If you're planning an Avalon Waterways river cruise, you may be wondering whether you need cash or a credit card every time you order something at the bar. The good news is that you generally do not pay for each drink separately. Paid onboard purchases are added to your personal shipboard account and settled before the end of the cruise.
There is also an important distinction between included Avalon Waterways beverages and drinks that carry an additional charge. On many European cruises, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, soft drinks, and certain other beverages are included. Avalon also offers complimentary Happy Hour on its Suite Ships, while premium or otherwise non-included drinks can be charged to your onboard account.
Here's how the payment system works and what you should know about Avalon Waterways drink prices, bar charges, and beverage payment options before sailing.
Yes, many drinks are included in the cruise fare, but the exact inclusions depend on the destination.
For European Avalon cruises, the current onboard beverage information says guests receive:
Wine and beer with lunch and dinner
Sparkling wine with breakfast
Complimentary soft drinks throughout the day
Specialty coffee and tea
Filtered water refill stations
Complimentary Happy Hour offerings on the Suite Ships
Avalon's current drinks information also highlights complimentary Happy Hour with select beer, wine, spirits, cocktails and zero-proof options.
The beverage policy is different on some itineraries outside Europe. For example, Avalon lists local beer and spirits throughout the day on its Asia cruises, while its Amazon and Galápagos programs have their own beverage inclusions.
Bottom line: Don't assume that every Avalon cruise has exactly the same beverage policy. Check the inclusions for your specific itinerary before departure.
The process is straightforward.
If you choose a beverage that isn't included in your cruise fare, you can order it from an onboard bar or another available beverage service.
Avalon Suite Ships feature bars and lounges, including the Panorama Lounge and Sky Deck areas on applicable ships. Avalon also provides daily onboard dining and bar information through the AvalonGO app.
You don't normally need to hand over a credit card every time you order a paid drink.
Avalon's FAQ states that all purchases and paid onboard services are recorded with a guest check and added to the passenger's personal shipboard account.
That means your Avalon Waterways beverages that carry a charge accumulate on your account during the cruise.
Near the end of the cruise, Avalon provides a statement showing the charges on your account. For European cruises, Avalon says this bill is provided a day before the end of the cruise.
It's worth checking the statement before settling it. If you purchased several cocktails, premium drinks or other personal items, reviewing the bill helps you catch any unexpected charge while you're still onboard.
The payment method depends on where you're cruising.
For European cruises, Avalon says the onboard account can be settled with:
Euro cash
American Express
Mastercard
Visa
U.S. dollars
Canadian dollars
Australian dollars
British pounds
Avalon states that the listed non-euro currencies are exchanged at the current bank rate. Personal checks and traveler's checks are not accepted for European shipboard account settlement.
Other Avalon destinations have different rules. For example, the company's FAQ says Southeast Asian shipboard accounts use U.S. dollars and can be settled with Visa, Mastercard or cash, while Ecuador has its own payment provisions.
One of the most common questions is: how much do drinks cost on Avalon Waterways?
Avalon does not publish one universal drink-price list that applies to every ship and itinerary. Prices can depend on the particular vessel, destination, beverage and current onboard menu.
For that reason, it would be misleading to give a single fixed price for a cocktail, premium wine or other paid drink without checking the applicable onboard menu.
Avalon's AvalonGO app provides access to current daily bar and wine menus, which is a useful way to see what is being offered during your cruise.
Although many everyday beverages are included, additional charges may apply to drinks outside the included selection. Depending on your cruise and the menu, this can include certain:
Premium spirits
Specialty cocktails outside complimentary Happy Hour
Premium wines
Other beverages not covered by the cruise inclusions
The exact selection and price should be confirmed on your ship's current bar menu.
Avalon's approach is different from cruise lines that rely heavily on traditional unlimited beverage packages.
The key benefit is that many beverages are already included in the cruise fare, particularly during meals and designated complimentary beverage periods. Avalon specifically promotes complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with meals and complimentary Happy Hour on its European Suite Ships.
Therefore, don't automatically assume that you need to purchase an Avalon Waterways drink package.
If you're considering one, first check what is already included on your specific sailing and whether Avalon is offering any package or beverage option for that departure. Policies and offerings can change, so the current cruise documentation and onboard information are more reliable than a generic drink-package price found elsewhere.
The Avalon Waterways bar is designed more like a relaxed river-cruise lounge than a large ocean-cruise bar.
On European Suite Ships, guests can enjoy complimentary drinks during designated periods, including Happy Hour. Avalon also offers cocktails created with mixologist Martin Hudák, including both alcoholic and zero-proof options.
The Club Lounge provides another useful option. Avalon lists complimentary specialty coffees, teas and other refreshments available around the clock on its Suite Ships.
This means you can often enjoy a drink without generating an additional charge, especially if you stick to the beverages included with your itinerary.
Yes, but the important point is when the credit card is used.
Rather than treating every drink as a separate credit-card transaction, Avalon places paid onboard purchases on your shipboard account. At the end of the cruise, you settle the account using an accepted payment method.
