River Cruising

Cruising the Douro, plus Madrid

Days
11
From (per Person)
$7,990 USD
Journey Type
River Cruising
Time of Year
May - Oct
Cities & Landmarks
Madrid, Porto, Toledo, Salamanca, Côa Valley, Pinhão
Toledo, Spain

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Overview

Experience with Tauck

 

TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Dinner at DOC, Michelin-starred Chef Rui Paula's celebrated restaurant on the Douro

 

Tauck Value Includes

 

All private Tauck shore excursions and distinctive inclusions – $4,166 Value

 

Spend three nights in Madrid, with an optional drive to the Gothic city of Toledo, a visit to the Prado or Reina Sofia Museum, and a locally guided tour of landmark city sites

 

Venture into the Vinho Verde region of central Portugal where crisp green wines reflect the lush landscapes where it is produced for a tour and tasting at a local vineyard

 

Discover a taste of life in the Douro Valley, with opportunities to bike or hike through the vineyards and savor wine and port tastings

 

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Activity

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Most days involve walking in the 2–3.5-mile range (~4,000–7,000 steps), with frequent stairs, cobblestones, and standing for 90+ minutes. Activity is consistent across consecutive days, requiring stamina and balance throughout the itinerary.

Pace

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Full days with little downtime. Select days may offer opt-out opportunities or lighter alternatives. Ideal for travelers who want to stay engaged, but with some room to pace themselves.

View Full Itinerary

Exclusively inclusive river cruising

Enhanced by a three-night land stay in Madrid, our new 7-day cruise along Portugal's "river of gold" entices with guided exploration in Porto, the historical city of wine; captivates with cultural discoveries in picturesque riverside hamlets along the Douro; visits family-owned wine estates and vineyards, centuries in the making; and indulges with artful royal pleasures in the capital city of Madrid.

Setting sail along the Douro River is an immersion into beauty, culture, and timeless tradition, thousands of years in the making. Venture by riverboat into the Douro Valley, the birthplace of port wine, a land where time slows and every sip carries centuries of devotion. Cruise past terraced vineyards carved into golden hillsides, where wine has been perfected for centuries. Visit historic quintas, taste vintages born of passion, and let the river's gentle bends reveal a landscape recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. Beyond the valley and back on land, your adventure extends to Spain where you can wander the storied streets of Toledo, rich with medieval charm, and feel the pulse of Madrid, a capital city alive with art, flavor, and elegance. From vineyard sunsets to vibrant city nights, this new riverboat voyage blends romance, history, and unforgettable indulgence for a travel experience as timeless as the region itself.  Read Less

Wines of the Douro

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Douro Valley is one of the world's most storied wine regions.

Winemaking here began as early as the Roman Empire and flourished under the stewardship of Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages, culminating in 1756 when the Douro became the world's first officially demarcated wine region. While renowned for its iconic fortified Port, the valley also produces increasingly celebrated unfortified red and white wines from indigenous grapes. Its dramatic terraced vineyards, carved into the steep cliffs by winemakers for hundreds of years, boast schist-rich soils that yield a tremendous diversity of wines with remarkable depth and character. Cruise into the world of winemakers who have nurtured these vineyards for generations and discover why true port can only bear its name if born in the Douro Valley. Sip, savor, and let the rich reds, crisp whites and golden-hued tawny ports guide you through centuries of heritage as discover a flavor profile unlike anywhere else in the world.

Suspension Bridge

Crossing the longest suspension bridge in the world

Cross the 516 Arouca Bridge – the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge – high above the Paiva River, where expansive views unfold across forested cliffs and the rocky gorge below. Spanning 516 meters in Portugal's Arouca Geopark, this suspension bridge offers a memorable perspective on the region's dramatic landscapes and the natural beauty of this Global Geopark.

