After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your journey to your embarkation city. Porto holds a place of great traditional importance. The town lends its name to the port wine produced in the region and throughout the nation. Located along a rocky embankment, the city boasts picturesque neighborhoods, fashionable restaurants and lively markets. Like Lisbon, Porto has a rich past; its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of narrow cobblestone streets brimming with romantic buildings spanning the centuries and a Romanesque cathedral. At the riverside, small barcos rabelos, boats once used to transport casks of wine, paint a charming scene.
Shore Excursions
Shore excursions vary by each itinerary and are subject to change.
Coimbra University
En route to Porto, explore one of Portugal’s oldest cities and visit its medieval-era university.
Batalha & Fátima
Visit two of Portugal’s most significant religious sites en route to your ship.
Graham’s Port Dinner
Visit one of Portugal’s prestigious winemakers for a port tasting and indulge in a traditional Portuguese meal.
Videos
Viking’s Douro Ships: Built for the River of Gold
Discover what makes Viking’s Douro River ships uniquely suited to navigate Portugal’s River of Gold. Built specifically for the Douro’s winding landscape and smaller ports, Viking’s vessels feature elegant Scandinavian design, panoramic views and state‑of‑the‑art engineering.
Portuguese Language Lesson
Learn a few useful Portuguese words and phrases with Maria, your Viking tutor. Saúde!
Portuguese Crème Brûlée
Go behind the scenes with Karine to see how easy it is to make this local variation of everyone’s favorite dessert. You may want to take notes during this hands-on demonstration!
Fado, Music of Portugal
Learn about the dramatic songs of fado, born along Portugal’s waterfront. This music of passion often depicted the longing of women waiting for their men to return from sea.
History of Port Wines
Take a journey with Karine as she explores Portugal’s history of wine and gains insight into its production and the various types of port, with a local expert on hand.
Bacalhau: Portuguese or Norwegian?
Watch as chef Rui Paula shows Karine his unique nouvelle cuisine twist on bacalhau, the beloved Portuguese national dish that is based on cod, one of Norway’s national fish.
