The Charms of Coimbra
While the bustling capital city of Lisbon, the rolling hills of the Douro Valley, and the scenic beaches of the Algarve are some of the most popular spots to visit in Portugal, the cozy and quaint town of Coimbra is worth a visit all on its own. One of the country’s oldest cities, nestled amid [&h
AmaWaterways Expands to Colombia and Portugal and Unveils 2025 Brochure
AmaWaterways has released print and digital editions of its 2025 Brochure, providing guests with a glimpse into the 2025 season. The brochure introduces two state-of-the-art ships, AmaMelodia in Colombia and AmaSintra in Portugal, and new and returning European river cruise experiences. The brochure
Azamara Cruises Shares New Culturally Immersive Voyages
Azamara has released four new itineraries for holiday celebrations in Spain, Portugal, Singapore, Vietnam, and more! The cruise line is now including Extended Destination Days, offering guests 10 or more additional hours in port and more overnight stays! “We are thrilled to offer these new s
AmaWaterways Announces Reservations For 2025 River Cruises
Today, AmaWaterways has opened individual and group reservations for its 2025 river cruise itineraries! Guests can now book voyages to Europe, Africa, Egypt, Asia, and Colombia. Guests who book reservations by September 30, 2023, can take advantage of the brand’s Early Booking Reward and save up t
Cruise Deal Of The Week — August 4, 2023
Hey Travelers! As August begins, P&O Cruises has announced a special offer of double on board spending on select voyages to Spain, Portugal, and the Canary islands when booked by September 4, 2023. The deal is available on Select Price bookings made on voyages of 12 nights or more. Additiona
Regent Seven Seas Introduces New Culinary Shore Excursions
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is bringing new culinary experiences to the line with the introduction of 128 culinary-focused shore excursions in the Mediterranean! Guests will accompany local chefs and culinary experts on excursions through France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey, where they
Atlas Ocean Voyages Takes Delivery of World Traveller
Atlas Ocean Voyages has taken delivery of its brand new 200-passenger vessel, World Traveller, scheduled to be officially named on November 20, 2022. The handover ceremony took place on October 7, 2022, aboard the docked vessel where the yacht-style ship was constructed at the West Sea shipyard in P
Scenic Azure: Cruising Portugal’s Douro Valley
I’m sitting on the balcony of my suite aboard Scenic Azure hypnotized by the sun-drenched Douro River Valley with its patchwork of terraced vineyards and charming, rustic quintas. Tomorrow, Sharone and I head back to the States but, today, we find ourselves wistful, as if we’re about to vacate a
Madeira’s Cruise Recovery is in Full Swing
One of the best kept secrets in cruising is the Portuguese island of Madeira, a sub-tropical paradise visited by millions each year for its unique culture, outstanding flora and fauna and a bustling downtown port area with lots to explore. Now that we’re finally putting the pandemic behind us
Cruise Deal of the Week – October 8, 2021
Another week in the books! Wow does it seem like October is flying by. Before long we’ll all be getting our costumes ready for a fun Halloween evening and after that, it’s everyone’s favorite holiday season. We had some great news this week in the industry including new ships, new
Cruise Deal of the Week – August 13, 2021
It’s easy to forget about river cruises amidst all the news about large ocean liners getting back into service. Small ships are a large part of the cruise industry and many cruisers prefer the personalized service and unique ports of call available when cruising some of the most famous rivers
Riviera River Cruises Will Sail Douro River Cruises in July
A popular European river cruise line is getting ready to resume operation on Portugal’s Douro River! Riviera River Cruises is planning to restart their ship MS Douro Elegance on July 2, 2021 for eight-day itineraries on the Douro and Salamanca Rivers. All guests boarding Riviera
Check out this Epic 46-Day Cruise from Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
How would you like to spend 46 days cruising the world? Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is giving cruisers the chance to do just that with their new Rivers of the World itinerary setting sail on May 20, 2023. The cruise visits 9 countries on board five of Uniworld’s luxury river cruise ve
Fear of Flying Hurting Cruising, Says Mystic Cruises President
What started as a single cruise ship on the Douro Rivers has evolved into Mystic Invest, one of Portugal’s premier tourism brands thanks to company founder and president Mário Ferreira. Along with its many travel services, Mystic Invest owns and operates 40+ ships around the world with a focus on
CRUISE RECIPE: Viking’s Pastel de Nata
Hungry to Sail Again Today, I’m whipping up a sweet reminder of my glorious Viking Helgrim cruise down Portugal’s Douro River last summer. And I have all the ingredients on hand! The 262-foot, 106-passenger Viking Helgrim, is a baby longship, custom-built to navigate the short and narrow l
Gwyneth Paltrow Partners with Celebrity for goop Cruise (VIDEO)
You probably recognize her from the film Shakespeare in Love where she delivered an Oscar-winning performance or perhaps as Pepper Potts in the smash-hit Iron Man and other Marvel Comic movies. We’re of course talking about actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who recently announced a partnership between goop
What to Do During a Lisbon Layover
It is a well accepted fact that European cruise ports expose troves of historical architecture, reveal old world charm and cater to the culinary interests of intrepid cruise visitors. Lisbon, Portugal offers a significant dose of everything the more popular destinations tout minus the chaos that a
Viking Helgrim‘s Rivers of Gold
The Monthly Mantra The Dazzling Douro … The Dazzling Douro … The Dazzling Douro Pinhao! Gaia! Regua! Favaios! Lamego! No, I’m not cheering on a soccer team. I’ve just returned from a Viking Helgrim “Rivers of Gold” sailing and these unfamiliar towns located along the stunning Douro River
Grape Destinations: What is Port Wine?
Port, when used in the context of a cruise ship, usually refers to the left side of the vessel. However, when in the dining room of that very same cruise ship, port becomes something very different. In the Douro region of Northern Portugal, you’ll find thick bunches of touriga and tinta grapes cas
For Shore: Navigators Through the Millennia
From the Vikings and great European explorers to 20th-century sailing vessels and warships, maritime museums tell the stories of colonization, trade, and war that have shaped the world as we know it today. Detailed below are some of the best museums worth a visit during your next stop in popular por
