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4/9/2026
Six Must See Cities in Norway Norway: Where nature, culture, and space come together.
Norway is one of those destinations that feels almost cinematic in its beauty—where dramatic landscapes and rich history exist side by side. From Viking heritage and historic landmarks to vast fjords, towering mountains, and remote fishing villages, this is a country designed for exploration. Whether you’re drawn by culture, cuisine, or the call of the outdoors, Norway offers an incredible range of experiences—often with the added luxury of space and serenity. From vibrant cities to tucked-away coastal communities, here are six must-see destinations to include in your journey: 2/24/2026
Stepping Into The Pages Of A Fairytale A charming town located approximately 30 minutes from our Rhine River cruise stop in Breisach, Colmar is considered to be one of the prettiest towns in France. Intrigued by this description, and wanting an opportunity to photograph half-timbered houses, I decided to take this optional tour, despite a little bit of rain. This tour did not disappoint.
Colmar was like stepping into the pages of a fairy tale. 1/28/2026
Croatia - An Adriatic Gem Croatia is one of those destinations that quietly exceeds expectations. With its stunning Adriatic coastline, crystal-clear waters, rich history, vibrant culture, charming historic cities, and memorable cuisine, it offers far more than a single reason to visit. It’s a country that rewards curiosity—and invites you to slow down and savor the experience.
So why Croatia? Here are just a few reasons worth pondering.  Step aboard a journey of holiday magic and timeless tradition.
Few holiday experiences capture the spirit of the season quite like a Christmas market cruise along Europe’s most storied rivers. Imagine gliding past storybook landscapes, stepping ashore in charming towns dressed in twinkling lights, and immersing yourself in centuries-old holiday traditions. These journeys are more than scenic cruises—they’re a celebration of Europe’s festive heart and soul. 1/23/2025
Southeast France - The Provence Region Southeast France is most certainly a captivating destination with diverse experiences. Adding time in Provence before or after a Rhone cruise – highly recommended! Of course you can make it a destination in of itself as well.
Top reasons to visit?  A Bordeaux river cruise is an elegant and immersive way to explore one of France's most renowned wine regions, blending culture, history, and the great flavors of the region. Here are a few top reasons to embark on a Bordeaux river cruise:
9/22/2024
Elbowroom Inspired Destinations - Part 2 "Elbowroom inspired travel" suggests a desire for space, freedom and a break from crowded or hectic environments. Following are 7 more destinations that offer a mix of wilderness, awe inspiring scenery and time away from the hustle and bustle.
 "Elbowroom" suggests a desire for space, freedom, and a break from crowded or hectic environments. These destinations are perfect for anyone seeking a bit of breathing room and a chance to connect with nature away from the hustle and bustle.
 Slovenia is increasingly recognized as an "elbowroom" inspired destination, characterized by its stunning landscapes, rich culture, and lesser-known attractions that provide travelers with a sense of space and tranquility away from crowded tourist hotspots.
 The best time of year to take a river cruise in Europe?
I get this question quite often. The answer? It really depends, on you, what your schedule allows combined with understanding advantages and disadvantages that each season brings.  Budapest is a fascinating city with incredible history. Its roots date back to the Roman times and even earlier; modern Budapest dates back to 19th and 20th centuries when it was part of the Austria-Hungary empire and while under Soviet rule for 45 years, which ended in 1991. Today the city is a thriving metropolis, drawing in tourists from all over the world, many arriving or departing on a river cruise.
10/11/2023
Cruising the Moselle River The Moselle River valley is just lovely. Terraced vineyards fill the steep hillsides, fairytale towns with half-timbered homes line the banks, historic fortresses wait to be explored. And if you enjoy wine, this area, well known for their delicious Rieslings, offers plenty of tasting opportunities.
I sailed on Avalon Waterway's Imagery II last week along the Moselle and discovered this idyllic area is still the under the radar gem I've always believed it to be, and still not crowded as some other areas in Europe have gotten. 8/17/2023
Experiences on the Saône River France offers a number of wonderful river and barge cruise options, with itineraries along the Rhone and Saône River becoming increasingly popular - now one of the top choices behind Rhine and Danube options. You experience the best of Burgundy and Provence - scenic landscapes along with a lovely mix of culinary and wine experiences, fascinating Roman history (and a little bit of Van Gogh).
The Saône River in particular is an area less touched by high tourism. Check out experiences you can have in this area of the Burgundy region.  Seeing wildlife in their natural habitats can be a life changing, soul stirring experience, especially for lovers of "wild things" but equally so for travelers who are simply curious and seeking a bit of adventure.
