New Holiday Destination For OC

OurCreature · Post by **OurCreature** » Mon Feb 13, 2023 4:04 pm

Despite not yet having gone on my holiday to Iceland this year, I felt the need to arrange something for 2024, especially as it seemed to be a very good offer with a Which Recommended Provider - Riviera Travel in this case.

Where am I going to? OC is heading south - to Porto, where after arrival at the airport I shall be transported to the 5 Star (I wonder who rates the boat) MS Douro Elegance wherein I shall reside for 7 nights in my single occupancy Upper Deck Superior Suite while cruising up and down the Douro, visiting quintas to taste wine and port etc, all meals and excursions provided. On Day 4 we have an excursion to Salamanca in Spain, and at the end of the holiday we have a leisure day in Porto. Apart from the quintas there are other historic sites to which we shall be taken; the Portuguese equivalent of English country houses, gardens etc plus at least one church.

This is a special cruise for singles, so the prices are considerably cheaper than they would be for me on one of their ordinary Douro cruises. Therefore there is no choice about the dates; go to Porto on 2 April, come back home on 9 April. I checked the weather before booking, and April looks all right; it shouldn't be baking hot.

I am paying just under £3,500 plus insurance which I have yet to arrange. I haven't yet established whether tips are included in the price; bar drinks are not, but if wine with meals is included I won't be inhabiting the bar anyway, especially as you get drinks at the quintas. Tea and coffee is complimentary.

I have fancied doing a Douro cruise for a few years but they always were very expensive, so I have grabbed this one while the nice cabins are available. 2 or 3 of the Upper Deck suites like mine have already been booked.

OurCreature · Post by **OurCreature** » Mon Feb 13, 2023 6:50 pm

I have found that tips aren't included, and neither are onboard drinks. You can buy a drinks package to go with your meals for £129 but that doesn't include bar drinks. I might dispense with the drinks package (I'll think about it), and settle up for what I have had at the end of the cruise, along with the tips.

Furby · Post by **Furby** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:16 am

I cant think of anything worse than booking another holiday when first one not yet done with. A whole extra year to worry about it. But I suppose oc thinks of it as looking forward etc and for him it's a nice thing.

Will you have to get a visa to be in the EU now. And bad idea to be drunk on holidays or anywhere without someone trustworthy to get you home and watch out for robbers anyway. I like their idea of not happy on day two we will fly you home on a full refund that would be me and at least I would get a free day out. It's good they think of single people so much especially holidays assumes people are in family groups doesn't it and lots of older people are on their own. Maybe loss of business pandemic etc have made them think more of such people. And with energy bills as they are it's a week without paying energy bills that will pay the dinner drinks bill won't it.

OurCreature · Post by **OurCreature** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:06 am

Right now I don't need a visa to go to the EU on holiday - not Portugal anyway; though they do say in the terms and conditions that I am responsible for making sure that I comply with any conditions current at the time of the holiday.

And you are correct, Furby - when I do think about it I shall be looking forward to it and not worrying about it.

Post by **merry** » Sat Feb 18, 2023 10:45 am

I like their idea of not happy on day two we will fly you home on a full refund that would be me and at least I would get a free day out.

I love it!

Well I think that sounds wonderful, OC! I really appreciate all the little details. I shall look up MS Douro Elegance!

A holiday like that where everything is taken care of will be very restful I'm sure. It's all the decision-making and planning and wondering which of many things to go and see which can be stressful.

As you know I've been to Porto with STPD and loved it. It's very hilly (STEEP hills) but along the harbourside where the boats dock it's flat enough. You must walk over the big iron bridge to the other side, for the views.

I wrote a long topic about it on Old Board -there are a few posts from you, OC - including one where you say you would love to do the Douro cruise some time!

This could be the Douro Elegance docked there when I took this photograph! (probably much too small)