Douro Valley River Cruise: 6 Nights, 3 Nights Onboard

This Portugal Getaways package includes round-trip flights, airport transfers, transfers between your hotel and the pier, and 6 nights: 2 nights in Porto, 3 nights on board the Spirit of Chartwell and 1 more night in Porto. On the cruise, all meals are included, with a quinta dinner and wine tasting in Pinhão, a guided visit to Lamego and a Portuguese Night. Breakfast in Porto depends on the hotel rate you select. Gratuities, bar drinks and city taxes are not included.

Yes, round-trip flights are included. The price depends on your departure airport: the booking calendar shows the price from each airport this package flies from, and the Portugal Getaways team can quote other cities. Seat selection and cabin upgrades are paid add-ons, subject to availability. Your flight times and connections are shown before you pay.

Not always. It depends on the airline and the fare. The baggage allowance is shown in the booking flow before you pay and again on your confirmation voucher. If your fare does not include a checked bag, add one when you book: it costs much less than adding it later or paying at the airport.

Yes. Extra nights in Porto can be added before or after the cruise, at the same hotel when it is available. Portugal Getaways also has packages that combine Porto with Lisbon and the Algarve, and the Portugal Getaways team can add a few days in Lisbon after the cruise.

On the ship, yes: all meals are included, from breakfast to dinner. In Porto, breakfast depends on the hotel rate you select when you book. If breakfast matters to you, choose a rate that includes it or ask the Portugal Getaways team before booking.

You stay in 3 to 5-star hotels in Porto, chosen by level when you book; the exact hotel is confirmed in the next step, and the package price depends on the hotel you select. The category and location can vary by travel date. Twin beds, triple rooms and connecting rooms can be requested, subject to availability: tell the Portugal Getaways team when you book.

Travel insurance is not sold with this package at the moment. Many credit cards and Canadian insurers offer trip cancellation cover, and the Portugal Getaways team recommends that you travel with it.

This package is non-refundable once booked. Airfare is non-refundable once tickets are issued. The Portugal Getaways team recommends travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.

Yes. The package price is based on two travelers sharing a room, so a single supplement applies when you travel alone. To see the solo price, change the number of travelers from 2 to 1 in the booking calendar before you choose your dates.

Call the Portugal Getaways team at (647) 946-8249, every day from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time, or write to bookings@portugalgetaways.com. If your travel advisor is busy, any member of the team can open your quote and help you. During your trip, write to customercare@portugalgetaways.com, and the emergency number is in your travel documents. In Portugal, 112 is the number for any emergency.

City taxes are not included in the package price. They are charged by the hotel in Porto, per person and per night, at check-in or check-out, and the amount depends on the hotel category. Portugal Getaways does not collect them.

Spring and autumn are the best months on the Douro. From April to June the terraces are green and days are around 64 to 77 °F (18 to 25 °C). September and October bring the grape harvest, with days around 68 to 75 °F (20 to 24 °C). July and August are hot inland, often above 95 °F (35 °C). Sailing dates follow the Douro Azul season and are shown in the booking calendar.

Portugal is one of the safest countries in Europe. US and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days; your passport must be valid for at least three months after your return date. ETIAS, the European travel authorization, will be required once it launches; the Portugal Getaways team will tell you if it applies to your travel dates.

Meals on board are included, with house wine and water. Douro Azul charges separately for bar drinks, premium wines and gratuities for the crew, guides and drivers. Your cabin type sets part of the price, and the Portugal Getaways team can request a cabin category or location when you book, subject to availability.

The Spirit of Chartwell is a small river ship run by Douro Azul, one of the best-known river cruise companies in Portugal. It served as the Royal Barge at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames in 2012. On board there is a restaurant, a piano bar, a solarium and an open sun deck. There is no pool or spa, and the cabins have river views.

The ship usually sails in the early morning, during breakfast, so most days mix a few hours of cruising with time ashore. At night it stays at the pier in Pinhão and Leverinho. You board at Gaia Pier at 6:00 PM on day 3 and leave the ship at 10:00 AM on day 6. Transfers between your Porto hotel and the pier are included both ways.