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Avalon Alegria: ship guide

New in 2024: the 102-guest Avalon Douro ship with the first Sky Deck pool in the fleet.

Best for: Wine lovers and travelers who want a one-week, warm-weather river cruise round trip from Porto on a brand-new, 102-guest ship with a pool on deck. Sails from Porto in 2026 and 2027.

See every Avalon Alegria sailing Deck plans Avalon Waterways policies

102guests at double occupancy

33crew

4decks

2024entered service

262 ftlong

51staterooms

About Avalon Alegria

Avalon Alegria is the ship Avalon Waterways built exclusively for Portugal’s Douro River. Christened at Pinhão on March 28, 2024 by actress Cheri Oteri, with the first guests boarding on April 3, it is Avalon’s 15th Suite Ship and its first in Portugal. At 262 feet and 102 guests, with 33 crew, it is sized for the Douro’s narrow locks and carries 37 Panorama Suites and 14 Deluxe Staterooms. The Green Award Foundation gave it a Gold Award for its environmental design.

The Panorama Suites fill two full decks and keep the Avalon format: 200 square feet of living space, a wall-to-wall window that slides open to make the Open-Air Balcony and a Comfort Collection bed facing the vineyards. In place of the European ships’ whirlpool, the Sky Deck has Avalon’s first pool, and the interiors by Dutch designer Liane van Leeuwen use Porto-made azulejo tiles and art by Sofia Fisher. Dining is in the glass-walled Panorama Dining Room with wine, beer and soft drinks included at lunch and dinner.

In 2026 and 2027 Avalon Alegria sails one itinerary in two moods: the eight-day Vida Portugal: Vineyards and Villages Along the Douro round trip from Porto, with a day trip into Salamanca in Spain, and its Festive Season version in December, each offered with three nights in Lisbon or a Taste of Madeira extension. It suits wine lovers and travelers who want a short, scenic river cruise in a warm climate.

Built for the Douro and delivered in 2024, Avalon’s first Suite Ship in Portugal
Green Award Gold from the Green Award Foundation, the only Avalon ship to hold it
The fleet’s first Sky Deck pool, with the Sky Deck shade system and premium loungers
37 Panorama Suites of 200 square feet on two full decks with the Open-Air Balcony
Comfort Collection beds facing the Douro’s terraced vineyards
Interiors by Liane van Leeuwen with Porto-made azulejo tiles and art by Sofia Fisher
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine at breakfast, daily Happy Hour
Avalon Choice excursions with Classic, Discovery and Active options, including a bike ride from Porto to the sea

Staterooms and suites

Deluxe Stateroom

Fourteen staterooms on the Indigo Deck with windows set high on the wall, L’Occitane amenities, marble-topped bathroom with glass shower, TV, safe and minibar; the ship’s lowest fare. Avalon does not publish a size for this ship’s Deluxe Staterooms.

Panorama Suite, Sapphire Deck

200 square feet with the Open-Air Balcony, a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window that slides open wide, a sitting area at the window and a Comfort Collection bed facing the river.

Panorama Suite, Royal Deck

The same 200-square-foot suite on the upper accommodation deck, closest to the Panorama Lounge and the stairs to the Sky Deck pool; the first category to sell on autumn harvest dates.

Suites note

Unlike the 166-guest ships, Avalon Alegria has no 300-square-foot Royal Suites; the Royal Deck Panorama Suites are the top category.

Avalon Alegria deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Sky Deck

Sky Lounge, Navigation Bridge, Sky Grill, Whirlpool, Premium Lounge, Deck Game Area.

Sky LoungeSky Lounge.

Royal Deck

Observation Lounge, Panorama Bistro, Panorama Lounge, Bar, Reception, Lobby, Clun Lounge.

P Panorama Suite

Sapphire Deck

Gallery, Dining Room, Staterooms.

A Panorama SuiteB Panorama Suite

Indigo Deck

Fitness Center, Staterooms.

D Deluxe StateroomE Deluxe Stateroom

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

On board Avalon Alegria

Dining on Avalon Alegria

Panorama Dining RoomIncluded

Glass-walled main restaurant with buffet breakfast and lunch and a four-course dinner or lighter tasting menu built around Portuguese dishes, with Avalon Fresh choices at every meal.

Panorama BistroIncluded

Casual lounge dining for small plates, a lighter dinner and afternoon tea.

Sky GrillIncluded

Al fresco lunches cooked to order on the Sky Deck beside the pool in the Douro sunshine.

