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Palaces and PousadasA 3-Day PortugueseVisit to the CountrysideLisbon Excursion |
Luxury Cruise SINGLE-SOLO |
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Three Night Pre-Cruise PackageVoyages 2206 (Apr 20), 2217 (Jul 30), 2226 (Oct 27), 4223 (Aug 31)Air/Sea Guests $1,595Cruise Only Guests $1,895 |
What's Included:1 night at the Hotel Palacio De Seteais Sintra 2 nights at the Hotel Palace do Bussaco Full breakfast and dinner every day, with house wine and beverages at dinner Lunch daily English-speaking guide All transfers |
Three Night Post-Cruise PackageVoyages 2205 (Apr 10), 2212 (Jun 8), 2225 (Oct 19), 3213 (May 29), 4222 (Aug 22) All Guests $1,895 per person, based on double occupancy. |
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Three-Night
Pre-Cruise Package(Voyages
2206,
2217,
2226,
4223
)Day 1 Lisbon / SintraUpon arrival to Lisbon
International Airport, you will be met by our local staff, assisted and
transferred to Hotel Palacio De Seteais in Sintra. The hotel is an exemplary
monument to the palace architecture of the 18th century. Set high in the
hills above Sintra this palace with its lovely garden command’s a great view
of the city. 30 guestrooms and all the public rooms are decorated with
exquisite taste peaceful to the eye, yet grand in flavor. After check in
you are free to relax after your international flight and enjoy your
surroundings. |
Three-Night
Post-Cruise Package(Voyages
2205,
2212,
2225,
3213,
4222)Day 1 Lisbon/BussacoUpon disembarkation from the
ship, our local staff will be there to greet you, assist with your luggage
and make you comfortable as you depart for this interesting tour. Your first
destination is district of Belem, the area in Lisbon where the old harbor
was located and from where the caravans of navigators once departed. You
will stop by the Belém Tower and the Memorial to the Navigators.
The Bussaco Forest, together with Sintra, is considered by some to be
the most beautiful place in Portugal. It is a giant arboretum that was
created by Portuguese explorers who carried in trees from all over the
world. From Lusitanian oak to Mexican cypress, down to shaded grottoes of
tree ferns and camellias, this is definitely a delight for all who love
nature. In the heart of this forest is the Palace Hotel built as the last
summer residence for Portuguese monarchy. The original plan combined a royal
lodge and a public establishment regal enough to be called The Palace Hotel.
The architecture is neo-Manueline; inside a grand staircase climbs to
stained-glass windows and the walls are covered with panels of tiles
displaying heroic events in Portuguese history.
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Luxury Cruise SINGLE-SOLOLUXURY CRUISES SINGLE |
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Hotel Palacio
De Seteais Dinner is on your own this evening. Overnight at the Hotel
Palacio De Seteais.
Palace of
QueluzThe Palace still
displays a beautiful collection of furniture porcelains, rugs and portraits
of the Royal family. You shall visit the palace, still used these days to
host foreign Heads of State, and the gardens fashioned after the famous
gardens of “Le Nôtre”. Lunch will be served at “Cozinha Velha”. This deluxe
restaurffffffffffffffant is housed in the former kitchen of the palace. In fact the origin
of the name is derived from the words “the old kitchen.”
Cozinha VelhaAfter lunch, you
make our way to Bussaco. Upon arrival in Bussaco in the late afternoon you
will check in to the Palace Hotel. The Bussaco Forest, together with Sintra,
is considered by some to be the most beautiful place in Portugal.
Palácio
do Buçaco
It is a
giant arboretum that was created by Portuguese explorers who carried in
trees from all over the world. From Lusitanian oak to Mexican cypress, down
to shaded grottoes of tree ferns and camellias, this is definitely a delight
for all who love nature. In the heart of this forest is the Palace Hotel
built as the last summer residence for Portuguese monarchy. The original
plan combined a royal lodge and a public establishment regal enough to be
called The Palace Hotel. The architecture is neo-Manueline; inside a grand
staircase climbs to stained-glass windows and the walls are covered with
panels of tiles displaying heroic events in Portuguese history. The hotel
combines elegance and tradition in a way that can only be found in the old
Europe. Enjoy included dinner and overnight at the Palace Hotel.
Day 3 BussacoEnjoy included breakfast at the
hotel. Following breakfast, you will depart for Coimbra. COIMBRA is a name
that for centuries has been synonymous with the world of academics, a
birthplace of ideas, Romanesque and renaissance art center, its destiny
closely interwoven with that of Portugal. Situated on the banks of the
Mondego River, Coimbra, the first capital of Portugal, is known as the
University City since it was here that in 1290 the king Dinis founded the
third university in the entire world. You will visit the university, where
you will see the Royal chapel and the spectacular library built in the
18-century and which is known as a masterpiece of baroque art. Free time to
enjoy the center of the town – downtown Coimbra has a very pleasant
pedestrian area with outdoor cafes and all kinds of small shops. Lunch will
be served at Hotel Quinta Das Lagrimas.
