Nicole Edenedo
When in Rome, do as the Romans do, they say. But when in Portugal, it’s best to drink as the Portuguese do. And in Portugal, nothing less than port will do.
As of this writing, I’m on the maiden voyage-slash-naming cruise of the Avalon Alegria, the first ship in the Avalon Waterways fleet that’s purpose-built for Portugal’s Douro River. The ship was officially named during a ceremony March 28 in Pinhao.
Similar to the last christening cruise I was on with Avalon two years ago, for the Avalon View, this four-night cruise is just a taste of what the line will offer in Portugal. And this short trip aboard the Alegria let me know that travelers are certainly in for a treat, in more ways than one.
First, no one will go thirsty aboard the Alegria — and I’m not talking about the multiple mineral water stations onboard.
Port wine flows freely here, whether that’s at dinner or during the nightly live entertainment (or even breakfast, if one should be so inclined). And while four days isn’t quite long enough for me to have learned the names, styles or ages of the port offered onboard, there are at least three types on deck for now that come from around the Douro Valley.
The port wines pair particularly well with the live music entertainment onboard each night, which features local musicians.
Musical notes on the Alegria
On our first night of the cruise, we were treated to a duo of Portuguese guitar players who serenaded us in the Panorama Lounge with fado music.
Fado is a genre of Portuguese music that is typically characterized by themes of heartbreak, longing, melancholy or fate and destiny. It’s a moody but beautiful style, played on acoustic guitars native to the region.
On the following night, we were treated to a string quartet who played contemporary pop songs, from Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” Elton John’s “Cold Heart” and Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers.”
A peek at upcoming Alegria excursions
As for excursions, this preview sailing featured a mix of options that are currently offered on the Alegria and some that will come on-line in the near future.
I did two excursions not yet listed on the cruise booking page for the Alegria but will eventually be offered on Avalon’s Douro itineraries, most likely sometime in 2025.
The first was a kayaking tour of Ilha dos Amores, or Love Island, which I experienced while we were docked in Entre os Rios.
I myself am an avid kayaker. I’m a proud member of the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club back home, but I’ve never paddled anywhere beyond the Hudson River in Yonkers and Lake Sebago in Rockland County. I’ve known for a while that Avalon Waterways, through its Active & Discovery itineraries, offers a number of kayaking excursions on the rivers.
The kayaks we used for this excursion were different from what I use at home: These were inflatable kayaks instead of composite kayaks. The kayak was also a two-seater, which was also a new experience for me — but a fun one, especially since I used my kayaking skills to guide my partner Steve Born, chief marketing officer for the Globus family of brands, the parent company of Avalon Waterways.
The second excursion involved touring a historical wine farm, Hotel Rural Casa dos Viscondes da Varzea, an incredible country estate in Lamego. We visited this property while docked in Pinhao, and though it likely won’t be offered until about 2025, it is unmissable. The property is sprawling, with acres of vineyards, manicured gardens and several residences on the property, but the best attraction is the main house where Countess Maria Manuel Cyrne lives, who is as lovely as her powerful and charismatic storytelling skills.
It’ll be interesting to see what more Avalon adds to the destination as it continues to build out the Alegria’s program in Portugal.
