Celebrity presence graced Pinhão, Portugal, as Avalon Waterways
inaugurated its 15th Suite Ship, Avalon Alegria, on 28 March 2024.
Actress Cheri Oteri, renowned for her role in Saturday Night Live,
presided over the christening ceremony on the Douro River. Amidst cheers
from invited guests, including industry figures and local dignitaries,
Oteri ceremoniously named the vessel, highlighting its sustainable
design and sunny disposition.
According to Pam Hoffee, president of Avalon Waterways, the the
Avalon Alegria “features our boutique-hotel inspired Panorama Suites,
the industry’s only Open-Air Balconies with the widest-opening windows
in cruising and decadent Comfort Collection beds that face the
everchanging scenery. Glass balcony panels on the Avalon Alegria provide
an extra, exciting cruising outlook with completely unobstructed views,
as does our first Sky Deck pool, inviting guests to enjoy panoramic
views, soaking-in the vineyard-lined vistas of Portugal.”
The ship, boasting a luxurious blend of colors inspired by Douro
Valley landscapes, sets sail with its first guests on 3 April 2024.
“For those lucky enough to join our new ship and crew her inaugural
year, hillside vineyards and historic villages await them on an
eight-day cruise the begins and ends in Porto,” said Hoffee. “Like our
cruises across Europe, this itinerary is filled with included “Classic,”
“Active” and “Discovery” excursion choices that promise guests
countless ways to enjoy the sheer splendour and cinematic scenery of the
Douro Valley.”