Relax on board today and enjoy a full day of sailing through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Douro Valley. This fascinating area is celebrated because it builds on two millennia of wine producing history, where viticulture has shaped the surrounding landscape and small, sleepy villages are peppered with dozens of sun-drenched vineyards.

Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner and cocktail reception.

EmeraldPLUS
Portuguese cooking demonstration on board

Situated in the heart of the Douro Valley, Pinhão is a charming riverside town characterised by terraced vineyards and traditional wine estates, locally known as quintas. Visitors are invited to explore historic wineries and savour the rich flavours of the region's iconic port wines.

Begin your day with a visit to the beautiful Quinta do Tedo vineyard in the heart of Portugal’s Douro Valley, nestled on the confluence of the Douro and Tedo rivers. This 18th-century estate is environmentally sound, creating organic produce by using traditional viticulture methods.

Alternatively, enjoy a guided walk through local vineyards, stopping along the way to admire your surroundings. Alternatively, embark on a kayak excursion along the river, taking in the impressive views from the heart of the Douro Valley.

This afternoon, enjoy sailing to Vega de Terrón, perhaps relaxing on the Sun Deck.

Included Excursion
Visit to Quinta do Tedo with wine tasting

EmeraldACTIVE
Kayak experience in Pinhão

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided active walk through the vineyards

A gateway to the Douro Valley, Vega de Terrón is a port town offering its visitors access to the breathtaking landscapes and magnificent vineyards of the region. Located close to the Spanish border in North-East Portugal, near the Spanish town of Barca d'Alva, the town serves as a strategic base to explore both Portuguese and Spanish cultural gems.

Founded in Roman times, the ancient city of Salamanca and its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Quarter have an illustrious past, having been held by the Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors.

Travel to the beautiful ‘Golden City’ for a walking tour, which includes exploring the postcard-worthy galleries and arcades that adorn Plaza Mayor. You’ll also have the opportunity to see Casa de las Conchas, a building that has been lovingly decorated with more than 300 shells, and Salamanca’s university, one of the oldest universities in Europe that dates back to 1218. 

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Salamanca

EmeraldPLUS
Tuna music band in Salamanca

Famed for its 12th Century prestigious university, Salamanca captivates visitors with an impressive blend of history, culture and academia. Home to architectural marvels, such as the ornately decorated Plaza Mayor and stunning Salamanca Cathedral, Salamanca showcases centuries of artistic heritage alongside a lively nightlife buzzing with vibrant tapas bars, cafes and flamenco venues.

This morning, we are docked in Pocinho  from where we take you to the charming medieval town of Castelo Rodrigo. On your touryou will have the chance to uncover the secrets of this small village’s fortress history and try some typical local products. Later, return to your Star-Ship for lunch and soak up your idyllic surrounds, enjoying a Port wine cocktail lesson on board as you sail towards Régua.

Included Excursion
Tour to Castelo Rodrigo

EmeraldPLUS
Port wine cocktail lesson on board

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Archaeological tour by 4x4 at the Côa Valley Museum (extra expense)

Sometimes known as Peso da Régua, Régua is a key hub situated in the Duoro Valley and serving as a central location for the region's wine production. Home to a number of port wine lodges and museums, the town offers stunning views of the surrounding vineyards combined with a unique insight into the legacy and craftmanship of Portugal's iconic fortified wine.

On today’s included excursion, you’ll visit the marvellous Baroque village of Lamego, stopping to see the picturesque Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies, a structure that stands gracefully over the town. If you’re feeling active, enjoy an invigorating walk down the 686 steps from the Sanctuary to the main square. On the same day you will get to experience a rural lunch at Quinta da Pacheca, one of the finest estates of river Douro and learn about the Portuguese mosaic painting tradition.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Lamego

EmeraldPLUS
Rural lunch at Quinta da Pacheca

EmeraldPLUS
Mosaic tile painting lesson on board

EmeraldACTIVE
Walk down the steps of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies

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Visit to Mateus Manor House (extra expense)

Located at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto is a fascinating and eclectic mix of modern and ancient architecture. Famous for its export of Port wines, it’s easy to imagine how British merchant ships would have once clustered together in the medieval harbour, waiting to take their produce across the water.

Your included tour of the coastal city will touch on the fortified structures of Castelo da Foz and Castelo do Queijo, a building whose pentagonal façades overlook the ocean. For those who wish to see the charms of Porto on foot, our active walk through the town will bring you closer to the vibrant daily life of the locals.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Porto

EmeraldPLUS
A cruise through Porto

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided active walk in Porto

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Visit to Quinta da Aveleda (extra expense)

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Guided bike tour to the Atlantic (extra expense)

Lyon, the capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Its center reflects 2,000 years of history from the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, medieval and Renaissance architecture in Vieux (Old) Lyon, to the modern Confluence district on Presqu'île peninsula. Traboules, covered passageways between buildings, connect Vieux Lyon and La Croix-Rousse hill.

France’s third-largest city, Lyon is a former Roman capital, steeped in history and considered to be the gastronomic heartbeat of the country. Home to traditional Lyonnaise cuisine, you'll enjoy an array of exemplary culinary delights.

