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European River Cruise with AmaWaterways
Why You Should Consider a European River Cruise
I recently took my first European river cruise aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaStella, sailing the Danube, and I finally understand why so many people become repeat river cruisers.
River cruising is a very different way to experience Europe — and for the right traveler, it can take a lot of the stress out of a multi-city trip.
So, What Is River Cruising Actually Like?
The ship: River cruise ships are small and intimate compared to ocean cruise ships. The AmaStella had more of a boutique hotel feel — comfortable, incredibly clean and easy to navigate.
The service: The crew was one of my favorite parts of the experience. From the wait staff to the cruise director and maître d’, the service was excellent, and it didn’t take long before the crew knew guests by name.
The food: You will not go hungry! There was food available throughout the day, and meals often incorporated the destinations we were visiting. Dinner tended to be more elevated, while familiar options were also available.
The rooms: Cabins are compact, but ours had plenty of storage. We stayed in a French balcony cabin, which gave us the option to open the sliding glass door and enjoy the river views. Cabin location is something I would definitely discuss with a travel advisor before booking, as some locations can be noisier or have more vibration than others.
The experience: This was easily one of the most relaxing ways I’ve traveled around Europe. Your hotel moves with you, transportation between destinations is handled, excursions are organized, and your daily schedule is laid out for you.
Why Take a River Cruise?
🚢 Unpack Once
See multiple European destinations without constantly checking in and out of hotels or dragging luggage through train stations.
🗺️ See More in One Trip
River cruise itineraries can take you through several cities and countries, making it easy to experience a lot of Europe in a single vacation.
😌 Less Travel Stress
So much of the logistics are handled for you. You can focus on enjoying the destinations instead of figuring out how to get from one place to the next.
🧑🤝🧑 Meet Other Travelers
River cruises tend to have a very social atmosphere. You’ll often share meals, excursions and activities with other guests, and many travelers form friendships that continue long after the cruise ends.
🚶♀️ Choose Your Pace
Excursions often have different activity levels, and you can choose which activities you want to participate in. You don’t have to spend every day rushing from one attraction to another.
🥂 Enjoy the Journey, Not Just the Destination
There’s something pretty great about sitting on the sun deck with a drink while European scenery passes by — and knowing that when you wake up tomorrow, you’ll be somewhere completely new.
One Thing to Keep in Mind
River conditions can affect an itinerary. During my sailing, historically low water levels on the Danube meant we couldn’t complete part of the planned route. The cruise line arranged alternative transportation and excursions, but it was a good reminder that flexibility is important when traveling by river.
My Biggest Takeaway
River cruising isn’t just about seeing Europe. It’s about making European travel easier.
If you want to visit multiple destinations without constantly packing, unpacking, navigating transportation and changing hotels, a river cruise is absolutely worth considering.
And after experiencing one myself, I can now help you figure out whether river cruising is the right fit for your travel style — and which itinerary and cruise line might make the most sense for your trip.
Get in touch with Carrie Chodzin
Carrie Chodzin
Hi, I’m Carrie, a travel advisor who believes the best vacations are about more than checking destinations off a list. They’re about the experiences, the people you share them with, and the memories you’ll talk about for years to come.
I’ve always loved exploring new places, and some of my favorite travels have taken me to London, Paris, Edinburgh, Stockholm, Switzerland, and Croatia. I especially enjoy the balance of sightseeing and downtime, finding great local food, and experiencing a destination in a way that feels authentic to the traveler. Whether you’re dreaming of a European adventure, a relaxing Caribbean getaway, a family vacation, a cruise, or a magical Disney experience, I love helping turn that idea into a trip that feels uniquely yours.
My approach to travel planning is personal and thoughtful. I take the time to understand what matters most to you, from your travel style and interests to your budget and the little details that can make a big difference. I research accommodations, experiences, transportation, and destinations carefully so you don’t have to spend hours trying to piece everything together yourself.
But my job doesn’t end when your trip is booked. I’m here to help you navigate the planning process, answer questions, provide recommendations, and be there when you need support along the way. My goal is to take the stress out of travel planning so you can focus on what really matters: enjoying the journey and making memories.
I would love to help you plan your next adventure and create a trip that gives you those moments you’ll still be talking about long after you’ve returned home.
