Princess Cruises 2008
Emerald Princess - 09Sep08 - 12 day Venice to Barcelona - from $2288
Accompanied by Gilles Robin - Shipboard credit $25/pers + bottle of wine
Golden Princess - 24May08 - 7 day inside passage Alaska - Seattle-Seattle - From $1034
Shipboard credit $25/pers - bottle of wine
Uniworld group on the River Ambassador- Castle Along the Rhine - 31AUG08 From $2603
Register online
Scandinavia & Russia RCCL Sailing
Date: May 23 – June 4, 2008 (12 nights)
Sailing: RCCL’s Jewel of the Seas 12 night Scandinavia & Russia Cruise, departing roundtrip from Harwich
Pricing: from $4227
Rates are per person net based on double occupancy, cruise only. Block space with Air Canada Vacations (Aeroplan points apply).
Register online
Royal Clipper
Royal Clipper is the new flagship for the Star Clippers line.
Date: September 29, 2007
Sailing: 11 nights, Italy, Sicily and Croatia (Civitavecchia, Italy to Venice Italy)
Pricing: $700 per person lower than regular price. Port charges are $355 per person. Deposit is $400 per person at time of booking. Final payment is due July 16, 2007. (All values are in US funds).
Register online
Cultural & Gastronomic Tour to Portugal
Register online
YYZ Travel AmEx is offering tours to Portugal exclusively to our customers from $3,950.
The price includes:
• All Taxes in Portugal (connected with this tour) and Internet Access
• All Breakfasts
• Two gastronomic meals per day
• Selected wines with above meals
• Professional English speaking Tour Director
• Professional English speaking Tour Guides
• Three wine tastings (2 with full gastronomic meals)
• One Show at the Casino
• One Fado Show
• Three live music performances
• One "dining and dancing" evening
• One live folk group performance
• One extraordinary theme dinner based on the local lifestyle
• One wine tasting class
• Three cooking lessons with the chefs of "Quinta de Malta"
• Sightseeing tours by private coaches. All Entrance fees.
• Tips for local guides and drivers
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Porto airport
On arrival you are transferred to the Manor House “Quinta de Malta” – your hotel. Time to relax and meet with your Tour Director and your fellow travelers for a welcome drink. There is some free
time to explore the area around “Quinta de Malta” before dinner is served. Discover for the first time what the Minho region has contributed to the Portuguese Cuisine. Enjoy the world famous Port
Wine. The owners of the Manor House will be present to answer any questions you might have while you can enjoy live entertainment by a local folk group.
Day 2: “Quinta de Malta” and Braga
After this morning’s breakfast you will be briefed on the tour itinerary and afterwards explore the grounds of the Manor House. This afternoon we will drive to Braga, a historic city, founded by
the Roman Emperor Augustus in 27 BC. We will visit the historic center of this old city, which, through industrialization and the founding of a university, has developed into a modern city while,
at the same time, holding on to both secular and religious traditions. Later on that evening we return to “Quinta de Malta”, where a gourmet dinner is awaiting you. Enjoy some of the best
wines of Portugal with dinner and listen to live music, rounding out the evening.
Day 3: Cooking Lesson and Recreation
Enjoy breakfast to start the day off right. This morning the chef of “Quinta de Malta” will conduct our first Cooking Lesson. You can look forward to playing an active part in this culinary event,
preparing your lunch and/or the lunch for some of the other guests. In the afternoon you have a choice to partake in either a jeep-ride or a bike-ride to explore the countryside of the Minho. A relaxing dinner served at “Quinta de Malta” around 7:30, is a great start to a perfect evening.
Day 4: Trip to the Douro Wine Region
First we have breakfast and then we depart for Oporto, for the train connection to Regua. Here we will check in to the “Pousada do Solar da Rede” for the overnight stay. This 18th century Manor
House is located in the Douro Vine region with a breathtaking view of the Douro River. The next stop is a local wine cellar where we will enjoy lunch. Wine tasting and a short introduction to the local wines follow this. Then, around 5:00PM we head for the center of Regua for some sightseeing. Tonight we will be served a sumptuous dinner, consisting of local specialties, at the “Pousada do Solar da Rede.”
Day 5: Visit to Oporto
After breakfast at the “Pousada do Solar da Rede” enjoy a leisurely train ride to Oporto, which is Portugal’s second largest city. You will notice the many remarkable bridges across the Douro River.
After a delicious lunch we will visit the historical center of Oporto and its riverbank. (Ribeira) The late afternoon is spent at the “Sandeman Winery” where you can enjoy some of the best Port
wines in Portugal. This evening you will sample the cuisine of the North in one of our favorite spots while enjoying a spectacular view of the Douro River. We are expected to return to “Quinta de Malta” by about 10:00 PM.
Day 6: Visit to Guimaraes
Breakfast at “Quinta de Malta”, followed by the departure to Guimaraes, a place that holds special affections for the Portuguese people. It was in this medieval castle that Afonso Henriques was
born. He is remembered for defeating the armies of his mother within sight of the high walls of this castle in 1128. The rest of the morning is spent exploring the center of the city – the “Paco dos
Duques de Braganca” declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There will be time for shopping. After lunch the guided tour of Guimaraes will continue. Upon returning to “Quinta de Malta”
enjoy another culinary delight prepared by the chef of this Manor House. Time to relax in these quiet surroundings.
