Booking an Avalon Waterways river cruise is always an exciting experience. Whether you’re traveling with a spouse, a group of friends, or extended family, you’ll likely want to ensure that your cabins, dining arrangements, and excursions are linked together for a seamless experience.Linking reservations is a vital step when coordinating multiple bookings under one group or family trip. Avalon Waterways allows travelers to connect two or more bookings online, ensuring that all passengers are recognized as part of the same travel party.
This feature helps the cruise line:
Coordinate dining times and seating together.
Assign cabins near one another when possible.
Keep group excursions and transfers aligned.
Simplify communication and documentation for all travelers.
In this comprehensive 3,000-word guide, we’ll explore exactly how to link Avalon Waterways reservations online, step-by-step. We’ll also cover:
The benefits of linking reservations.
Different ways to connect bookings.
What information you’ll need.
Potential issues and troubleshooting tips.
How travel agents handle linked bookings.
What to expect after linking.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to manage, link, and confirm your group’s Avalon Waterways reservations online — ensuring that your river cruise runs as smoothly as the rivers you’ll sail on.
Linking reservations is more than just a convenience — it ensures the cruise line understands that your party intends to travel and coordinate experiences together.
Here are the key reasons why linking your Avalon Waterways bookings is beneficial:
Cabin Proximity:When you link your bookings, Avalon’s reservation team can assign cabins near one another — ideal for family members or friends wanting to stay close.
Dining Arrangements:Linked bookings help ensure your group is seated together during meals in the Panorama Dining Room or Bistro.
Excursion Coordination:Avalon’s excursions can be scheduled for the same group, ensuring everyone participates in the same tours or transfers.
Shared Transfers:Airport pickups and drop-offs can be coordinated for linked travelers, making ground transportation easier and more affordable.
Group Perks and Discounts:Larger linked groups may qualify for special group rates, onboard credits, or tour leader benefits.
Simplified Communication:Linked reservations enable Avalon to send consistent itinerary updates and reminders to all members of the travel party.
If you’re traveling with another couple or family, linking your reservations early ensures that Avalon can accommodate all group requests before the sailing fills up.
Avalon Waterways operates under the Globus Family of Brands reservation system, which manages all bookings through a secure online portal.
Each booking generates a unique reservation number (booking ID). Linking reservations means connecting two or more of these booking IDs in the system so Avalon can recognize them as part of a single travel party.
You can link bookings in three main ways:
Online through Avalon’s “MyAvalon” account
By contacting Avalon Waterways directly
Through your travel agent
Before linking, ensure that:
All bookings are under the same departure date and cruise itinerary.
The lead names, contact details, and travel documents are complete.
Each booking has a unique reservation number ready for entry.
Avalon makes it simple to link reservations using their online system. Here’s a detailed step-by-step breakdown:
Visit www.avalonwaterways.com.
Click on “MyAvalon” located at the top of the homepage.
Sign in with your email address and password.
If you haven’t registered yet, click “Create Account” and follow the prompts to register using your booking confirmation number.
Once logged in, you’ll be able to view all active reservations, update personal details, and manage trip preferences.
After logging in, navigate to the “Manage My Booking” or “My Trips” tab.
Select the reservation you want to link with another booking.
Within the selected reservation, look for an option labeled “Link a Reservation” or “Add Companion Booking.”
This section may appear under “Travel Party” or “Additional Travelers.”
You’ll be prompted to enter:
The reservation number of the other booking
The lead passenger’s last name on that reservation
Optionally, their email address (for confirmation)
Double-check all information before submitting. Any spelling error or incorrect number may prevent the system from linking successfully.
Click “Submit” or “Link Reservations.”
You’ll receive an on-screen confirmation that your request was successful. Avalon may send an email confirmation once the link is officially processed.
If the request cannot be completed automatically online, Avalon’s support team may manually review and connect the bookings within a few business days.
Once linked:
Both reservations should show under your MyAvalon dashboard as “linked.”
You’ll see both parties’ names listed as part of the same travel group.
Your travel documents and cruise information will begin reflecting linked status once finalized.
If you booked your Avalon cruise through a travel agent, linking reservations can often be done faster through their booking system.
Here’s how:
Provide your agent with the reservation numbers for all travelers you want linked.
The agent will submit a group or linked booking request directly through Avalon’s agency portal.
You’ll receive updated confirmations once processed.
Travel agents are also skilled at securing group benefits or preferred cabin placements for linked reservations.
Even if you book separately, a travel agent can request that Avalon treat your linked reservations as a group, sometimes unlocking exclusive perks.
If online linking isn’t possible, you can contact Avalon Waterways’ customer service directly:
U.S. & Canada: 1-800-268-3636
UK: 0330 808 2729
Australia: 1300 088 586
Other Regions: Check your local Avalon website
Provide:
Both booking confirmation numbers
Lead passenger names
Contact details for verification
Avalon’s representative will confirm once the reservations are linked and email you the updated booking confirmations.
Once Avalon Waterways links your bookings, several automatic updates take place:
Cabin Assignments Reviewed:The system notes that you’re traveling together, and Avalon’s operations team may try to assign adjacent cabins (subject to availability).
