Saturday, March 23, 2024

What Is Included On Avalon River Cruises

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Avalon Waterways – Things You Need To Know Before European River Cruising With Them!

Book your vacation as a group of 16 or more to save. Receive valuable rebates when forming your own group for travel on river cruises: one person travels free in a group of 16. These group rebates do not apply to any international or intra-vacation flights. Free land and cruise arrangements are credited at the twin rate single room and stateroom supplements must be paid in full. about group river cruises. For single travelers who prefer the privacy of their own room and stateroom, single accommodation can, of course, be requested. Call for single room supplements.

Airport Transfers For Land/cruise

Booking your vacation air-inclusive gives you all the advantages described, however, you may also choose to book with a land-only option . In this case, we offer transfers to and from the airport and your hotel on vacation arrival and departure dates for an additional charge. Avalon passengers who make their own air arrangements on regularly scheduled direct or nonstop flights into terminals may purchase our airport transfer service. Airport transfers can also be arranged when you purchase offered extra nights before or after the vacation. Transfers cannot be provided when joining late or departing early from your vacation.

Flight information for air purchased separately from Avalon will be required at time of booking the extra night transfers and must be provided to Avalon prior to final payment so that we can coordinate your transfer time. Flight details should be sent apart from other correspondence. Flight details and payment must be received no later than final payment. Time and terminal limitations are provided. Transfers will be provided only if confirmed by Avalon. Look for confirmation of your transfer in your travel documents which are mailed to you approximately 2-3 weeks prior to departure. NOTE: Some cruise-only vacations do not include free airport transfers and in some cases, transfers may not be available for purchase. Please discuss your specific transfer options with your Avalon Travel Consultant.

Staff Gratuities & Dress Code

On an Avalon cruise you can rest assured knowing that the crew put you first, theres one crew member to every three guests, so all your needs can be catered to in an instant. Our favourite part? Theres a personal chauffer service included in your fare to transport you to and from the airport! They even load your luggage for you, leaving you to start your holiday in style.

Tunley from Wirral said every aspect was excellent. The friendly crew, the excellent tour leader and all the local guides were instrumental in making life on the boat very comfortable and enjoyable.

All gratuities are included for your cruise director, crew, transfers and port charges! Phew. So you dont have to spend your precious holiday time stressing about how much to pay who!

The dress code on board is considered casual, with a more formal attire suggested for the welcome and farewell dinners. In the dining room a dress code of open neck shirts, trousers, dresses, coats and ties is appropriate, the only thing that you cant wear is shorts, but thats only at dinner! Avalon also suggest bringing a sturdy pair of walking shoes for the excursions.

Now you know everything you need to know about Avalon! What do you think? Do you fancy going on an Avalon cruise? Or have you been on one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Traveling With Avalon River Cruises Is A Step Beyond The Ordinary Ideal For Those Looking For A Unique River Cruise Experience

Why Avalon River Cruises:

  • Beer and wine at lunch and dinner
  • Fitness center
  • Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors
  • WiFi included

Avalons cruise experience is designed to be different, featuring bigger spaces, more epic views, and more enriching excursions. Guests can make the most of their cruise by venturing on an extended exploration, taking a romantic or relaxing break, or something in between. With river cruises in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa, you can explore the world your way aboard an Avalon River Cruise.

Itinerary Of Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways Unveils âYour Wayâ? Cruising

Here are the shortcuts to all the Avalon Waterways river cruise line ships. The company operates a young fleet of mostly European riverboats aimed at North American, Australian and New Zealand passengers in their 50s or older. Avalon river cruises deals as itineraries and destinations extend to Egypts Nile River and Chinas Yangtze River – from Hong Kong and Tibet to Ulaanbaatar. Avalon Waterways also operate the Galapagos Islands destination. In this section, you will find all their ships, itinerary information, complete sailing schedules with dates and prices to compare.

As an alternative to owning river cruise ships, Avalon leases them. The company makes partnerships with cruise ship companies that have operational ships in a particular destination and brand 1 or more boats as Avalon Waterways. The line charters these boats for up to 5 years, with the option to refurbish them or give them back to the owner. This way Avalon easily maintain one of the youngest and most modern fleets on this market. In the list below, the newest Avalon “Suite Ships” are starred . All “Suite Ships” are scheduled to sail on Danube, Main and Rhine river cruises in Europe.

IMPORTANT: In 2019, the Avalon fleet left the 138-passenger riverboats Affinity, Felicity, Luminary and Creativity. These vessels are currently chartered by “Gate 1 Travel”.

All cruise itineraries are priced from USD 2350 per person, double0-occupancy riverview cabin.

