As we continue to enjoy the third series of Channel 5’s brilliant Cruising with Susan Calman, we’ve been taking a look at the adventure so far – and what’s to come. Susan has certainly pushed the boat out in the series, crossing continents and time zones with cruises to French Polynesia and Mexico.
But it’s her latest adventure down the Douro River that has got us dreaming of a similar escape (as luck would have it, our Good Housekeeping cruise also happens to explore the mighty river).
In the most recent episode of the hit show, which aired 26 January, Susan began a gentle cruise down the Douro River through Portugal and Spain. The cruise began in Porto, where Susan took the city’s famous cable car and visited Europe’s biggest lock. She also visited Salamanca in northwestern Spain, where a flamenco show proved just as vibrant and exciting as you would hope.
As for the next instalment of Susan’s Douro River adventure, it airs this Friday 2 February. What can we expect from the episode? A vineyard and a riverside train ride will feature as Susan continues to cruise along the Douro.
There will also be culinary intrigue in the form of a francesinha, a Portuguese sandwich that originated in Porto, which is made with layers of toasted bread and hot meats like steak and ham. Another cultural highlight comes in the form of a performance from a group of Tunas, who play traditional instruments in classic local dress.
If all this has got you yearning to explore the Douro yourself – it certainly has us dreaming of a Portuguese and Spanish adventure – you won’t want to miss the chance to bag a spot on the Good Housekeeping Douro River cruise, which explores a region of Portugal best known for its excellent wines.
Aboard the comfortable 63-cabin A-ROSA ALVA ship, you’ll glide along the glittering Douro from historic Porto and around the Alto Douro, the name of the UNESCO wine-producing valley.
Stops at Régua and Pinhão provide ample opportunity for wine and port tasting, as does Vega Terron in Spain, and a visit to Barca d'Alva in the Parque Natural do Douro. You can also choose to go on an excursion to the historic university town of Salamanca in Spain, just as Susan did.
Cruising with Susan Calman: The Douro Part Two airs on Friday 2 February at 8pm. The series is available to stream on My5
