Packing for a River Cruise?
Get the free checklist I use to help travelers pack with ease for the Danube, Rhine, and Christmas Market cruises.
You're in! Check your inbox for the River Cruise Packing List.
Uniworld S.S. Maria Theresa river cruise ship cruising through a narrow, tree-lined European canal near a quaint village, just one of many Luxury River Cruise Lines.

When people talk about true luxury river cruise lines in Europe, three names belong in the conversation: Uniworld, Scenic, and Tauck. They all include considerably more than most river cruise lines, but what you’re actually paying more for is very different on each one. What Actually Separates “Luxury” From “Premium” A lot of comparison guides […]

Europe’s True Luxury River Cruise Lines: Uniworld, Scenic, and Tauck Compared

I didn’t choose the Star of the Seas Surfside Family Suite on Star of the Seas. I booked a suite guarantee, knowing Royal Caribbean would choose my suite category for me, and I’d actually book a suite guarantee again. I’ve also written about how my feelings about mega cruise ships have changed after more than […]

Four views of a Star of the Seas Surfside Family Suite showing a cluttered vanity a folded extra bed stacked with pillows a made bed and several pairs of shoes stored on the floor. The collage demonstrates how the family suite looks while being actively used by multiple travelers.

Star of the Seas Surfside Family Suite Review: I Wouldn’t Choose This for a Family

Sweeping fields of blooming tulips in vivid pinks, oranges, and purples curve through the lush Keukenhof Gardens, a must-see stop on the best tulip river cruise.

Luxury European river cruises can feel like completely different vacations depending on when you go. The same river that feels festive and crowded in December can be green and quiet in spring, while fall brings harvest season, wine-focused itineraries, and some of the best weather for travelers who would rather not spend July walking through […]

Luxury European River Cruises by Season: When I’d Actually Go

The best European river to cruise depends less on the scenery, which is beautiful on all of them, and more on how each river fits the way you actually like to travel. The Danube: Best for First-Time River Cruisers The Danube is usually where I point people who have never done a river cruise before, […]

Eiffel Tower illuminated at night with reflections on the Seine River in Paris.

The Best European Rivers to Cruise, and Which One Actually Fits You

The AmaMagdalena river cruise ship sails along a wide brown river bordered by dense green vegetation under a bright blue sky. Passengers gather on the upper deck as the ship approaches.

A Colombia river cruise is one of the few trips left where you can sail for a week and still feel like you found it before everyone else did. The Perception Problem Say “river cruise” and most people picture the Danube or the Rhine. Say “Colombia” and a lot of travelers still carry an outdated […]

Why a Colombia River Cruise Might Be the Best Kept Secret in River Cruising

When you’re comparing Tauck vs AmaWaterways, the gap between an AmaWaterways balcony cabin and a Tauck suite can look enormous until you break down what’s actually included. Once you do, the real question stops being about budget and starts being about what kind of week you want to have. Where the Two Brands Actually Diverge […]

AmaMora and AmaReina river cruise ships dock side by side at dusk with warm lights glowing across their decks. The two AmaWaterways ships offer a visual reference for travelers comparing Tauck vs AmaWaterways river cruises.

Tauck vs. AmaWaterways: What the Price Gap Actually Buys You

A colorful open air neighborhood on a mega cruise ship at night with twisting waterslides overhead and a large pink flamingo sculpture in the center. Bright signs read "SURFSIDE" and "ARCADE" as passengers walk between restaurants seating areas and family attractions.

The real mega cruise ship cost for our family was much higher than the base fare once we added drinks, WiFi, waterpark access, gratuities, and the other extras we actually used. My teens had an incredible time on our last mega ship cruise, and by the time we got off, we’d spent more on add-ons […]

What My Teens’ Favorite Cruise Actually Cost, Once Everything Was Added Up

After twenty-five plus cruises on mega cruise ships, including some of the biggest ships at sea, I’m starting to think I might just be done with them. The Ship That Charged Me $700 for WiFi I got quoted $700 for WiFi on a recent mega ship sailing and just stared at the screen for a […]

Royal Caribbean Star of the Seas docked at port under a blue sky

Confessions of a Travel Advisor Who Might Be Too Old for Mega Cruise Ships

A traditional Dutch windmill rises behind a sea of blooming tulips in shades of red, pink, and purple—an iconic view that defines the best tulip river cruise experience.

The right tulip river cruise has less to do with which line has the prettiest brochure and more to do with how you actually like to travel, since AmaWaterways, Avalon, and Tauck are all sailing roughly the same bloom window on roughly the same canals, and still deliver genuinely different trips. The Tulip Cruise I […]

Best Tulip River Cruises: How to Choose the Right One for You

Tauck River Cruise Ships: The Complete Guide to the Fleet, Cabins, and What Makes Them Different Tauck’s river ships carry fewer passengers than many of their competitors, which means more space per guest, and the price already includes nearly everything, so the number you see upfront is much closer to the number you actually pay. […]

Tauck’s riverboat “Serene” cruising along a lush, tree-lined stretch of river with white limestone cliffs in the background. Courtesy of Tauck.

Tauck River Cruise Ships: The Complete Guide to the Fleet, Cabins, and What Makes Them Different

Not Sure Which River Cruise Is Right for You?

Most people only know Viking, but the experience can vary more than you’d expect.

This guide walks you through a few of the river cruise lines I recommend most often and what actually sets them apart.

Delivered instantly to your inbox.