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July 3–12, 2015
Uniworld's Queen Isabel
10-day adventure starting in Madrid during Pride; then sail the lush Douro River Valley with it's enchanting towns and celebrated wines of Portugal.
Indulge your passion for food, history, and music as you discover the warmth of Portugal and Spain. Experience the "sunny side" of Europe, starting in radiant Madrid, then follow the Douro River through Spain and into Portugal. Feel the warm sun on your skin as you cruise past terraced hills, quaint villages and acres of ripe vineyards. From taking in a traditional flamenco show to visiting a local café to, of course, memorable local food and wine tastings, this all gay Brand g cruise and tour gives you the very best of the region.
Experience three legendary Spanish cities: Madrid, renowned for its museums, stately royal palace, tapas bars and chocolaterías , famous plazas, and vibrant nightlife; and Salamanca, "The Golden City." Sail the UNESCO World Heritage Douro River with its terraced hills, quaint villages, and acres of vineyards. Go deep into the epicenter of Portugal's most celebrated beverage—Port—with visits to wine estates and quintas . And explore two of Portugal's most lively and colorful cities, Porto and Lisbon(optional).
In Madrid, see the many highlights of this spectacular city on a panoramic tour and visit the world-famous Prado museum, which has offered visitors an up-close look at works by leading Spanish artists like Goya, and Velazquez since 1819. "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life," wrote Picasso, another of Spain's most famous artists, and so will your days in this magical city. Enjoy some free time on your own, or take optional tours to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Toledo, an ancient cultural center known as the "City of Three Cultures" for its peaceful coexistence of Christians, Muslims and Jews. It was also home once home to the painter El Greco.
Cruise through the UNESCO-designated Douro Valley, where grapes have been grown for 2,000 years. Visit picturesque quintas and meet the winemakers who run them. In Porto, where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean, explore architectural wonders, shop the bustling Rua de Santa Catarina and sip the city's storied port wines at its preeminent cellars. Travel overland through the countryside and stop in Coimbra, Portugal's third-largest city and birthplace of six of the country's kings.
Reward your inner explorer with the Jewels of Spain, Portugal & the Douro River, an all gay adventure that blends captivating cities, picturesque villages and unparalleled scenic cruising through this less-travelled corner of Europe.
The Ship
Brand g Vacations has chartered Uniworld's Queen Isabel. Inaugurated in 2013, the Queen Isabel is the newest and most luxurious ship on Portugal's Douro River. Queen Isabel touts an excellent restaurant, with a separate alfresco dining area, a spacious lounge with an open-air bar, a large sun deck with elegant furniture and a heated swimming pool. The Queen Isabel provides the ultimate in comfort, with six-star amenities.
Public Areas & Amenities
• Main Lounge with full-service bar
• Restaurant
• Sun deck with swimming pool
• Fitness center
• Serenity River Spa
• Boutique
• Reception service
• Complimentary coffee and tea bar
• Free Internet and Wi-Fi access
Staterooms & Suites
Luxuriously appointed riverview staterooms and suites have full balconies on Upper Deck, French balconies on the Main Deck, and panoramic windows on the Lower Deck.
All staterooms and suites have hotel beds, built-in closets, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV, radio, alarm clock, iPhone/iPod charger and player, and bottled water.
Bathrooms with L'Occitane en Provence bath and body products, plush towels, waffle bathrobes, and slippers.
Travel Itinerary
Friday, July 3, 2015
Madrid, Spain
Welcome to Madrid! Our guides will meet you at the airport to assist with your transfer to the Westin Palace Hotel, conveniently located in the heart of Madrid. After settling in to the hotel make the most of the remainder of your day by exploring the city on your own and taking in the many festivities of Madrid Gay Pride.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Madrid, Spain
Your panoramic tour of this lively metropolis will take you to some of Madrid's most famous sights. Then explore the massive Prado Museum, which features one of the world's finest collections of European art. With nearly 7,600 paintings among its holdings, the Prado's assemblage is truly stunning in both its depth and breadth.
Meals: B
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Madrid / Salamanca / Vega de Terron (Embarkation)
From Madrid travel overland to Salamanca, a UNESCO world Heritage city. The architectural purity of this charming town has endured through the centuries, during which time its sandstone buildings have acquired the exquisite glow that gives Salamanca its nickname, "The Golden City." Walk under plateresque arches and past ornately decorated masonry walls as you explore the university. Then visit Salamanca's extraordinary Old and New Cathedrals. Continue on to Vega de Terron on the Spanish border and board the Queen Isabel.
Meals: B, L, D
Monday, July 6, 2015
Barca d'Alva & Castelo Rodrigo, Portugal
 Visit the 12th-century walled village of Castelo Rodrigo (one of the twelve historic villages of Portugal), with its medieval streets and stone- walled houses vantage point.
Meals: B, L, D
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Pinahao & Lamego, Portugal
 Lamego, a small, picturesque town that is rich in history, invites you to explore its streets today. Lamego houses one of the most important pilgrimage sites in all of Portugal: the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies. Sitting atop a hill, the sanctuary overlooks the town and can be reached by climbing its 686 steps. You'll get to see it up close on today's tour and have a chance to admire its gorgeous panels of blue and white tiles before enjoying another treat—a delicious wine tasting. In the evening, enjoy a Gala Dinner onboard your ship.
