I sat down with Kristin Karst, co-owner of luxury river cruise company AmaWaterways, to find out what's new on the rivers for next year. Kristin reveals more about their soon-to-launch double-wide river ship built solely for the Danube river.
This week we talk with Doug Parker from Cruise Radio about his very first river cruise. Find out what he learned from his lack of research.
This week's episode catches up on the new river ships set to launch this year. From Europe to the USA, new river ships are taking on a new look. Not sure what Europe river cruise shore excursions to choose? Curious about Keukenhof? Here's a rundown on several extra-special shore excursions, most of which are included in the price of your river cruise.
A cruise along Scotland's west coast is truly a bucket list vacation. Step aboard Argyll Cruising's eight-passenger Splendour and set sail from Holy Loch, one of Scotland's most picturesque ports. Argyll Cruising is family-owned and operated by the Duncans and everyone pitches in. Meet Jamie Duncan and learn about their unique, hand-picked itineraries, remote places you'll visit and the gourmet cuisine prepared by Chef Mike.
A lower Danube river cruise is like stepping back in time to the Cold War era, when the entire region was under Communist rule. Beginning in Bucharest, Romania and cruising upriver to Vienna, the transformation from Eastern to Western culture is clearly noticeable. River cruiser Rusty Pickett describes his first Danube river cruise experience, what he enjoyed most along the route and why it's such a unique and interesting river cruise.
This week we hear from Annie Rudolph who just returned from her first Tauck luxury river cruise. From Prague to Budapest, Annie talks about her first impressions of Tauck's MS Savor, life aboard and all of the special, exclusive Tauck events in cities on their river cruise. Ever wonder what it's really like to cruise aboard a truly all-inclusive river ship? Annie tells all plus what you can expect for shore excursions, night-time events and dining aboard MS Savor. For more information and everyt...
Did you know there's a new river cruise line only for Millennials? This and more river cruise news about new ships for next year...who's building what and where they'll cruise. Embarkation day doesn't have to be stressful. Here's some advice and suggestions about embarking on your river ship as well as what to expect when you get there. When it's time to make the decision to choose your river cruise itinerary, sometimes it helps to know what you might expect depending upon the season that you ch...
This week we answer more of your listener question. Sherry Kennedy from GuidetoRiverCruising.com answers them. Are there any times during the year that river cruise lines offer great deals? How do I know what river I should go on, to be honest, they all seem the same to me! If I'm a single cruiser, how can I avoid getting charged that dreaded single supplement fee? Any tips for picking a cabin? International terrorism is stopping me from taking my family to Europe. How are the river cruise lines...
Sherry Kennedy from GuideToRiverCruising.com stops by to answer more of your listener questions. 1. Are all river cruise ships alike? 2. Is it easy to gain weight on a river cruise? 3. What are some good ways to stay active on a river cruise? 4. What is the smoking policy on a river cruise? 5. What happens if the river levels are too high or too low? 6. I'm flying in on the morning of my cruise, how early can I arrive for embarkation?
This week we answer some of your questions about river cruising. Sherry Kennedy from GuideToRiverCruising.com takes the hot seat. 1. Categories of river cruises? 2. When to river cruise? 3. What is life like onboard? 4. Is all inclusive really all inclusive? 5. How does the gratuity program play out? 6. Do people get seasick? Thoughts or comments? doug@cruiseradio.net...
Sherry just returned from a river cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers in the northwest part of the United States. Sherry shares her adventure and gives us a full trip report. It was a very interesting time to travel because of the wildfires impacting the area and the Hurricanes back on the east coast.
After a recent trip to Venice, Italy, we talk tips on navigating the city and how to get around.
On this episode, we answer some of your questions about European Christmas market river cruises. We talk about the general vibe at the actual Christmas markets, what to expect, excursions and activities themed around the sailing itself, and a good entry-level Christmas market cruise to take. Special thanks to Simon Duvall, Community Manager at Cruiseline.com for taking the time to answer some of these questions. Thoughts or comments? doug@cruiseradio.net...
We are taking a break from European river cruises and heading to our own backyard this week! Chris Gray Faust from CruiseCritic.com joins us to talk about her recent adventures cruising North American waters.
Every once in a while I come across a guest who can give us a lot of information on river cruises and offer some raw data. On this episode, the ceo of CruiseDirect.com stops by and we discuss river cruise trends, new European river ship launches, and upcoming itineraries that people are booking. Comments or would like to share a review? Email me: doug@cruiseradio.net.
