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Algarve & Douro Cruises
Winter cruise on the Douro River
A 3 night cruise aboard the MS Invicta
The Ship:
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Capacity:
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Length:
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Width:
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Speed:
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Engine:
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40 double cabins
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68.0 m
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8.65 m
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12 knots
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2 x 600 hp
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The Invicta has 40 double cabins, all twins with en-suite shower rooms, there is a large sundeck, panoramic lounge bar, restaurant, gift shop and is fully air-conditioned
 The 24 upper deck cabins have a large picture window and the twin beds are not fixed so that they can be positioned separately or combined into one large double bed.
The 16 main deck cabins are larger but windows are smaller and their beds can only be had as twins not as double beds
All cabins have individual air conditioning and heating controls and all are equipped with TVs.
 Altogether there are three passenger decks
The Douro deck has the Restaurant, Bar, lounge and reception
The Upper deck has 24 x 10 sq m cabins and the gift shop
The Main deck has 16 x 11.2 sq m cabins
DOURO CRUISE ITINERARY
Day 1 Thursday: Check in at Vila Nova de Gaia Quay in Porto
Welcome cocktail, dinner on board, welcome Champagne Party, overnight on board at Vila Nova de Gaia
 Day 2 Friday: Breakfast
Ship sets sail to Pinhao, lunch on board, arrive at Pinhao. Wine tasting at the Wine Academy at the Vintage House Hotel. Dinner at the Vintage House Hotel. Evening entertainment on board, overnight on board at Pinhao.
Sail to Regua, lunch on board, arrive at Regua, optional tour of the Mateus Palace and Gardens, sail to Pinhao, dinner at Vintage House Hotel, overnight on board at Pinhao
Day 3 Saturday: Breakfast on board
Ship sets sail to Regua, optional tour of the Mateus Palace, ship sets sail to Bitetos, lunch on board, arrival at Bitetos, dinner and dancing on board, overnight on board at Bitetos.
Day 4 Sunday: Breakfast on board
Ship sets sail to Porto. Arrival at Vila Nova de Gaia. Gala lunch on board, optional tour to Porto. End of cruiseand checkout.
Tour package: Mateus Palace & Porto
The Douro:
Rising north of Madrid, the Douro (River of Gold) twists and turns slowly through the outstanding scenery of north of Portugal and into the sea at Porto, the total length of the river is over 550 miles. Much of the river passes through deep valleys lined with the terraced vineyards that produce the grapes that are made into the world famous Port wine (as well as some really excellent Douro reds). Along the banks are old unspoilt villages and towns, there are also spectacular locks to navigate with huge constructions and great depths.
Porto:
Also known as Oporto by the English, Porto is the second largest city in Portugal, the centre of Porto, Ribeira, has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Porto has always been Important to Portugal but it was during the Napoleonic wars, when French wine was difficult to get, that Porto became even more important and wealthy. The Methuen Treaty of 1703 established trading of English woollen cloth and Portuguese wine at advantageous rates to both countries, the Douro was the start of the highway for the wine to be shipped to England
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