Meals: B, L, D
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Regua, Portugal
 The Douro River winds through one hundred miles of granite mountains, carving out a valley whose steep slopes hold terraces that were cut by hand into the rocky soil and planted with grapes centuries ago. Visit the Douro Museum to learn about the river and its wines. See, too, Mateus Palace, which has one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. In the evening, you'll tour the family-owned Quinta da Avessada, which produces premium Moscatel. After strolling the grounds and meeting the owner, you'll partake in a rustic dinner featuring fine local wines and traditional live music.
Meals: B, L, D
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Regua & Amarante / Porto Antigo
 Today you'll venture to the charming, old-world town of Amarante, which is situated between the bends in the Tamega River and the cliffs of the surrounding mountains. Many of its remaining historic structures are Romanesque in style, several of which you'll see on your guided walking tour through this lovely riverside town.
Meals: B, L, D
Friday, July 10, 2015
Porto, Portugal
 Birthplace of Henry the Navigator (who launched Portugal's voyages of exploration) and longtime hub of the Port wine trade, Porto combines well- preserved historic buildings with cutting-edge architecture and a booming cultural revival. Your tour will take you to the 19th-century Palácio da Bolsa and then on to the cathedral and the bustling shopping street, Santa Catarina. After lunch, you'll visit one of the city's famed Port cellars.
Meals: B, L, D
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Porto & Guimaraes, Portugal
 Visit historic Guimaraes. As Portugal's first capital (back in the 12th century) and home to its first king, Don Afonso Henriques, Guimaraes has been called the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. Dominated by Afonso Henriques's grand castle, Guimarães is a designated UNESCO world Heritage Site. It's also a great place to shop for high-quality Portuguese handicrafts and other souvenirs. Later, explore the UNESCO-designated Ribeira district on foot; here, the colorful heart of the old port city will enchant you with medieval lanes and zigzagging stairways.
Meals: B, L, D
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Porto (Disembarkation)
(Optional Post-cruise Extension to Lisbon)
Morning disembarkation.
 For those guests participating in the post cruise program; continue your journey through the beautiful countryside to Lisbon via motorcoach. Stand on the banks of the Tejo River and take a deep breath. Now turn around and look at the city climbing the hills above you. Your adventure begins with a guided tour to iconic Belem Tower and Padrao dos Descobrimentos, a monument to Portugal's great explorers. Step inside the spectacular Manueline Jeronimos Monastery. Sample a traditional sweet, the pastéis de Belem, at a famous pastelería (pastry shop), then see the hills of the Alfama district and Rossio plaza, with its wavy black-and-white paving and lively street life.
Meals: B
Add-Ons
Private Airport Transfers
Individual arrival airport transfer in Madrid with Meet & Greet, English-speaking driver,and luggage assistance: USD $69 per person based on 2 guests per car.
Individual departure airport transfer in Porto with airport assistance, English-speaking driver,and luggage assistance: USD $69 per person based on 2 guests per car.
Optional Post-Cruise Tour
Lisbon – 2 Night Post-Program Extension, July 12-14
Complete your journey with our two-night program in the colorful capital of Lisbon, the port city that that launched navigator Vasco da Gama on the discovery of an ocean route to India. See the sights on a panoramic tour and taste the famous local dessert, Pasteis de Belem, a custard pastry. Venture beyond the city to the nearby towns of Sintra, where you'll find magnificent castles and Moorish architecture, and Cascais, a charming seaside resort with a royal lineage.
Package Includes:
• Group tansfer with English-speaking guide and luggage assistance from Porto to Lisbon.
• 2 nights hotel accommodation in Lisbon at the Dom Palace, with daily buffet breakfast and half-day guided city tour.
• All sightseeing and admission fees.
• Government taxes and local tourism fees.
Two Night Package: $399 per person, $299 single supplement.
Additional Hotel Night(s): Double - $125, per peson; Single - $225
Accommodations
Madrid, Spain
Westin Palace Hotel Madrid
The Westin Palace, Madrid has been the destination of choice for international movers and shakers since 1912. Today, defining itself as '100 years young', the grand dame of the Spanish capital continues to reinvent itself, constantly innovating and developing services and facilities to further improve upon the legendary hospitality for which it is renowned.
Located at the heart of the Spanish capital and surrounded by the enticements of this lively southern European city, for over a century The Westin Palace, Madrid has been the destination of choice for discerning guests seeking a base in which to relax.
Overlooking the Neptune Fountain and its quiet plaza, the Westin Palace lies opposite the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums and is two blocks from the Reina Sofia Art Centre. Just 1.5 kilometres from the hotel is the Filmoteca Nacional showing a rich choice of art house cinema, including matinee performances and original language versions.
 The palatial hotel was built in 1912 on the former site of the palace of the Duke and Duchess of Medinaceli. The entrance hall, decorated with murals of Italian Renaissance gardens, leads through to Rotunda Hall which is crowned with an Art Nouveau glass dome. Dining options include international and Spanish dishes at the informal La Rotonda, and Chinese cuisine at Asia Gallery. A breakfast buffet is available. Set in the most dramatic room of the hotel, the Palace Bar is dominated by an Art Nouveau stained-glass dome with flower motif, from which a large chandelier is suspended. Cocktails, and a choice of over 700 wines from the adjoining cellar, are served here, and live piano music is played for afternoon tea.
The 466 guestrooms are decorated in Belle Epoque style and include plush Heavenly Beds, air conditioning, Internet connections, digital phones, and marble bathrooms with anti-mist mirrors, bathrobes, and slippers.
Additional Pre Night(s):
Single - $349 ; Double - $199, per person.
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