Tipping is a personal way to show your satisfaction for good service and is a general practice on all vacations. It is recommended that tips be paid in cash—unless when paying by credit card there is a specific gratuity line. General tipping guidelines∘ can be found below. Each country in Europe has different customs regarding tipping and guidelines can be found in each country-specific guide.
With Avalon, all your hotel taxes, service charges, tips for luggage handling, and gratuities for included meals are included in the vacation price.
For services with gratuity not included in the vacation price, we recommend the following as tipping guidelines. More information can be found in the country-specific sections of the Know Before You Go document∘ and in your Important Travel Documents, which will be available 2-3 weeks prior to your vacation. Since each country is unique, the below are merely guidelines to assist with budgeting.
Cruise Directors
Gratuities for your Cruise Director are not included in the vacation price. For a good job, we suggest the equivalent of €3 (Euros) per day per passenger for your Cruise Director. An envelope will be provided in your stateroom∘ for you to deposit any gratuities you would like to provide your Cruise Director. It is also possible for you to pre-pay the gratuities∘ for your Cruise Director at the time of paying the balance of your cruise cost.
Ship’s Crew
Gratuities for your crew on board our Avalon Waterways ships are not included in the vacation price. For a good job, we suggest the equivalent of €12 (Euros) per day per passenger for the ship’s crew. This will be pooled and distributed fairly among those who have been of service to you, including personnel∘ who work behind the scenes and whose service is equally crucial to your enjoyment of the cruise. It is also possible for you to pre-pay the gratuities for your crew at the time of paying the balance of your cruise cost.
Drivers
Gratuities for sightseeing drivers are included in the vacation price.
Hotel Services
It is customary to tip hotel staff for room service delivery if the charge has not already been added to the bill. If ice machines are not available and you get ice from the bar, a small tip to the bartender is always appreciated. Avalon includes gratuities∘ for luggage handling for one bag per passenger. You may wish to tip for any excess luggage delivery. Gratuities for included hotel meals are already taken care of by Avalon.
Certified Local Guides
Traveling with us means you get specialized sightseeing with Certified Local Guides in each major city. To make each location come alive throughout your vacation, these Certified Local Guides share their vast knowledge about culture and history with you. Gratuities for your Certified Local Guides are included in the vacation price.
Restaurants
For restaurant meals not included in the Avalon itinerary, gratuities are not included and we recommend you review the country-specific guidelines for appropriate gratuity amount based on quality of service. Additional details and recommendations will be included in your Important Travel Documents, sent approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your vacation start date, and your Cruise Director∘ can always help with local customs on tipping. Tips in restaurants are usually left in cash and not added to the credit card payment, unless there is a specific line for it on the credit card signature receipt. In many European restaurants, there is also a per-person cover charge that will be added to your check/bill. This is not a gratuity.
Taxis
Usually, rounding up the fare for driver gratuity is more than adequate in most countries. A few dollars is usually reasonable for service, equal to 10-15% of the fare. If possible, we recommend you pre-negotiate taxi fares in foreign countries to avoid unpleasant surprises∘ at the end of your journey. Ask hotel/ship staff or airport hospitality desks for the best cab companies, and make sure pricing is either clearly indicated prior to departure or prenegotiated. In all instances, we recommend that you carry some small change with you, as it is unusual to ask for change when you are tipping.
Whether you’re an art lover, a foodie, a history buff, or an energetic adventurer, your Active & Discovery cruise on the Danube River offers just-right included activities and excursions to suit your interests. With Avalon Choice®, you can select the experiences that are perfect for your interests and pace. From Classic to Active to Discovery inclusions, you can explore and experience each destination your way—from Deggendorf to Budapest. Whether you prefer browsing the art collection of the Habsburg Empire, sipping local vintages at an Austrian wine tasting, or joining a canoe excursion, your Active & Discovery Danube River cruise is packed with Avalon Choice® inclusions for every preference and pace in every place we go. Whether you prefer classic sightseeing with an expert Local Guide, an active excursion by bike, hike, or canoe, or a creative experience in culinary or performing arts, you’ll find the perfect way to spend your day.
Sample cheese and beer made by Trappist monks and explore their Abbey gardens. Choose an insider’s tour of Vienna, or join a canoe excursion—your Active & Discovery river cruise has something for every interest. From a wine tasting to a hike to Count Dracula’s prison tower, to a visit to Belvedere Palace in Vienna to see Klimt’s renowned “The Kiss,” to a Medieval Knights Tournament at a Visegrád castle—the adventure is up to you.
Your Active & Discovery Danube River cruise can be as active or leisurely as you like! Join us on this Active & Discovery river cruise and experience the Danube your way.