On board information

Things to know about your cruise

Cruise Director

A professional, experienced, English-speaking Cruise Director oversees every aspect of your river cruise experience.

Air conditioning and heating

All public areas on board are air conditioned and heated, while staterooms feature individual controls.

Clothing

On board and on shore, the dress code is casual and we recommend comfortable walking shoes for sightseeing. For dinner, open-neck shirts, trousers, dresses, coats and ties can be worn. The Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Dinners tend to be dressier, but not formal.

Drinks

Complimentary wine, beer or soft drinks are served with dinner on Avalon’s European river cruises. Coffee and tea are free of charge all day from ‘Early Riser’ breakfast through to dinner.

Dining

Your river cruise holiday promises to be an enticing gourmet experience. Our accomplished chefs look forward to preparing regional, as well as traditional British, dishes. There is a full buffet breakfast and buffet lunch, complete with a choice of soups, starters and main courses, salads or sandwiches, and dessert. In the evenings there are sumptuous four-course dinners with a choice available at each course.

Tipping

Service charges on board and on land are not included in the river cruise price. Tipping in cash for good service is always, however, appreciated.

Money and Credit Cards

For your convenience, all purchases and accounts on board can be settled with cash in Euros or by most major credit cards. A fee is charged for the use of traveller’s cheques and personal cheques cannot be cashed on board. Most European countries use the Euro – apart from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Switzerland and Serbia. However, most establishments do accept the Euro. Major credit cards are welcome nearly everywhere, apart from small towns, where you’ll need some local currency. Cash machines can be found on shore at some stops, but we advise checking that your PIN number will work abroad first. 

Electricity

Electricity on board is 220v. The bathrooms have a dual 220v/110-120v plug for shavers and small appliances, so you may need an adapter in other outlets in the stateroom for any small personal items such as a razor, curling tongs or alarm clock.

Hair dryers

All ships have hair dryers for passenger use. Please ask for one at the reception desk if one isn’t in your stateroom.

Laundry

A laundry and pressing service is available on board for a small fee – prices are listed in your stateroom. Clothes cannot be dry cleaned on board and for safety, we ask that passengers don’t iron clothes in the staterooms.

Library

You can take out books from the ship’s library free of charge. All we ask is that you return them before your river cruise ends.

Medical services

Medical services can be quickly called in from shore if needed.

News

Read our on board daily newsletter for information on activities, shore excursions and tour departure times.

On board language

All on board staff, crew and tour guides speak English – so our announcements and commentary will be in English too.

On board shop

Each river cruise ship has a shop selling accessories, film, souvenirs as well as premium toiletries.

Safety Deposit Boxes

A safe is available in every stateroom.

Smoking

All ships have non-smoking interiors. Smoking is only permitted on the Sky Deck.

Special occasions

If you’d like to celebrate a special occasion, such as an anniversary or birthday, please tell one of our ship personnel when you board and we’ll do what we can to make it even more special.

Telephones

Each stateroom has a direct dial telephone to call between staterooms. Ship-to-shore calls are also available and any charges are placed on your shipboard account.

Television

Each stateroom has colour satellite TV and will receive some English programmes. There is also a shipboard information channel, and a channel featuring videos or films.

Your shipboard account

At the end of your river cruise, you will receive a total on your shipboard account, which can be paid with cash in Euros or by credit card.