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Air Options When Booking Your Vacation

Our volume buying power saves you money, and we may be able to provide you with flight arrangements from your gateway city. Avalon Waterways offers two air options: Flex-Air and Instant Purchase Air. Flex-Air allows flexibility if you want to make changes to your vacation schedule. Instant Purchase Air may offer additional airline options but has more restrictions. Early Airfare Price Guarantee locks in a price that is guaranteed not to increase. Air pricing and schedules are available approximately 331 days prior to last travel date in the itinerary. At that time the best air price will be utilized and a new invoice with the air cost and confirmed schedule will be sent. The identity of the carrier, which may include the carriers codeshare partner, will be assigned and disclosed at this time. If the guaranteed price is the lowest, the schedule with the lowest fare per contracted classes of service will be booked. Any voluntary change to the confirmed flights negates the guaranteed price and is subject to air pricing at the time of the change.

When Can I Purchase Optional Excursions

You can learn about the optional excursions available on your Avalon vacation, including cruises with Monograms extensions, by logging in to . A complete listing will also be available in your travel documents. These are available to purchase in advance online from 90-4 days prior to departure. We recommend you book early to avoid excursions selling out. When adding a Globus tour to your cruise, you may purchase the Globus excursions online 90-4 days prior to the start of the Globus departure by going online to www.GlobusJourneys.com/MyGlobus.

NOTE: Optional activities and excursions are subject to change and may not be available as described please visit our website for up-to-date information, including Terms & Conditions and details regarding payment.

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More Is Included In The Price

When booking any cruise, one thing you need to check is whats included in the price you pay, since the extras can really add up. Thats fine if you know in advance and have budgeted for it, but not so great when you find yourself stung for unexpected costs.

Guided tour in Vienna with Avalon Cruises

With Avalon you get a lot included in the price and could probably get away with paying hardly anything above the holiday price if you wanted to. Heres whats included

Cycling excursion with Avalon

So what extras will you need to budget for?

  • Some specialist excursions, for instance a cookery class or cycling excursion.
  • Drinks from the bar before or after dinner.
  • Laundry services if required as there are no self-service laundry or ironing facilities on board.
  • There was a hairdresser on board where you can also have a manicure.

Thats not a huge amount of extras and depending on how you like to spend your cruise, you could get away without spending much above the holiday price. The item that would probably add most to your bill are the special excursions and to give you an idea of the cost, on my cruise these ranged from around â¬50-60 per person for a half day or around â¬70 for a full day excursion.

Avalon Visionary at Grein

Choose Avalon If You Want More Space In A Standard Cabin

Main River Cruise Vacations | Avalon Waterways®

Because they have French balconies instead of outdoor space, the 200-square-foot Panorama cabins on Avalon’s “Suite Ships” feel bigger than most river cruise cabins. Although Viking’s Veranda staterooms are technically larger at 205 square feet, that figure includes the balcony. Avalon’s bathrooms also seem larger, due to the cabin’s configuration at a slight angle . Avalon’s Deluxe staterooms on lower decks are also larger than Viking’s, with 172 square feet compared to 150 square feet.

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Why Avalon Waterways Is The River Cruise Line For You

With a fleet of 14 ships in Europe and vessels that ply the waters of Asia, the Amazon, India and the Galapagos, Avalon Waterways offers a global footprint for river cruisers. The company is part of Globus, a Swiss-based tour operator with a long track record of escorted trips. This connection gives Avalon an advantage among its competitors the company has a wide network of tour guides around the world, which adds to the river cruise experience.

Avalon has a few other characteristics that set it apart. Read on to see why Avalon might be your next favorite cruise line.

From The Avalon Waterways Travel Blog

As you plan, or just dream about your next vacation, we invite you to get inspired by the Avalon travel blog showcasing news, tips, and stories! Plus, you can read articles where Avalon Waterways and Avalon ships have been featured in the news. Every great traveller has someone on the inside who knows all of the best kept secrets about their travel destinations. Let us be your inside source!

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Choose Avalon If You Like Special Interest Cruises

Avalon has added a number of cruises geared toward people with specific interests. Chief among these: Active Discovery itineraries on the Danube and Rhine, where you leave the coach behind and explore the destination through hiking, kayaking, biking, tasting and language lessons. Other theme cruises include culinary, art, beer, wine, golf, opera, jazz, wellness, Jewish history and World War II — all complete with special lectures, excursions and activities.

Avalon Waterways Flexdining Program

Avalon Waterways

In 2019, the company introduced the so-called FlexDining on all boats in the fleet.

  • Dining is open seating / not fixed at all shipboard venues.
  • FlexDining allows passengers to enjoy more dining time flexibility at all onboard breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
  • At all the ship’s dining venues were added healthy food options with the new “Avalon Fresh” menu . The “Avalon Fresh” dining option is a partnership between Avalon Waterways and the German chefs Leo and Karl Wrenkh. The new menu offers healthy food made with freshest ingredients from local farms and suppliers,
  • In the restaurants fleetwide were added more 2-top tables for couples.
  • At Sky Deck was added bar service plus night snacks .
  • Complimentary picnic lunches are provided on all shore excursions and tours in ports of call.

Avalon’s FlexDining allows all passengers to choose dining venue and times, an alfresco lunch , less formal Panorama Bistro, 4-course dinner in the dining room restaurant.

