Douro River Cruise: Vineyards & Villages

These booking conditions apply to Avalon Waterways river-cruise reservations made through Portugal Online. Portugal Online acts as the booking agency and is responsible for arranging and processing your reservation with Avalon Waterways, communicating booking confirmations and payment requirements, and processing requested changes or cancellations with the supplier. Avalon Waterways, Group Voyagers, Inc., the vessel carrier, and other applicable service providers are responsible for operating and providing the cruise and travel services they supply.

The conditions below summarize key supplier rules for Avalon Waterways bookings. They do not replace Avalon's official Travel Terms & Conditions or the applicable Carrier Terms & Conditions. The supplier terms in effect when your reservation is made will control if there is any difference between this summary and the supplier's official terms.

1. Reservation and Deposit

A non-refundable deposit of US$300 per person is required for standard Avalon Waterways cruises to confirm a reservation, unless a different deposit applies to a particular service or booking. Travel protection, airfare, or other additional services may have separate deposit requirements.

Portugal Online will process your reservation request with Avalon Waterways and communicate the supplier confirmation to you. Space, sailing dates, stateroom categories, promotions, and pricing remain subject to supplier availability until the reservation is confirmed and the required deposit has been processed.

2. Final Payment

For Avalon Waterways cruises, final payment is due 90 days prior to the commencement of services. Reservations made after the final-payment date require full payment at the time of booking.

If full payment is not received by the applicable final-payment date, Avalon Waterways may cancel the reservation and retain the deposit and any non-refundable travel-protection payment in accordance with its terms.

3. Guest Acknowledgement and Passenger Information

After the reservation deposit is made, Avalon Waterways requires completion of its Guest Acknowledgement process. Guests are required to verify the names and information on the reservation and accept the applicable supplier terms and conditions.

Travelers are responsible for providing complete and accurate passenger information, including names exactly as they appear on the travel documents that will be used for the trip. Portugal Online will transmit the information provided by the traveler to the supplier as part of the booking process.

4. Pricing and Confirmation

Unless otherwise stated, cruise prices are quoted per person and are based on the selected stateroom category and occupancy. Prices, promotions, and availability may change until the required deposit is processed and the reservation is confirmed.

If a price is incorrect because of a system, human, or other error, Avalon Waterways or the applicable tour operator may correct the price and re-invoice the reservation in accordance with its official terms.

5. Cancellation by the Traveler

Cancellation requests for reservations made through Portugal Online should be submitted to Portugal Online so that we can process the cancellation with Avalon Waterways. Cancellation charges are determined by the supplier's applicable terms and by the effective cancellation date with the supplier.

For 2026 and 2027 Portugal Online, the cancellation schedule is:

Travel-protection payments are non-refundable. Airfare and other additional services may be subject to separate or more restrictive cancellation rules and fees.

6. Changes and Revision Fees

On or before the final-payment date, revisions to an Avalon Waterways reservation are subject to a minimum US$35 per person revision fee, plus any applicable airline or other supplier charges.

After the final-payment date, a change to a passenger name, trip date, or itinerary is treated by the supplier as a cancellation and new reservation, and the applicable cancellation charges will apply.

Requests for changes to reservations booked through Portugal Online should be made through Portugal Online so that we can coordinate and process the requested change with Avalon Waterways.

7. Airfare and Additional Services

Airfare, travel protection, pre- or post-cruise arrangements, optional excursions, and other additional services may be subject to separate deposits, payment deadlines, change fees, and cancellation rules. Any applicable conditions will be communicated as part of the booking process when those services are arranged through Portugal Online.

8. River-Cruise Itinerary and Operational Changes

River-cruise operations may be affected by water levels, weather, flooding, drought, navigation restrictions, technical issues, government action, or other circumstances outside the reasonable control of the cruise operator or carrier.

When operational conditions require it, Avalon Waterways, the tour operator, the vessel operator, or the ship's captain may modify the itinerary or operate part of the itinerary using a substitute vessel, motorcoach transportation, or hotel accommodation. Such changes may be made with limited advance notice.

9. Travel Documents and Entry Requirements

Each traveler is responsible for obtaining and carrying the passports, visas, travel authorizations, identification, and other documentation required for the countries included in the itinerary. Travelers are also responsible for meeting applicable entry, health, and documentation requirements.

10. Vessel Carrier Conditions

Guests traveling on an Avalon Waterways river cruise are also subject to the terms and conditions of the vessel's carrier. For the Douro River cruise aboard the MV Avalon Alegria, the applicable carrier terms are the Avalon Alegria carrier conditions made available through Avalon Waterways.

11. Portugal Online Booking Role

Portugal Online is responsible for the booking services it provides, including arranging and processing the reservation with Avalon Waterways, communicating supplier confirmations and payment deadlines, and submitting authorized reservation changes or cancellations to the supplier.

The cruise, vessel operations, accommodations, transportation, excursions, meals, and other travel components are operated or supplied by Avalon Waterways, Group Voyagers, Inc., the applicable carrier, and/or independent third-party service providers. Their services are subject to their respective terms, conditions, operating requirements, and applicable law.

12. Supplier Terms Applicable to Your Booking

Before making a reservation, travelers should review the complete supplier terms applicable to the cruise. Avalon Waterways may update its terms from time to time, and the terms applicable when the reservation is made govern the supplier booking.

1. Avalon Waterways Travel Terms & Conditions:
https://www.avalonwaterways.com/Terms/

2. Avalon Waterways Carrier Terms & Conditions:
https://www.avalonwaterways.com/carrier-terms/

On the Carrier Terms page, travelers on the Douro River cruise should select the terms for MV Avalon Alegria.