The Rivers
I've sailed Europe's rivers thirteen times, on eight different cruise lines. Let me help you pick the right one — and plan every detail around it.
Credentials, stamped
Danube · Rhine · Douro
0
River cruises I've sailed myself
Ship by ship
0
Cruise lines I've compared in person
Since 1993
0
Years planning trips like yours
Cobblestone tested
Dozens
Of river towns I've walked on foot
New to river cruising?
You unpack once. Each morning, a new town is waiting outside your window. River ships are small — most carry fewer than 200 guests — and they dock right in the middle of town. You walk off the ship and you're there. No buses. No lines. No dragging suitcases from hotel to hotel.
Almost everything is included: your meals, wine and beer with dinner, and a guided tour in nearly every port. Your job is simple — show up and enjoy it.
Chart the Waters
Every river below is one I've cruised myself. I know where the ship docks, which side of the ship to book, and which stops are worth your time. Ask me anything — I've been there.
Budapest · Vienna · Passau · Melk
Basel · Cologne · Koblenz · Strasbourg
Cochem · Trier
Bamberg · Würzburg wine country · Miltenberg
Porto · the terraced vineyards of Portugal
Paris · Rouen · Normandy's D-Day beaches
Sail With Trish
December on the Rivers
Picture this: you wake up docked in a new town, and the Christmas market is a five-minute walk away. You sip mulled wine, shop the wooden stalls, and stroll back to a warm ship for dinner. I host this group trip myself every December — come with us.
Ask about Holiday Markets →
Spring in the Low Countries
Each spring, Holland and Belgium bloom all at once. We sail past windmills and striped tulip fields, and visit Keukenhof — the most famous flower garden in the world. I host this group sailing at peak bloom, and it sells out fast.
Ask about Tulip Time →Why a Specialist?
All the river lines look the same in a brochure. On the water, they are very different. Some feel like a quiet boutique hotel. Some are built around food and wine. Some skew young and active, others slow and easy. I've sailed them all, so I can match you to the right line, the right ship, and the right cabin — the first time.
Best of all, my help costs you nothing extra. The cruise line pays me. You just get the trip that fits.
Read all reviews →“Wonderful experience with Trish. She planned and organized everything. She was always responsive to our questions, no matter when.”
— Nancy & Mike, cruised with Trish
Good to Know
If you love old towns, good food, and an easy pace — yes. You'll see a lot of Europe without ever repacking your bag. If you want big shows and pool decks, an ocean cruise may fit better. I plan those too.
Early. The best cabins sell out 12 to 18 months ahead, and balconies go first. Holiday Markets and Tulip Time sailings go even faster.
On most luxury river lines: all your meals, wine and beer with dinner, a guided tour each day, and Wi-Fi. Some lines include tips and transfers too. I'll walk you through it, line by line.
No. That's my job. I handle the cruise, the flights, hotels before and after, and all the small details in between. You pack. I do the rest.
All aboard