Wildlife themed itineraries should be experienced in small group settings – whether they be on small expedition and adventure ship cruises or private and small group land tours. Small groups and ships lend themselves perfectly to a better learning and observing environment and offer access to areas that bigger groups and ships just can't. Smaller groups also contribute to the conservation and protection of species. Sustainable tourism - the best way. Following are 9 top itinerary picks – one (or two) on every continent. Photo credit above: Lindblad Expeditions  River cruising is a wonderful way to experience Europe for many reasons, from exploring the heart of a country, visiting iconic cities and capitals to quaint towns and villages, experiencing new foods and culinary deliciousness…. All true on every river cruise in Europe. And visiting UNESCO sites are always weaved into the itineraries.
 When it comes to European river cruising, the upper Danube and Rhine are invariably the ones first time cruisers will sail. And with good reason. Both are wonderful rivers to explore. With distinct personalities, you will find big cities, quaint villages, history, culture, food, beer, wine, and so much more, whichever river you choose.
With that popularity though, means more ships on these rivers to accommodate the huge interest. Undoubtedly still a wonderful small ship experience, but if you've "been there done that", you may want to check out these lesser traveled, less crowded yet exceptional options in Europe. For the explorer at heart, you won't be disappointed.  River cruises are rich in experiences, from culture, history and culinary to gorgeous scenery. A cruise through the Douro River valley is no different, though this river valley is truly unique from any other European river.
11/10/2022
Take A Walk Along The Normandy Beaches Veteran's Day is a day to honor all those who have served, and each year its a day that has me thinking about places in the US and around the world where our soldiers have won and lost. In the north of France, across the English Channel along a 54 mile stretch of coastline, sits a big piece of World War II history - the beaches of Normandy. This now peaceful part of the world is a perfect spot to take a trip through history and pay tribute to our soldiers lost.  The Rhine and Upper Danube Rivers are the most popular European river cruise itineraries, for many reasons. Quintessential Europe, including castles, vineyards, quaint towns, Hapsburg era palaces and iconic capitals. So much to see.
But if you are looking for something different, fewer tourists and crowds a bit off the beaten path, consider a cruise along the Lower Danube. Cruising between Budapest and Bucharest (you dock in Giurgiu) is a special itinerary - a chest full of unexpected treasures.  From the middle of November through the new year, the Christmas spirit truly comes alive in Europe. Cities, towns and villages are magical with their decorated streets and squares, only seen during this time of year.
Especially fun are the Christmas Markets. Small or large, you'll find them all throughout Europe, all unique to their city and region with local artisans and crafts only found at that location.  European river cruises start and end in some of the Europe’s most amazing cities and regions. You’ve invested time and money getting here, so why not take advantage of this opportunity by extending your stay, even if it’s just a few days. You never know when you’ll be back!
6/16/2022
9 Reasons Why You’ll Love Portugal Portugal packs a real punch with its diverse experiences, stunning landscapes, friendly locals and so much more. Lots of sunshine, good food, tradition, intriguing history and culture are all reasons why you’ll love a visit to Portugal.
5/2/2022
The Aurora: Borealis And Australis Photo courtesy of Kakslauttanen Simply put, the Aurora Borealis and Australis are the Northern and Southern Lights. These mesmerizing, beautiful green, blue, red and purple lights that flash over the polar skies. As we move into the winter months, they become more and more visible in the polar regions.
Have you ever wondered what these "lights" really are? I never put a lot of thought into it until I listened to a presentation by a photographer who was taking a group to Norway on a winter cruise. Not being a scientist, the discussions around solar flares, magnetic fields, electrons and who knows what else could have made my brain go blurry. I appreciated his simple presentation in layman's terms, and found all of it to be quite fascinating. I'm certain you will too. 3/15/2022
Oberammergau's Passion Play Every 10 years, the small Bavarian town of Oberammergau transforms itself from a small, quaint town of 5300 residents to a host of over 500,000 visitors between mid May and early October. According to historical records, the residents of Oberammergau have performed the Passion of the Christ, depicting his trial, his suffering and his death, every decade since 1634.
The performance scheduled for 2020 was postponed to 2022, giving you the opportunity to attend before the next scheduled performance in 2030. If you enjoy faith based travel experiences, the Passion Play is a must see. But it's not just the play - the Bavarian region is also a reason that pulls you here.  Old world European charm. Serene villages. Steep and narrow landscapes dotted with romantic castles and lovely vineyards. Gentle, winding bike and walking trails. World-class wine. Delectable cuisine. This is the Moselle River valley.
And where I had my first official wine tasting. |
Laurie Marschall - Owner and Founder
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