13-night Europe cruise on MS Estrela

The IEssence of Portugal and Douro Discovery Journey lisbon to porto is a 13-night Europe cruise aboard MS Estrela, operated by Travelmarvel. Departing Lisbon on April 2, 2027, the voyage visits 13 ports.

Length: 13 nights
Departs: Apr 2, 2027
Returns: Apr 15, 2027
Ports of call: 13

Call for price

per person, incl. taxes & fees

See prices

You'll continue on Travelmarvel's official site. Affiliate disclosure

Call for price

Continues on Travelmarvel's site

See prices

Itinerary

Day 1 Apr 2, 2027 Lisbon Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is a city open to the sea and carefully planned with 18th-century elegance. Its founder is said to be the legendary Ulysses, but the theory of an original Phoenician settlement is probably more realistic. Known in Portugal as Lisboa, the city was inhabited by the Romans, Visigoths and, beginning in the 8th century, the Moors. Much of the 16th century was a period of great prosperity and overseas expansion for Portugal. Tragedy struck on All Saints' Day in 1755 with a devastating earthquake that killed about 40,000 people. The destruction of Lisbon shocked the continent. As a result, the Baixa (lower city) emerged in a single phase of building, carried out in less than a decade by the royal minister, the Marques de Pombal. His carefully planned layout of a perfect neo-classical grid survived to this day and remains the heart of the city. Evidence of pre-quake Lisbon can still be seen in the Belém suburb and the old Moorish section of the Alfama that sprawls below the Castle of St. George. Lisbon is a compact city on the banks of the Tagus River. Visitors find it easy to get around as many places of interest are in the vicinity of the central downtown area. There is a convenient bus and tram system and taxis are plentiful. Rossio Square, the heart of Lisbon since medieval times, is an ideal place to start exploring. After a fire destroyed parts of the historic neighborhood behind Rossio in 1988, many of the restored buildings emerged with modern interiors behind the original façades. The city boasts a good many monuments and museums, such as the Jeronimos Monastery, Tower of Belém, the Royal Coach Museum and the Gulbenkian Museum. High above the Baixa is the Bairro Alto (upper city) with its teeming nightlife. The easiest way to connect between the two areas is via the public elevator designed by Gustave Eiffel. Cruising up the Tagus River to the ship's berth, you can already spot three of Lisbon's famous landmarks: the Monument to the Discoveries, the Tower of Belém and the Statue of Christ, which welcomes visitors from its hilltop location high above Europe's longest suspension bridge. Lisbon port guide Search cruises visiting Lisbon

Lisbon photo — Day 1 Apr 2, 2027 Lisbon Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is a city open to the sea and carefully planned with 18th-century elegance. Its founder is said to be the legendary Ulysses, but the theory of an original Phoenician settlement is probably more realistic. Known in Portugal as Lisboa, the city was inhabited by the Romans, Visigoths and, beginning in the 8th century, the Moors. Much of the 16th century was a period of great prosperity and overseas expansion for Portugal. Tragedy struck on All Saints' Day in 1755 with a devastating earthquake that killed about 40,000 people. The destruction of Lisbon shocked the continent. As a result, the Baixa (lower city) emerged in a single phase of building, carried out in less than a decade by the royal minister, the Marques de Pombal. His carefully planned layout of a perfect neo-classical grid survived to this day and remains the heart of the city. Evidence of pre-quake Lisbon can still be seen in the Belém suburb and the old Moorish section of the Alfama that sprawls below the Castle of St. George. Lisbon is a compact city on the banks of the Tagus River. Visitors find it easy to get around as many places of interest are in the vicinity of the central downtown area. There is a convenient bus and tram system and taxis are plentiful. Rossio Square, the heart of Lisbon since medieval times, is an ideal place to start exploring. After a fire destroyed parts of the historic neighborhood behind Rossio in 1988, many of the restored buildings emerged with modern interiors behind the original façades. The city boasts a good many monuments and museums, such as the Jeronimos Monastery, Tower of Belém, the Royal Coach Museum and the Gulbenkian Museum. High above the Baixa is the Bairro Alto (upper city) with its teeming nightlife. The easiest way to connect between the two areas is via the public elevator designed by Gustave Eiffel. Cruising up the Tagus River to the ship's berth, you can already spot three of Lisbon's famous landmarks: the Monument to the Discoveries, the Tower of Belém and the Statue of Christ, which welcomes visitors from its hilltop location high above Europe's longest suspension bridge. Lisbon port guide Search cruises visiting Lisbon