Dining Coordination:Your party will be seated together in the dining room whenever possible.
Shared Transfers and Excursions:Linked guests will be placed on the same airport transfer schedules and can participate in the same excursions.
Unified Communication:Pre-cruise updates, itinerary changes, and excursion reminders will be sent consistently to all linked passengers.
When multiple Avalon Waterways bookings are linked under one group, you may qualify for exclusive perks, such as:
Group Discounts: Usually apply when booking 8 or more passengers.
Tour Conductor Credit: One free spot for every certain number of passengers.
Exclusive Events: Private welcome receptions or group excursions.
Cabin Upgrades: Occasionally offered for group leaders.
These benefits vary based on itinerary, date, and promotion. Always ask Avalon or your travel agent if your linked reservations meet the criteria.
Sometimes linking bookings online may not go smoothly. Here are some common issues and how to fix them:
IssuePossible CauseSolution
Reservation not foundIncorrect booking ID or last nameDouble-check the spelling and booking number
“Link failed” messageBookings have different departure datesVerify both cruises match exactly
Duplicate booking IDsTwo travelers share the same numberEnsure each traveler has a unique reservation
Email confirmation not receivedTechnical delayWait 24–48 hours or contact Avalon support
Linked booking missing from dashboardManual processing delayCall Avalon’s customer service to confirm
Always verify that the linked status appears on both travelers’ accounts.
Each booking maintains its own payment responsibility — meaning that even when linked, the passengers pay individually. However:
Avalon can send group payment reminders if the bookings are linked.
If one traveler cancels, the other reservations remain unaffected unless the cancellation affects shared discounts.
Always confirm any changes in balance or due dates after linking reservations.
Linked bookings make it easier to coordinate optional excursions:
Log in to MyAvalon and navigate to the “Excursions” section.
You’ll see both linked travelers’ names appear.
You can reserve the same excursions to ensure you participate together.
If an excursion fills up, linked travelers may receive priority placement on the waitlist.
Even if you’ve already paid your deposit or final balance, you can still link reservations before sailing. However, earlier is always better, as late linking may limit cabin or dining coordination options.
If you’re adding a pre- or post-cruise land extension, ensure that it’s booked under the same travel name and linked to your main river cruise. Avalon can connect these segments into one continuous itinerary under the same record, making documentation smoother.
If Avalon Waterways arranged your flights, the linked reservation ensures that you and your companion are seated on the same flight whenever possible.If you arranged air travel independently, you can still provide flight details in your MyAvalon account for synchronized transfers.
When linking bookings, Avalon respects privacy laws such as GDPR. Only relevant travel information (names, booking IDs, itinerary details) is shared between linked accounts. Financial and personal data remain confidential.
Linked reservations don’t restrict you from making individual changes. You can still:
Modify your cabin category
Add excursions
Update contact information
Purchase insurance or add-ons individually
However, significant changes (e.g., date changes or cancellations) may require unlinking temporarily.
If travelers later decide to separate their bookings, Avalon can easily unlink them upon request.Simply contact customer service or your travel agent, provide both booking numbers, and ask to “unlink reservations.”
Link early — preferably at the time of booking.
Double-check booking numbers before submission.
Communicate through one channel (either Avalon or your agent).
Reconfirm link status before final payment.
Save all email confirmations for future reference.
Q1. Can I link bookings from different travel agents?
Yes, but both agents must authorize the link through Avalon’s system.
Q2. What if my friend books a different itinerary?
Bookings can only be linked if they share the same ship and departure date.
Q3. How long does linking take?
Most online links process instantly; manual reviews can take up to 72 hours.
Q4. Will linking affect my payment plan?
No, each traveler retains independent payment responsibility.
Q5. Can I link bookings for shore excursions only?
No, you must link full reservations, though you can coordinate excursions separately afterward.
Scenario:John and Emily booked an Avalon Waterways cruise through different travel agents. They wanted to ensure their cabins were near each other and they shared dining tables.
Process:
John logged into MyAvalon and entered Emily’s reservation number and last name.
The system confirmed their bookings were for the same itinerary.
Avalon linked both within 48 hours.
Their dining preferences and excursions were updated automatically.
Result:John and Emily enjoyed a seamless cruise experience, staying in adjacent cabins and sharing all onboard activities together.
Linking Avalon Waterways reservations together online is a straightforward yet powerful way to enhance your group cruise experience. Whether you’re sailing with family, friends, or fellow travelers, linking ensures that your entire party stays connected across every part of the journey — from dining and excursions to cabins and transfers.
By using Avalon’s MyAvalon portal, contacting their customer service, or coordinating through your travel agent, you can easily connect multiple bookings with just a few details.
Remember:
Link your bookings as early as possible.
Verify all confirmation numbers and passenger names.
Confirm your linked status before making final payments or excursion selections.
Bottom Line: Linking Avalon Waterways reservations online ensures your entire travel party enjoys a coordinated, stress-free river cruise — creating shared memories that last a lifetime.