River Cruising is the ideal way to see Europe

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Alison Essner, Travel Agent in Waterloo, IL

Alison Essner

Waterloo, IL Travel Agent
Super Agent

Alison Essner

Waterloo, IL · 9 Years of Experience

Magic Expeditions LLC, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
5.0
(16)
100% Recommended
Alison has planned multiple trips for us. She makes it easy, which is the best thing for me. We will continue to use her and recommend... Read More >
About
Reviews
Certificates & Awards
My Places
Client Testimonials

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Europe, USA

Interests:

River Cruises, All Inclusive, Adult Only

Suppliers:

AmaWaterways, Viking, Adventures By Disney

About Me

Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France
Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France

Dreaming of a stress-free way to explore Europe’s most iconic cities while enjoying luxury, gourmet dining, and immersive cultural experiences?

A river cruise is the perfect solution.

Whether you’re sailing past medieval castles on the Rhine River, exploring the historic treasures of the Danube, or savoring world-class wines along the Seine, river cruising offers a seamless, enriching, and intimate travel experience.

Why Choose a River Cruise for Your European Adventure?

  • Unpack Once, Explore More – Unlike traditional land tours, a river cruise allows you to experience multiple destinations without the hassle of repacking or long bus rides. Wake up to a new city or charming village right outside your window!
  • Dock in the Heart of Iconic Cities – Unlike ocean cruises, which often stop in industrial ports, river cruises dock in the center of Europe’s most stunning cities—Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, and beyond—giving you immediate access to top attractions.
  • Small-Ship Luxury & Personalized Service – With fewer passengers on board, river cruises offer an intimate atmosphere with high-end amenities, fine dining, and personalized excursions tailored to your interests.
  • All-Inclusive Value – Many river cruises include gourmet meals, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, and even complimentary wine and beer with meals, making it an incredible value compared to traditional travel.

Why Book Your River Cruise With Me?

As a travel agent specializing in river cruises, I take the guesswork out of planning, ensuring you choose the perfect itinerary, cruise line, and cabin for your dream European vacation.

 I’ll handle every detail—so all you have to do is relax and enjoy the journey.  

Ready to set sail on your next adventure? Contact me at magicexpeditions.com/alison to get started right away.  

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0
16 reviews
100% Recommended
Your trust is our priority. Every review is submitted by verified travelers after they have booked and completed their trips. Learn more about our review guidelines.
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Showing 16 reviews

Alison is amazing!
Reviewed By ahank - Waterloo, IL | Traveled to Mexico
Alison has planned multiple trips for us. She makes it easy, which is the best thing for me. We will continue to use her and recommend to anyone asking.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Such a great cruise thanks to Alison
Reviewed By Cruising Fan - Illinois | Traveled to Virgin Islands | Caribbean
Alison made our Eastern Caribbean experience flawless. She organized all of our activities and never missed a step. I am grateful for her help and such an amazing trip. I refer everyone to Magic Expeditions for vacation planning.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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A Pleasant Experience
Reviewed By The Sunriser - St Louis, MO | Traveled to Bahamas | Caribbean
Alison made an overwhelming experience extremely manageable! I planned a family trip (3 generations) and she brought all the knowledge needed to make it the most memorable experience to date. She is patient, honest and not pushy. She presents the facts, lets you sit with the details and is ready to proceed when you are. I have told all that will listen about her and I have her number ready to share when asked. You will not be disappointed choosing her to help plan your next adventure.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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The Best Travel Advisor Ever!!!
Reviewed By Mouseketeer - Cincinnati, Ohio | Traveled to Disneyland | California | USA
Working with Alison has been so easy and professional. She covers all of the details in a timely manner and kept us informed of deadlines, special events, and many details. This enabled us to have a fun and stress-free trip. We have worked with Alison many times, and every time our trips have been great. We highly recommend getting in touch with Alison to help plan any trip you might want to take!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Disney world
Reviewed By ! - St. Louis. Mo | Traveled to Orlando | Florida | USA
Alison planned an 8 day trip for 11 family members. We all had a fantastic , memorable trip. She took care of us completely— answered our 1000 questions and followed up with suggestions along the way. We will absolutely be using her expertise in the future.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Certifications & Awards

The Book with Confidence logo tells you that this Travel Advisor has direct access to comprehensive resources for safe and healthy travel, available at their discretion for sharing with clients.  This includes vetting the details on the health and safety protocols implemented by each travel provider in order to recommend the ideal itinerary for each client’s unique needs.
Viking Certified Expert

My Places

When it comes to travel planning, real-world experience makes a huge difference. Check out the map below to see all the places I have personally visited or booked for my clients. I know these destinations well and can give you reliable guidance.

Client Testimonials

She takes care of all the details!
We love going to all inclusive resorts to relax, have some drinks, enjoy the spa, and just check-out for a week. My biggest struggle before contacting Alison was trying to figure out best pricing/times to travel. She answered all our questions, looked up additional quotes when we were trying to find the best price while booking, and sent us lots of reminders ahead of the trip so we were always in the know! I also love the detailed itinerary we received. I utilized it many times for trip info and tips!
Katie D, Valmeyer, IL
First trip to Disney World
We struggled with the logistics before working with Alison. She was very responsive and answered our questions even while we were at the parks. We loved the fireworks at Magic Kingdom and our character breakfasts. Book with Magic Expeditions for hands on, personalized service.
Matt O, St. Louis, MO
Alison's advice was spot on.
Before finding Alison, we struggled with all the terminology and what we REALLY needed and what was extra. After working with her, our experience was FANTASTIC! Alison's advice was spot on at every turn and she went above and beyond so many different times I've lost count. Our favorite part of the trip was Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios - which we probably wouldn't have been able to do without her advice!
Jill F, Kirkwood, MO
Just a huge THANK YOU!!!
There is just so much we didn’t know about Disney and Alison helped clear that up for us. She was always super helpful and very responsive. She supported us exactly the way we wanted her to support us. Couldn’t have done it without her! It was such a great experience working with Alison!
Sarah W, St. Louis, MO
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