Avalon Alegria Douro River Cruise
By John Roberts
River cruising is one of the most delightful ways to travel. I have been on dozens of these intimate and enriching voyages, including multiple trips along the popular Danube and Rhine Rivers in Europe. However, there was one itinerary that I was missing and longing for — a Douro River cruise.
You see, I have a lot of well-traveled friends, and many of them have been on this special waterway, one that carved out a valley to create one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, reaching back some 2,000 years. I had heard about the stunning beauty of the region and how it was one of their favorite spots to visit.
Well, I finally got to experience the Douro Valley myself during a special preview cruise and naming ceremony for the 102-pax Avalon Alegria, a new cruise ship from Avalon Waterways. Our trip was five days, giving us an enticing sampler of the full seven-night route Avalon Alegria now runs between June and November.
The Avalon Alegria docked along the Douro River. * Photo: John Roberts
Avalon Alegria is an exciting new entrant to Douro River cruising, and Avalon’s first ship in Portugal just might be the best ship for these voyages.
During my cruise, I enjoyed some of the famed wine culture, learned about the history of the region and enjoyed a nice slice of the outdoor adventures (most fun for me) available in this part of the world.
Here are five reasons that you’ll love an Avalon Alegria Douro River cruise as much as I did.
1. Avalon Alegria is a Small Ship with Innovative Spaces
Avalon Alegria carries up to 102 passengers in 51 suites.
Cruisers should know that Douro River ships are much shorter than those you’ll see elsewhere in Europe. They can be a maximum of 262 feet long (compared with the typical 443 feet). They have to be shorter to fit into the smaller locks on the river.
John’s cabin, #310. * Photo: John Roberts
This means smaller passenger counts, too, making the experience even more intimate as you cruise with your new friends.
The Douro Valley is an incredibly scenic region, ranking up there with the famed Wachau Valley you enjoy on Danube River voyages. You’ll see interesting bridges, historic buildings and beautiful terraced vineyards.
The scenic Douro Valley. * Photo: John Roberts
To take advantage of all the scenes, Avalon Waterways designed Alegria to offer as many places as possible to sit back and relax while soaking in the views.
At the very top of the four-deck ship is the Sky Deck with an array of inviting seating areas. The deck features a mix of chairs, tables, couches and lounge chairs.
The Sky Deck is the place to watch the world float by. * Photo: John Roberts
Many of the loungers are arranged close to the large pool. Yes, Avalon Alegria offers the first pool for any ship in the line’s fleet. The pool has a deck surrounding it and is a great option for cruisers who want to enjoy a soak and refresh, especially during the summer days that get very hot in the region.
Avalon Alegria’s pool. * Photo: John Roberts
The Panorama Lounge is the primary activity space on board, with daily happy hours, live music in the evenings and other activities throughout the cruise. The bar is situated at the back of the space so that every seat in the lounge has an optimal view through the 270 degrees of floor-to-ceiling windows.
Avalon Alegria’s Lounge. * Photo: John Roberts
At the very bow of the ship beyond the lounge is the open-air Observation Lounge or “Front Porch” on Avalon Alegria, a serene space with green plants and a dozen chairs with tables and even a fun chair swing.
The Front Porch at the bow of Avalon Alegria. * Photo: John Roberts
The space is clean and open for use by cruisers who want to enjoy a meal, cocktails or relax and read a book while taking in the vistas. This differs from many river ships that will have ropes and other equipment in use that limit the space people can use.
The Panorama Dining Room on Deck 2 also considers the views when you’re at your seats (a variety of tables and banquette seating that faces the windows). These spots have clear views because the buffet and cooking areas are located at the very back of the restaurant.
The Panorama Dining Room. * Photo: John Roberts
At the aft of Deck 3 is the fantastic Club Lounge, with a library nook (with cards and board games), coffee and snack bar and seating for cruisers to relax in a serene space while looking through the panoramic views. We saw people here enjoying a cuppa, reading time and conversations during quiet mornings and throughout the day. The refreshment area has not only coffee, but also tea, hot chocolate, an ice machine and a flavor-infused water station (you can get bubbly or still for a handful of low-calorie fruit flavors). Open 24 hours, people come to the Club Lounge to snag chocolate chip cookies, pastries or snacks like nuts.
VIDEO: Here’s John’s video tour of the Avalon Alegria.
Subscribe to our monthly small ship cruise email
Subscribe to QuirkyCruise.com for monthly curated newsletters highlighting our top small cruise ship reviews, round-ups & offers!
2. Shore Excursions Suit All Kinds of Cruisers
The Avalon Waterways program features Active, Classic and Discovery shore excursions offered at no extra cost.
