Avalon View

Tipping is a personal way of showing satisfaction for good service and is common on all vacations. If paying by credit card, tipping is recommended in cash unless there is a special tipping line. Here are some general tipping guidelines: Each European country has different tipping customs and guidelines can be found in country-specific guides.

At Avalon, all hotel taxes, service charges, baggage handling gratuities, and meal gratuities are included in the tour price.

For services with gratuities that are not included in the tour price, we recommend that you follow the gratuity guidelines below. For more information, please refer to the Pre-Travel Verification Documents° and the Country-Specific Sections of Required Travel Documents. These documents will be available 2-3 weeks before the holidays. Due to country specifics, the following information is provided as a guide to assist with budgeting.

Cruise Directors

A gratuity to the cruise director is not included in the cruise price. To do a good job, Cruise recommends his director a compensation equivalent to 3 euros per passenger per day. There is an envelope in the stateroom for you to put the tip you want to give to the cruise director. You can also pre-pay the cruise director's gratuity when paying the balance of your cruise fare.

Ship’s Crew

Crew gratuities on board Avalon Waterways ships are not included in the voyage fare. To do a good job, the ship's crew recommends the equivalent of twelve euros (euro) per passenger per day for her. This amount will be pooled and distributed equitably among those who have helped you, including the behind-the-scenes staff who provide services equally important to your cruise enjoyment. You can also pre-pay tips for your crew when paying the balance of your cruise.

Drivers

A gratuity for the sightseeing driver is included in the tour price.

Hotel Services

It is customary to tip hotel staff for providing room service, unless the charge is included in the bill. If the ice machine is not available and ice is available at the bar, a small tip to the bartender is always appreciated. Avalon includes one baggage handling chip per passenger. Tipping is recommended for excess baggage delivery. Avalon pays the tip for hotel meals.

Certified Local Guides

Travel with us and you'll receive exclusive visits by certified local guides in each major city. These certified local guides share their extensive knowledge of culture and history to bring each location to life during your vacation. Gratuities for certified local guides are included in the tour price.

Restaurants

Gratuities are not included for meals at restaurants not included in the Avalon itinerary. We recommend that you check your country's guidelines for an appropriate tip based on the quality of service. Details and recommendations can be found in important travel documents sent approximately 2-3 weeks before the start of your holiday. Your Cruise Director° is always available to assist you with local tipping customs. Tips at restaurants are usually paid in cash and are not added to credit card payments unless there is a corresponding line on the credit card receipt. Many European restaurants will add her per person charge to your check/bill. This is not a hint.

Taxis

In most countries, rounding up the fare as a tip for the driver is usually sufficient. A few dollars, usually 10-15% of the fare, is reasonable for this service. If possible, we recommend negotiating international taxi fares in advance to avoid discomfort at the end of your trip. Ask your hotel or ship staff or airport hospitality desk for the best taxi companies and make sure the rates are clearly stated or pre-negotiated before departure. Either way, it's not customary to ask for change when tipping, so it's a good idea to carry some change with you.