NEW! Iberian Odyssey

Experience the intriguing city of Porto on foot and see the sights during a leisurely walk. See the city’s noted architecture, such as the iconic Luís I Bridge, a double-decked metal arch that spans the Douro River. With your guide, drive by motor coach to Porto Cathedral, a Romanesque landmark in the Old Town. Learn more about the 12th-century church, one of the oldest monuments in the city, and see the stunning interior. Continue to São Bento train station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Monument of Portugal. View the blue and white tile panels inside, depicting historical scenes of Portugal. Then, head to Porto’s most famous street, the Rua das Flores, where you can enjoy free time to explore on your own. Continue to Ribeira’s riverfront; from here you may choose to walk back to the ship with your guide or return independently to your ship.

Explore Porto to see some of its most picturesque sights on an active walk through the city with your guide. Set off from your ship, walking across the lower deck of the Luís I Bridge before riding the funicular up to the bridge’s upper level. Here, take in the view over the river and the city. Head toward Porto Cathedral to see its Romanesque exterior and the contrasting architectural style of São Lourenço Church as you stroll along Porto’s narrow streets. View the elaborate tile work of the São Bento Railway Station. Have refreshments at a local café before heading to Clérigos Tower. Ascend the tower for a view over the city, or have free time. Continue to St. Francis Church for a guided walk through its baroque interior, decorated with intricate carvings and layered in gold leaf. After, walk to the river and choose to return to your ship or explore Ribeira on your own.

Visit a historic cannery for a look into one of Portugal’s long-held traditions and enjoy a drive through Porto. With its extensive stretches of coastline, Portugal has long-standing ties to the sea and fishing. By the early 20th century, around 400 canneries operated in service of the industry. Meet your guide and travel to north Matosinhos, a major fishing town famous for its seafood restaurants. Here, you will tour the last remaining factory that cans sardines using traditional methods. Depending on the quality of the day’s catch, you may see how the fish are processed and manually packaged. Afterward, enjoy a tasting of the delicious sardines paired with a glass of wine from the northern region of Portugal. En route back to your ship, you will glimpse Porto’s Old Town, where you can spot landmarks such as the São Bento railway station and Avenida dos Aliados.

Explore a renowned wine cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia and sample several styles of its famed fortified wine, port. Located on the south banks of the Douro River, the town of Vila Nova de Gaia became a center for the production of port during the 13th century because of its favorable environmental conditions for aging the wine and its freedom from parochial taxation. From your ship’s berth, take a short walk to the wine company, which has been operating along the riverbank for generations. Take a guided tour of the establishment’s cellar, in which the casks of port are aged, and gain insight into the production process. Then, enjoy a tasting of the three different varieties of port—ruby, tawny and white. Savor the sweet, rich flavor of these premium wines. Afterward, you will make the short downhill walk back to your awaiting ship.

Sample wines that have been in the making for generations at the historic Quinta da Aveleda estate. Drive with your guide into the rolling hills outside Porto to the charming town of Penafiel. Here, the lush Aveleda estate has been owned by the Guedes family for centuries. Surrounded by well-manicured gardens and rustic architecture that reaches back centuries, including rare species of trees, a locally renowned Goat’s Tower and a 16th-century Manueline window, the winery’s setting has earned it an international Best of Wine Tourism award. You will have a chance to explore before stepping into the wine tasting room. Learn about the Guedes family’s approach to winemaking and how the Atlantic climate and altitude help produce the perfect grapes. You will sample three wines during your stay, including the region’s beloved vinho verde. Then take some free time to browse the shop before returning to your ship.

Visit the nation’s first capital, a city beloved to the Portuguese, to view its medieval quarter of palaces, monasteries and squares. Northeast of Porto in the Braga district lies Guimarães. Originally settled in the 9th century, the city is often referred to as the “birthplace of the Portuguese nation.” It was Portugal’s first capital in the 12th century and home to its first king, Afonso Henriques. Take a scenic drive here with your guide and enjoy a guided walk through the narrow streets of the city’s medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the main square, you will see palaces and monasteries dating to the 10th century. Take in iconic landmarks such as Guimarães Castle, the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza and the charming houses in Santa Maria Street. Later, enjoy some free time exploring Praca Santiago (Santiago Square), with its arches and colonnaded buildings.