Last month, I sailed the Mississippi River with my friend Maddy aboard American Cruise Lines’ American Symphony. I’ve sailed with American before, so I knew what to expect – friendly service, comfortable accommodations and a well-organized trip where we always know what’s happening and where to be. It’s a fool proof vacation.
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Most of you know the classic Danube cruise. It’s one of our favorite itineraries because it highlights some of the best ports of call on Europe’s rivers. From Nuremberg, Passau or Vilshoften, river ships sail through the Wachau Valley to the big bright capital cities that anchor the Upper Danube: Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.…
I’ve been waiting for this one.
For years, I’ve wondered when American Cruise Lines would bring its easy, small-ship style to the Great Lakes. And now it’s happening. Starting May 2026, American will debut three brand-new Great Lakes cruises aboard its newest ship, American Patriot.…
Some of my best memories of traveling by barge in France come from the simple act of stepping ashore. Alongside many of the French canals run towpaths, once used by horses—and sometimes people—who pulled cargo barges in the days before engines. Today, those same paths invite us to stretch our legs, pedal a bike or simply wander at our own pace, all while keeping company with the gentle rhythm of life on the canals.
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If you’re looking at cruising the Mississippi, you really have two choices: American Cruise Lines or Viking. A few smaller companies do offer shorter trips of three or four days, but those are more regional outfits and not the focus here. For most travelers planning a weeklong or longer itinerary, American and Viking are the names you’ll be choosing between. Before we get into the options, let’s get to know the mighty river that …
Burgundy isn’t just a place – it’s a feeling, a flavour, and a memory in the making.
For travellers seeking a week where time slows to walking pace, European Waterways’ L’Impressionniste offers a six-night voyage through the heart of Burgundy’s wine country, gliding from Escommes to Fleurey-sur-Ouche along the tranquil Canal de Bourgogne. This intimate, all-inclusive river cruise pairs immersive cultural excursions with gourmet dining, creating a product travel professionals can confidently recommend to discerning …
We’ve been enjoying insights from readers about river cruising in our Facebook Group, River Cruise Advisor Crew. We’re a small group so far – just 170+ members – but an informed one.
We recently asked the group: Is a river cruise balcony stateroom your preference, or do you prefer the savings of standard staterooms? Though far from scientific, the group’s responses suggest that most folks are fine with French balconies as opposed to the pricier …
If you’ve been toying with the idea of taking a river cruise this year but haven’t pulled the trigger yet – good news: you’re not too late. In fact, you might be right on time. AmaWaterways still has space on some top itineraries for 2025, and a few of them come with seriously solid promos.
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It’s been five years since I last sailed on AmaMagna. Back then, I was blown away by her size, as she sits at twice the width of traditional river cruise ships. But after half a decade of river cruising for the site and stepping aboard more river cruise ships than ever, I can confidently say that her size stood out even more this time around. And her size isn’t just a novelty. It makes life …
One of my most enduring memories from our winter cruise on the Danube is from the morning we spent passing Dürnstein. We were making our way to Weißenkirchen, cruising on AmaMagna, when the fairy-tale-like town came into view, easily identifiable by its blue-and-white tower, known as Dürnstein Abbey. I had never seen Dürnstein so quiet and mystical, but then again, it was February – when few tourists wander the picturesque town.
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A Mississippi River cruise has been on my radar for a while, but 2025 might actually be the year I stop talking about it and actually do it. Europe always entices me, with its beautiful landscapes and rich history, but why do I tend to forget about the river cruise experience that’s just a short, single-connection flight away?…
When traveling internationally, cellular data is important for many of us, whether we’re using our smart phones keeping in touch with friends and family back home or taking care of others matters such as banking or travel reservations. For example, when I land in Amsterdam tomorrow morning, I’ll want to book a train ticket to the city center, which I can do using the NS app. Why pay 40 euros or more to for a …
We recently wrote about Close-In Bookings: Too Late To Book For Spring? In that story, cruise companies told us that folks were booking closer to their departure dates than in years past.
While the norm was to book a year or more in advance, the trend now is booking for departures less than a year in advance, with many booking their cruises only six months or less before their sailing dates. Why the change? We …
We can all agree that one of the least exciting parts of planning a trip, second to paying your cruise fare, is packing. The great news, though, is that someone always seems to have advice for how to make packing easier.
Ralph Grizzle writes many articles on packing tips. In his article, Ralph provides a lot of great insight how and what to pack. But his advice doesn’t always work for me – convertible pants …
