Cruise Tours
International ToursDEPARTURE INFORMATION
Lower Mainland
May 24, 2027 – 14 Days
Vancouver Island
May 24, 2027 – 15 Days
BC Interior
May 24, 2027 – 15 Days
Activity Level 3
GROUP SIZE
TOUR SUMMARY
Small ship cruising on Emerald Radiance
Experience the beauty and spirit of Portugal as you cruise the magnificent Douro River aboard the intimate Emerald Radiance. With only 112 guests on board, you enjoy a relaxed, personal atmosphere on a ship built in 2017 and newly refreshed in 2025. As you sail the Douro, you’re surrounded by terraced vineyards climbing the hillsides, historic landmarks dating back 1,500 years, superb wineries at every stop, and charming towns that are best explored on foot. The river’s many locks add to the adventure, including the impressive 35‑metre lift at the Carrapatelo Lock — a moment you won’t soon forget. Your journey begins with four nights in Lisbon, where you can soak up the energy of Portugal’s cosmopolitan capital before travelling north along the coast to Porto, gateway to the Douro Valley. During your seven‑day cruise, wander the baroque streets of Lamego, explore Spain’s walled city of Salamanca, learn the secrets of Portuguese cooking or Port wine, stroll through hillside vineyards, and immerse yourself in the region’s rich cultural heritage. Come and
experience the memorable sights along the Douro with Wells Gray Tours.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
-
Meals
-
33 meals
-
32 meals
-
-
Transportation
-
-
Accommodation
-
-
Guides & Gratuities
-
-
Knowledgeable Wells Gray tour director
-
Tour Highlights (Included)
-
TOUR FARES
| Departure Point | Riviera Deck - Stateroom D | Vista Deck - Balcony Suite C | Vista Deck - Balcony Suite B | Horizon Deck - Balcony Suite A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$13,855$20,390 |
$14,660$21,945 |
$14,775$22,170 |
$14,890$22,390 |
|
$14,005$20,540 |
$14,810$22,095 |
$14,925$22,320 |
$15,040$22,540 |
|
$13,700$20,110 |
$14,505$21,665 |
$14,620$21,890 |
$14,735$22,110 |
- Please add 0.1% GST.
- Other categories may be available. Staterooms in Category D offer a window only (no balcony). Please inquire at time of booking.
- There may be an additional cost required for up-island clients to join this tour.
- Earn 260 Experience Points
Early Booking Bonus!
$250 on first 8 seats; $125 on next 4.
DEPARTURE POINTS & DATES
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Level
High Activity: You are an active traveller who wants to explore wherever you go. You don’t mind a mix of full days, early morning starts, and some late nights. You can walk longer distances, up to 4 km without difficulty which may be over uneven ground or cobblestone streets, and you can stand for prolonged periods during walking tours. You can climb three flights of stairs easily and unassisted, and can handle your own luggage in airports or at hotels if luggage handling is not available. Choose shore excursions based on your mobility. Ship activity is generally Level 2. This tour is not appropriate for people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, or other mobility assistance devices. Walking poles are fine. Additionally, this tour is not appropriate for those who have cognitive impairments such as memory loss or confusion, difficulty expressing thoughts, repeating questions, or getting lost. The tour director and driver have many responsibilities, so please do not expect them, or your fellow travellers, to provide ongoing assistance. If you are not capable of keeping up with the group or require frequent assistance,
the tour director may stop you from participating in some activities or some days of the tour. In extreme situations, you may be required to leave the tour and travel home at your own expense; travel insurance will
probably not cover you.
Please note: Prior to accepting your booking, you will be required to sign a declaration that you are capable of travelling on an Activity Level 3 tour.
Tour Size
This tour is limited to 25 participants, making it a more intimate travel experience.
-
MV EMERALD RADIANCE: Emerald Cruises launched the MV Emerald Radiance in 2017 and she was custom built for the Douro River and the northern Portugal climate. She was fully renovated in 2025. With just 56 staterooms and carrying a maximum of 112 passengers, the experience is intimate and deluxe. The ship is 89 metres long with four decks. Public areas include Reflections Restaurant, Horizon Lounge and bar with great views and comfortable furniture, an outside covered terrace with sitting area, a fitness centre, a hairdresser, and a huge partly shaded sun deck with sun beds and a pool. Wi-fi is complimentary. The floor to ceiling windows and French balconies on the Vista and Horizon decks make for bright staterooms with a contemporary design. Comfort is essential — dress code is relaxed and casual except the Welcome and Farewell dinners are a little more dressy. Dining has open seating with no reserved tables. You can choose a buffet or menu for breakfast in the dining room, or a light breakfast in the lounge. Complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks are offered with lunch and dinner. Your cruise director keeps you informed about the daily entertainment, the upcoming lectures on ports of call, and various on-board activities to enrich your Douro experience. Two or three tours are offered at each stop and you choose one based on your activity level. Some of these tours are on a motorcoach and some are walking tours. Sometimes a paid excursion with more elaborate inclusions is offered; you can reserve on the ship or on the Emerald website 3 months before sailing (details in Important Tour Info at final payment). Wells Gray Tours has booked staterooms in the A, B, and C categories on Vista or Horizon decks. They measure 160-180 square feet, have floor to ceiling windows, and the French balcony changes from an indoor to outdoor space with ease as the window lowers to a halfway point at the touch of a button. Other categories may also be available. Category D staterooms on the Riviera Deck offer windows only (no balcony), so please inquire when booking if this is your preference.
