We try to provide as much information as possible on our website and in our Avalon Waterways European River Cruises brochure but occasionally, there may be a few features of your river cruise holiday that you'd like us to clarify. Here's a selection of the questions we're most frequently asked and our responses:
Does the home pick up service include the return journey?
Which airports can I fly from?
Are transfers included on arrival and departure?
Can I choose a particular stateroom?
Do staterooms have twin or double beds?
What is the dress code at dinner?
What are the seating arrangements for meal times?
What kind of food choice is there?
Are the shore excursions conducted by coach or on foot?
What kind of entertainment is there on board?
Are Avalon Waterways cruises suitable for children?
Yes. The home pick up service includes the journey to and from your home and is free of charge if you live within 75 miles of the departure airport/station.
The choice of departure airport varies depending on the cruise destination you've chosen. The airports we fly from are listed in the ‘Dates and Prices’ section of each cruise and in our Avalon Waterways European River Cruises brochure. Occasionally, our aviation team may provide alternative flight information.
Yes. If you are travelling on our flights or by rail, arrival and departure transfers are included.
You are welcome to state a preference for a particular stateroom when making your booking but although we try our best to accommodate your request, it is not always possible to reserve specific staterooms.
All of our river cruise ships offer staterooms with a choice of either twin or double beds. Please request the type of stateroom you’d prefer when booking.
Voltage is 230v. Electricity sockets on board take European style two-pin plugs. British appliances with three-pin plugs will need an adaptor.
Several ships in our fleet provide a lift for ease of mobility; these include Avalon Panorama, Avalon Affinity, Avalon Felicity, Avalon Luminary, Avalon Creativity, and Avalon Scenery. Lifts do not access the Sky Deck.
Yes. During every cruise there is a Captain’s Welcome Reception, with Champagne and canapés, a Welcome Dinner and a five-course Farewell Dinner.
The dress code for dinner is casual and comfortable. The Welcome and Farewell Dinners give you a chance to dress up but are not formal.
The dining room is spacious enough to accommodate all guests at a single sitting. Seating is open, so you can choose to sit wherever you wish, and tables can seat 4 to 8 guests each. Tables cannot be reserved.
Breakfast and lunch are both buffet style. Breakfast includes a choice of tea, coffee and freshly made hot and cold dishes while lunch includes a selection of hot and cold dishes as well as fresh fruit, desserts and a cheese table. Dinner includes 4 courses chosen from a set menu and typically includes a selection of soups and entrees and a choice of desserts. Champagne is available at breakfast and unlimited red and white wine, beer, and soft drinks are included with dinner. For more information, please see our Fine Dining section.
Shore visits can include tours on foot, scenic coach trips or a combination of both. In some cases, when your ship is able to dock in the city centre, it may be more practical to explore on foot whereas if the ship docks in a port near to an attraction, the excursion will be made by coach. Almost every excursion will include some walking.
Every cruise includes two or three evenings of on board entertainment, at least one show performed by the crew and nightly piano music. Depending on the cruise destination, there may be regional wine tastings, local musicians performing folklore shows or classical recitals, and guest speakers who are welcomed aboard to talk about local cities and attractions. There is also a selection of board games and a small library available on board.
We have found over the years that cruising holidays are not ideal for young children. For this reason, we do not take bookings for children under 8 years of age and there are no special arrangements or activities for children on board.
Gratuities to your ship’s crew and your Cruise Director are not included in the price of your cruise and are entirely discretionary. Should you wish to reward good service, as a guide we recommend €3 per passenger per day for the Cruise Director and €12 per passenger per day for the crew, which will be divided amongst all of the ship’s personnel. Envelopes specifically for this purpose will be left in your stateroom on the day before your cruise ends, and a designated box in which to deposit the envelopes will be in the Reception area when you leave the ship. It is also customary to acknowledge a particularly good performance by a local guide with a tip of €1 per tour.
