If you had actually asked me ten years ago if I delighted in a river cruise, my response would have been a tough no. However a years later on, river cruises have actually come a long method, infant! We just recently boarded the Avalon Alegria in Porto, Portugal, for a cruise into the Douro Valley. This European River cruise felt more like the little ship explorations we have actually taken in the past than the old basic river cruises that stopped at jam-packed ports and invested more time on the bus than checking out the location.
What’s it Like on a Douro Valley River Cruise
We boarded our all-suites ship in Porto, where we started our journey into the spectacular hills of the Douro Valley. The Avalon Alegria was created to use the most area while producing the supreme relaxing and glamorous experience.
The Ship– Avalon Alegria
The Avalon Alegria is the most recent of Avalon’s ships. It is an all-suites ship with 14 luxurious staterooms or 37 Panorama Suites. We explored all of the spaces, and no matter which space you pick, you will enjoy. All spaces include floor-to-ceiling windows that open to turn your space into one big veranda, and all beds deal with the water.
Onboard features consist of a bar and dance flooring, nighttime home entertainment, a dining-room, a club lounge, and a health club. The Sky Deck has a pool, outside grill and bar, and a lot of easy chair and tables. If the weather condition is great, this is the location to be to take in the stunning vistas of the Douro Valley.
Avalon Alegria Suites
Let’s start with the suites. With an optimum capability of 102 individuals, every space is roomy and glamorous. We remained in among the fourteen 200-square-foot panorama suites, which was best for our journey.
While other cruise lines we have actually taken line their beds up versus a wall with a view of the other wall, the Avalon Alegria ship sets each bed dealing with the floor-to-ceiling windows for views of the river. We delighted in afternoon siestas in our space while viewing the Douro River views pass.
However that’s not all. The majority of people desire a terrace when river travelling, however it’s hard to provide everybody one due to the size restrictions of the river and the locks. Avalon has actually repaired this issue by producing floor-to-ceiling windows that widen, changing your suite into an outdoor veranda. By eliminating the outside veranda, they have actually produced 30% more home.
We delighted in breakfast in our space each early morning with our windows open up to see the hills of the Douro River. With luxurious bathrobes, slippers, and spectacular views, we never ever wished to leave our space! Oh and did I inform you that they not just have a pillow menu, however likewise a bed menu? There are 4 various settings for the bed. Simply let the team understand how you like your bed, and they’ll set it up for you.
Club Lounge
Beside our space, the Club Lounge was our 2nd preferred area on the Avalon Alegria. Before breakfast, we strolled to the lounge in our bathrobes and slippers to get a coffee, newly baked cookies, and vitamin water.
I enjoyed filling my refillable water bottle with my option of water for the day. Would it be Vitamin B water? Sparkling grapefruit or ginger. The options were amazing.
Typically, cruise liner reserve this area for updated suites, however Avalon makes this sought after area at the stern of the boat open for everybody. You can relax and unwind, have tea, or send out an e-mail on the quick Star Link Wi-Fi that is consisted of in the journey.
Avalon, the Greenest Ship on the Douro
We understand the rap cruise liner get, however Avalon strives to take a trip sustainably. Avalon has actually partnered with locations to create sustainable electrical power while docked. They utilize coast power whenever they can and have actually set up LED lighting throughout their ships.
You will observe that I discussed a water station above and Avalon has absolutely no plastic onboard. There are glasses that you can fill up, however we advise loading your own water bottle to handle adventures. We weren’t used mineral water on our trips (which I was grateful for), so we filled our bottles before leaving the ship.
They have actually decreased paper by 80%. Unlike other cruise liner, you will not see your day-to-day schedule and loads of paper on your beds. Avalon has an app for visitors to utilize with schedules on the Televisions.
They have actually likewise partnered with The Ocean Clean-up to help in their objective of getting rid of 90% of ocean plastic. This is a difficult job, and I have no concept how it will occur, however with business investing and partnering, good ideas can occur.
Truthfully, in today’s world, we are all adding to the damage of the world, so the only thing business can do is return. Avalon plants 2 trees for each guest on a cruise, has modern oil filters to keep oil modifications to a minimum, and is wanting to change to electrical ships in the future.
What’s Consisted Of– Avalon has to do with Option
Because we discussed premium coffees and complimentary web, I believed we ‘d discuss what is consisted of in your Douro River Cruise with Avalon Waterways. The expression we kept hearing was the Avalon has to do with option. Guests have versatility concerning dining, adventures, and things to do onboard.
Meals
All meals, consisting of breakfast, lunch, and supper, are consisted of. Breakfast can be enjoyed in your stateroom or in the dining-room. Lunch is a buffet in the dining-room or light treats in the bar. You can likewise constantly buy particular foods, like hamburgers and sandwiches, off the menu.