Carrie Chodzin
European River Cruise with AmaWaterways
Columbus Travel Agent Near Me
Share :
Hi, I’m Carrie, a travel advisor who believes the best vacations are about more than checking destinations off a list. They’re about the experiences, the people you share them with, and the memories you’ll talk about for years to come. I’ve always loved exploring new places, and some of my favorite travels have taken me to London, Paris, Edinburgh, Stockholm, Switzerland, and Croatia. I especially enjoy the balance of sightseeing and downtime, finding great local food, and experiencing a destination in a way that feels authentic to the traveler. Whether you’re dreaming of a European adventure... Read More >>>
An expert destination wedding travel agent near me with five star luxury travel packages with a luxury travel company, Vincent Vacations.
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Carrie masterfully planned our trip to Disney World. She prioritized what we wanted and suggested additional experiences that enhanced our trip. She is an excellent communicator and kept us up to date with all the details needed for this vacation. Carrie is the best! -Emily & Clara
First Cruise
We were very appreciative of Carrie’s help and knowledge to make decisions along the way. This being our first cruise, we had lots of questions, and she was very patient with us. She did an excellent job of helping us plan our excursions and enjoy the whole trip without extra worries. -Green Family
Family Trip to Italy
I couldn't be happier with the wonderful 12 day trip that Carrie Chodzin helped plan and coordinate for our family of 7 adults to the Amalfi Coast and Rome, Italy. From the accommodations to the private transport to the various excursions, everything went smoothly. Although we are not frequent travelers, we were relaxed and able to enjoy every minute because of the hard work Carrie put in beforehand. She also handled a couple last minute changes, jumping right in to take care of whatever we needed. You can bet I'll work with Carrie again for our next vacation and I'm telling friends and family to give her a call for their travel needs also. Thank you Carrie!! -TUrwin
We would like to thank Carrie for all of her efforts in helping us plan this incredible vacation. We love how she gave us hotel options in each city that she found knowing what we like then we got to choose from that list. The hotels we stayed at were perfect for our family's needs and fit our exact 'liking.' She communicated well, offered up any assistance, and was there for us. This is the second Europe trip we have booked with her and have already booked our third one this summer with her help. I highly recommend Carrie, she cares and listens and is very knowledgeable! Thank you!!! -Krista
Thailand!
Carrie did a fantastic job planning our trip to Taiwan and Thailand!! We had great flights, lodging and adventures!! -MW
Disney Family Trip
Carrie is amazing! She was so incredibly thorough with every detail we needed to know. She made our trip happen with ease by making so many of our reservations for us and knowing exactly what to recommend. She was available whenever we had questions and checked in to make sure everything was set and going well. I would highly recommend her to plan any trip you’re hoping to take! -Paige W
EPIC Trip to Universal Orlando
Thank you for all your help before and during our trip! You helped us make it magical and your insight was a big help in making it great! -Sarah
Scotland & Wales Trip
Fantastic trip! The Trip Plans app was so helpful. Carrie was so great in making suggestions and arranging accommodations. -JG
European Family Adventure
Our trip was a wonderful family adventure. We could not have done it without Carrie. Not only did she help us plan and execute a dream trip to Europe, she took the time to answer questions, calm nerves, and assist with any unexpected issues. Our trip was amazing, and we are so grateful to Carrie! -Jackie
Seattle Trip
Thanks for all your help to make the most of our days in Seattle! The hotel was great and in walking distance to most things we did! Great service at the hotel restaurant! We really enjoyed the culinary experience at Pikes Place market. And the app had everything so organized for our stay. I appreciate that it included our flight information, as well as the cruise! -Lawrence Family
Belgium & Switzerland
Carrie made the planning of the trip extremely easy, and gave us an enjoyable experience, with memories that will last a lifetime. -Steve H
Ice Ice Baby!
In June 2026, my husband and I went on the most AMAZING trip to Iceland! Carrie planned our entire itinerary after learning our interests and wants, taking all of the stress off of us. She checked in with us while on the trip, answering any questions we had promptly. We will definitely be working with Carrie in the future! -Elizabeth B.
