Last week’s survey about booking trends revealed that only 16 percent of you could not see yourself booking a last-minute river cruise in Europe. Who said we couldn’t be spontaneous? Show us a deal, and we’re on board.

Your comments and our commentary.

AmaWaterways has announced a new limited-time offer for travelers seeking distinctive journeys through Europe and Asia. Now through September 30, 2023, travelers can save 20 percent on the total river cruise fare on new reservations for select Europe and Mekong sailings embarking in 2023 and 2024. As an alternative offer, solo travelers can take advantage of a reduced 20 percent single supplement on the same sailings in select stateroom categories. These limited-time offers* can be combined with AmaWaterways’  AirPlus promotion, creating exceptional savings opportunities for travelers. Read the rest of this entry »

When we think of river cruises, we often think of couples drinking wine and gazing off their balconies, wandering through the cobblestone streets of Europe, sitting in the lounge for performances and eating meals in a communal dining room. Those are the things that keep me river cruising, but sometimes I want a little bit more. That’s why I love Avalon’s Active & Discovery itineraries. Avalon incorporates everything people like about a traditional river cruise, but with a twist. And each of these sailings become a new favorite trip because they attract such an adventurous and enthusiastic crowd of people.

Riverside Luxury River Cruises has a new Summer Sale.  The offers are for bookings made by August 31.

• Receive a US$150 per person onboard credit
• No single supplement on Harmony & Melody Suites

Read the rest of this entry »

Last month, I sailed the Danube with Avalon Waterways. During the sailing, I sat down with Cruise Director, Istvan, to chat about the Danube, Avalon’s Active & Discovery program, and more. Read the rest of this entry »

At the beginning of this month, I was a guest on board Avalon Waterways’ newest ship, Avalon View. I was invited by Avalon to experience one of their Active & Discovery itineraries on the Danube, but we will focus more on the itinerary in the upcoming weeks. Today, I want to talk about five ways that Avalon went above and beyond my expectations.

Check out my video highlights from back-to-back Burgundy barge adventures in April 2023. Afterward you may want to see How Locks Work On The French Canals or read Back From Back-To-Back Barge Trips. Also for your reading and visual pleasure, Barging In Burgundy Week One and Barging Through Burgundy: Week Two Of Our Adventure.

Next week, I am headed to Budapest to sail with Avalon Waterways on the Danube. I first sailed with Avalon Waterways in 2021, when I was invited to sail the Rhone River on an Active & Discovery itinerary. These “A + D” itineraries have quickly become my favorite way to travel because of the type of travelers to whom they cater and the fast-paced style of travel that they offer.

The name itself attracts a certain type of traveler looking for active and authentic experiences in a destination. When I sailed the Rhone with Avalon, I immediately noticed that my fellow passengers had a real “can do” attitude and came ready to get active (and even get a little dirt on our hands). And at night, there were more of us dancing in the lounge than I had seen on any previous voyage. It was clear that everyone on board was there to do one thing: have fun. Read the rest of this entry »

This past Thursday, I returned from France after back-to-back barge trips in Burgundy. To say that my 17 days in France was wonderful would be an understatement.

For starters, we had a fun group of people. They came from Georgia, British Columbia, Alberta, California, Colorado, Illinois and other regions throughout North America. We had lots of laughs, enjoyed long canal-side walks and bike rides, indulged in delightful dinners, sipped sumptuous wines, and so much more. Read the rest of this entry »

One year from this week (in 2024), Avalon Waterways will make its Portugal debut on the Douro River with a new itinerary and Suite Ship – the Avalon Alegria.

AVALON’S LATEST, “GRAPEST” CRUISE

Hillside vineyards and historic villages await guests as they sail through Portugal’s postcard-perfect views on Avalon’s all-new, eight-day Vida Portugal: Vineyards & Villages Along the Douro which begins and ends in Porto and is filled with Avalon’s signature, included “Classic,” “Discovery” and “Active” excursion choices. Featuring everything from ancient Amarante – in the picturesque Minho region, known for its golden church that dates back to 1530 – to the sandstone architecture in Salamanca Spain; rock art to riding bikes from Porto to the sea, this new cruise promises countless ways to soak up splendor – from medieval castles to cinematic scenery and all the vinho, baked bread, olives and cheese your soul desires. Read the rest of this entry »

This week I have been feeling grateful. After accepting a new part-time job opportunity at a brewery in town and receiving tremendous support from my friends and family after sustaining a foot injury, I wanted to make sure that I gave thanks to those around me – whether it was a text, a phone call, or a handwritten note. As I sat down to brainstorm content for the week, I realized that there was someone (something?) else that I wanted to thank – the company that gave me my first introduction to river cruising and has continually delivered unforgettable experiences onboard since.

