Avalon Waterways is the most recent river cruise line to launch sailings on the Douro.
The Denver, Colorado-based model on Thursday unveiled its first vessel on the vineyard-lined river in Portugal, which has been one in every of river cruising’s quickest rising locations in recent times.
Dubbed Avalon Alegria, the 102-passenger ship will sail seven-night voyages on the Douro out of Porto, Portugal, beginning subsequent week.
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Stops on the voyages will embody the river cities of Regua, Pinhao and Pocinho, which function gateways for visits to the various wineries and historic websites that line the Douro River Valley.
Avalon executives unveiled Avalon Alegria on Thursday throughout a naming ceremony alongside the waterfront of Pinhao, Portugal, that included an look by former “Saturday Evening Reside” comedienne Cheri Oteri.
Oteri served as godmother of the vessel through the ceremony.
“It is like my wedding ceremony day. I’ve by no means been so honored and flattered,” Oteri instructed almost 100 invited company in the beginning of the ceremony after being paraded into the occasion on the arm of an Avalon government.
Sticking with the marriage analogy, the Primetime Emmy Award-nominated humorous girl joked that “tonight if the ship’s a rockin’, do not come a knockin.'”
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Later within the ceremony, Oteri minimize a white ribbon that despatched a bottle of Portuguese glowing Cava smashing towards Avalon Alegria’s hull.
Avalon tapped Oteri to christen Avalon Alegria due to her work bringing happiness and pleasure into the world as a comedienne and actress, Avalon president Pam Hoffee mentioned on the occasion.
Alegria means happiness in Portuguese, Hoffee famous.
“After we named our ship happiness … we could not have considered a greater godmother than Cheri Oteri,” Hoffee mentioned.
The ceremony principally occurred contained in the ship’s major lounge on account of pouring rain outdoors. It was adopted by a reception and gala dinner on board.
Constructed at a shipyard in Portugal, Avalon Alegria is a part of Avalon’s in style Suite Class of ships, which started debuting in 2011 and options a lot of extra-wide cabins referred to as Panorama Suites.
Associated: Why I nonetheless assume Avalon Waterways has the most effective cabins in river cruising
Avalon Alegria has 37 of the Panaroma Suites, which provide 200 sq. toes of dwelling house. That is about 30% extra sq. footage than the usual river ship cabin.
Avalon has lengthy touted the Panorama Suites as a key distinction between its vessels and people of different river traces in Europe that cater to North People. The suites make up almost 80% of the cabins on Avalon’s Suite Class ships and have a number of uncommon options. Amongst them: Flooring-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall panoramic home windows that stretch 11 toes extensive and open up 7 toes extensive.
Based in 2004, 20-year-old Avalon is thought for a younger fleet of ships with a classy, up to date design, and Avalon Alegria isn’t any exception. Public areas characteristic trendy furnishings, clear traces and plenty of glass partitions that flood the areas with mild.
Amongst standout options of Avalon Alegria is the road’s first decktop pool.
Avalon Alegria is notably smaller than the everyday Avalon ship, because it was designed particularly to suit into the locks and beneath the bridges that line the Douro River.
Like different river cruise traces that cater to North People together with AmaWaterways, Uniworld and Viking, Avalon has grown notably over the previous 20 years. With the addition of Avalon Alegria, it now has 15 ships in Europe. It additionally operates one ship in Asia on the Mekong River.
Attendees at Thursday’s unveiling included leaders of a few of North America’s greatest journey company teams, native officers, the ship’s designers and builders, and Avalon executives.
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