Explore every episode of the podcast River Cruise Radio

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 everything you need to know about river cruises, visit GuideToRiverCruising.com

Have a question or just completed a river cruise? Contact me at sherry@rivercruiseradio.com

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 choose to go.

For more information on river cruising that includes podcast descriptions and related articles, visit GuideToRiver Cruising.com

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 ensuring guest safety? 
• Any advice on picking a river cruise through Holland/time of year to go?

Questions? doug@cruiseradio.net 

Sherry Kennedy from GuideToRiverCruising.com stops by to answer more of your listener questions. 

1. Are all river cruise ships alike? 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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? 

Share your river cruise review: doug@cruiseradio.net. 

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. 

Chris drops by this episode to chat with us about the where the river cruise industry is at and where it's going. 

• 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 river cruises. More younger folks are surfacing on river cruise lines - is this going to be a trend or just a fad?   Listener Q from Maria in VA   What is the suggested time to pad your trip on the front and back end if we want to explore Rome before our Northern Europe river cruise. 

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. 

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:

We link up with Sherry Kennedy who is in chilly Zurich, Switzerland this week. Sherry is about to embark on a seven-night European river cruise on Rhine river. She talks to us about her pre-cruise stay and gives us some important tips. 

Sherry chats with us about:

• Weather in Zurich, Switzerland
• Quick overview of the river ship she’s sailing on
• What is the region known for?
• Using trains to navigate Europe
• Her favorite travel apps

When people think of Disney, they don't normally think of a European river cruise. Thanks to a partnership that Ama Waterways has with Adventures By Disney, Disney now has you covered with ocean AND river cruises. 

We first spoke with the owner of Ama Waterways a few weeks ago to talk about the program, now we're getting a review of an Adventures by Disney river cruise on the brand new Ama Kristina. 

We’re back this week, but with a twist. This week I’m being interviewed about my Douro river cruise experience in Portugal. We discuss getting from Florida to Portugal, what life was like onboard, the tours offered, and the food. Special thanks goes to Richard Simms for taking the time to interview me.

This week we are broadcasting live in Porto, Portugal with CroisiEuope River Cruises as they christen the brand new MS Miguel Torga. The Miguel Torga sails six to eight-night cruises along the Douro River across Portugal. The Douro River is known for its scenic views and wine trails. We discuss the ship itself, the services offered onboard, dining, tours, and who is CroisiEurope River Cruises is for. 

Chris Owen joins us to answer a listener question from Alex. Alex needs help on where to start when it comes to buying his parents a river cruise for Christmas. This will be their first river cruise and Chris helps him make an informed decision. 

This week we're heading over to Portugal for the christening of CroisiEurope River Cruises' newest river ship. But before I left, I asked Chris Owen some last minute questions...an hour before I needed to be at the airport. 

Chris answers my questions on: 

• How to adjust to jet lag and the best ways to cope with it 
• What to do on the first day of the river cruise 
• How early can we board the river cruise
• Apps for language and currency conversions 

Chris just returned from a cruise on Windstar Cruises. There aren't that many difference between a Windstar Cruise and a river cruise. Today we break that down, talking about experiences onboard, dining, off board experiences, and who this cruise is for. 

Chris has our detailed planning guide to river cruising from booking it a year out to the day you leave. You'll want to follow along with this planning guide. A big lesson we learn in this episode is paying attention to air details is REALLY important. 

We talk to one of the co-owners of AMA Waterways about their Adventures by Disney program and find out what it's all about.

Chris Owen returns to answer some of your listener questions on pre and post cruise packages and what amenities we find on river cruise ships.

Sherry Kennedy is with us this week to share her review of American Cruise Line's replica paddle wheeler Queen of the West. Her seven-night voyage took her to the Pacific Northwest along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Here about her week on a paddle wheeler, the destinations, and her take the river cruise. 

This week we tackle your listener questions. Chris Owen joins us to answer river cruise questions on:

1. How do the loyalty programs work on a river cruise line and are there levels like like ocean cruise lines? 

We get a lesson in budgeting this week from Chris Owen. He shares with us how to make our vacation dollar go further and how it isn't impossible to save for a river cruise. It's a matter of being disciplined. From using the right credit cards to switching cable providers - there's something to learn here. 

River cruises are more about the destination, not the onboard experience. We prove that again this week as Theresa shares her review of her Amawaterways luxury river cruise, the AmaDara. This river cruise ship is based in Southeast Asia and focuses on Cambodia and Vietnam. Hear her experiences in Asia, what the dining was like onboard and the unique food offerings this ship offers. 

Chris joins us this week to tackle some of your river cruise questions. 

• Should I take the family and best way to get the best price?
• How dressed up do I have to get? 
• What type of food should I expect on my river cruise?
• Will they take care of my dietary restrictions? 
• How does traveling solo work with the single supplement fee? 
• Do the river cruises always dock in the center of town?

There is a big difference between all the river cruise lines out there. All the brands offer something unique. Chris Owen is back to share his five things we need to know about Viking River Cruises. 

Nancy Schretter from the Family Travel Network shares with us her voyage on Uniworld Cruises on a seven-night Classic Christmas Market cruise. She gives a detailed report of her voyage, her first-time tips, and what to expect on your sailing.

Today we get a review of an Adventures by Disney sailing on AMAWaterways. Not to be confused with Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney focuses mostly on offboard adventures and explorations in the ports of call. Lissa details her Adventure by Disney sailing along the Danube River in Europe. 

On this episode, we talk with Chris Owen on how to book a river cruise. When most people think of booking a cruise, they think they can go online and be done with it. That is true with an ocean cruise,  but river cruises are a little more hands on. Chris explains in this episode.

Kay Lynn just returned from a 12 day China tour last month which included a four-night Yangtze river cruise on the Century Diamond. She gives us a review of the river cruise, the tours they did in China, and her first time impressions of the river boat. 

Chris returns with our Ask the Expert segment and talks about us about internet service and being connected on a river cruise. 

This week we get a river cruise review of American Queen Steamboat Company's American Queen. We recently took a three-night voyage from New Orleans on this 19th-century steamboat and will give you a comprehensive review. 

While onboard, Ted Sykes, President of American Queen Steamboat Company sat down and chatted with us about the American Queen, the history, and what makes a Mississippi River cruise so appealing. 

Today we get 5 things we need to know about AMAWaterways from Sherry. Plus, on our Ask the Expert segment, Chris stops by to compare and contrasts ocean cruise sea days vs river scenic cruising.