​European river cruise ships have been inaccessible for North Americans for over a year. To maintain and stimulate interest and enthusiasm for travel, several lines have shared a glimpse of their specialty recipes inviting you to try them at home to experience and celebrate the rich and varied cultural traditions of the destinations visited on their itineraries.

From Crystal Cruises:
Crystal Cruises Prego’s Forest Mushroom Soup:
“This signature dish boasts a rich, creamy texture from several combined mushrooms, each adding its own character. To balance this heavy creamy texture and enhance the soup’s flavors, we recommend Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Asili 2004, with its earthy personality, fine acidity, firm tannin and aromas of dried fruits and dried rose petals. The time, patience and passion with which this Barbaresco is made makes it the best companion for the dish and rewards you with a joyful experience of taste and texture.” – Ilija Marojevic, Restaurant Manager
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​​Peace of mind, health, and safety of river cruise line's guests, crew members and partners is always a topmost priority.  On-trip safety standards throughout the pandemic have been in place to ensure the readiness to welcome guests back to travel when the world is ready.  Encouraged by the progress being made with the COVID-19 vaccines, several lines consider the vaccine requirement is simply the best way to ensure the safest possible experience for all on board their vessels.

Solo travelers have long struggled with the punishing cost of the single supplement. River cruise lines in recent years have recognized the fact that river cruising is an ideal travel mode for those who prefer traveling alone or those just wanting their own cabin while traveling with friends or family.  Several river cruise lines have a dedicated number of cabins to be sold without  or with a very low single supplement.
 
Riviera River Cruises has kicked it up a notch by announcing a lineup of sailings just for solo travelers. On select departures, all staterooms and suites on the entire ship will be single occupancy with no single supplement! Each cabin will have a maximum of one passenger.

​Uniworld is expanding beyond the river by adding rail-only tours and some cruise and rail tours for 2021 and 2022. Uniworld president and CEO Ellen Bettridge said that the brand is hoping to bring its river experiences to guests for the “best travel opportunities to fully immerse themselves in remarkable experiences.” "Uniworld is excited to be expanding into a new style of travel while continuing to offer the same unforgettable experiences that are exclusive to Uniworld."

2020 has caused all cruise and tour operators to pivot their marketing to stay in front of their customers.  AmaWaterways has recreated their popular Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour held onboard each evening before dinner into a virtual experience. Included here are just a few that have been held this year featuring the many culinary delights along the rivers.

Celebration of Food and Wine Along the Danube and Rhine Rivers
Presenters: Co-Founder & Executive Vice President Kristin Karst and Award-Winning TV Host & Chef Joanne Weir
An exciting Sip & Sail celebration with Chef Joanne Weir, the award-winning television host of PBS’s Plates & Places, that takes you on a culinary journey along the Danube and Rhine rivers to some of Joanne and our Co-Founder Kristin Karst’s favorite destinations. For the first time ever during one of our virtual events, you will be treated to a live cooking demonstration, along with access to Joanne’s exclusive recipes so you can replicate some of the traditional food and drinks from the Danube and Rhine regions at home.

From wedding anniversaries, birthdays, and graduations, to promotions, retirements, and just making it through all the unexpected challenges this year – the list of milestones and accomplishments waiting to be celebrated is nearly endless. And what better way for you to commemorate a job well done than by getting out and exploring the world! Celebration travel with families and friends reuniting to honor the delayed landmark achievements is being booked in record numbers.  A river cruise is the perfect setting for long-lasting memories. New ships for 2021 offer travelers a wide range of options for their "travel pods."

AmaWaterways
Sister ships with fewer than 156 guests: AmaLucia and AmaSiena on the Danube, Rhine, Main, and Moselle rivers.

​As a result of the wildly popular DNA test kits, more and more of our clients are looking for the best way to discover their roots. It's commonly known as "genealogy travel," "ancestry travel," or "family tree travel." Once ancestral heritage has been determined, it's exciting to visit the sites where previous generations lived, the culture they lived in, and the air they breathed. It's eye-opening to experience meals that may seem familiar because of the way they are prepared and served and realize the connection to family heritage. And, the heritage travel trend is simplified on a river cruise.

​Balancing work and family life at the same time (and at home!) is never easy, and it’s especially difficult right now. From the kids interrupting your morning Zoom meetings to making sure everyone in your household is washing their hands like crazy, we could all use a vacation. Until that time comes, we thought you could use a little break from all the drama unfolding at home to start considering where you might go on your next vacation. Yep, that’s right – and we’re serious about it.

​Ocean cruises became wildly popular with the television series The Love Boat beginning in 1977, and for good reason. They’re affordable, hassle-free and offer travelers peace of mind knowing that everything they need for a marvelous vacation is all in one place. Is there anything better than that? Well, yes, a river cruise takes you one step further.
 
You might think that the words “inland” and “cruise” are contradictory. Well, let me show you 5 ways they go together. River cruises combine all the ease and convenience of an ocean cruise with the thrill of European sightseeing in each port of call.
 
To all cruise-lovers, perhaps it’s time to shake up the ocean liner experience for an entirely new way to explore the world’s waterways. Let us book you on an river cruise that will take you inland for a unique and relaxing tour of Europe.
 
Here are the top 5 reasons we know why you’ll love river cruising!

In 2020, the first question asked by our clients is no longer, "Which river should I sail on?" but, "How safe is it to take a river cruise?" While stringent safety and sanitation protocols have always been in place, enhanced procedures have been established to ensure the health and wellbeing of the guests throughout their cruise.
New embarkation procedures offer guests a safe start to their vacation including:

• Social distancing throughout embarkation
• Health screening such as a touch-free temperature-check

• Luggage disinfection prior to boarding