Explore Portugal's dazzling Douro River on Avalon's newest addition to our award-winning fleet of Suite Ships®. 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!
SHIP FEATURES
- Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs, pool, & shade awnings
- Onboard Adventure Center with active gear, Nordic walking sticks, & maps
- Virtual DJ Music System playing hits from 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and today.
- Movie Night with fresh popcorn in the Club Lounge or streamed to your in-suite TV.
- Daily lunch buffet with regional and classic dishes, Avalon Fresh® options, and chef specialties with carving & pasta stations
- Al fresco lunch on the Sky Deck (schedule and weather permitting) or light luncheon fare in the Panorama Lounge
- Avalon Fresh healthy cuisine options at every meal
- Included Happy Hour every evening featuring house beer, wine, cocktails and a drink of the day
- Specialty coffees, espresso drinks and beWell Essence flavoured and infused water available throughout each day
- Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows
- Spacious, open-seating Panorama Dining Room
- State-of-the-art fitness centre
- Non-smoking staterooms & ship interior
- Panorama Lounge & Bar with premium spirits, cozy seating, panoramic windows & dance floor
- Convenient Elevator Service
- Elegant, contemporary design
- Outside viewing deck
- Headsets for guided shore excursions
- English-speaking friendly crew, staff & professional Cruise Director
- Welcome & farewell cocktails with sparkling wine & canapés
- Daily buffet breakfast with full range of classic breakfast items, healthy Avalon Fresh options and daily a la carte specials
- Cocktails with a view on the Sky Deck
- Vegetarian options at every meal, as well as vegan and allergy-free selections
- Afternoon Tea featuring tea, coffee, and sweet treats
- Seasonal cuisine featuring the freshest local ingredients
- Chef-prepared onboard meals with regional cuisine and familiar favourites
- Four-course dinners with choice of appetisers, soups, salads, entrées and desserts or cheese
- Complimentary wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- Complimentary room service for Continental breakfast
- Complimentary Wi-Fi access
- Choice of Classic, Active or Discovery excursions so that you can experience your cruise your way
- Onshore & Onboard experiences with regional customs, cultures & tastings with local artisans, experts & entertainers
- Flatscreen satellite TV with English-speaking channels & over 100 free movie options
- Onboard assistance is available to recommend, reserve and further personalise your cruise
- Linger over several selections from the Panorama Bistro's tasting menu for a less formal "sit-down" atmosphere
- Well-stocked library with books, cards, and board games
- FlexDining flexible dining times with menu & venue options
Tipping is a personal way to show your satisfaction for good service and is a general practice on all vacations. It is recommended that tips be paid in cash—unless when paying by credit card there is a specific gratuity line. General tipping guidelines can be found below. Each country in Europe has different customs regarding tipping and guidelines can be found in each country-specific guide.
With Avalon, all your hotel taxes, service charges, tips for luggage handling, and gratuities for included meals are included in the vacation price.
For services with gratuity not included in the vacation price, we recommend the following as tipping guidelines. More information can be found in the country-specific sections of the Know Before You Go document and in your Important Travel Documents, which will be available 2-3 weeks prior to your vacation. Since each country is unique, the below are merely guidelines to assist with budgeting.
Cruise Directors
Gratuities for your Cruise Director are not included in the vacation price. For a good job, we suggest the equivalent of €3 (Euros) per day per passenger for your Cruise Director. An envelope will be provided in your stateroom for you to deposit any gratuities you would like to provide your Cruise Director. It is also possible for you to pre-pay the gratuities for your Cruise Director at the time of paying the balance of your cruise cost.
Ship’s Crew
Gratuities for your crew on board our Avalon Waterways ships are not included in the vacation price. For a good job, we suggest the equivalent of €12 (Euros) per day per passenger for the ship’s crew. This will be pooled and distributed fairly among those who have been of service to you, including personnel who work behind the scenes and whose service is equally crucial to your enjoyment of the cruise. It is also possible for you to pre-pay the gratuities for your crew at the time of paying the balance of your cruise cost.
Drivers
Gratuities for sightseeing drivers are included in the vacation price.
Hotel Services
It is customary to tip hotel staff for room service delivery if the charge has not already been added to the bill. If ice machines are not available and you get ice from the bar, a small tip to the bartender is always appreciated. Avalon includes gratuities for luggage handling for one bag per passenger. You may wish to tip for any excess luggage delivery. Gratuities for included hotel meals are already taken care of by Avalon.
Certified Local Guides
Traveling with us means you get specialised sightseeing with Certified Local Guides in each major city. To make each location come alive throughout your vacation, these Certified Local Guides share their vast knowledge about culture and history with you. Gratuities for your Certified Local Guides are included in the vacation price.
Restaurants
For restaurant meals not included in the Avalon itinerary, gratuities are not included and we recommend you review the country-specific guidelines for appropriate gratuity amount based on quality of service. Additional details and recommendations will be included in your Important Travel Documents, sent approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your vacation start date, and your Cruise Director can always help with local customs on tipping. Tips in restaurants are usually left in cash and not added to the credit card payment, unless there is a specific line for it on the credit card signature receipt. In many European restaurants, there is also a per-person cover charge that will be added to your check/bill. This is not a gratuity.
Taxis
Usually, rounding up the fare for driver gratuity is more than adequate in most countries. A few dollars is usually reasonable for service, equal to 10-15% of the fare. If possible, we recommend you pre-negotiate taxi fares in foreign countries to avoid unpleasant surprises at the end of your journey. Ask hotel/ship staff or airport hospitality desks for the best cab companies, and make sure pricing is either clearly indicated prior to departure or pre-negotiated. In all instances, we recommend that you carry some small change with you, as it is unusual to ask for change when you are tipping.
