Like a blue ribbon threading through the green Douro Valley, the River Douro carries you through some of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes. Meaning “River of Gold,” the Douro River lives up to its name by revealing priceless gems along sloping vineyards and sleepy villages where rugged landscapes have been tamed for centuries to produce a bounty of wines and cuisine. Welcome aboard the newest addition to our award-winning fleet of Suite Ships® – the Avalon AlegriaSM to be swept away by Douro’s timeless treasures and traditions, family farms and fevered Fado music, and mouth-watering culinary creations in the world’s oldest demarcated wine region.

Embark on your Suite Ship® in the city of Porto with the opportunity for an optional guided culinary tour to indulge in the city’s world-famous cuisine. Take a guided tour to Braga and Guimarães or explore ancient architecture, including a visit to the Interpretation Centre of the Romanesque. Enjoy a guided tour in the charming towns of Peso da Régua and Lamego, where historical sights are mixed with delicious tastings, or meet the owner of one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley to sample the proud traditions of olive oil and wine. Take a guided tour of Freixo de Numão, where vineyards and granite houses dot the river shores. Consider a fascinating guided tour to Vila Nova de Foz Côa, home of the remarkable Côa Valley Palaeolithic discoveries – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a cozy village with narrow streets, flowered houses, and grand Gothic Manueline windows. Choose a full-day experience in Spain with a guided sightseeing excursion to Salamanca. Immerse yourself in an emotionally stirring experience in Portugal’s city of Amarante.

Avalon Waterways, featuring the continent's youngest river fleet, positively sparkles. Every Avalon vessel has been constructed with comfort in mind - passengers enjoy premium amenities, consummate personal service, and Europe's most spacious selection of staterooms.  Attention to detail and providing a superior experience doesn’t just stop there.  On the Douro, the river boats and lock systems are smaller, so the Avalon Alegria is 262 ft long and boasts only 37 Panorama Suites and 14 Deluxe Staterooms for a wonderful, small ship experience.

Avalon shares the flavors of the world with the freshest local ingredients prepared by our talented chefs and served in your choice of venues on board. Our Avalon FlexDining® approach to onboard dining experiences has tossed out the idea of restrictive seating times in limited settings. We’ve brought back the question, “Where should we eat?” to the cruise experience. Choose from options like a breezy al fresco lunch at the Sky Grill, an elegant four-course dinner in the glass-walled Panorama Dining Room, or a more casual culinary setting in the Panorama Bistro. Whichever table setting you choose, you’ll savor local flavors as well as the familiar favorites you love. On an Avalon cruise, dining is part of the journey.  

No "Cookie Cutter", one size fits all excursions with Avalon. In most ports, guests have a choice of up to three different excursion experiences all included in the price of the cruise (others available for a charge). Choose from the Classic option which features the history and heritage of the port, Discovery which features interactive hands-on activities, or Active excursions which feature biking, paddling, and hiking through scenic locales.

For more info, you can read my review of a previous Avalon Waterways cruise we did..

Become mesmerized by the experience of river cruising and touring the world's most charming towns and cities. Travel from one fascinating village to another in wondrous, luxurious style. 

As you sail through the beautifully quaint countryside of captivating islands, indulge in local customs, the lure of fresh bread baking nearby and revel in the instant bursts of fresh scents and mesmerizing sunsets. Get up-close and personal to destinations larger ships only dream to go and become one with history, culture and refined grace.

It's the sheer intimacy of being in the heart of a destination that will captivate your soul. Only on a river cruise can you reach out and touch the authenticity of the heartland and it gleefully reaches back for you.

River cruising can be enjoyed by all travelers who love art, history, food, wine and architecture. These smaller-scale vessels offer an intimate way to explore the world along some of the world’s most scenic waterways. There is nothing like sailing along some of the world’s most famous rivers with ports of call right in the heart of small towns and witnessing history come to life.

The Avalon Alegria delights river cruisers with exceptional experiences and the elegant yet relaxed luxury you've come to expect from Avalon Waterways. As the newest addition to our fleet of Suite Ships, the Avalon Alegria certainly lives up to its name, meaning happiness, which flows from stem to stern on this 262-foot ship. 

Choose from 14 deluxe staterooms or 37 Panorama Suites® with a spacious capacity of just 102 passengers. Choose from two full decks of award-winning Panorama Suites, featuring wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that transform your living space into a unique Open-Air Balcony. The 200-square-foot Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than the industry standard, with Avalon's signature window-facing "Beds with a View." 

Onboard amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi access, a state-of-the-art Fitness Center, an Adventure Center with complimentary active gear, and an Avalon Adventure Host to assist with active excursions and on board fitness classes and activities. Enjoy exceptional onboard cuisine, including Avalon Fresh® menu options, premium coffee and spirits, and versatile FlexDining venues, including the casual Panorama Bistro, al fresco Sky Grill, or elegant glass-walled Dining Room. 

Make yourself at home in the Club lounge with a variety of coffees, teas, cold beverages, and pastries while settling in with your pick of books, cards, and board games. Relax and watch the world go by in our Observation Lounge for the perfect vantage point to peruse Portugal's stunning Douro Valley and vineyards. Stretch out on the Sky Deck with a swimming pool, premium lounge chairs, and shade system to relax while sailing through Portugal's most spectacular views!

8 Day Portugal and Douro River Cruise
Roundtrip Porto, Portugal
Avalon Alegria
June 12-19, 20224

Places We Visit:

• Porto, Portugal
• Entre Os Rios, Portugal
• Porto Antigua, Portugal
• Peso da Régua, Portugal
• Pinhao, Portugal
• Pocinho, Portugal
• Barca d’Alva, Portugal
• Caldas de Aregos, Portugal

Your river cruise fare includes many wonderful Classic, Discovery and Active shore excursions.  This includes opportunities to experience the scenery, history, architecture and wines of the Douro Valley.  We will have more details on the available excursions during our Zoom.  Also included is a daily happy hour on our ship.

Exclusive Offer: We have locked in some exclusive group rates and savings for this exciting cruise.  Included in our group rate is prepaid gratuities. If you book this cruise with us by October 31, 2022, you will get an additional $50 Onboard Credit per person just for attending our Zoom event  

You can learn more about this exotic cruise, including cabin categories and current pricing, by visiting our group webpage.

Being a Douro River cruise, with its smaller river boat system, the Avalon Alegria boasts only 37 Panorama Suites and 14 Deluxe Staterooms for a wonderful, small ship experience.  So don't wait to book! These cabins will sell out fast and many of the brand new 2024 Avalon itinerary Douro River cruises are already sold out!

Before sailing, begin your vacation your way with a three-night stay in beautiful Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. 

On the first day, you are free to explore Lisbon on your own. 

On the second day, enjoy guided sightseeing with a local guide to see the city highlights, including Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. 

On the third day, join an excursion to the magnificent National Palace of Mafra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex, which includes the Royal Palace, basilica, and convent, is the most important monument to Baroque architecture in Portugal. 

On the fourth day, stop in Coimbra for a city sightseeing tour before reaching Porto where you will board your Avalon Suite Ship® to start a delightful river cruise across Portugal!

This Lisbon, Portugal Discovery pre-cruise extension is $899 per person. 

Suzanne and Steve Klasen of CruiseOne Show Low, AZ will be doing the pre-cruise extension and enjoying 3 wonderful days in Lisbon.  We hope you can join us!