Portugal's River of Gold
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Joy of Travel on Portugal's River of Gold
with our founder, Joy Crutchfield, as your hostess
October 10-22, 2025
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Joy of Travel on Portugal's River of Gold with our founder, Joy Crutchfield, as your hostess.
Immerse yourself in the luxury of an Avalon River Cruise while enjoying the hidden gem of river cruising, the breathtaking Douro River Valley.
Joy sailed on the inaugural voyage of the Avalon Alegria on the Douro in March 2024 and loved it so much she returned and chose it for the 20th Anniversary destination.
Her package includes not only your 7-night Douro river cruise in a luxury panoramic suite onboard the newly christened Avalon Alegria, but also a four-night pre-cruise tour of Lisbon (she added a pre-trip arrival night in Lisbon just to help with jet lag and to avoid the complications of flight delays, etc.), round trip transfers, travel insurance, and prepaid tips. All that is missing are your flights.
Travel dates are October 10-22, 2025
With our group discount your price for this amazing package is $15,364 per couple on the top deck of the ship. There is a $50 per person discount for middle deck cabins.
Take a look at the day-to-day details, then call Joy to secure your space today. Remember, there is also an extra night in Lisbon (4 total) with free time to enjoy the city before the event begins.
405-885-8900 or Joy@thejoyoftravel.net
PS We can remove the entire Lisbon component to this package if time constraints would prevent you from traveling for this length of time. In which case you would cruise round trip from Porto. This ship is already over 50% sold out. Please call Joy asap to secure your cabin.
Contact Joy at
405-885-8900 or
Joy@thejoyoftravel.net
Day-to-day Itinerary
Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro with 3 Nights in Lisbon
11 Days from Lisbon to Porto
Vacation overview
Explore the dreamy Douro River and discover why its name translates to ‘River of Gold’ as you sail on its gleaming waters through Portugal’s breathtaking panoramic beauty. Marvel at the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, cozy towns, and charming villages while sailing through some of the most spectacular views of Portugal. Before sailing, begin your vacation your way with a three-night stay in beautiful Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Enjoy guided sightseeing to see the city highlights, including Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. Join an excursion to magnificent Palacio Nacional de Sintra. Stop in Coimbra for a city sightseeing tour before reaching Porto where you will board your Avalon Suite Ship® to start a delightful river cruise across Portugal!
Like a blue ribbon threading through the green Douro Valley, the River Douro carries you through some of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes. Meaning “River of Gold,” the Douro River lives up to its name by revealing priceless gems along sloping vineyards and sleepy villages where rugged landscapes have been tamed for centuries to produce a bounty of wines and cuisine. Welcome aboard the newest addition to our award-winning fleet of Suite Ships® – the Avalon AlegriaSM to be swept away by Douro’s timeless treasures and traditions, family farms and fevered Fado music, and mouth-watering culinary creations in the world’s oldest demarcated wine region.
Embark on your Suite Ship® in the city of Porto with the opportunity for an optional guided culinary tour to indulge in the city’s world-famous cuisine. Take a guided tour to Braga and Guimarães or explore ancient architecture, including a visit to the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque. Enjoy a guided tour in the charming towns of Peso da Régua and Lamego, where historical sights are mixed with delicious tastings, or meet the owner of one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley to sample the proud traditions of olive oil and wine. Take a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, where vineyards and granite houses dot the river shores. Consider a fascinating guided tour to Vila Nova de Foz Côa, home of the remarkable Côa Valley Palaeolithic discoveries – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a cozy village with narrow streets, flowered houses, and grand Gothic Manueline windows or choose a full-day experience in Spain with a guided sightseeing excursion to Salamanca. Immerse yourself in an emotionally stirring experience in Portugal’s city of Amarante.
Your Douro River cruise returns to Porto to soak in the scenic mysteries of this city’s Historical Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These and countless other treasures await you on the River of Gold in Portugal’s dazzling Douro Valley.
Itinerary Details
Day 1 LISBON, PORTUGAL
Welcome to Lisbon.
Your day in Lisbon is free to explore at your leisure.
Day 2 LISBON
Portuguese Treasures
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Explore Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, with a Local Guide. Do not miss the must-see sights, including Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries.
You might opt to join an optional gastronomic walking tour to learn about the authentic flavors, aromas, and traditions of Portugal.
This evening you might join an optional excursion including a traditional Portuguese dinner, followed by a live concert of traditional Portuguese Fado music.
Day 3 LISBON. EXCURSION TO SINTRA AND VISIT OF PALÁCIO NACIONAL
A Resplendent Royal Residence
CLASSIC EXCURSION
This morning, join us on a guided excursion to Sintra, where you will visit the National Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, drive to Cabo da Roca and enjoy some free time in the Western most point of continental Europe.
Day 4 LISBON–COIMBRA–PORTO (EMBARKATION)
Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Stop in Coimbra for a guided city sightseeing tour. Accompanied by a Local Guide, you’ll explore the historical area of the city and learn all about the oldest university in Portugal, and one of the oldest in the world.