Toledo

The "City of Three Cultures"

Discover Toledo, Spain, a beautifully preserved medieval city and UNESCO World Heritage Site where Christian, Muslim, and Jewish cultures once flourished together. Known as the "City of Three Cultures," Toledo offers a rich blend of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Arabic architecture. Wander through its winding streets to marvel at landmarks like the awe-inspiring Toledo Cathedral, the imposing Alcázar fortress, and historic synagogues and mosques. Perched dramatically on a hill above the Tagus River, the city also offers stunning panoramic views, a vibrant connection to El Greco's art, and a centuries-old tradition of exceptional sword-making.

Suspension Bridge

Stories told in ceramic tiles

Across Portugal, blue-and-white ceramic tiles tell a story. Known as azulejos, these hand-painted tiles have adorned churches, palaces, train stations, and ordinary homes for centuries, turning walls into lasting records of Portuguese life. Introduced in the 15th century and refined over generations, azulejos were both practical and expressive – reflecting heat, cooling interiors, and protecting façades while depicting scenes of history, religion, maritime life, and daily rituals. Their iconic blue-and-white palette, inspired by global trade and evolving artistic influences, became a signature of the country's visual identity. Today, azulejos remain woven into Portugal's streetscapes, preserving the past in ceramic panels that continue to shape how the country remembers and lives.

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Deck Plans

Welcome Aboard

Sun Deck

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Diamond Deck

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Category 4

Category 5

Ruby Deck

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Category 3

Emerald Deck

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Category 1

Category 2

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Find your tour

Pricing & Availability

About Booking This Tour

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Trip Prep & Essentials

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How do I book this journey?

You can call us at 800-468-2825 or contact your travel advisor.

A $900 deposit will be due at the time you book this journey. When you call, please let us know the tour name and your preferred departure date, and have the following information ready for all travelers:

  • Full name (as it appears on passport or driver's license)
  • Address
  • Email address
  • Phone number(s)
  • Emergency contact (name and phone number of someone not traveling with your group)

Final payment is due to Tauck 120 days before departure for all journeys.

For more information, please visit our Travel Terms & Conditions page.

What's included in the price?

The price of this journey includes:

  • All accommodations
  • Meals (as detailed in the itinerary)
  • Airport transfers and land transportation (as detailed in the itinerary)
  • Basic internet in hotel rooms and aboard ships (where available; service not guaranteed)
  • Entertainment and special dinners arranged by Tauck
  • Sightseeing and shore excursions on cruises
  • Standard luggage handling
  • The services of and gratuities to hospitality staff, housekeeping, ship crew, local guides, safari guides and trackers
  • All appropriate gratuities for drivers, Tauck Directors, and Tauck Cruise Director

Are gratuities included?

All appropriate gratuities for hospitality staff, housekeeping, ship crew, local guides, drivers, Tauck Directors, and Tauck Cruise Director are included.

Is airfare included?

Airfare to and from your tour's starting and ending point is not included in the price. However, if your itinerary includes on-tour flights during your journey, those are included. To make your travel plans even easier, Tauck can also help you book international airfare.

Do I need a passport, visa, or any other travel documents?

Passports:

A passport is required to enter Spain and Portugal. It must be valid for a minimum of six months beyond your entry date and must contain at least two blank pages.

International maritime security guidelines require that your passport information be provided to us as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied. Once you board the ship, your passport will be held by the purser temporarily to make copies.

Visas:

You do not need a visa for the short duration of this journey.

Traveling with children as a guardian:

If you are traveling as the guardian of children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents authorizing emergency treatment in case of an illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling without BOTH parents. Tauck is not responsible for travel disruptions caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

Are there any recommended vaccinations?

Currently, there are no vaccinations recommended for the countries visited during this journey. For the most up-to-date health and vaccination information, we recommend you consult with a travel medical specialist, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the embassies of the countries you'll visit.

How physically demanding is this journey?

