A river cruise travel agent who has done the homework.

River ships are small — often 150 guests or fewer — and the best cabins on the best sailing dates go early. A river cruise travel agent watches inventory across cruise lines, holds space while you decide, and flags the sailings where value and itinerary line up.

Booking direct gets you the same ship at the same published fare. What it does not get you is someone who knows that the Danube runs low in late summer some years, that certain Rhine sailings dock two abreast, or which stateroom category is worth the upgrade and which is not.

AmaWaterways — I am an AmaWaterways Certified Advisor. Their fleet leans toward active travelers: bikes aboard, hiking-paced excursions, and some of the strongest dining on the rivers.

Viking — the most recognizable name on the rivers, with a calm, culturally focused style and consistent longships across Europe.

Beyond Europe, I plan the Mekong, the Nile, the Douro, and the Mississippi. If you have a river in mind, I can tell you honestly whether it is worth the airfare this year.

We start with a conversation — pace, budget, mobility, what you loved or hated about past trips. From there I bring you two or three specific sailings rather than a catalog, with the tradeoffs spelled out. Once you choose, I handle the booking, the deposit schedule, pre- and post-cruise hotels, air, insurance options, and the day-of problems nobody plans for.

Through my agency's affiliation with the Avoya Travel Network, I have access to promotions and amenities that are not always published — so the personal service does not cost you more.

Does using an agent cost extra? No. I am paid by the cruise line, not by you.

When should I book a river cruise? Nine to twelve months ahead for peak season — tulip time, Christmas markets, and the fall Danube sell out first.

What if something goes wrong? You call me. Delayed flights and missed connections are the part of this job my clients write about most.