Vida Portugal - Douro River Gay Daddy Cruise 2026

7 nights from/to Porto, Portugal

November 04 – 11, 2026
Avalon Waterways Avalon Alegria

Come join our intimate and super-friendly group of Gay Daddies, Bears, admirers and friends aboard the new Avalon Alegria for cruise on the Douro River. From Porto, Portugal - a UNESCO World Heritage city - to Spain and back. Like a blue ribbon threading through the green Douro Valley, the River Douro carries you through some of Portugal’s most legendary landscapes. Meaning "River of Gold", the Douro River lives up to its name by revealing priceless gems along sloping vineyards and sleepy villages where rugged landscapes have been tamed for centuries to produce a bounty of wines and cuisine.

Welcome aboard the newest addition to Avalon Waterways award-winning fleet of Suite Ships – the Avalon Alegria to be swept away by Douro’s timeless treasures and traditions, family farms and fevered Fado music, and mouth-watering culinary creations in the world’s oldest demarcated wine region.

Embark on your Suite Ship in the city of Porto. Take a guided tour to Braga and Guimarães or start exploring the city joining a guided sightseeing. Enjoy a guided tour in the charming town of Lamego, or meet the owner of one of the oldest farms in the Douro Valley to sample the proud traditions of olive oil and wine. Enjoy a wine tasting in a local quinta or join a kayak adventure on the Douro River.

Visit Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a cozy village with narrow streets, flowered houses, and grand Gothic Manueline windows or choose a full-day experience in Spain with a guided sightseeing excursion to Salamanca.

Discover the process of painting an azulejos (traditional Portuguese tile) following the guide of a professional painter. Immerse yourself in an emotionally stirring experience in Portugal’s city of Amarante or taste the unique Vinho Verde.

Your Douro River cruise returns to Porto to soak in the scenic mysteries of this city’s Historical Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These and countless other treasures await you on the River of Gold in Portugal’s dazzling Douro Valley.

Your Ship - Avalon Waterways New Avalon Alegria

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 Avalon 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 Starlink Wi-Fi access, a 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!

Avalon Alegria Features

• Complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi access throughout the ship

• Elegant, contemporary design

• Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows

• Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs, pool, & shade awnings

• Outside viewing deck

• Headsets for guided shore excursions

• Spacious, open-seating Panorama Dining Room

• Panorama Lounge & Bar with premium spirits, cozy seating, panoramic windows & dance floor

• Well-stocked library with books, cards, and board games

• Fitness center

• Onboard Adventure Center with active gear, Nordic walking sticks, & maps

• Non-smoking staterooms & ship interior

• Convenient Elevator Service

• English-speaking friendly crew, staff & professional Cruise Director

• 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

• Virtual DJ Music System playing hits from 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and today.

• Flatscreen satellite TV with English-speaking channels & over 50 free movie options

• Onboard assistance is available to recommend, reserve and further personalize your cruise

• Chef-prepared onboard meals with regional cuisine and familiar favorites

• Seasonal cuisine featuring the freshest local ingredients

• Daily buffet breakfast with full range of classic breakfast items, healthy Avalon Fresh options and daily a la carte specials

• Complimentary room service for Continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner

• Daily lunch buffet with regional and classic dishes, Avalon Fresh® options, and chef specialties, including carving & pasta stations

• Al fresco lunch on the Sky Deck (schedule and weather permitting) or light luncheon fare in the Panorama Lounge

• Afternoon Tea featuring tea, coffee, and sweet treats

• Four-course dinners with choice of appetizers, soups, salads, entrées and desserts or cheese

• Linger over several selections from the Panorama Bistro's tasting menu for a less formal "sit-down" atmosphere

• Complimentary wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner

• Avalon Fresh healthy cuisine options at every meal

• FlexDining flexible dining times with menu & venue options

• Options at every meal to accommodate dietary requirements, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, plus dishes may be prepared upon request to accommodate food sensitivities and allergies

• Welcome & farewell cocktails with sparkling wine & canapés

• Included Happy Hour every evening featuring house beer, wine, cocktails and a drink of the day

• Cocktails with a view on the Sky Deck

• Specialty coffees, espresso drinks and beWell Essence flavored and infused water available throughout each day

• Refreshing Smoothies served with breakfast buffet and morning fitness class on the Sky Deck

Exclusive extras for our group only

• Special discounted rates at our host hotel in Porto or Lisbon before the cruise and again after the cruise. Plus, optional tours may be offered.

• Welcome Aboard Party (with free drinks!)—come meet your fellow Daddies Cruisers in a warm, welcoming, and casual atmosphere. Play our fun mingling/get-to-know-you activity, and start forging friendships that will last a lifetime.

• Free Welcome Aboard Gifts include a lanyard for your sailing card… and then some other surprises!

• Onboard Host/Cruise Director - We'll be there to make sure you have a great vacation. Our colleagues will resolve any issues that may arise, answer questions, and help you enjoy your cruise to the utmost. We'll coordinate and host activities and parties each day—all of which are optional (it's your vacation: pick and choose what you want to be a part of).

• Exclusive excursions just for our group (in addition to the free excursions offered by the ship).

• From our standing group dinner reservation, to our daily happy hour; from our private activities on board to our private excursions in port—you’ll always have a seat waiting for you (if you want it).

• Special Daddy group activities on board (card games, trivia contests, happy hours, parties, etc.)

• We promise your Daddy Cruise experience will far exceed what the cruise line delivers without us. If not, we'll make it up to you.