Fatima and the Douro River Cruise with Gus and Michelle Lloyd and Fr Leo Patalinghug

We depart on an overnight flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Dinner and breakfast are served on the plane. Quotes for add-on flights and optional Premium Economy, and Business Class upgrades are available upon request. We work with group air seats which do not permit us to request specific seat locations. If this is an important trip feature for you, please book your own airline tickets and book the land and cruise portion of the trip with us.

We arrive in the capital city of Lisbon and are met by our Portuguese English-speaking guide who will assist us to the coach. This afternoon we enjoy a panoramic tour of Lisbon, including St. Jerome’s Monastery (outside view), built to thank the Blessed Mother, the Belem Tower, the Navigation Monument, and many other landmarks. Our last stop will be St. Anthony’s Church. This patron saint of lost things is best known as St. Anthony of Padua (Italy), but he was born and baptized here in Lisbon. The Church, where we celebrate Mass, is built upon St. Anthony’s birthplace. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant accompanied by Portuguese wine. Overnight in Lisbon. (Special dinner)

After breakfast and check-out, we depart Lisbon and drive to the Church of the Holy Miracle (formerly the Church of St. Stephen) in Santarem to venerate the 13th-century Miracle of the Eucharist and celebrate Mass. In the afternoon, we arrive in Fatima, settle into our hotel, and walk across the street to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

Today will surely be a memorable experience as we explore one of Our Blessed Mother’s most important apparition sites. Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children: Lucia (age 10), Jacinta (age 7), and Francisco (age 9). These apparitions occurred monthly from May until October of 1917. Historically, as the entire world was in true turmoil, Our Lady’s most prominent message was to pray for world peace. We visit the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. This simple yet modern chapel is the site where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13, 1917. Proceed to the stunning neoclassical church, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, which contains the tombs of St. Francisco, St. Jacinta, and Sister Lucia. View the monument that commemorates the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the square. Due to Our Lady’s consistency in Her messages to pray the Rosary, this Basilica also features fifteen altars dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. Visit the Museum with the exhibition “Fatima – Light and Peace” and the Holy Trinity Basilica. We pray the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra, the “Sacred Way,” marking the path taken by the shepherd children of Fatima to their first apparition with Our Lady. It is composed of fifteen small chapels commemorating the Passion of Our Lord. Enjoy a visit to Valinhos, the site of Our Lady’s August 1917 apparition and the first and third apparition of the Angel. Lunch is included today. Mass will be celebrated. Our night will conclude with private devotions and a candlelight procession, as requested by Our Lady (1917). Enjoy dinner and a comfortable night’s rest in Fatima.

Following Mass, we drive to Aveiro, called Venice of Portugal, where we have time to stroll the streets along the meandering canals, take a boat, and enjoy lunch. We continue to Porto, the capital of the wine-making region of Portugal known for its port wine, where we embark on our ship MS Douro Queen, our home for the next seven nights. Settle into our comfortable cabins before we meet for orientation and welcome cocktails in the lounge. Dinner and overnight on the ship.

Porto, built on staggered hills along the river, invites you to stroll through its labyrinthine streets and stairways, medieval alleys, Baroque churches, fountains, and bell towers, Beaux-Arts buildings and bohemian neighborhoods. Our walking tour includes the town’s historic center and the Ribeira, the riverfront district. It’s hard to take a bad picture in Porto, where houses are clad in painted tiles and fascinating, eclectic architecture awaits us around every corner. Since the 18th century, when Portuguese vintners created a sweet fortified wine – now famous as port – that could make the long sea voyage to Britain without spoiling, the Douro Valley has been the only supplier of port to the world and the oldest demarcated wine region. We visit a local port-making facility before returning to the ship for lunch and an afternoon retreat with our group leaders. Mass will be celebrated. Dinner and overnight on the ship.

We disembark in the historic town of Peso da Régua, once a busy hub where wooden boats called rabelos, laden with port barrels, sailed downriver to Vila Nova de Gaia. Our first visit is to Casa Mateus, an 18th-century mansion with beautiful baroque architectural features and exquisite gardens. Then, we travel by motorcoach to the idyllic, tranquil village of Pinhão, where we reboard the ship for lunch. The Douro River Valley and its unique landscapes of terraced mountains, villages, and wine estates unfold this afternoon as we sail towards the Spanish port town of Vega de Terron, where the Douro forms the border between Spain and Portugal. Mass will be celebrated onboard. Tonight we enjoy a Flamenco show in the lounge. Dinner and overnight on the ship.

