31 st with the balance due by January 31 st, What if I need to cancel my cruise? Because payments are nonrefundable, travel insurance is suggested. Both of the companies listed below have a policy rate calculator online. Enter the cost of your tour and personal data to receive a no-obligation cost estimate. Two recommended companies are: CSA Travel Protection Travelex Insurance Cancellation insurance will range in price based on the cost of your travel and the age of the applicant. Get a quote at the websites above before making a purchase. If you have a preexisting condition to cover, you usually must purchase your policy within 2 weeks of the initial deposit. To Book your accommodation for this cruise/tour program, visit:

15 or send the passenger data on the following page to Brad Cilley at Northwest Travel Service. address is The physical mailing address is printed below. Links for more information: Barcelona Gaudi Architecture Montserrat Monastery Porto Portugal Castelo Rodrigo Douro Valley Madeira Island Funchal More details will be added as the program develops. If you have any questions about this tour, please contact Brad Cilley at or by phone at Brad Cilley Northwest Travel Service th Place SE Issaquah, WA

16 To Book your tour, provide the following information: Passenger 1 Name* Date of birth Passenger 2 Name Date of birth address Daytime phone Mailing address Category Cabin requested Barcelona pre-cruise yes no Madeira post-cruise yes no Form of payment (select one) Check Credit Card Card number expiration date If you have additional questions, please contact me at the number below or me at brad@nwtravel.com. For updated information, visit us at Brad Cilley Northwest Travel Service th Place Southeast Issaquah, WA brad@nwtravel.com