Club LoungeIncluded

24-hour self-serve cappuccinos, lattes, teas, juices, cookies and snacks, plus a library with books and board games.

Room serviceIncluded

Complimentary continental breakfast, lunch and dinner in the stateroom.

Included drinksIncluded

Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine at breakfast, specialty coffee and tea all day and a daily Happy Hour in the Panorama Lounge with select beer, wine, spirits and cocktails; expect Douro wines and port on the list.

Bar drinks outside those hoursSpecialty

Drinks ordered outside meals and Happy Hour, including premium ports, are charged to your onboard account.

Entertainment and activities

Sky Deck pool, Avalon’s first, with shade system and premium loungers overlooking the vineyards
Panorama Lounge with Happy Hour, port talks, local performers and evening music
Avalon Choice excursions: Classic sightseeing in Porto and Salamanca, Discovery visits to quintas and villages such as Amarante, Active hikes and a bike ride from Porto to the Atlantic
Complimentary bikes and e-bikes and an Adventure Host for stretch classes and guided rides
Fitness room with cardio equipment and free weights
Avalon Fresh heart-healthy, vegetarian and vegan menus at every meal
Complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi and the AvalonGO app
Douro wine and port tastings at the quintas of the Alto Douro on Avalon Choice excursions

Families and who it suits

Avalon does not accept children under eight years of age and has no children’s programs or facilities; the pool is a small Sky Deck plunge pool for adults, and older teens are welcome with their parents.

Best for: Wine lovers and travelers who want a one-week, warm-weather river cruise round trip from Porto on a brand-new, 102-guest ship with a pool on deck.

Sails from: Porto · Regions: Douro

Avalon Alegria questions we answer every day

How big is Avalon Alegria?

Avalon Alegria is a 262-foot river ship built to the Douro’s lock dimensions, carrying 102 guests in 51 staterooms, 37 Panorama Suites and 14 Deluxe Staterooms, with a crew of 33. It was christened at Pinhão on March 28, 2024 and sailed with its first guests on April 3, 2024. It is Avalon’s 15th Suite Ship and the first the line has based in Portugal.

Where does Avalon Alegria sail in 2026 and 2027?

The ship sails the Douro only, on the eight-day Vida Portugal: Vineyards and Villages Along the Douro round trip from Porto through the Alto Douro wine terraces to the Spanish border, with a full-day excursion to Salamanca. In December it runs the Festive Season on the Douro version. Both can be extended with three nights in Lisbon, a Taste of Madeira, or both, for 11- to 15-day programs.

How is Avalon Alegria different from Avalon’s other ships?

It is shorter and carries 102 rather than 166 guests, so it fits the Douro’s five locks. It has a Sky Deck pool instead of a whirlpool, the only pool in the Avalon fleet, and no Royal Suites. Otherwise the formula is the same: two decks of 200-square-foot Panorama Suites with the Open-Air Balcony, a glass-walled Panorama Dining Room and the Club Lounge, and it holds a Green Award Gold.

Which staterooms are best on Avalon Alegria?

Book a Panorama Suite on the Sapphire or Royal Deck for the Open-Air Balcony and the river-facing bed; the two decks are identical in size and the Royal Deck is a few steps closer to the lounge and pool. The 14 Deluxe Staterooms on the Indigo Deck have high windows and the same bathroom and amenities at the lowest fare, and on a round trip from Porto every suite sees both banks.

What is included in the fare on Avalon Alegria?

All meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine at breakfast, a daily Happy Hour, 24-hour Club Lounge coffee and snacks, room service, Wi-Fi, bikes and e-bikes, an Adventure Host and a choice of Avalon Choice excursions including the Salamanca day trip. Airfare, optional excursions, bar drinks outside included hours and gratuities are extra. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where Avalon allows it, not available when you book direct.

When is the best time to cruise the Douro on Avalon Alegria?

Avalon sails from spring through the December festive dates. April to June brings green terraces and mild days; July and August are hot in the Alto Douro, often well above 90 degrees, which is when the Sky Deck pool earns its keep; September and October are harvest season with the vineyards turning gold, and the most requested dates. December sailings pair the river with Porto’s Christmas lights and cooler, sometimes wet, weather.

Facts checked against Avalon Waterways: Avalon Alegria, Avalon Waterways: Douro River cruises, Cruise Industry News: Cheri Oteri christens the Avalon Alegria, River Cruise Advisor: Avalon will debut on the Douro in 2024 on October 14, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

Live from the cruise line

Every Avalon Alegria sailing, priced all-in

Every Avalon Alegria departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.

Every Avalon Alegria sailing

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.