Competitions

Win a holiday with Travel Department

Token Collect: Travel Department

The Irish Times, in partnership with Travel Department, is offering readers the chance to win a stunning four-star Douro River Cruise for two in Portugal, including stops in Porto and Salamanca, aboard the MS Estrela — a prize worth over €5,700.

Congratulations to Mary Carr from Co Dublin who is the winner.

  • Experience a relaxing river cruise through Spain & Portugal on this guided group holiday. 
  • Stay seven nights on board the four Star MS Estrela.
  • Ports of call include Vega deTerron, Pinhao, Barca d’Alva, Pocinho & Regua.
  • Experience the cities of Porto & Salamanca with guided walking tours & leisure time. 
  • Enjoy a guided visit to the beautiful Baroque Mateus Palace and Gardens in Vila Real. 
  • Taste the flavours of the region at an authentic Portuguese dinner in a traditional quinta (vineyard).
  • Enjoy plenty of free time for optional excursions like a visit to the city of Guimarães, the “Cradle of the Portuguese Nation”.

Your Escorted Douro River Cruise Holiday

Discover the highlights of Northern Portugal with us on this 7-night Douro Valley River Cruise holiday. We’ll begin our journey by commencing our cruise down the Douro River in Porto. Travelling on board the MS Estrela, we will experience the comfort of a boutique hotel as we’re transported to some of Portugal’s most exciting locations. Guided city tours of Porto & Salamanca and a visit to the Mateus Palace and Gardens are included during our holiday. These excursions are led by expert local guides who will share their wealth of knowledge and take us to the must-see attractions of each destination. There will also be a full programme of further optional excursions available at each port of call. Much smaller than an ocean liner, the ship will take us into the heart of most cities we visit, allowing us more time to discover and enjoy time ashore.

Terms & Conditions

  1. Promoter and Data Controller: The Irish Times DAC, The Irish Times Building, P.O. Box 74, 24 - 28 Tara Street, Dublin 2.
  2. The promotion is open to residents of ROI andNI aged 18 years or over except employees of the Promoter, their families, agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion.
  3. To enter the promotion, entrants must submit a completed entry form together with 12 valid tokens (one token from any of The Irish Times daily newspapers from Monday to Saturday for three weeks) and a completed tie breaker by post to The Irish Times, Travel Department, Competition, PO Box 6094, Dublin 2.
  4. All entries must be accompanied by the entrant’s name, address, e-mail and telephone number. You must also tick the box indicating that you have read and accept these terms and conditions.
  5. Entry forms will be published in The Irish Times newspaper between June 9th and June 28th 2025. Valid tokens will be printed in The Irish Times newspaper from June 9th and June 28th 2025.
  6. No applications from agents, third parties, organised groups or applications automatically generated by computer will be accepted. No incomplete, illegible, photocopied or corrupted entries will be accepted. No entries not in accordance with the entry instructions will be accepted.
  7. Closing date for receipt of entries by the Promoter is 2pm on Saturday, July 5th, 2025.
  8. Responsibility will not be accepted for entries lost, damaged or delayed. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. Entries will become the property of the Promoter.
  9. The prize is seven nights - fully guided tour- four-star full board - flights and transfers. Experience a relaxing river cruise through Spain & Portugal on this guided group holiday; Stay seven nights on board the four-star MS Estrela; Ports of call include Vega deTerron, Pinhao, Barca d’Alva, Pocinho & Regua; Experience the cities of Porto & Salamanca with guided walking tours & leisure time. • Enjoy a guided visit to the beautiful Baroque Mateus Palace and Gardens in Vila Real; Taste the flavours of the region at an authentic Portuguese dinner in a traditional quinta (vineyard); Enjoy plenty of free time for optional excursions like a visit to the city of Guimarães, the “Cradle of the Portuguese Nation”. The Cruise departure date is October 23rd, 2025. Prize is for two people sharing one cabin aboard the cruise.
  10. The prize is not refundable, non-transferable and there is no cash alternative, any transfer of the prize will be null and void. Holiday to be taken during 2025 season. Should booking issues arise, Travel Department reserve the right to change the accommodations to one of an equivalent standard.
  11. The Promoter shall not be liable for any loss, damage or consequential damage of any nature in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise caused by the acceptance of the terms and conditions or in connection with the prize.
  12. The decision of the Judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  13. In the event of unforeseen circumstances the Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize for an alternative prize of equal or greater value.
  14. The winner will be notified by phone call or email by 5pm by Friday, July 11th, 2025. The winner must claim the prize within one month of the notification. If the prize is unclaimed after this time, it will lapse and the Promoter reserves the right to offer the unclaimed prize to a substitute winner selected in accordance with the Promotion rules.
  15. All prizes are subject to additional terms and conditions of the supplier of the prize to the promoter.
  16. The winner may be required to participate in unpaid publicity arising from this promotion.
  17. By entering the promotion all entrants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the rules and consent to the transfer of the personal data to the Data Controller for the purposes of the administration of this promotion and for any other purpose to which the entrant has consented. All entry instructions form part of the rules.
  18. The Promoter reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions.
  19. ROI residents: These terms and conditions shall be governed by Irish law and the Courts of the Republic of Ireland shall have exclusive jurisdiction. NI residents: These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of Northern Ireland and the Courts of Northern Ireland shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
  20. Full details of our privacy policy can be found at: https://www.irishtimes.com/policy-and-terms/privacy-policy.
  21. Full details of Travel Department privacy policy can be found at: https://www.traveldepartment.com/help-centre/legal/privacy-policy?geo=roi
  22. Promoter and Data Controller: The Irish Times DAC, The Irish Times Building, P.O. Box 74, 24 - 28 Tara Street, Dublin 2.

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