A Complicated Itinerary, Seamlessly Planned
My husband and I had a wonderful experience working with Carrie. She recommended excellent hotels and tours in England and France that were a perfect fit for us. Our itinerary was somewhat complicated because we had a scheduled private WW2 resistance tour booked right in the middle of the trip she was planning for us. She worked around that schedule seamlessly and coordinated everything so that the different parts of our trip came together smoothly. She was patient, responsive, and incredibly helpful throughout the entire planning process. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and dependable travel agent. We will use her again for our future travels! -Linda D.
Amazing Trip to Rome and Beyond!
Carrie is an excellent travel agent! She listened carefully to what we wanted right from the beginning, offered so much help and suggestions along the way, and helped us plan all the details for an amazing trip to Rome and some fantastic day trips before our Mediterranean cruise. Several of our tour guides commented on how great a travel agent we had when we described all that she had planned for us! We had an amazing trip! -Tiffany C.
The Best of Disney World!
Carrie really knows and loves Disney! She planned the best trip for us. We were taking our grandson for the first time. She explained lightning lanes, made restaurant reservations, and booked a great resort (the Art of Animation) with a Cars themed room that our grandson loved. And we did too. She helped us schedule our days giving us an itinerary on our phones. She took into account down time for us grandparents as well as the four year old. She scheduled the best times to go on each ride and see each show. She also suggested we go during the Festival of the Arts at Epcot which had delicious food and a nice extra for the adults. It would not have been such a great trip without all of Carrie’s work and planning for us. -TEC
The Perfect Trip
Carrie was a fantastic travel advisor. She was available for questions and answered very quickly. She planned the perfect girls’ trip to London and Scotland with two of my lifelong friends. She suggested sites in London that were well beyond the usual places. She arranged wonderful tours in Scotland and found perfect lodging in Edinburgh that was right by the castle. She really is an expert! I loved the itinerary she provided us on our phones which allowed us to see every day’s sites plus the tickets attached so we could just pull them up in our phone. Made it so convenient. She even suggested adding in Belgium for a few extra days at the end of our trip and that turned out to be a great addition. Never would have thought about it without Carrie’s help and knowledge. -Becky C
Great Service
My wife and I booked a trip to California to attend a wedding this summer. We wanted to do some sightseeing in different parts of the state while we were there. We needed some advice as to which activities and attractions would be worth our time, so we contacted Carrie. She was very helpful by listening to what we wanted and making an itinerary for us. Thanks for the great service, Carrie! -Don N
Disney Trip
Carrie took the overwhelming stress out of navigating the stress of booking a Disney world trip that was unforgettable for our family! -Makenzie J
Smooth Sailing to the Maldives
We had a great experience working with Carrie to plan our trip to the Maldives! She was incredibly helpful throughout the entire process, from helping us narrow down our options to making sure all the details were taken care of. She was responsive, knowledgeable, and really took the time to understand what we were looking for rather than just giving us a list of options. She also got us an Overwater Bungalow with a slide! -Isaac L
First Cruise
We had never cruised before and Carrie booked an incredible cruise for us on Viking. She was so helpful in determining what was the best time of year for us to go and suggested adding on pre and post extensions in Prague and Amsterdam to make the most out of our trip. These turned out to be some of our favorite destinations on the trip. She knew when to book tickets for the Anne Frank house or they would have been sold out. We had difficulty checking in ahead of the flight so we contacted Carrie and she contacted both the airlines and Viking and straightened it all out for us. It was nice to have someone to do that for us. She’s great! -RebeccaBC
London is one of my favorite cities to visit during the holiday season. Between the incredible Christmas lights, iconic department stores and festive markets, there is so much to see and do. If you’re planning a London Christmas getaway, here are a few experiences I recommend adding to your itinerary.
🎄 See the Christmas Lights by Bus A Christmas lights bus tour is a great way to see many of London’s festive displays in one evening — especially if it’s your first visit. Sit back, stay warm and enjoy the lights along some of the city’s most famous streets.
✨ Explore the Lights on Foot I also recommend setting aside time for a Christmas lights walk. During the day, explore Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and Liberty London, then return after dark to see areas like Regent Street, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street and Covent Garden illuminated.
🎭 Explore Covent Garden & Neal’s Yard Covent Garden is especially magical at Christmas, with its famous Christmas tree, festive decorations, market stalls and beautifully decorated shops and restaurants. Take some time to wander beyond the main piazza and explore the surrounding streets, including colorful Neal’s Yard, Seven Dials and the boutiques around Long Acre. This is an area I recommend exploring without a strict agenda — there are plenty of charming shops, restaurants and photo-worthy spots to discover along the way.
