Age Policy
Minimum Age Requirements
- General Cruises: The minimum age to sail with Avalon Waterways is 8 years old. Children under 8 are not permitted on any Avalon vacation.
- Booking Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old to make a reservation.
Special Itineraries: Some unique land-and-water packages have higher minimum age requirements due to the nature of the activities:
- Camino de Santiago: 12 years old.
- Victoria Falls Safari Club: 10 years old.
- Galapagos (Iberostar Grand Amazon): 10 years old.
- Chobe Princess: 7 years old (though general Avalon rules often supersede this to 8).
Supervision & Accommodations
- Minor Policy: All travelers under the age of 18 (minors) must be accompanied by an adult.
- Rooming: Minors must share accommodations with an adult.
- Responsibility: The accompanying adult is strictly responsible for the behavior, security, and supervision of the minor at all times.
Onboard Experience for Children
It is helpful to keep in mind that Avalon ships are designed for an elegant and quiet atmosphere.
- No Youth Programs: There are no dedicated kids’ clubs, babysitting services, or youth-specific entertainment programs on board.
- Atmosphere: Most passengers are seasoned travelers looking for history and culture. While children are welcome, the environment is not family-fun focused like a large ocean liner (e.g., no slides or game rooms).
Drinking Age Policy
- Standard Rule: For most cruises, the minimum age to consume or purchase alcohol is 18 years old, reflecting the local laws of the European and international regions where they sail.
- Exceptions: On itineraries involving U.S. ports or specific regions with stricter laws, this age may be raised to 21.
- Inclusions: Avalon typically includes regional wine and beer with lunch and dinner for all guests of legal drinking age.
Dining Information
Avalon Waterways is known for its FlexDining approach, which moves away from the rigid schedules and assigned seating found on traditional cruises. Instead, they focus on open-seating and varied venues to suit your mood.
Primary Dining Venues
- Panorama Dining Room: The main restaurant offering floor-to-ceiling windows. It serves a full buffet breakfast (with a made-to-order egg station), a buffet lunch, and a formal four-course dinner.
- Panorama Bistro: A more casual, intimate alternative for dinner. It often features regional specialties and tapas-style tasting portions in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Sky Grill: Located on the Sky Deck (weather permitting), this venue offers al fresco lunches with grilled favorites like burgers, hot dogs, and local meats while you watch the scenery.
- Club Lounge: A 24-hour station for premium coffees, lattes, teas, and hot chocolate, along with cookies and fresh fruit throughout the day.
Beverage Inclusions
Avalon is quite generous with their beverage package compared to many ocean lines:
- With Meals: Regional wines, beer, and soft drinks are complimentary at every lunch and dinner.
- At Breakfast: Sparkling wine (Buck’s Fizz/Mimosas) and specialty coffees are included.
- Happy Hour: On most European sailings, there is a daily Happy Hour featuring a selection of complimentary cocktails, wine, and beer.
- All Day: Complimentary soft drinks are available throughout the day, and high-quality filtered water stations (BeWell) are located around the ship.
Avalon Fresh
A standout feature of their menu is the Avalon Fresh program, created in collaboration with Austrian chefs Leo and Karl Wrenkh. This initiative focuses on high-quality, plant-forward, and healthy options:
- Includes energizing juices at breakfast.
- Features creative, high-protein vegetarian and vegan dishes at lunch and dinner.
- Ensures that guests with dietary restrictions or wellness goals don’t have to sacrifice flavor.
Special Touches
- Picnic Lunches: If you plan to spend the entire day exploring a port independently, you can request a complimentary picnic lunch to take with you.
- Afternoon Tea: Served daily around 4:00 PM in the Panorama Lounge, featuring tea, coffee, and sweet treats like cakes or sandwiches.
- Night Fare: A late-night snack buffet is usually offered in the lounge for those who stay up for local entertainment.
Fuel Surcharge Policy
Avalon Waterways, like most cruise lines under the Globus family of brands, maintains a specific policy regarding fuel surcharges to protect against significant fluctuations in oil prices.
While they strive to provide all-inclusive pricing, their terms and conditions generally include the following provisions regarding fuel:
The Right to Surcharge Clause
Avalon Waterways reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement if the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fuel exceeds a certain threshold (historically around $100 per barrel).
- Amount: If triggered, the surcharge is typically a set daily rate per passenger (often between $10 and $15 USD per person, per day).
- Application: This surcharge can be applied even after a booking has been made and a deposit has been paid, provided the final payment has not yet been processed.
Price Guarantees
The most effective way to protect yourself from a fuel surcharge is to pay in full.
- Locked-In Rates: Generally, once a reservation is paid in full, Avalon cannot retroactively apply a fuel surcharge to your booking, even if fuel prices spike before your departure.
- Quotes vs. Deposits: Simply having a quote or a deposit on file does not always guarantee protection; the guaranteed price usually only kicks in once the final balance is cleared.
Where to Find the Current Status
Because fuel prices are volatile, Avalon does not always have an active surcharge in place. You can verify the current status of your specific sailing through:
- Your Invoice: Check the Taxes and Fees breakdown on your booking statement.
- Terms & Conditions: Review the Price Policy section of your travel documents or the Avalon website for the most recent WTI price threshold.
Payments / Refunds
Deposits & Payments
Standard European and exotic river cruise reservations require a non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $250 USD per person. Itinerary exceptions apply: Delfin III (Amazon) requires $500 per person, and the Oberammergau Passion Play requires $600 per person. Final payment is due exactly 90 days prior to departure, and reservations made within 90 days of sailing require immediate full payment to confirm stateroom inventory.
Cancellation & Refunds
Cancellation penalties increase as the departure date approaches.
