Day 1 - Saturday - Aug 26, 2023
Welcome to Barcelona, the vibrant capital of Catalonia. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your centrally located hotel for a three-night stay. Meet your tour director and fellow passengers for a welcome dinner.
Day 2 - Sunday - Aug 27, 2023
Your city tour today takes in Montjuic, the picturesque hill overlooking the city and former Jewish settlement. Visit Sagrada Familia - the famous cathedral designed by Gaudi whose controversial and intricate design is reflected in much of Barcelona's architecture. Stroll the famous corridor of Las Ramblas where street performers feature on every corner, through the old town with its twisting lanes and historic buildings. The rest of your afternoon is at leisure. Tonight, enjoy dinner at an authentic Catalan farmhouse.
Day 3 - Monday - Aug 28, 2023
Enjoy a full day at leisure today. Your tour director will be on hand to assist you in planning your day. Perhaps visit the Bullring, the magnificent Camp Nou stadium, or relax along the waterfront area.
Day 4 - Tuesday - Aug 29, 2023
Journey by high-speed train to Madrid. On arrival, transfer to your centrally located hotel for a two-night stay. Your sightseeing tour includes the Sabatini Gardens, the 18th-century Royal Palace of Madrid, and an orientation tour of the downtown Austrian Quarter - featuring the Plaza Mayor, a grand square re-modelled in the 16th century. Tonight, enjoy a dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 5 - Wednesday - Aug 30, 2023
Enjoy a full day at leisure today in the capital of Spain. Your tour director will be on hand to assist. Perhaps visit the Prado Museum, home to some of the finest collections of European art dating from the 12th century.
Day 6 - Thursday - Aug 31, 2023
Travel south and visit Consuegra, famous for the best examples of Spanish windmills, and the home of the Spanish knights. Arrive in Cordoba, a city known for its blend of Jewish and Moorish influences; included is a one-night stay.
Day 7 - Friday - Sep 1, 2023
Your morning guided tour takes in the Aljama Mosque - one of the most emblematic examples of Islamic art, famously featuring a Christian cathedral inside it. After free time for lunch, continue onto Granada for a one-night stay and enjoy a walking tour of the city center and a free evening.
Day 8 - Saturday - Sep 2, 2023
Granada is home to the impressive Alhambra Palace - one of Spain's most recognizable Moorish structures, completed in the 14th century when Spain was largely occupied by Muslim invaders from North Africa. Visit this impressive UNESCO World Heritage site. En route to Malaga, enjoy a home hosted lunch in Alfarnatejo, a typical Andalusian village. Continue to Malaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol, for a two-night stay.
Day 9 - Sunday - Sep 3, 2023
This morning, take a guided walking tour of Malaga seeing the Alcazaba Walls and Gibralfaro Castle. Visit the Alcazaba Fortress, the best-preserved Moorish fortress-palace in Spain. This afternoon and evening are at leisure to go to the beach, stroll the shops and promenade, and relax.
Day 10 - Monday - Sep 4, 2023
| Gibraltar, United Kingdom |
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The rock of Gibraltar is a territory of the United Kingdom that sits at the mouth of the Mediterranean at the very foot of Spain. For many centuries, it has been an important strategic port for the British Navy, and the sovereignty rights of its inhabitants have been carefully protected till the present day. Visit the Rock which is home to Barbary apes and diverse birdlife as well as the old town dotted with traditional English pubs. Continue onto Seville for a two-night stay and check into your hotel where dinner is included in a local restaurant.
Day 11 - Tuesday - Sep 5, 2023
Seville is the capital of Andalucia. Visit the impressive 15th-century Cathedral built on the site of the former mosque, incorporating the famous Bell Tower as part of its structure. During your free afternoon, wander the windy laneways of the old town and visit Seville's wonderful Plaza de Espana or possibly discover Alcazar.
Day 12 - Wednesday - Sep 6, 2023
Travel through the Aracena mountain range into Portugal. Arrive in the capital of Lisbon in the afternoon and settle into your centrally located hotel for a three-night stay, where a sumptuous dinner is included tonight.
Day 13 - Thursday - Sep 7, 2023
Join your local guide for a city tour of this fascinating city, one of the oldest in Europe. View the impressive Belem Tower and see the Monument to the Discoveries celebrating Portugal's standing as one of the great exploring kingdoms of Europe. Enjoy a tasting of local pastries and a visit to Jeronimos Monastery, the rest of the day is at leisure to explore the old town or visit the famous castle.
Day 14 - Friday - Sep 8, 2023
Enjoy a full day at leisure in Lisbon to maybe shop or further explore the old town and waterfront.
Day 15 - Saturday - Sep 9, 2023
Travel north to Porto. Embark on your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship and be welcomed by your captain and crew of the Emerald Radiance.
Day 16 - Sunday - Sep 10, 2023
Relax onboard today and enjoy a full day of sailing through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Douro Valley. This fascinating area was inscribed because it hones in on two millennia of wine-producing history, where viticulture has shaped the surrounding landscape and small sleepy villages are peppered with dozens of sun-drenched vineyards. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner and cocktail reception.
Day 17 - Monday - Sep 11, 2023
| Quinta do Tedo, Portugal, Portugal |
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Begin your day with a visit to the beautiful Quinta do Tedo vineyard in the heart of Portugal's Douro Valley, nestled on the confluence of the Douro and Tedo rivers. This 18th-century estate is environmentally sound, creating organic produce by using traditional viticulture methods. Alternatively, enjoy a guided walk through local vineyards, stopping along the way to admire your surroundings. This afternoon, enjoy sailing to Vega de Terron, perhaps relaxing on the Sun Deck.
Day 18 - Tuesday - Sep 12, 2023
Founded in Roman times, the ancient city of Salamanca and its UNESCO World Heritage-listed old quarter have an illustrious past, having been held by the Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors. Travel to the beautiful golden city for a walking tour, starting among the postcard-worthy galleries and arcades that adorn Plaza Mayor. You will have the opportunity to see Casa de las Conchas, a building that has been lovingly decorated with more than 300 shells.
Day 19 - Wednesday - Sep 13, 2023
This morning, arrive in Pocinho where you'll have the opportunity to embark on a canoeing excursion or to visit the Coa Valley Museum. Later, return to your ship for lunch and soak up your idyllic surrounds as you sail towards Regua while taking part into a Port wine cocktail lesson onboard. A rural dinner at a wine estate is certain to be a highlight of your trip.
Day 20 - Thursday - Sep 14, 2023
Today, on an included excursion, you will visit the marvellous Baroque village of Lamego, stopping to see the picturesque Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies, a structure that stands gracefully over the town.
Day 21 - Friday - Sep 15, 2023
Located at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto is a fascinating eclectic mix of modern and ancient architecture. Famous for its exports of Port wines, it's easy to imagine how British merchant ships would have once clustered together in the medieval harbour, waiting to take Port wines across the water. Your included tour of the coastal city will touch on the fortified structures of Castelo da Foz and Castelo do Queijo, a building whose pentagonal facades overlook the ocean. This evening, enjoy a charming evening cruise shining a different light on Porto's skyline.
Day 22 - Saturday - Sep 16, 2023
After breakfast, it's time to say farewell to your fellow guests, taking memories of sun-drenched vineyards with you. This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above.