Today we journey to Salamanca, Spain’s oldest college town. We quickly forget about the lengthy border-crossing ride when we arrive in La Dorada (The Golden City), which gets its nickname from the beautiful glow of the sandstone structures. Europe’s oldest (and possibly one of the most attractive) universities, dating back to 1134, sits in the heart of Salamanca, along with the city’s main square (Plaza Mayor), two cathedrals, the House of Shells, and a multitude of medieval, Gothic, and Baroque buildings. Despite the seemingly large size of the city, it feels like a small Spanish village. We celebrate Mass at the magnificent cathedral. During our visit, don’t miss the opportunity to sample freshly made churros served with thick hot chocolate at Valor! Lunch is on your own today. We return to the ship for dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast and a morning spent sailing through the Quintas wine region, we disembark after lunch in Ferradosa and visit the Quinta do Seixo estate, located just outside of Pinhão. This 100-acre estate is one of the most traditional and renowned wine producers in the region. The views from their terrace of the valley below will leave you speechless! We continue to Pinhao and see its early-20th-century train station, adorned with blue-painted tiles (azulejos), and explore the village, which sits along a scenic bend in the Douro River and serves as the epicenter of the valley’s port winemaking region. Pinhão is the gateway to the valley’s Quintas (vineyards) and large wine estates. Mass will be celebrated. Tonight we enjoy a Captain’s gala dinner on the ship.

This morning we drive to the picturesque Lamego, home to one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Portugal, the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies). There are more than 600 steps to ascend to the top – but fortunately, we are starting at the top and walking down! It is still a very memorable experience. To think that the pilgrims who visit here actually go up on their knees… Celebrate Mass at Lamego Sé Cathedral and explore the lovely town before returning to the ship in Regua for lunch. We sail in the afternoon on the ship cruising towards Porto. This evening we enjoy a Fado-themed show onboard. Dinner and overnight on the ship.

This morning, we make our way by bus to the city of Braga, where we celebrate Mass at the spectacular Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro (Santuario de Nossa Senhora do Sameiro), the country’s second-largest shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our visit continues with exploring the Shrine of Good Jesus of the Mountain (Santuário Bom Jesús do Monte), a magnificent hilltop shrine surrounded by a lush forest. We explore the grounds, perhaps walking all the way up the Baroque double stairway to the top (381 feet) or taking the funicular, which dates back to the end of the 19th century. Lunch is included today in Bom Jesus. Return to the ship in Porto for dinner and a traditional folk show. Overnight on the ship.

This morning, we disembark in Porto and are transferred to the airport for our flight home.

We disembark from our ship in Porto and drive across the border from Portugal to Spain to Pontevedra, the largest Marian shrine in the country, where we celebrate Mass. We learned about Portuguese wines during our cruise, but today we taste Spanish food and wine. We arrive at O Grove for a boat ride along the Ria de Arousa to learn about the mussels production, which this area is known for. Then we visit a Spanish winery and enjoy tasting Albarino wine with lunch. Our final stop for the day is the famous city of Santiago, where all pilgrimage roads lead. Dinner and overnight in Santiago. (B.Special lunch. D.)

This morning, we attend the Pilgrim’s Mass at Santiago Cathedral, followed by a guided visit of Santiago. In the afternoon, choose to join pilgrims from all over the world in walking the last few miles of the Camino (approximately 11 km, 2-3 hours walking time), or you may choose to enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Santiago. Both groups will assemble at the Monte del Gozo, where the spires of the magnificent Cathedral of St. James are visible. Formed by Galician granite, this cathedral is one of the finest architectural examples in Europe as it encompasses Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles. The Cathedral contains numerous valuable pieces of art that truly captivate the eye. It is traditional to hug the statue of St. James upon entering the cathedral. Our private guided walking tour takes us into the crypt where the patron saint of pilgrims’ relics are kept. We celebrate Mass before our farewell dinner tonight at the Catholic Pilgrimage House across the street from the cathedral. Overnight in Santiago. (B. Special dinner)

After breakfast, we are transferred to the airport for our flights home. (B) Welcome on board the DOURO QUEEN, where the best views are guaranteed. Relax on the sun deck enjoying the beautiful Portuguese landscapes of the Douro Valley and its vineyards. The swimming pool on the deck is perfect for a refreshing dip. And everything else on board is geared to your comfort. The stylishly appointed cabins on the upper deck have a private balcony with seating. In the comfortable restaurant you can enjoy typical regional and international cuisine, as well as the region’s famous fine wines.