Transfer to Porto to board your Avalon Suite Ship®
Enjoy dinner and explore the ship on your first night on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO
Day 5 PORTO–PORTO ANTIGO. EXCURSION BRAGA AND GUIMARÃES
Portuguese Panoramas
Visit the Adventure Center on board for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
DISCOVERY EXCURSION
Step back in time within the walls of the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque with a fascinating introduction to its symbolism and architecture. Enjoy an excursion with an exclusive visit to one of the most iconic monasteries of the Romanesque era with entrance to a XIII century church and be enchanted by sounds of Gregorian Chant from the high choir, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Enter a world of Celtic history and the reign of Cesar Augustus where five roads diverged to form an empire with a full-day guided tour of Braga. Marvel at the magnificent castle and San Miguel church in Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Celebrate your experience with a stop at one of the area’s many wine farms and enjoy a tasting.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO ANTIGO
Day 6 PESO DA RÉGUA
Pastoral Pleasures of Portugal
DISCOVERY EXCURSION
Experience life on one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley with a personal tour by the owner of the house, including an olive oil and wine tasting, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Take a guided walking tour of the charming town of Régua —with its religious architecture, narrow streets, beautiful tiles, and stained-glass window of Casa do Douro. Continue to Lamego to visit the cathedral, followed by a delicious tasting of bola de Lamego and sparkling wine in a local pastry shop.
Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy free time in Pinhão to browse the artisanal markets for woven textiles, terra cotta creations, and culinary delights, or consider joining an optional excursion to learn about the Douro Valley’s “liquid gold” at a traditional olive-oil mill.
This afternoon, consider an optional excursion to Casa de Mateus.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PINHÃO
Day 7 POCINHO
Written in Stone
Enjoy a relaxing cruise to Pocinho for a day in the Terra Quente region.
DISCOVERY EXCURSION
Discover Vila Nova de Foz Côa at the eastern terminal of the legendary Douro Railway line. Marvel at the amazing archaeological site along the River Côa where a wealth of remarkable prehistoric rock paintings and carvings were discovered as the most significant collection of Palaeolithic figurations known today. OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Join a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, a charming village nestled between the nearby mountains filled with vast vineyards and granite houses. This little suburb is filled with Roman, Medieval, and modern ruins.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BARCA D’ALVA
Day 8 BARCA D’ALVA. EXCURSION TO SALAMANCA
The Reign in Spain
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Join our guide for a guided tour this morning to of one of the most remote villages of the country, Freixo de Espada à Cinta village in the Douro International Natural Park, home to majestic birds of prey, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Get a taste of Spain with a full-day excursion to Salamanca. This Spanish city will take your breath away with its stunning streets and squares, featuring a feast for the eyes with Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and "Plateresque" architecture. Dive into a delicious dish of the traditional Spanish delicacy, tostón asado (traditional roast suckling pig).
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN FERRADOSA
Day 9 FERRADOSA–LEVERINHO. EXCURSION TO AMARANTE
Painted Tiles & Passionate Tunes
During your morning sailing, a professional painter will guide you through the process of painting an azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile) to take home a piece of Portugal’s tradition. You may alternatively join an onboard pastry demonstration.
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Join a guided sightseeing tour of Amarante – poised against a breathtaking backdrop of the great Serra do Marão mountain and the Tâmega River, which courses through the heart of the city and assortment of houses lining the riverbanks.
Later, feel the passion of Portugal’s soulful and stirring Fado music during a visit with local musicians on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LEVERINHO
Day 10 PORTO
Ancient Charm Meets Avant-Garde
ACTIVE EXCURSION
Enjoy the wharfs of the Douro River and the coastal magnificence of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, on a bicycle and accompanied by a professional biologist tour guide, OR;
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Join a guided sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Continue your experience with a ride to the riverside city of Matosinhos and up Avenida da Boavista to admire some of the modern charms of Porto – from ancient avenues to avant-garde graffiti street art, OR:
This afternoon, you may choose to join in a guided optional excursion such as a scenic canal cruise on the Aveiro (Venice of Portugal) or explore a family-owned factory to witness the Portuguese art of cork and barrel production. Perhaps simply spend time strolling through Porto’s cobblestone lanes, lovely shops, and tempting tapas bars this afternoon before experiencing the energy of Porto’s buzzing nightlife.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PORTO
Day 11 PORTO (DISEMBARKATION)
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
All payments are made directly to wholesale suppliers and any cancellations or changes are subject to their fee schedule and policies. Please be aware that deposits are non-refundable. If insurance has been purchased you may be entitled to a credit up to the full amount paid, minus the cost of the insurance. Exceptions may be made for medical reasons, but it is at the sole discretion of the insurance company. The Joy of Travel, LLC does not have any control over insurance claims or payments.
TYPES OF EXCURSIONS
ACTIVE
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go – from a guided biking tour, to paddling and hiking your way through scenic locales.
DISCOVERY
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
CLASSIC
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.