Supper is a scrumptious multicourse meal of regional and worldwide meals coupled with great regional white wine. Portugal has great white wines, and I enjoy that Avalon serves just regional white wines. When I remain in Portugal, I do not wish to be consuming a California Chardonnay; I desire an abundant Douro Valley red, which is precisely what they provided.
Unlike other cruises, travelers are used flex dining and can consume anytime within the dining window. Seating is versatile, with tables for 2, or you can sign up with big groups.
Drinks
Mentioning white wine, beer and white wine are consisted of at lunch and supper. All specialized coffees, sodas, and water are likewise consisted of. And, unlike other cruises, the Douro Valley River travel deals complimentary mixed drink hour beverages. And let me inform you, they make scrumptious mixed drinks.
Tours
Avalon Waterways truly sticks out with its trips and coast adventures. They have actually broken down trips to fit various requirements. You can pick from Classic, Discovery, or Active Trip choices. Every day you can do something various from active experiences that consist of kayaking and treking to cultural experiences that take you to historical districts and food and white wine adventures to delight in the Douro Valley White Wines and Ports of Porto.
There is something for everybody, depending upon your movement and activity level. Plus, there is an onboard experience host that leads yoga in the early mornings.
Home Entertainment
Each night after supper, there is regional home entertainment. We delighted in a Fado Program of skilled regional guitar players sharing their culture, stories and music.
The next night was an exceptional quartet of strings putting their own spin on modern-day rock and popular song.
We likewise delighted in being serenaded by a finalist from The Voice and had nighttime dancing. This is among those journeys that brings the regional culture to you.
The Team
Something that truly sticks out on the Avalon Alegria cruise through the Douro Valley is the personnel. Your hosts can make or break a journey and the Alegria personnel exceeds and beyond. Within the minute we stepped onboard, they seemed like old good friends.
At mixed drink hour, they understood precisely what kind of mixed drink I ‘d remain in the state of mind for and even produced specializeds not on the menu.
Dave has a Gluten allergic reaction, and the waitstaff paid mindful attention to providing him options and notifying him of what we might consume and should prevent.
They were constantly smiling, and you might inform that they truly enjoyed their tasks. It wasn’t an act; the team enjoyed what they were doing. From the guys smiling from ear to ear as they connected the lines to the front desk, addressing our every requirement.
Ports of Call
Do not fret, you are motivated to leave the ship and delight in the regional ports of call. Avalon docks downtown or near to the metropolitan centers where a brief (and inexpensive) Uber trip can take you to where you wish to be.
8-Day Schedule– Vineyards & & Towns Along the Douro
The cruise begins in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Porto. We recommend getting here early to truly take in this gorgeous location. Avalon uses a directed trip of Braga and Guimaraes, which we extremely advise seeing. However you need to likewise invest a minimum of 2 days in Porto to delight in the Historic Center, the Gaia District, and the spectacular waterside.
The cruise then leaves at night to stop at various areas along the Douro Valley. The 8-day travel plan consists of these stops and after that goes back to Porto for another day of touring. We selected the alternative of white wine tasting in Gaia with a trip of the Cork Museum, which was remarkable and scrumptious!
Caldas– Day trip of Amarante.
Peso da Regua– Maria.
earliest farms in the Douro Valley.
Pinhao– Douro Valley Vineyards.
Poncinho.
Barca d’Alva– Salamanca, Spain– This is where you can include another nation to your travel plan.
Can Solo Travelers Join Avalon?
We constantly take a trip as a couple, however I understand lots of people question solo travel on cruises. Avalon waives the solo supplement. On Avalon, you never ever feel alone. From my observations, a river cruise is a fantastic alternative for solo tourists.
Avalon has to do with Option
The majority of people pick the Danube or Rhine Rivers for their very first river cruise. We did ten years earlier, and it turned us off river travelling for a years. When Avalon welcomed us to sample their Douro Valley path, we were fascinated to provide it another shot. I’m delighted we did. This river cruise was precisely the kind of travel we enjoy– little ships with less travelers and a lot of choices for coast adventures.
Less ships are on the river, and the stops feel intimate and unblemished. With just 102 travelers on the Avalon picking from various adventures, we had little group trips that felt customized to our requirements.
The Douro Valley is among the most gorgeous locations to travel in Europe, with rolling hills and terraced vineyards. It is genuinely a container list cruise where immersing in culture and experiencing the regional food is at the heart of the travel plan.
These are the most popular paths filled with other river cruises and crowds at ports of call. I’m not stating to never ever do one, however I believe the Douro Valley is the best intro to river travelling.
So there you have it– our Douror Valley River Cruise– the very first European River Cruise we have actually taken in ten years. Will we do another one? You wager! As we age, we enjoy the concept of unpacking as soon as and cruising through Europe’s the majority of gorgeous countryside.
When you get to ports, you do not need to follow the guides; everybody is complimentary to do as they please. Keep in mind, Avalon has to do with option, and our option is to return quickly.