90 or More Days Prior to Departure
- Cancellation Penalty: Loss of non-refundable deposit
- Refund Eligibility: Refund of all other monies paid
90 to 60 Days Prior to Departure
- Cancellation Penalty: 35% of total vacation price
- Refund Eligibility: Refund of remaining 65% balance
59 to 30 Days Prior to Departure
- Cancellation Penalty: 50% of total vacation price
- Refund Eligibility: Refund of remaining 50% balance
29 to 1 Days Prior to Departure
- Cancellation Penalty: 80% of total vacation price
- Refund Eligibility: Refund of remaining 20% balance
Day of Departure / No-Show
- Cancellation Penalty: 100% of total vacation price
- Refund Eligibility: No refund eligible
Smoking Policy
Avalon Waterways maintains a fairly strict smoking policy to ensure the comfort of all guests, as the ships are smaller and more intimate than ocean liners.
Indoor Areas
All indoor areas of the ship are strictly non-smoking. This includes:
- All staterooms and suites
- The Panorama Lounge and Club Lounge
- The Dining Room and Bistro
- Hallways, reception, and fitness centers
Stateroom Balconies
Unlike some ocean cruise lines, smoking is not permitted on balconies (including Avalon’s signature Open-Air Balconies). Because the balcony in an Avalon Suite is essentially part of the room when the windows are open, the non-smoking policy applies to the entire suite area to prevent smoke from entering neighboring rooms or lingering in the upholstery.
Designated Smoking Areas
Smoking is only allowed in specifically designated outdoor areas. These areas are typically located:
- On the Sky Deck: Usually a designated section at the rear (aft) of the ship.
- Destination Dependent: The exact location can vary slightly depending on the ship and the region (e.g., Europe vs. the Mekong or Galapagos), but it will always be clearly marked with signage and ashtrays.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
The same rules apply to e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and pipes. They are not permitted in staterooms or public indoor spaces and may only be used in the designated outdoor smoking sections.
Note: If a guest smokes in a non-smoking area (especially in a stateroom), Avalon reserves the right to charge a significant deep-cleaning fee to the passenger’s onboard account.
Travel Protection
Avalon Waterways offers a SafetyNet Protection Plan for $175 per person (must be purchased and paid in full at the time of initial deposit, non-refundable). The SafetyNet Plan allows guests to cancel the entire booking for any reason up to 30 days prior to departure and receive a 100% refund of cruise fare (minus the SafetyNet fee), or transfer their booking one time up to 24 hours prior to departure to a later date in the same or subsequent year with zero change fees. Standard travel protection is also available, which covers baggage, medical, delays, and trip interruption, with pre-existing condition exclusions waived if purchased within 14 days of the initial deposit.
Tipping Policy
Tipping policies vary dramatically by region. For European river cruises, all shipboard gratuities for the crew (dining staff, cabin stewards, lounge staff) and the Tour/Cruise Director are fully bundled and included in the base cruise fare. For exotic and non-European sailings (Asia, Africa, South America), gratuities are not included and are discretionary. Guests can prepay these discretionary gratuities or adjust them onboard at the reception desk. Built-in European cruise fare gratuities cannot be adjusted, refunded, or removed on board.
Dress Code
The atmosphere onboard is casual. For sightseeing tours, comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended. Dinner attire is smart casual, with open-neck shirts, slacks, and dresses being standard. Coats and ties are entirely optional. Due to the warm and humid climate on Mekong River cruises, coats and ties are discouraged.
Formal Nights
- Avalon Waterways does not have formal nights. The Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Dinners are dressier than typical evenings but remain semi-formal rather than formal.
Excursions
- Daily shore excursions are fully included in your cruise fare, such as hosted city walking tours with a certified local guide and narrated city orientation drives.
- Optional specialty excursions are available to book in advance (recommended) or while on your cruise.
Why Avalon?
Innovative Panorama Suites
Avalon’s signature Open-Air Balconies provide unobstructed river views and more usable living space than traditional cabins.
Relaxed, Flexible Cruising Style
Open dining, flexible excursion options, and fewer scheduled formalities allow guests to cruise at their own pace.
Immersive Shore Experiences
Avalon offers included guided excursions plus Active, Discovery, and Classic touring styles to match different interests and energy levels.
Premium Value Inclusions
Cruise fares include accommodations, meals, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, and beverages with meals, offering excellent overall value.
Destination-Focused Itineraries
Avalon sails Europe’s most iconic rivers, including the Danube, Rhine, Seine, Rhône, and more, with thoughtfully designed itineraries.
FAQ
What is included in an Avalon Waterways cruise fare?
Fares include accommodations, all meals, guided shore excursions, Wi-Fi, and complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.
Are shore excursions included?
Yes, Avalon includes a variety of guided excursions, with multiple touring styles available on select sailings.
Is Avalon Waterways all-inclusive?
Avalon offers a highly inclusive experience, though some optional excursions and premium beverages may incur additional cost.
What is the dress code onboard?
The dress code is casual and comfortable, with no formal nights.
Does Avalon offer Wi-Fi?
Yes, complimentary Wi-Fi is available onboard.
Are gratuities included?
Gratuities for the ship’s crew are included; tips for local guides are optional.
Is Avalon suitable for solo travelers?
Yes, Avalon offers select sailings with reduced or waived single supplements.
What kind of travelers choose Avalon Waterways?
Avalon appeals to couples, solo travelers, and culturally curious guests seeking comfort, flexibility, and immersive experiences.
Are bikes available onboard?
Yes, complimentary bicycles are available for guest use in many ports.
How large are Avalon ships?
Avalon river ships are intimate in size, typically accommodating around 160 guests.