-
Documentation: A valid passport is required with sufficient blank pages and must not expire until three months after return date. Visas are not currently required for any country we are visiting.
-
Currency & Expenses: The Euro is the official currency in Portugal and Spain. You should have Euros on hand for smaller purchases and any gratuities not included. You can order Euros from your bank a week prior to departure. The currency on board the ship is the Euro. Purchases on board can be charged to your ship account and paid at the end of the cruise by credit card.
-
Importance of early booking: River cruises are incredibly popular nowadays. Ships are filling up a year before sailing, so waiting too long to book usually means “Sorry, wait until next trip.” Emerald Cruises has confirmed a block of staterooms and they are normally held until 4 months before sailing (late January 2027). However, any unsold staterooms can be taken away from us at any time if the ship or even a category fills. This occurs on most of our group cruises, then we have to turn away disappointed customers, even though seats are available on the connecting motorcoach. Therefore, please don’t delay booking this tour.
-
Itinerary and Fare Changes: Our many suppliers may notify us about changes to the itinerary prior to departure and sometimes during the tour. We do our best to substitute a similar service if something cancels, but occasionally the only alternative is to provide a refund for the missed activity. Please note that if we are forced to cancel a tour component due to an issue beyond our control, the current penalties still apply if you choose to cancel the entire tour. Hotels named were confirmed by the Portuguese tour operator in April 2026, but changes are possible. The flight cannot be booked until July 2026, so fares have been estimated and could change. Fuel surcharges and changes to taxes, currency exchange rates, or other tour costs can occur at any time, therefore Wells Gray Tours reserves the right to increase fares due to such changes up to departure.
-
Gratuities: Gratuities for cruise staff and Portuguese guides and drivers are included.
-
Beverages: In many countries outside Canada and USA, it is not standard practice to include beverages with tour meals. During the land portion of this tour, tea, coffee, or bottled water is usually included with each meal and other beverages can be purchased. On the ship, wine, beer, and soft drinks are included at lunch and dinner.
-
Food Allergies: You must notify us no later than at final payment if you have a food allergy. During the precruise and post-cruise touring and the included shore excursions, some restaurants may not be able to satisfy all food allergies. An allergy causes medical distress, a preference does not. Most food allergies can be handled at meals on the ship, but you may have to order 24 hours in advance. For some allergies, please consider bringing your own snacks or food items so you are not dependent on what restaurants are able to serve.
-
Flight seating: We are unable to take requests for window or aisle seating on the planes, no matter what class you are booked in. The airline will not accept them, as group seating is assigned as a block. If this is important to you, we suggest you take the “No Flight” option and book your own flights which allows seat selection. The fare reduction will be available in July 2026. If you do this, you should try to book the same flights as the group, otherwise you are responsible for any ground transportation to connect with the group. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information on the “No Flight” option.
-
Flight upgrades: Please enquire about current prices for upgrades on the flights to and from Portugal. Premium economy and business class may be available.
-
Flight delays or cancellations: In the event flights are delayed or cancelled by airlines due to weather or other reasons, there may be additional costs to you. Wells Gray Tours will not pay for hotel rooms and meals during the delay. Most travel insurance policies cover expenses incurred for flight delays.
-
Rooms for singles: are often a different style or smaller size than twin rooms in hotels (not on ship). Many hotels limit the number of single rooms for a group. Please book early if you prefer to travel single.
-
Triples: Triples are not available on this tour.
-
Payments: A deposit of $1,000 per person is requested at the time of booking and balance is due January 20, 2027. By paying the deposit, you agree to the Terms & Conditions, Activity Level 3 Declaration, and Cancellation Policy outlined. Payments can be made by online banking or cheque (3% discount on tour fare), or by Visa or Mastercard.
-
Early Booking Bonus: Receive a $250 discount on the first 8 seats and $125 on the next 4 seats for booking early with deposit. The discount is not offered after January 20, 2027.
-
Cancellation Policy: Up to November 25, 2026, the cancellation charge is $100 per person. From November 26, 2026 to January 20, 2027, the cancellation charge is $600 per person. From January 21 to February 19, the cancellation charge is 35% of the tour fare. From February 20 to March 19, the cancellation charge is 70% of the tour fare. After March 19, there is no refund.
-
Travel Insurance: A Comprehensive Insurance policy is available through Wells Gray Tours and coverage is provided by Travel Guard. Policies purchased at deposit include a waiver of the pre-existing condition clause for medical and cancellation claims, otherwise policies can be purchased no later than at final payment. Medical questionnaire is not needed. Please contact us for details. If you have your own travel insurance, please read the policy carefully to be sure that you are adequately covered for medical, cancellation, interruption, and luggage. Please do not travel outside of Canada without medical insurance as a minimum.
-
Photo Credits: Emerald Cruises (all photos and deck plan) and WGT staff.
-
Experience Points or E-points: This tour earns 260 e-points. Each time you travel on a Wells Gray tour, you earn e-points that are added to your account after the tour returns. One e-point equals $1. Redeem your earned points on select tours or accumulate enough points to earn a free tour! Redemptions offered until January 20, 2027.
-
Consumer Protection BC Licences: Kamloops 178, Vernon 655, Kelowna 588, Penticton 924, Victoria 65842