Day 7: Ponte de Lima and Viana do Castelo
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing for Ponte de Lima. Our tour guide will remind you of
the many architectural jewels in the city such as the Roman bridge, the impressive medieval tower
by the riverbank and the Casa da Aurora Palace. Enjoy a memorable lunch at this historic destination. After lunch we head for Viana do Castelo just a short distance from Ponte de Lima.
Between the sea, river and the mountains, Viana do Castelo extends along the banks of the river
Lima close to where it joins the ocean. Our guided tour will end just before 7:00 PM when we will
arrive in Oporto at a Fado House for another sumptuous dinner while listening to live music.
Day 8: Cooking lesson, outdoor fun and entertainment.
Enjoy another leisurely breakfast at “Quinta de Malta.” This morning we will have our second
Cooking Lesson with the Chef(s) of this Manor House. Again, with the guidance of the experts
in the Northern Portugal Cuisine, you will prepare your lunch and perhaps the lunch of some
fellow guests. Once the lunch has been consumed there is time for some rest and relaxation.
Around 3:00 PM you will have a choice of the various outdoor activities offered in this area –
for example horse back riding. We will return to our hotel (Quinta de Malta) by about 6:30 for
some rest, before driving to Povoa do Varzim Casino where you can enjoy dinner, a show and
then test your luck. We will return late – about midnight - to “Quinta de Malta.”
Day 9: Oporto sights and shopping.
Today you will discover the riverside charm of Oporto. The morning is devoted to an extensive
guided tour of one of Portugal’s oldest cities. This city created some of this region’s finest dishes,
here is where you can enjoy the regions world famous Port Wine. This city is also a shoppers’
paradise, as you will discover after lunch, when you “can shop ‘til you drop.” You will return to
“Quinta de Malta” around 6:00 PM. Enjoy dinner at the Manor House and reflect on an eventful
day in Oporto.
Day 10: Santiago de Compostela
This morning, after breakfast, we will head for this Spanish city just on the other side of the Portugal – Spain border. After the short 2-hour ride we will check into the hotel. Lunch will be
followed by an extensive guided tour of Santiago de Compostela. This is the final destination
of the legendary medieval trail of pilgrims. Today, the “Camino de Santiago” (Trail of Saint
James) is also considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The town, with a population of
89,000, is named after the Apostle Saint James (“Santiago”), who is buried here. Tourists from
all over the world thanks to its monuments and a unique architectural style visit Santiago de
Compostela. Enjoy some free time or simply rest from about 6:00 – 8:00 PM. The cuisine of the
Galicia Region has an outstanding reputation in Spain, due partially to the superb quality of the
local fish. Enjoy your Spanish dinner and free time for the rest of the evening.
Day 11: Santiago de Compostela and return to Portugal
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Once we have checked out we will continue the guided
tour of this historical city. Before our departure to Portugal there will be ample time to do some
shopping. And we then have one more opportunity to taste the Galicia cuisine, as lunch will be
served around 1:00 PM. The short journey back to “Quinta de Malta” will take about 2 hours
after which you can relax at “Quinta de Malta.” Enjoy some informal socializing before dinner,
which will be another culinary treat from the Minho. Tonight, you can also enjoy live music
while spending another restful and relaxing evening at the Manor House.
Day 12: Historical Towns and Vinho Verde
We will leave “Quinta de Malta” at around 9:00 AM and make our way to Vila Praia de Ancora
at the seaside. Our tour guide will show us the historical city center before we leave for
Melgaco. This visit will then be followed by a short drive to a well-known Winery. We will have
lunch on the Wine Estate and taste the “Alvarinho” wine, a specialty of this region. After this
relaxing lunch we will head for Valenca, visiting the town center and the medieval wall. We will
wrap up our visit by exploring the market where you may do some more shopping. At about
8:00 PM enjoy some dining and dancing at “Quinta de Malta.”
Day 13: Hiking, Cooking and Farewell Dinner
We will start off our last full day at “Quinta de Malta” with a three-hour hike through the Minho
countryside. And then you will receive your third and last Minho Region cooking lesson. The
late afternoon is reserved for rest and relaxation. Our Farewell dinner is planned for 8:00PM.
This “Theme Dinner” is inspired by life in the Northern Portuguese Countryside. There are
different themes each month. This concludes the tour of the “Alto Minho” region, which is rich
in customs, good food and excellent wines.
Day 14: Day of Departure
Breakfast at “Quinta de Malta” Checkout and departure for the airport
Some Basic Portuguese Phrases:
How much - Quanto custa
Thank you - obrigado
Excuse me/Sorry - desculpe
The bill please - A conta , sefaz favor
Toilet - casa de banho
Hello - ola
Good bye - adeus
Beer - uma cerveja
Cheers! - Saude!
Register online