Day 5 Apr 6, 2027 Porto, Portugal A mesmerising city carved in granite: in Porto (population: 238,000, or 1.7 million in the greater area) you’ll find new, exciting perspectives at every turn – whether you’re beside the steadily flowing Douro, with its six different bridges, or in the lively city quarters of this northern Portuguese metropolis. As well as the imposing buildings of light-coloured granite, the symbols of Portugal’s second-largest city include gleaming azulejo tiles adorning church walls and townhouses, which look particularly handsome when it isn’t raining. You’ll need to be in good shape here – Porto is very hilly! But it’s worth the effort, because Porto – whose old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is pure poetry. Porto, Portugal port guide Search cruises visiting Porto, Portugal

Porto, Portugal photo — Day 5 Apr 6, 2027 Porto, Portugal A mesmerising city carved in granite: in Porto (population: 238,000, or 1.7 million in the greater area) you’ll find new, exciting perspectives at every turn – whether you’re beside the steadily flowing Douro, with its six different bridges, or in the lively city quarters of this northern Portuguese metropolis. As well as the imposing buildings of light-coloured granite, the symbols of Portugal’s second-largest city include gleaming azulejo tiles adorning church walls and townhouses, which look particularly handsome when it isn’t raining. You’ll need to be in good shape here – Porto is very hilly! But it’s worth the effort, because Porto – whose old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is pure poetry. Porto, Portugal port guide Search cruises visiting Porto, Portugal

Day 8 Apr 9, 2027 Regua Régua is the largest city on the banks of the Douro in this wine-growing valley. The scenery in this region is simply magical, thanks to the pristine river, which meanders past steep slate slopes and terraces clad with vines. It is such a beautiful place that the Alto Douro has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The town played a fundamental role in the production and marketing of port wine – which was transported away by sailing boat – as early as the 18th century. If you would like to learn more, visit the Douro Museum, which provides a wealth of information about the world’s first protected wine-growing area. Then, take a walk to the popular viewing platforms São Leonardo da Galafura and São Salvador do Mundo and enjoy the panoramic views of the river landscape and the elegant bridges that lead into town. It is also worth visiting the old centre, uphill from the river. You’ll find several listed churches and townhouses there. Regua port guide Search cruises visiting Regua

Regua photo — Day 8 Apr 9, 2027 Regua Régua is the largest city on the banks of the Douro in this wine-growing valley. The scenery in this region is simply magical, thanks to the pristine river, which meanders past steep slate slopes and terraces clad with vines. It is such a beautiful place that the Alto Douro has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. The town played a fundamental role in the production and marketing of port wine – which was transported away by sailing boat – as early as the 18th century. If you would like to learn more, visit the Douro Museum, which provides a wealth of information about the world’s first protected wine-growing area. Then, take a walk to the popular viewing platforms São Leonardo da Galafura and São Salvador do Mundo and enjoy the panoramic views of the river landscape and the elegant bridges that lead into town. It is also worth visiting the old centre, uphill from the river. You’ll find several listed churches and townhouses there. Regua port guide Search cruises visiting Regua

Day 8 Apr 9, 2027 Pinhao, Portugal The little town of Pinhão is located in the famous port wine region, in the area where the Douro and its surrounding landscape are at their most picturesque. It is surrounded by enchanting vineyards and the quintas that produce the wine. You can visit them from Pinhão and enjoy tours and wine tasting. To get there, you can either follow walking trails with glorious views or take a boat that also ferries visitors to interesting stretches of the river. One of the best-known walking trails takes you from the Douro bridge up seven kilometres of the hilly Rua Praça de Oliveira as far as the Casal de Loivos viewing point. The town itself is very unspoilt and has a lovely atmosphere, which makes it a splendid place for a stroll. Be sure to take a look at the Linha do Douro train station, which is decorated with richly coloured azulejo tiles. There are numerous restaurants in town, many of them right on the riverside. Pinhao, Portugal port guide Search cruises visiting Pinhao, Portugal

