Luxury Cruises to Portugal
Portugal cruises will offer you an insight into its enchanting culture. Indulge in the country’s robust cuisine that celebrates the riches of the ocean and its lush, rolling countryside, not to mention the crisp whites, fruity reds, and famous port wine. Marvel at fairytale castles, lounge on endless sandy beaches, explore colorful markets, and experience ancient musical traditions. Most importantly, connect with the people, who are as warm and welcoming as the sunny climate.
Lisbon, the hilly capital, has wonderful architecture, a romantic old quarter, superb museums, and a thriving culinary scene. In the north, the glorious old city of Porto is a gateway to the riches of the Douro Valley, where port wine vineyards snake along steep hillsides and ornate palaces doze in the sunshine amid sprawling wine estates. The rugged Atlantic island of Madeira has its own charms, not least a beautifully preserved old city, Funchal, and some of the finest coastal walking in Europe. You may also call at the remote Azores, where you can explore dramatic volcanic scenery around Ponta Delgada, or join a whale-watching excursion. Sail to Portugal in luxury on a European cruise with Celebrity Cruises.
Portugal Cruise Highlights
Wine Regions
A cruise to Portugal will take you to some of the world’s most famous wine regions. From the port of Leixoes, you can visit the wild beauty of the Douro Valley, where sinuous vineyards and silvery olive groves line the river banks. Taste vintage ports, as well as the celebrated Mateus Rosé. From Lisbon, explore the lush countryside of the south to sample floral Moscatel wines. Madeira, meanwhile, produces its own fortified wines from grapes ripened in the Atlantic sunshine.
Historic Architecture
Exquisite castles and rugged fortifications are dotted all over Portugal. Don’t miss the 11th-century ramparts of the Castelo de São Jorge that snake across the hills of Lisbon and its stupendous views over the city’s terracotta rooftops. Visit the Torre de Belem to admire the intricate Manueline styling on this monument to the great explorers. And while the 19th-century turreted, red and yellow Pena Palace near Sintra is relatively modern, it’s a vision straight from a fairytale.
Fado Music
Experience the musical heritage of Portugal with a Fado performance. Fado is a uniquely Portuguese style of music that combines melodic notes from a mandolin or guitar with a melancholy tone and lyric, telling stories of life, love, and loss. It’s hauntingly beautiful to listen to and is especially prevalent in the intimate fado bars of the ancient Alfama District of Lisbon.
Portugal Cruise Ports
Portugal Cruise Itineraries
Cruises to Portugal vary between seven nights and 14 nights. Embarkation ports include Southampton (England), Rotterdam, Athens, Barcelona, or Lisbon itself. Transatlantic voyages, which visit Ponta Delgada and in some cases, Madeira, sail from Fort Lauderdale.
Itineraries
Why Cruise to Portugal With Celebrity Cruises
Your cruise to Portugal and its islands will be an unforgettable experience on one of Celebrity’s luxurious, contemporary ships. Enjoy Michelin-quality dining, relax in the sunshine by the pool, and breathe in the sea air from the sanctuary of your own veranda. Choose The Retreat for the ultimate in luxurious living. As well as a serenely beautiful suite, you’ll have access to the exclusive restaurant, Luminae at The Retreat, a lounge, and, on Edge-series ships, a sundeck especially for guests of The Retreat.
Explore vineyards, historic cities, colorful markets, long sweeps of sandy shoreline, and the more dramatic volcanic scenery of the islands in Portugal, the riches of which will stay with you long after your vacation has ended.