Tauck journeys are designed for guests in good health. Depending on your destination, you may walk longer distances, climb stairs, and navigate uneven terrain. To help you choose the experience that suits you best, we've created a rating system for the activity level and pace of each itinerary. You can find the ratings for this journey in the overview section above. For more details about what to expect on tour, visit our Activity & Pace page.

To fully enjoy a Tauck cruise, you should be able to:

  • Walk up and down gangways (which can be steep depending on water level)
  • Navigate uneven or sloped docks
  • Walk through other riverboats with additional gangways and stairs (known as double-docking) on some river cruises
  • Board a tender, a smaller boat used to transport passengers to and from the shore on some small ship cruises
  • Reach pedestrian-only town centers (up to 1 mile from dock)
  • Walk up and down stairs, as not all decks are accessible via elevator and not all ships have elevators
Our riverboats features four decks: Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, and Sun.
  • On the Esprit and Treasures, the elevator travels between the Ruby Deck and Diamond Deck only. There is no elevator access to the Emerald Deck on these ships.
  • On the Grace, Joy, Savor, Inspire, Lumière, Serene, Harmonie, Saudade and Andorinha, the elevator travels between the Emerald Deck and Diamond Deck.
  • On all ships, the elevator does not access the Sun Deck.
  • Elevators provide access to the Reception area and the Compass Rose dining room.
  • There is no chair lift between any decks.

 

Can Tauck accommodate mobility limitations?

The responsibility of your Tauck Director is to ensure the larger group enjoys a relaxing and seamless journey; therefore, he or she cannot provide ongoing assistance to any one guest. 

Accessibility Accommodations: Guests who require accessibility accommodations must notify Tauck at the time of booking, or as soon as the need for accommodation arises. Guests are also responsible for promptly notifying Tauck if there is a material change in their mobility, accessibility, cognitive, or other participation-related needs after booking and prior to departure that may affect their ability to participate in the Trip or require accommodations, special arrangements, or reassessment of participation. Tauck will make reasonable efforts, in coordination with our suppliers, to attempt to accommodate such requests. Unfortunately, not all requests can be fulfilled. We are not responsible for denial of service by carriers, hotels, or other independent suppliers.

Personal Assistance: Tauck regrets that it cannot provide special assistance for walking, wheelchairs, dining, or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will assist you. 

Mobility Requirements: Due to operational constraints, including limited cargo space, stairs, and uneven or difficult terrain, we regret that some itineraries cannot accommodate wheelchairs or electric scooters. 

For more information on mobility expectations, please visit our Activity & Pace page.

What's the minimum age to travel on this journey?

This journey has the following age restrictions:

  • Minimum age: 5+
  • Recommended age: 8+
On all Tauck journeys:
  • At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 or older to make a reservation
  • All travelers under the age of 18 must share a room or cabin with, and be accompanied by, an adult age 18 or older
  • All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian

We encourage families to be thoughtful when traveling with children, as our itineraries may include activities, pacing, and experiences that that aren't well suited to very young guests. It is for that reason we created Tauck Bridges – journeys for the whole family to enjoy together.

If a child is unable to participate in a scheduled activity, a parent or guardian is responsible for staying with them, as childcare is not provided during the journey.

With consideration for all fellow travelers wanting to enjoy their vacation to its fullest, it is important to know and understand that Tauck has the right to ask any tour member who is disruptive to a group to leave the tour whether they are 6 or 96 years of age.

Does Tauck offer Travel Protection?

Yes! Tauck's Travel Protection provides you with cancellation protection before your journey begins, as well as benefits while you are traveling. The cost of Travel Protection for this itinerary is $799 per person. If you wish to take advantage of this coverage, it must be purchased within 10 days of your initial deposit.

For complete details, visit our Cancellations & Travel Protection page.

What if I need to cancel?

You may cancel your reservation without penalty within 10 days of your initial deposit.

After 10 days, cancellations – regardless of reason – may involve fees from travel and hotel providers, which vary by tour.

For complete details, visit our Cancellations & Travel Protection page.

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Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

Discover The World

Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

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