Disabled Facilities

Passengers must report any disability to Avalon before any reservation is made so that Avalon may advise whether they and/or their suppliers for any particular holiday are able to accommodate the passengers. Avalon may rely on the information provided to them by the passengers regarding the details of any disability in order to make a decision as to whether the passengers can be accommodated. Avalon will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of disabled passengers, in accordance with the applicable laws.Not all sightseeing stops/sites accommodate wheelchairs and some locations and sightseeing activities require extensive standing, sitting or walking. Avalon is not responsible for any missed activities due to a participant’s inability to participate within a group.All of the ships have lifts, however they do not service the SkyDeck. Additionally most stateroom doors and bathrooms are not wide enough to allow access by standard wheelchairs, and bathrooms and other doorways may be fitted with coamings.For safety reasons passengers cannot be carried on ramps in ports when the ship is docked. In certain circumstances, they may ask that a disabled person or person with reduced mobility be accompanied by another person capable of providing any assistance required.

Dietary Requirements

We know that some travelers may have specific dietary requests. Unfortunately, dietary requirements cannot be guaranteed on our vacations. We make our best effort to accommodate your requests, but our vessels, as well as hotels and restaurants, may not be able to manage specific diet requirements. Dietary requirements should be advised at time of booking and we ask that you also discuss these with your Hotel Manager upon embarkation.

Dress Code

Here, There & Every-WEAR … What to Wear on an Avalon Cruise?

Aboard Avalon Waterways, our job is to make you feel Home “Suite” Home as you wind and bend your way through the world’s most beautiful landscapes. Here, we trade formality for friendly; white gloves for welcomes and suits and gowns for suites and get-up-and-go! Comfort is the only code we go by for cruise attire.

With Avalon, your days are filled with exciting excursions and soaking up picture-perfect landscapes, so dress for enjoyment and practicality. Because weather can be unpredictable, layers are always recommended when out and about. Consider packing a small backpack or handbag for jackets and sweaters. And, of course, bring your favourite, most comfortable, walking or athletic shoes to keep your feet happy and your heart pumping.

Dinner attire on board is casual with typical guests donning open-neck shirts and slacks, skirts and dresses. Gentlemen who enjoy feeling sporty in sports coats, are welcome to pack them but they are not required. Some guests do prefer to dress up for celebratory evenings onboard including the Captain’s Reception or Farewell Dinner.

On our Mekong, Ganges, Amazon, and Galápagos cruises, we recommend that guests forgo dressier attire completely due to warm, humid climates.

In short, wear exactly what suits you – and the discoveries you make onboard and off – best!

Additional notes to consider:

• While Avalon isn’t interested in cramping your style with a dress code, some excursions may require one (no knees or shoulders in some holy places; or no shorts during some evening events in ports-of-call, for instance).
• In addition, for your comfort and that of your fellow cruisers, we do request that shorts not be worn in the Dining Room or Panorama Lounge in the evenings, and if you fancy a dip in the whirlpool, bathing suits are worn only on the Sky Deck.
• If you’re feeling fit for fun, we also want you to know that an Adventure Host will be your guide, at the ready for fitness activities, on all European cruises. Your host will not only lead daily workouts but can also help you pave your own path to wellness with biking, hiking and other, on-your-own adventures. Dress for your own fitness success!

Age Restrictions

Avalon Waterways do not accept bookings for children under 8. There are no special arrangements or activities on board for children and they cannot accept bookings from unaccompanied children under 18 years of age and any travellers under this age must share the adult’s accommodation.

Smoking Policy

All ships have non-smoking interiors. Smoking is permitted only in a designated outdoor area of each ship.

Sustainable Travel

Avalon is committed to minimizing its impact on the environment and to reducing its dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.

Avalon maintains a policy of "Leave Only Footprints and Take Only Photos." Our staff and major service providers strive to ensure that no removal of any natural or cultural artifacts or materials occurs to ensure each environment looks and functions the same before and after our visit. Our cruise directors educate passengers on our "do no harm" code of conduct to ensure passenger compliance.