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Reasons To Take A River Cruise With Avalon Waterways

Id always enjoyed my holidays in Austria, but on my Danube river cruise with Avalon Waterways, I think I fell in love with Vienna most of all. I was seduced by the rich architecture and culture of Austrias capital, for centuries the heart of the Habsburg empire. I lingered in the elegant Viennese coffee shops and browsed the vibrant markets selling everything from flowers to found-in-the-attic antiques.

Our river cruise continued on the Danube with stops at the pretty villages of Durnstein and Grein with its 18th century theatre and castle on the hill. At Melk we visited the magnificent baroque abbey, before ending our mini-cruise at Linz, Austrias former European city of culture. There was plenty to discover in the scenery and places we visited, but the experience of being on board Avalon Visionary was also most enjoyable.

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Beautiful architecture in Vienna, Austria

Since many different river cruise companies offer a similar Danube itinerary, here are some of the reasons you might consider booking your Danube Cruise with Avalon Waterways.

Local Healthy Avalon Fresh

Who says healthy food cant be inspiring? On an Avalon river cruise, you can take an indulgent vacation without drifting from your healthy habits. Our Avalon Fresh selections are exclusively created in collaboration with Austrian brothers Leo and Karl Wrenkh, leading chefs in the healthy-dining movement. Using the freshest ingredients from local farms and suppliers, our chefs create flavorful dishes with a dash of innovation. These creative yet wholesome options are available at every meal we serve on board. Whether youre looking for an energizing juice at breakfast, an artfully crafted salad at lunch, or a satisfying plate at dinner, Avalon Fresh steps up to the plate with the perfect ingredients to fuel your day.

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Cheatsheet: Is This Included In My River Cruise

February 18, 2020 By Ralph Grizzle

Knowing whats included in your river cruise can sometimes be a deciding factor as to which river cruise company to book. While our comparisons identify much of whats included, sometimes the answer requires more than a simple yes or no. For example, while most of the river cruise companies that we write about offer complimentary shore excursions in ports of call, some charge for optional excursions. Also, airport transfers are included when air tickets are purchased with the river cruise company, but may not be included otherwise. What about port charges? Not all companies include those either. What follows is our cheatsheet for what each company includes in their river cruises.

Avalon Waterways: Beer and wine included with lunch and dinner sparkling wine with breakfast. Coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages complimentary 24/7. In addition to the main dining room, Avalon offers small group reservations to Panorama Bistro . When weather permits, grilled lunches are available on the Sky Deck. Meals can also be served in the Club Lounge and Panorama Lounge. Some optional tours require a fee. Airport transfers included when purchasing air from Avalon. Avalons beds face floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors for gorgeous views while your head is propped on the pillow. Stocked in-room mini-bar incurs charges for each item selected. Wifi included. Port charges not included.

Travel Terms & Conditions

Avalon Waterways – Redefining River Cruising

The purchase of any travel services offered by Avalon constitutes a contractual arrangement between you and Avalon and represents your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand the Terms & Conditions prior to booking. These Terms & Conditions cover Deposit & Final Payment information, Air-Inclusive Deposits & Final Payment, Revisions & Revision Fees, Air Arrangements, Participation, Travelers Who Need Special Assistance, Young Travelers, Smoking, Price Policy, Visas and Passports, Hotels & Accommodations, Baggage Allowance, Travel Documents, Not Included in the Land Price, Refunds, Service Inquires After the Vacation, Holidays, Safety, Photos & Pictures, Optional Excursions, and Responsibility.

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Choose Avalon If You’re Vegetarian/vegan Or Like Tasting Menus

Avalon has signed a partnership with the Wrenkh brothers, noted Austrian chefs, who specialize in vegetarian and vegan dishes as part of the line’s “Avalon Fresh” initiative. Another feature of an Avalon sailing is a 15-course tasting menu with wine pairings, held several times per cruise. This special meal is available on a complimentary basis to each passenger once per voyage, and usually reflects regional specialties.

Complimentary Drinks With Lunch And Dinner

Below are a list of those cruise lines who offer complimentary drinks with lunch an/or dinner:

Award winning for the best river cruise fleet in Europe you cant go wrong on an AmaWaterways river cruise! Although drinks are not unlimited throughout the cruise – wine, beer and soft drinks are free flowing throughout lunch and dinner every day! And of course, there are tea and coffee facilities available at all times. Any drinks that you purchase throughout your cruise will be added to your onboard account and charged to your debit or credit card at the end of your cruise. Like most river cruise operators, AmaWaterways include all of your meals, daily shore excursions, port charges, Wi-Fi and more in your cruise fare.

APT provide excellent value for money and although drinks are not free-flowing throughout the cruise, regional wines, local beers and soft drinks are complimentary with lunch and dinner on board! Any drinks that you purchase throughout your cruise will be added to your onboard account and charged to your debit or credit card at the end of your cruise. And as you’d expect, all of your meals, daily shore excursions, port charges and more is included in your cruise fare.

Which is the best river cruise line? Find out what we think here!

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