The weeklong Douro River voyages offer 11 included morning excursions, with most days featuring both a Classic and Discovery option from which cruisers can choose.
Classic excursions are your traditional town or city tours led by guides who bring you into the heart of the destination to see iconic landmarks such as churches, castles and museums.
Discovery tours are designed to let travelers get a more hands-on experience with a specific subject that relates to a region such as a culinary class, wine tasting, music or art.
Active tours might be something like a bike tour, hiking or kayaking.
A Vineyard tour & hike. * Photo: John Roberts
You also have a selection of optional tours, including some evening outings, that can be purchased, such as the “Liquid Gold Discovery: Uncovering the Secrets of Olive Oil” or a dinner outing “Dinner & Traditions in the Douro Valley” with regional cuisine served at a charming farmhouse.
Avalon Alegria’s Douro River Cruise Itinerary
Day 1: Embark in Porto
Day 2: Cruise to Porto Antigo
Day 3: Peso Da Regua
Day 4: Pocinho
Day 5: Barca D’Alva
Day 6: Ferradosa-Leverinho
Day 7: Porto
John in Porto before boarding Avalon Alegria. * Photo: John Roberts
At Porto Antigo, Avalon offers a Discovery excursion that visits an iconic Romanesque-era monastery and a 13th-century church where you are treated to a performance of Gregorian chants from the choir.
Or you can pick the Classic excursion that explores Celtic history and the reign of Augustus Caesar during a visit to the town of Braga. This tour includes a look at the castle and San Miguel church plus a stop to a wine farm for a tasting.
At Peso da Regua, excursions include a tour of one of the oldest wine farms in the Douro Valley with the owner of the property or a guided walking tour of Regua.
Vineyard along the Douro River. * Photo: John Roberts
On our cruise, we picked a vineyard hike with our Adventure Host in the village of Pinhao. Our 1.5-mile stroll through the scenic hillside vineyard of Quinta do Bomfim allowed us to view the bends in the river, try fresh oranges from a small grove, and take a quick tour of the production facilities and cellar and taste some of the port wines.
An orange grove. * Photo: John Roberts
A cool tour in Pocinho takes you to an archaeological site along the Coa River to see prehistoric rock paintings and carvings.
At Barca D’Alva, you can pick the all-day tour to Salamanca in Spain to see the idyllic streets and squares that show off Romanesque, Baroque, Gothic and Plateresque styles of architecture.
The Porto stop at the end of the week features a number of options. The Active excursion was a two-hour bike ride, with a few stops. I did this on my voyage, and the nine-mile ride was led by a biologist who took us through the wharfs and along the coast for a scenic and informative tour.
Biking in Vila Nova de Gaia. * Photo: John Roberts
We explored the Douro River estuary close to where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean, and our guide showed us some of the bird varieties that come to this refuge and explained migration patterns. We cycled to Vila Nova de Gaia on the oceanfront and saw the “Little Church on the Beach” before ending with a tour at the Fishery Museum and Aquarium.
Resting at a scenic stop during our biking in Vila Nova de Gaia. * Photo: John Roberts
The Little Church. * Photo: John Roberts
So, you can see there is a wide variety of tour offerings. The Active excursions are a fantastic option for people who want a little adventure and a workout as they explore. They aren’t too challenging but instead offer a chance to go at a calm pace and enjoy the outdoors.
A kayaking tour on the Douro and Paiva Rivers * Photo: John Roberts
VIDEO: John shows us some of the Active tours he enjoyed on this Douro River cruise with Avalon Waterways.
3. Opportunities to Extend Your Trip to Explore Lisbon
Avalon’s seven-night voyages sail roundtrip from Porto.
And for those who want to spend some time in Lisbon (about 200 miles south), Avalon also offers a 10-night package that gives you three full days at the start of the trip to fully explore Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon before you go to Porto to embark on your cruise.
Lisbon is a very hilly city, which Heidi experienced herself some years ago with her sons * Photo: Heidi Sarna
In addition to the cruise itinerary (listed above), this combo program begins in Lisbon with a stay at the luxury Tivoli Hotel. You have a mix of free time and included and optional excursions, plus breakfasts.
The program includes a guided tour of Lisbon, an excursion to Sintra to see this beautiful UNESCO World heritage village and its National Palace, and a visit to the town of Coimbra for a bit of sightseeing and a look at the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest in the world (University of Coimbra, established 1290).
Keep your eyes peeled for the beautiful ceramic tiles of Portugal, which you’ll see on building facades as well as floors. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
From Coimbra, cruisers continue to Porto for embarkation day on Avalon Alegria.