CroisiEurope is offering complimentary airfare on select summer departures on Seine and Loire River itineraries. The air-inclusive packages are currently limited to flights in and out of New York City’s Newark Airport (EWR) on select departure dates. However, CroisiEurope has plans to expand these offerings in the upcoming months, providing more opportunities for travelers to take advantage of similar deals.

AmaWaterways announced three new opportunities for guests to celebrate the African and Black diaspora on the rivers in 2024. Due to the overwhelming demand for the first-ever Soulful Epicurean Experience on the Rhône River in France embarking August 24, 2023, two new June departure dates have been announced for that itinerary. The special journeys include the Colors of Provence cruise plus three nights in Paris. Also added for 2024 is a Soulful Epicurean Experience in Egypt on Secrets of Egypt & The Nile itinerary starting in Cairo on May 17, 2024. The unique experiences available during the cruise and land packages invite travelers to discover and celebrate important aspects of Black history and culture unique to each country.

AmaWaterways, the first major river cruise line to explore the magnificent Magdalena River in Colombia, announced details on two stunning, newly designed ships and mesmerizing itineraries debuting in 2024. As the demand for immersive cultural experiences continues to grow, AmaWaterways is now accepting reservations for its extraordinary program into the heart of Colombia, with unforgettable experiences awaiting on board the custom-built AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia.

Earlier this week, AmaWaterways held a special Sip & Sail event to provide details about its new Latin America cruises. Beginning in April of 2024, AmaWaterways will offer a series of seven-night sailings, with optional add-ons, along the Magdalena River. The cruises will operate on two new ships carrying 60/64 guests between Barranquilla and Cartagena. The new ships, named AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia, are wider than those operating in Europe, because there are no narrow locks to contend with on the Magdalena river.

That’s an ominous headline, I’ll confess, but I don’t mean it as apocalyptic or doom and gloom. It’s a concept I’ve been thinking about quite a bit for the past several years. It plays out something like this: Imagine that you are in your last good decade. How would you live it?

The possibilities are endless and dependent on what’s important to you. But essentially, it’s a call to action and a reminder to not put off what you want to do.

Did you know that many river cruise boats carry bicycles on board for guests to use? The bicycles are (or should be) well-maintained and capable of fitting guests of all sizes. Your ship often will have helmets and, of course, a liability form for you to fill out. If you’re squeamish about wearing a helmet that someone else has worn, carry your personal bike helmet. Simply strap it onto the outside of your carry-on luggage so that it doesn’t take up precious space inside your luggage. Or pack a foldable helmet. You’ll need to ask your local bike shop or do a web search for those.

For decades, river cruising has largely been a pursuit for couples; families and solo cruisers need not apply. But that old way of thinking is quickly going out the door, as river cruise lines move to court multi-generational families and solo cruisers eager to try their hand at the rivers of Europe.

The problem is that river cruise vessels are restricted physically by height, length and width due to the rivers they must traverse. The ships can only be so tall, so long and so wide. That, in turn, means that staterooms must also have finite dimensions. You can add another person to that existing space – but unless you’re booking at the suite level, things are going to get very cramped, very quickly. Unless, that is, you come up with some creative ideas, which a handful of cruise companies have done.

River cruising to or from Amsterdam? Why not do what the Dutch do and straddle a saddle? Hop on a bike and pedal your way through Amsterdam and the beautiful countryside to experience this fascinating region the way the locals do.

Most river cruise companies make bikes available to guests – at no additional charge. All you need to do is ask your ship’s front desk staff to prepare a bike for you. You’ll likely need to sign a release of liability, and you may be required to wear a helmet, which many cruise company provides.

Viking® will welcome a new Viking Longship®, purpose-built for the Seine River, to its fleet in 2025. Sailing the company’s popular eight-day Paris and the Heart of Normandy itinerary, the new sister ship will join four Viking Longships that were officially named in 2022, the Viking Fjorgyn®, the Viking Kari®, the Viking Radgrid® and the Viking Skaga®. All five ships are designed specifically to navigate the Seine River and bring guests to the heart of Paris, just a short walk from the Eiffel Tower.

One of my best river cruises ever was one of my longest river cruises ever. In 2016, I spent 15 glorious days cruising from Amsterdam to Budapest on AmaWaterways’ AmaSonata. After transiting the Rhine, the Main, the Main-Danube Canal and the Danube, I was left with one thought: Could I stay on and do the cruise in the opposite direction?

Of course, the answer was yes – from me – but a hard no from AmaWaterways. In fact, AmaSonata was not headed back to Amsterdam but would instead operate a series of Danube cruises. Sigh.