River Cruise Expert

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Gunes Hopson, Travel Agent in Glen Allen, VA

Gunes Hopson

Glen Allen, VA Travel Agent
Super Agent

Gunes Hopson

Glen Allen, VA · 7 Years of Experience

Fotogenic, LLC DBA Luxe Travel by Gunes, an independent agent with Nexion, LLC, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
5.0
(60)
100% Recommended
Gunes got us an incredible concierge level deal from a cruise company Read More >
About
Reviews
Certificates & Awards
My Places

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Europe, France, Austria, Germany, Netherlands

Interests:

River Cruises, European Culture, Food & Wine, Castles & Cathedrals, Arts & Culture

Suppliers:

AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Celebrity Cruises, Tauck, Adventures By Disney

About Me

Sailing along the Danube in Budapest, Hungary.
Sailing along the Danube in Budapest, Hungary.

River cruising offers an unparalleled travel experience, blending the ease of all-inclusive travel with intimate access to the world's most beautiful and historic regions. Like any unique travel experience, it can bring up a lot of questions. How long does a cruise typically last? What amenities can you expect on board? What's included in the price?

If you haven’t been on a river cruise, here are a few basic things to know:

- River cruising is like traveling on a floating boutique hotel that docks in the heart of a European city each day.
- You get to travel through a country not just to it (unlike ocean cruising), which makes the cruising experience very scenic.
- It’s not just for those with gray hair! There are lots of shore excursions for active people and possibilities for independent adventures.
- Most river cruises are all-inclusive (meals, drinks, and shore excursions), offering incredible value and luxury.

Of course, there are many other details to learn about river cruising. I have prepared a River Cruising 101 guide to help you navigate (pun intended) all the information that is out there. Contact me and mention "river cruising 101," and I will send you my complimentary guide.

I am here to answer all questions you may have about river cruising and can assist you with planning your next trip. I recently attended ASTA’s annual River Cruise Expo in Vienna, Austria, and toured 16 different ships. I also recently sailed for six nights on the Danube River with AmaWaterways. It was such a great experience to explore Europe via the water. I visited Bratislava (Slovakia), Durnstein, Melk & Grein (Austria), Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic), Linz (Austria), Passau & Vilshofen (Germany), and Regensburg (Germany).

I know the differentiators of all the major river cruise lines and can help you decide which one is best for you. I have developed insider relationships with various river cruise line companies and can answer any questions you may have and troubleshoot any issues, should they arise, after you are booked.

Ready to explore the rivers of Europe? Join me in October 2026, as I set sail on the Rhine and Main Rivers! Learn more about the itinerary and exclusive group pricing that I have secured on a luxurious Avalon Waterways ship by viewing my website: https://www.luxetravelbygunes.com/avalon-waterways-german-grandeur-october-2026

If October 2026 doesn’t work for you or you’d like to explore a different itinerary, contact me for other potential river cruise itineraries on the Rhine, Danube, other parts of Europe, or the rest of the world.

Here’s to sailing the world’s rivers in comfort and style!

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0
60 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 60 reviews

The best bang per port
Reviewed By Ozzie - Midlothian, VA | Traveled to Canary Islands ~ Africa
Gunes got us an incredible concierge level deal from a cruise company
Gunes Hopson responded
"Always happy to find my clients great value for their vacations, especially when it comes to luxury travel!"
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
54 of 65 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Highly Recommend A Travel Expert Like Gunes!
Reviewed By RachelGB - Richmond, Virginia | Traveled to Virginia ~ USA
Gunes is so great at what she does and I'm so appreciative of her help with our family weekend getaway to a resort in Middleburg. In particular, she was great about sorting out what kinds of plans we should make for meals and activities for our 4-year old, sleeping arrangements for the baby, and was full of useful recommendations. We spent LESS working with her than we would have if we'd booked on our own at Salamander.
Gunes Hopson responded
"Thank you so much for your kind words! I love Salamander Resort and am so glad your family was able to enjoy your stay there."
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
46 of 50 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
COVID traveling, and dreaming about future travels
Reviewed By Christine I. - Richmond, VA | Traveled to Virginia Beach ~ Virginia ~ USA
Gunes provided the most professional and informative experience for us! She had answers to issues related to our travels BEFORE I even knew to ask the questions. She was always available...before, during, and after our trips....and made sure all of our needs were met. Outstanding service!
Gunes Hopson responded
"Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure to serve you, and I look forward to planning many more vacations for your family."
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
49 of 56 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Family trip to WDW
Reviewed By Diana - Kernersville, NC | Traveled to Walt Disney World ~ Florida ~ USA
Gunes was extremely helpful every step of the way. I knew that she had every detail taken care of both before and during the trip, and it made everything so stress-free! Even with a last-minute date change, she took care of it all quickly and efficiently. I will definitely use her services again for future trips.
Gunes Hopson responded
"Thank you for your kind words! It was my pleasure to plan all the details for your Disney vacation. I love it when my clients have stress-free trips! I cannot wait to help you plan your next family vacation."
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
49 of 57 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Luxury Disney World Vacation!
Reviewed By Jana - Richmond, VA | Traveled to Orlando ~ Florida ~ USA
Amazing! Gunes was with us every step of the way, from brainstorming, to planning, to the day of and throughout our trip. She has so much helpful knowledge that she is willing to share to give us the best experience based on our personal wants and within our budgets. I was most impressed with her getting us a great package for a new Disney resort that was of utmost luxury, while staying within budget. Gunes was able to recommend flights, hotels and dates, but also gave us multiple options to choose what works best for us. She also gave us park recs and restaurant recs, and helped us make reservations as needed. She was essential in giving us a trip that we will remember fondly forever and a trip that for the first time was stress free for me because I knew she had it all handled!
Gunes Hopson responded
"I am so very happy that I was able to provide you with a stress-free vacation experience! My goal is to always take care of the details so that you can relax. "
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
47 of 53 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

Certifications & Awards

ASTA is the leading global advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public.It is the world's largest association of travel professionals.Our members include travel agents and the companies whose products they sell such as tours, cruises, hotels, car rentals, etc.Expand your world. Go with the pros.
Certified Luxury Travel Specialist: During this certification program Travel Agents study several components including: Understanding the Luxury/Experiential Customer, Destination Knowledge, Luxury Travel Experiences, Luxury Programs, Luxury/Experiential Preferred Suppliers, Case Studies and a Marketing Plan. This is a two-year study program.
Trusted Travel Advisor: A Trusted Travel Advisor credentials, resources and global connections translates to today’s consumer in respectful interactions, confidentiality, knowledge, and client advocacy of travel services provided in parallel with building long lasting client relationships that builds with each interaction.  A Trusted Travel Advisor knows their client better than the client may know themselves and puts those polishing touches on each travel collaboration.
AmaWaterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist

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.
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