Pinhao, Portugal photo — Day 8 Apr 9, 2027 Pinhao, Portugal The little town of Pinhão is located in the famous port wine region, in the area where the Douro and its surrounding landscape are at their most picturesque. It is surrounded by enchanting vineyards and the quintas that produce the wine. You can visit them from Pinhão and enjoy tours and wine tasting. To get there, you can either follow walking trails with glorious views or take a boat that also ferries visitors to interesting stretches of the river. One of the best-known walking trails takes you from the Douro bridge up seven kilometres of the hilly Rua Praça de Oliveira as far as the Casal de Loivos viewing point. The town itself is very unspoilt and has a lovely atmosphere, which makes it a splendid place for a stroll. Be sure to take a look at the Linha do Douro train station, which is decorated with richly coloured azulejo tiles. There are numerous restaurants in town, many of them right on the riverside. Pinhao, Portugal port guide Search cruises visiting Pinhao, Portugal

Day 9 Apr 10, 2027 Vega De Terron Vega de Terron is a Douro River cruise port in Spain and the gateway to Salamanca (Spain). Town's most distinctive feature is the fountain Chafariz dos Pretos (located close to market. Vega De Terron port guide Search cruises visiting Vega De Terron

Vega De Terron photo — Day 9 Apr 10, 2027 Vega De Terron Vega de Terron is a Douro River cruise port in Spain and the gateway to Salamanca (Spain). Town's most distinctive feature is the fountain Chafariz dos Pretos (located close to market. Vega De Terron port guide Search cruises visiting Vega De Terron

Day 10 Apr 11, 2027 Salamanca Salamanca, in northwestern Spain, is the capital of Salamanca province, part of the Castile and León region. With a history dating back to the Celtic era, it’s known for its ornate sandstone architecture and for the Universidad de Salamanca. Founded in the 1100s and a key intellectual center in the 15th-16th centuries, the university continues to add to the city’s vibrancy with its international student population. Salamanca port guide Search cruises visiting Salamanca

Salamanca photo — Day 10 Apr 11, 2027 Salamanca Salamanca, in northwestern Spain, is the capital of Salamanca province, part of the Castile and León region. With a history dating back to the Celtic era, it’s known for its ornate sandstone architecture and for the Universidad de Salamanca. Founded in the 1100s and a key intellectual center in the 15th-16th centuries, the university continues to add to the city’s vibrancy with its international student population. Salamanca port guide Search cruises visiting Salamanca

Day 10 Apr 11, 2027 Barca d' Alva Barca d’Alva is a village that is located in a valley found at Douro. It is near the border of Spain and has been inserted into the National Park of Douro International. The village is situated between terraces of vines and olives, and rolling hills. It is partially isolated from the rest of the country which makes it a quiet place. The town is well known for wine, which has been produced there since Roman times over 2,000 years ago. The village has several historic buildings which give it a unique charm. The region has a slightly cooler and mild climate than the other regions in the country. The village is small and a visitor can easily get around on foot and take the opportunity to enjoy the sights and beautiful scenery. Below are some of the interesting aspects that make it a good idea to take a cruise to Barca d’Alva port: Barca d' Alva port guide Search cruises visiting Barca d' Alva

Barca d' Alva photo — Day 10 Apr 11, 2027 Barca d' Alva Barca d’Alva is a village that is located in a valley found at Douro. It is near the border of Spain and has been inserted into the National Park of Douro International. The village is situated between terraces of vines and olives, and rolling hills. It is partially isolated from the rest of the country which makes it a quiet place. The town is well known for wine, which has been produced there since Roman times over 2,000 years ago. The village has several historic buildings which give it a unique charm. The region has a slightly cooler and mild climate than the other regions in the country. The village is small and a visitor can easily get around on foot and take the opportunity to enjoy the sights and beautiful scenery. Below are some of the interesting aspects that make it a good idea to take a cruise to Barca d’Alva port: Barca d' Alva port guide Search cruises visiting Barca d' Alva

Pricing

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Price information is not available.

Show all 10 cabin grades

Cabin grades and pricing
Name	Supplier code	Type
Window Stateroom	D	Oceanview
Window Stateroom	E	Oceanview
Window Stateroom	F	Oceanview
French Balcony	A	Suite
French Balcony	B	Suite
French Balcony	C	Suite
French Balcony	CT	Suite
Owners Suite	OS	Suite
French Balcony	P	Suite
French Balcony	S	Suite