🪄 Visit Hogwarts in the Snow For Harry Potter fans, Hogwarts in the Snow at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is a must. The studios are transformed for the holidays, including a beautifully decorated Great Hall and snowy Hogwarts Castle.
🎁 Visit Fortnum & Mason Even if you aren’t looking to shop, make time for Fortnum & Mason. Its iconic Christmas display and beautifully decorated interior make it one of my favorite festive stops in London.
🛍️ Shop London’s Iconic Department Stores Christmas shopping is part of the experience! Visit Harrods, Liberty London and Fortnum & Mason for unique gifts, holiday decorations and plenty of British favorites to bring home.
🎄 Visit Winter by the River For a festive experience with a view, head to Winter by the River at London Bridge City. Browse the Christmas market, grab something warm and enjoy the views of the Thames and Tower Bridge.
⚡ Add Battersea Power Station Battersea Power Station is another area I recommend adding to your itinerary. With shops, restaurants, riverside views and seasonal events, it’s a fun way to experience a different side of London during the holidays.
Planning a London Christmas trip? I can help you put together an itinerary that balances the must-see sights with festive experiences, great restaurants and plenty of time to enjoy the city without feeling rushed.
I recently took my first European river cruise aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaStella, sailing the Danube, and I finally understand why so many people become repeat river cruisers.
River cruising is a very different way to experience Europe — and for the right traveler, it can take a lot of the stress out of a multi-city trip.
So, What Is River Cruising Actually Like?
The ship: River cruise ships are small and intimate compared to ocean cruise ships. The AmaStella had more of a boutique hotel feel — comfortable, incredibly clean and easy to navigate.
The service: The crew was one of my favorite parts of the experience. From the wait staff to the cruise director and maître d’, the service was excellent, and it didn’t take long before the crew knew guests by name.
The food: You will not go hungry! There was food available throughout the day, and meals often incorporated the destinations we were visiting. Dinner tended to be more elevated, while familiar options were also available.
The rooms: Cabins are compact, but ours had plenty of storage. We stayed in a French balcony cabin, which gave us the option to open the sliding glass door and enjoy the river views. Cabin location is something I would definitely discuss with a travel advisor before booking, as some locations can be noisier or have more vibration than others.
The experience: This was easily one of the most relaxing ways I’ve traveled around Europe. Your hotel moves with you, transportation between destinations is handled, excursions are organized, and your daily schedule is laid out for you.
Why Take a River Cruise?
🚢 Unpack Once
See multiple European destinations without constantly checking in and out of hotels or dragging luggage through train stations.
🗺️ See More in One Trip
River cruise itineraries can take you through several cities and countries, making it easy to experience a lot of Europe in a single vacation.
😌 Less Travel Stress
So much of the logistics are handled for you. You can focus on enjoying the destinations instead of figuring out how to get from one place to the next.
🧑🤝🧑 Meet Other Travelers
River cruises tend to have a very social atmosphere. You’ll often share meals, excursions and activities with other guests, and many travelers form friendships that continue long after the cruise ends.
🚶♀️ Choose Your Pace
Excursions often have different activity levels, and you can choose which activities you want to participate in. You don’t have to spend every day rushing from one attraction to another.
🥂 Enjoy the Journey, Not Just the Destination
There’s something pretty great about sitting on the sun deck with a drink while European scenery passes by — and knowing that when you wake up tomorrow, you’ll be somewhere completely new.
One Thing to Keep in Mind
River conditions can affect an itinerary. During my sailing, historically low water levels on the Danube meant we couldn’t complete part of the planned route. The cruise line arranged alternative transportation and excursions, but it was a good reminder that flexibility is important when traveling by river.
My Biggest Takeaway
River cruising isn’t just about seeing Europe. It’s about making European travel easier.
If you want to visit multiple destinations without constantly packing, unpacking, navigating transportation and changing hotels, a river cruise is absolutely worth considering.
And after experiencing one myself, I can now help you figure out whether river cruising is the right fit for your travel style — and which itinerary and cruise line might make the most sense for your trip.
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