For cruisers who choose the standard voyage only, you can add some time on your own in Porto. Avalon recommends the Hilton Porto Gaia hotel, which is located steps from the waterfront and close to multiple restaurants, bars, shops and museums in the port area.
Colleen and I arrived a day ahead of our cruise and stayed at this hotel, which allowed us to recover properly from our flight. We also enjoyed a meal at a waterfront restaurant and were able to enjoy a walk along the wharf and through the nearby streets after breakfast at the hotel before heading to the ship and embarking on our cruise.
The Avalon Alegria carries 102 passengers. * Photo: John Roberts
4. Three Restaurants aboard Avalon Alegria Offer Flexible Dining Choices
Avalon Alegria has three venues for your meals. The main restaurant is the Panorama Dining Room, which serves breakfast and lunch at a large buffet set-up. The buffet features an omelet station for breakfast and a carving station serving lamb or prime cuts of beef plus a pasta a la minute station. So, you have a wide range of items to select from at your meals. There are soups, salads, fruits, breads, cheeses and pastries. Plus, cruisers hit the sundae bar that is set up for each lunch service. You also can special order a burger for lunch or Belgian waffles for breakfast.
The Panorama dining room. * Photo: John Roberts
The open-seating venue allows for tables of six or intimate meals for just two. Dinner is a full-service affair with a menu filled with a range of traditional favorites and a few regional specialties. Our menus included items like Portuguese codfish cakes, seared seabass, tagliatelli arrabiata, turkey breast roulade, broiled rock lobster tail and braised beef cheeks.
Turkey Breast Roulade. * Photo: John Roberts
The Panorama Bistro is a casual eatery set up in the lounge every day for lunch and dinner. Smaller tapas versions of the items are set out on a small buffet table and represent a slimmed down version of the same menu that you’ll find in the main restaurant.
This is perfect for cruisers who want a more casual meal at their own pace.
You can eat outside on the Front Porch when the weather is nice, and your dinner can be complete in less than an hour. This is a great option if you want to hop off the ship for a sunset walk, for example, before the live music or other entertainment in the lounge that evening.
The third restaurant is the Sky Grill, located up on the Sky Deck.
The Sky Deck dining area. * Photo: John Roberts
This bar and grill eatery is used a couple times during your Douro River cruises (weather permitting) for barbecue lunches and dinners featuring hot dogs, burgers, veggies, fish and more. We didn’t get to see it in action on our preview cruise because it was raining each day.
A juicy burger on Avalon Alegria. * Photo: John Roberts
What’s Included on an Avalon Alegria Douro River Cruise
- Starlink Wi-Fi throughout the ship
- Happy Hour drinks every evening featuring house beer, wine, cocktails and a drink of the day (drinks at mealtime are not included in fares)
- Welcome and farewell cocktails with sparkling wine and canapés
- All meals
- 24-hour self-serve beverage station with complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate and premium coffees, as well as snacks
- Daily classes with an Adventure Host
- Shore excursions at every port
5. Avalon Alegria Features an Adventure Host Onboard
Cruisers who are into fitness will love traveling on Avalon Alegria. In addition to the Active biking excursion in Porto, the ship offers a small fitness center with a treadmill, bike and yoga mats.
The small gym on Avalon Alegria is better than nuttin! * Photo: John Roberts
Avalon Waterways introduced Adventure Hosts to its ships years ago, and we cruised with Georgi, who led morning yoga and stretch classes in the main lounge.
Yoga class. * Photo: John Roberts
Colleen and I would start our days on the Douro with a nice little pre-breakfast workout — with around five other cruisers in the classes — before having a nice breakfast and getting ready for our shore excursions.
When the weather is nice, classes are held on the sun deck. Add the ship’s big pool, and you can really immerse yourself in a health and wellness regimen during your voyage.
Our cruise marked Avalon Alegria’s first voyage, and the shore excursion program is still being developed, especially the Active options. We had a blast on a kayaking outing on the Douro River that Avalon was testing.
Look for more of these types of adventures to be added to the lineup, which will make this new ship even more exciting for people seeking their first Douro River cruise.
I loved my first time, for sure.
John definitely recommends this Douro River cruise. * Photo: Colleen McDaniel
Interested in an Avalon Alegria Douro River Cruise?
Seven-night Douro River cruises round-trip from Porto start at $3,509 per person. The 10-night option, which is a combo of the 7-night cruise plus three hotel nights in Lisbon, starts at $4,458 per person.
Here are more details on the Avalon Waterways website.
Don’t miss a post about small-ship cruising, subscribe to QuirkyCruise.com for monthly updates & special offers!
© This article is protected by copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. All Rights Reserved. QuirkyCruise.com.
HEIDI SARNA