Quinta Das
LagrimasThis hotel is another gem in the
town it is housed in a former manor house of the local bourgeoisie and
gives you the feeling of peaceful Esprit, which you no longer find in large
cities. After lunch, tour the gardens and see the place where, according to
tradition, the beautiful Inês de Castro was killed. This love story between
Prince Pedro and Inês is the most famous of the Portuguese medieval period
and it inspired great writers and poets of all times. In the afternoon you
will visit the roman ruins of Conimbriga. Situated a few kilometres south of
Coimbra, Conimbriga is the most important archaeological center of the
country and gives the visitor a good idea of how important this roman city
was during the 2nd century BC. In the best-preserved houses, one can still
admire fantastic original mosaics. These are considered the highlight of the
site. There is also a remarkable museum displaying objects of daily life.
The museum has a souvenir shop and a cafeteria where you may have a drink
(on Mondays only the roman ruins can be visited as the Museum is closed)
before returning to Bussaco. Balance of the afternoon at leisure to enjoy
the palace and its gardens. Dinner and overnight at the Palace Hotel. Day 4 Bussaco/Lisbon Enjoy included Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, depart for Batalha.
Batalha is spectacular gothic monastery built to celebrate Portugal’s
greatest military victory. Batalha is overwhelming not only in size but also
in evolution. What began as a stark Gothic structure has evolved over time
into an exuberant Manueline design characterized by spiraling columns and
decorative motifs of the high seas and the Indies.
Monastery of BatalhaYou may visit the Royal
Pantheon and the church of our Lady Santa Maria da Victoria. After this
visit you will make your way to the village of Obidos. Óbidos is a rare
example of an extremely well preserved medieval town. Entirely surrounded be
the walls of its castle, the town has retained many of its features of the
past. Walking through the narrow picturesque streets, the visitor feels like
he is traveling back in time.
Palácio
do Buçaco
Palácio
do BuçacoThe hotel combines elegance
and tradition in a way that can only be found in the old Europe. Enjoy
included dinner and overnight at the Palace Hotel.
Palácio
do Buçaco Dining RoomDay 2 BussacoEnjoy included Full Breakfast at
the hotel. After breakfast, depart for Coimbra. Coimbra is a name that for
centuries has been synonymous with the world of academics, a birthplace of
ideas, Romanesque and renaissance art centre, its destiny closely interwoven
with that of Portugal. Situated on the banks of the Mondego River, Coimbra,
the first capital of Portugal, is known as the University City since it was
here that, in 1290, King Dinis founded the third oldest university in the
world. Your visit to the University includes the Royal chapel and the
spectacular library built in the 18th century and which is known as a
masterpiece of baroque art. Free time to enjoy the centre of the town –
downtown Coimbra has a very pleasant pedestrian area with outdoor cafes and
all kinds of shops. Lunch will be served at hotel Quinta Das Lagrimas.
Hotel Quinta
Das LagrimasThis
hotel is another must in the town it is housed in a formed manor house of
the local bourgeoisie and gives us the feeling of charm and peaceful
harmony, which we find no longer in large cities. After lunch, tour the
gardens and see the place where, according to tradition, was killed
beautiful Inês de Castro. (The love story of prince Pedro and Inês is the
most famous of Portuguese medieval period and it inspired great writers and
poets of all times.) In the afternoon you will Visit the roman ruins of
Conimbriga.
Ruins of
ConimbrigaSituated a few kilometres south of Coimbra, Conimgriga is the
most important archeological centre of the country and gives to the visitor
a good idea of how important this roman city was during the 2nd century B.C.
In the best-preserved houses, you can still admire the fantastic mosaics,
which are considered the highlight of the site. There is also a remarkable
museum displaying objects of daily life. The museum has a souvenir shop and
a cafeteria where we may have a drink, (on Mondays only the roman ruins can
be visited as the Museum is closed) before returning to Bussaco. Balance of
the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the palace and its gardens. Dinner and
overnight at the Palace Hotel.
Day 3 Bussaco/SintraEnjoy included breakfast at the
hotel. After breakfast depart for Batalha. BATALHA is spectacular gothic
monastery built to celebrate Portugal’s greatest military victory. Batalha
is overwhelming not only in its size but also in its evolution. It began as
a stark Gothic structure but has evolved over time into an exuberant
Manueline design characterized by spiraling columns and decorative motifs of
the high seas and the Indies. One may visit the Royal Pantheon and the
church of our Lady Santa Maria da Victoria. After the visit to Batalha you
will make your way to Óbidos. Óbidos is a rare example of an extremely well
preserved medieval town.
Entirely surrounded be the walls of its castle, the
town keeps many of its features of the past. Walking through the narrow
picturesque streets, the visitor feels like traveling back on time. A must
is the visit to Sta. Maria church in the Pillory Square – this medieval
church was rebuilt in the 17C. and is known for its remarkable collection of
tiles and paintings. You may also tour the sentry walk and enjoy the lovely
view over the valley or exploit the shops of arts and crafts. Lunch will be served in the PoUSAda housed in the formal royal palace and
residence of the governor. After lunch, departure to Sintra and to the Hotel
Palace of Seteais. The hotel is an exemplary monument to the palace
architecture of the 18th century. Set high on hills above Sintra this palace
with its lovely garden command’s great views over the city. 30 guestrooms
and all the public rooms are decorated it exquisite taste, peaceful to the
eye, yet grand in flavor. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Palacio De
Seteais. Day 4 Sintra/Lisbon Enjoy full Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will transfer from the hotel to
Lisbon International airport for your flight home depending on your air
schedule.