For European cruises, Avalon currently lists Visa, Mastercard and American Express among the accepted cards.
Before traveling, it's sensible to notify your bank that you'll be abroad and confirm that your card and PIN will work internationally. Avalon specifically recommends checking this before departure.
Not necessarily.
If you're sailing in Europe, you can settle your shipboard account with an accepted credit card or eligible cash currency.
Still, carrying some local currency is useful for shore-side purchases, especially in smaller towns where cards may not be widely accepted. Avalon itself recommends having local currency available for incidentals and small vendors in certain European destinations.
So, you don't need a wallet full of cash simply to pay for Avalon cruise drinks, but having some cash for the overall trip is practical.
You can easily limit your onboard drink spending by taking advantage of the beverages already included.
On European cruises, wine and beer with lunch and dinner are included, as are soft drinks. Sparkling wine is included with breakfast.
If you're happy with the included selections, there's little reason to purchase a separate drink simply because you're at the dining table.
Avalon's complimentary Happy Hour is another easy way to enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks without adding a charge for those included in the Happy Hour selection.
Check your daily schedule for the time and location.
If you want coffee or tea during the day, the Club Lounge can help you avoid unnecessary beverage purchases. Avalon lists complimentary specialty coffee, tea and other refreshments among its onboard amenities.
If you're unsure whether something costs extra, ask the bartender before ordering. You can also check the current bar and wine menus through AvalonGO, where Avalon says daily menus are available.
This is particularly useful when choosing premium wine or a specialty cocktail.
Avalon's beverage rules aren't identical worldwide.
Europe has a relatively generous beverage inclusion. Avalon lists complimentary wine and beer with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine at breakfast, soft drinks throughout the day, specialty coffee and tea, and filtered water.
Avalon says its Asia cruises include coffee, tea, soft drinks and local beer/spirits throughout the day, with wine included at lunch and dinner.
For Amazon cruises, Avalon lists complimentary coffee, tea, selected soft drinks and local beer/spirits throughout the day, with wine included at dinner.
Avalon's Galápagos beverage information lists complimentary coffee and tea throughout the day and wine with dinner.
Because these policies vary, your itinerary's specific inclusions should always take priority over general information about Avalon.
A few simple habits can make the payment process easier.
Know what's included: This is the easiest way to avoid accidental charges.
Check the bar menu: Look for prices or ask staff before ordering something outside the complimentary selection.
Keep track of paid drinks: If you order several premium beverages, remember that they accumulate on your shipboard account.
Review your statement: Check your final bill before settling the account.
Bring a backup payment method: A second card can be useful if your primary card has an international transaction problem.
Carry some local cash: This is more important for shore purchases than for onboard beverages.
Check your destination's rules: Payment methods and beverage inclusions can differ between Europe, Asia, South America and the Galápagos.
Paid drinks are added to your personal shipboard account rather than requiring a separate payment each time you order. At the end of the cruise, you settle the account using the payment methods accepted for your destination.
Yes. On European cruises, Avalon says the final shipboard account can be settled with Visa, Mastercard or American Express. Other destinations can have different rules.
Many are included, but not every beverage is necessarily complimentary. In Europe, Avalon includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner, sparkling wine with breakfast and soft drinks throughout the day. Complimentary Happy Hour is also offered on the Suite Ships.
There isn't one universal Avalon Waterways drink price. Paid beverage prices vary by drink, ship and itinerary. The current onboard bar and wine menus are the best source for the actual price on your sailing. Avalon says those menus are available through AvalonGO.
Avalon's current offering emphasizes included beverages rather than requiring passengers to buy a traditional beverage package. Because offerings can vary, check the details for your specific sailing before purchasing or budgeting for a package.
Yes, depending on the destination. For European cruises, Avalon says the shipboard bill can be settled in Euro cash, along with certain other currencies accepted under its stated payment rules. Southeast Asian and other destinations have different arrangements.
Generally, you don't need to carry cash to order a paid onboard beverage. Paid purchases are added to your shipboard account and settled later.
Some cocktails are included during complimentary Happy Hour, while other cocktails may carry a charge. Avalon specifically promotes complimentary Happy Hour with select cocktails and also offers signature cocktails onboard. Check the current bar menu to determine whether a particular drink is included.
Yes, Avalon lists complimentary specialty coffees and tea as part of its onboard beverage offerings. European Suite Ships also have a 24-hour Club Lounge beverage station with complimentary specialty coffees and teas.
Paying for Avalon Waterways drinks is relatively simple because the cruise line uses a shipboard-account system for paid purchases. Instead of paying separately each time, qualifying charges are recorded on your account and settled toward the end of the cruise.
The bigger point is that you may not need to spend much on beverages at all. On European Avalon cruises, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, soft drinks, sparkling wine at breakfast and other selected beverages are included, while complimentary Happy Hour adds another opportunity to enjoy drinks without an additional charge.
For the most accurate Avalon Waterways beverage payment options and drink prices, check your specific itinerary and the current onboard bar menu. AvalonGO provides access to daily bar and wine menus, making it the most practical way to see what's available during your sailing.
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