We talk with a river cruise skeptic, Tommy Casabona from the Always Be Booked Podcast, who isn't the least bit interested in taking a river cruise. When he told me this, it fascinated me, so I turned the mic on and we chatted about the reasons why.
This week we answer a listener request comparing an Azamara Club Cruise to a Viking River Cruise in Europe. Is there a difference? Simon from Cruiseline.com stops by to compare and contrast the two.
Ever wonder what European river cruise might be for you? Or maybe it's not Europe - maybe it's one somewhere else. Editor and river cruise guru, Chris Gray Faust from Cruise Critic joins us to match the right cruise with your interest. We discuss wine/food cruises, art sailings, river cruises with active excursions, scenic and history based river cruises, and others if you're looking for something different.
This week we answer two more of your listener questions. 1. A couple excursions don't look appealing to us. What is the best way to approach building our own food and wine tour? 2. What are the packing essentials for a river cruise? Send us your river cruise question to be answered on the show, doug@cruiseradio.net .
Today we have Sherry Kennedy on to help field your river cruise questions. We are traveling on the Rhine this fall and are looking for some wine advice. Our family is telling us to bring back some great wine but we know nothing about buying wine in Europe! What is a good starting point? Please help! - John, SD Do you have any advice in finding a post cruise hotel in Amsterdam, the cruise package is way too pricey for us. Donna, CA Thoughts or questions? doug@cruiseradio.net ....
This week we break down the difference between European river cruises and river cruises that are sailed on American waters. We talk about the types of cruises, excursions, onboard atmosphere, and key distinctions.
Howard and Alex just returned from an 11-night European river cruise on Scenic River Cruises, roundtrip from Paris. The couple normally sails Viking River Cruises but Normandy and Paris have been on their radar for a while and they decided to check it out. Hear a Scenic River Cruises review, what it was like visiting the beaches of Normandy, and what they thought of the voyage. Share your river cruise on the show: doug@cruiseradio.net .
A river cruise is all about the destination so today we are going to talk about shore excursions offered on river cruises and how to pick them. We will tackle: What types of shore excursions are there? Examples of culinary tours? Active tours? Sightseeing tours? How do you pick a shore excursion on a river cruise? Can you buy on from a third party company? How long are the excursions? What's the best way to figure out what excursion you want to do? What if you want to do a city on your own? Shar...
Paul wrote in and told us that he's taking a Christmas market cruise with Viking River Cruises. He told us we should talk more about dining on European river cruises. On this episode, we attempt just that! Ask your questions: doug@cruiseradio.net .
Chris and his wife are on a 14-night cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. We last talked to Chris as he was getting ready for his journey. On this episode, Chris talks about his journey to Europe and the airline part of the European river cruise. He also talks to us about his mindset of traveling in Europe after the latest terrorist events overseas.
Chris and his wife are about to fly to Budapest for a 15-day, 14-night river cruise to Amsterdam. This voyage is coined the Grand European Tour and travels throughout the heart of Europe, often docking in small towns along the way. Chris talks about the Viking River Cruise pre-cruise experience, getting there, and what to expect along the voyage. Be on the show: doug@cruiseradio.net .
Theresa Norton just returned from the christening of AMAKristina, a brand new river cruise ship from Ama Waterways. Her itinerary from was Amsterdam to Switzerland. We talk about the design of the cruise ship, the dining options onboard, the stateroom, and the ports of call she went to. Share your river cruise review: doug@cruiseradio.net.
Chris drops by this episode to chat with us about the where the river cruise industry is at and where it's going. We discuss: AMA Waterways just announced a pretty state of the art ship that will debut next years. What are river cruise lines doing to separate themselves from the competition? What about ocean cruising - are the river cruise lines trying to capture the ocean cruise market? How to align what river cruise itinerary would match your personality or your cruising style? Demographic in ...
Sherry Kennedy links up with us this week from Europe where she just stepped off Avalon Waterways' Artistry II. She was sailing on a seven-night Northern Holland and Tulips cruise. This is a seasonal sailing that Avalon offers. We hear about: Her pre-cruise adventure How embarkation was different than other sailings she's been on The thoughts of the ship How the food was What ports she visited (it was a lot!) Details on her excursions How her connectivity was on the ship Tips for sailing Norther...
This week I had a chance to chat with Vanessa Lee, river cruise expert, and Godmother of the Avalon Vista. I've known of Vanessa for years and finally had a chance to meet her on a Holland America sailing in 2016, we quickly became friends. We chat about: Being a Godmother of a river cruise ship Where she thinks river cruising is going Are world events causing people to hedge with river cruising Terri Burke has been on both side of the cruise industry, once on the consumer side and now on the op...