Today, a guided city tour awaits you, including a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, part of the inscribed historic site of Lyon. Wander through the city and soak in its vividly illustrated history, as buildings from all time periods can be seen adorning narrow cobblestone streets. Alternatively, explore the highlights of the city on two wheels as part of a guided bike tour of Lyon.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Lyon

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided bike tour of Lyon

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Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)

Today we enjoy a relaxed morning sailing on the Saone river until we reach the lovely town of Macon. Here we will discover the Beaujolais wine region, renowned for its vibrant, fruity wines with Gamay grape variety. The extensive planting of the Gamay grape makes Beaujolais wine region one of the several regions on the planet to focus on a single grape variety. Red wine accounts for 99% of the total wine production of the region.

Included Excursion
Beaujolais wine tasting

The picturesque village of Tournon borders the gently meandering Rhône, dominated by a 16th century castle that overlooks the village and a number of iconic landmarks, including a set of ancient watchtowers.

Your guided tour of the village will showcase its intangible cultural heritage, granting every opportunity for you to immerse yourself in your surroundings. Alternatively, embark on an EmeraldACTIVE hike through the local vineyards and marvel at the rows upon rows of grapes used to make some of the finest wines in Europe.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Tournon

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided hike through the vineyards

Arrive in Viviers, a town with much Middle Age flair and home to one of France’s oldest cathedrals. Your included walking tour will highlight many of the city’s numerous spectacular monuments, along with their ornate windows and lavish façades.

EmeraldPLUS
CD lecture Art & Culture in the South of France

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Viviers

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Visit to Chauvet Pont D’Arc (extra expense)

Avignon has a rich history, from Celtic beginnings to being the residence of seven successive Popes between 1309 and 1377. The city also played a major part central to the French Revolution.

Your included walking tour will take you past the ornate beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Palais des Papes, as well as Pont d’Avignon, an ancient stone bridge crossing the Rhône. This evening, you’ll enjoy a delightful Provençal dining experience on board, expertly prepared by France's Top Chef finalist, Fabien Morreale and later you are invited to join the unique experience of a classical concert in Avignon as part of our EmeraldPLUS program.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Avignon

EmeraldACTIVE
Canoeing excursion in Avignon

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Guided tour of the Pont du Gard (extra expense)

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Visit to Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting (extra expense)

EmeraldPLUS
Provençal dinner hosted by local chef Fabien Morreale

EmeraldPLUS
Classical concert in Avignon

The past is yours to uncover in Arles, a once-important Phoenician trading port that was captured by the Romans, who peppered the city with iconic monuments. Today, your included tour of the city will showcase some of its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman and Romanesque monuments, illustrating how the city has evolved over the centuries.

Visit the 2,000-year-old Arles Amphitheatre and follow in the footsteps of world-renowned artist, Vincent van Gogh. The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure, where a stop at a local and quintessential café is a must before returning to relax on board your Star-Ship.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Arles with arena visit

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Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)

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Provencal Cosmetics Workshop (extra expense)

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In the footsteps of Van Gogh: painting workshop (extra expense)

After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your fellow guests and disembark your Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of the idyllic French countryside and delightful cuisine with you.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.

Please book your flight to depart out of Nice after 01:00 PM.

United with France only since 1860, Nice has its own history and atmosphere, which dates back 230,000 years. It was on Colline du Château (now château-less) and at the Plage des Ponchettes, in front of the Old Town, that the Greeks established a market-port in 350 BC and named it Nikaia, which would become Marseilles' chief coastal rival. The Romans established themselves a little later on the hills of Cimiez (Cemenelum), already previously occupied by Ligurians and Celts, and quickly overshadowed the waterfront port. After falling to the Saracen invasions, Nice regained power as an independent state, becoming an important port in the early Middle Ages.  So cocksure did it become that in 1388, Nice, along with the hill towns behind, effectively seceded from the county of Provence, under Louis d'Anjou, and allied itself with Savoie. Thus began its liaison with the House of Savoy, and through it with Piedmont and Sardinia, it was the Comté de Nice (Nice County). This relationship lasted some 500 years, tinting the culture, architecture, and dialect in rich Italian hues.  By the 19th century Nice was flourishing commercially, locked in rivalry with the neighbouring shipping port of Genoa. Another source of income: the dawning of tourism, as first the English, then the Russian nobility, discovered its extraordinary climate and superb waterfront position. A parade of fine stone mansions and hotels closed into a nearly solid wall of masonry, separated from the smooth-round rocks of the beach by what was originally named Camin deis Anglés (the English Way), which of course is now the famous Promenade des Anglais. This magnificent crescent, which is seeking UNESCO recognition, is one of the noblest in France. Many of Nice's most delightful attractions—the Cours Saleya market, the Old Town streets, the Hotel Negresco, and the Palais Masséna—are on or close to this 10-km (6-mile) waterfront, making it the first stop for most visitors, while the redevelopment of Nice's port, around the other side of the Colline du Château, makes it easier for amblers who want to take in the Genoese architecture or peruse the antiques at the Puces de Nice, now part of the Promenade des 100 Antiquaires, along Quai Papacino. Nice also has the distinction of the "Family Plus" label, with free strollers, play areas, and restaurants with child-friendly activities.