River Cruise Travel Agent

Amaris in the Netherlands

River cruising is my favorite type of travel. It has the right balance of relaxation and adventure. I love that your cabin floats along the river bringing new scenery and experiences.

My love for cruising began at the ASTA River Cruise Conference where I visited 12 ships across nine brands. I had the pleasure of staying on the ms Joy and experience the Tauck Difference. Tauck feels like an all-inclusive experience with a careful attention to details. They strive at touring and really taking care of all the small touches. Additionally, I sailed on Riverside Debussy for a 6-night sailing through the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. This ship has amazing cabins! We stayed in a Seahorse Suite and I absolutely loved our drop-down window that turned the whole room into a balcony. Our bed faced the view and after a long conference I spent a day watching movies, relaxing, and watching us sail past the countryside. Riverside's food was absolutely amazing and was paired nicely with local wine.

This year I continued my river cruise knowledge with a visit to Vienna. I attended the ASTA River Cruise Conference for the second time seeing 16 additional ships. I sailed on Viking Rinda and Riverside Mozart. I also stayed on the AmaBella. I ate on Amadeus Nova, Avalon Impression, Scenic Opal, Tauck MS Savor, and Uniworld S.S Maria Theresa.

Viking is the brand you most likely think of when you think of river cruising. They have beautiful ships that are Nordic decorated with light woods and bright spaces. I really like their lobby and the staff is professional. They are also more American-tailored with American-sizes meals. There are several other river cruise lines such as Avalon Waterways, AmaWaterways, Amadeus River Cruises, Uniworld River Cruises, and Riverside Luxury Cruises. There are also tour companies who charter river cruise ships to provide a unique experience. Adventures by Disney, Tauck, and Backroads are examples. All of the companies mentioned could be the perfect fit for your next vacation.

River cruise ships are pretty similar between brands, but there are notable differences with what is offered that will help you decide on the best brand. Is fitness while sailing important to you? AmaWaterways has the best gym and wellness program. They even have a ship with pickleball! Are you looking for a more budget-friendly option? Look at Amadeus who has been in the business for a long time. Do you like options for your excursions? Look at Avalon. They provide several options at most ports and even have Active & Discovery sailings which tend to draw a younger crowd. Large bathrooms and spacious suites your style? Look at Uniworld and Riverside. Traveling solo? Tauck and Riverside have great cabins for solo travelers. Traveling with kids? AmaWaterways, Tauck, and Adventures by Disney are the best family options. I'm here to help you find the perfect match.

Please contact me to discuss your next river cruise!