How does a complimentary land package sound?

Free is good! But it's not forever.

I wanted to highlight a terrific promotion from AmaWaterways today, before it runs out. 

Through the end of June--and let's call it June 24th, to be sure I'd have time to get you booked and have the promotion applied--my favorite river cruise line is offering a free land package on select dates and itineraries. Booking must be made and deposited this month, and you can select from a wide variety of destinations and time frames. In most cases, you may select from either a pre-cruise package or a post-cruise package.

Many of the guests accompanying me on the Gems of Southeast Europe cruise next June have taken advantage of this offer for the four-night pre-cruise extension in Romania, but the offer is not exclusive to this group or to this itinerary. 

That said, I've still got a few last spots left in my late June 2025 group if you'd like to join us! Check out this Virtual Sip and Sail video for a great discussion of everything we'll see on the trip. 

How about a few other examples of this fabulous free land offer? 

• A Taste of Bordeaux with San Sebastian

• Enticing Douro with Lisbon

• Impressions of the Seine and Paris with St. Malo and Mont St. Michel

• Essence of Burgundy and Provence with Nice or Geneva

• Romantic Danube with Munich or Prague

• Swiss Alps and Rhine Castles with Lake Como

And many more!

Explore the possibilities here.

Please note that the free land offer is subject to capacity controls, so we will need to inquire on any specific sailings you are interested in.

Other Ama promotions scheduled to expire at the end of June:

You can also enjoy Mekong Two-for-One Land Packages in 2025 and 2026. There are still some highly desirable dates available (i.e.winter--when it's not oppressively hot). Keep in mind that these itineraries sell out VERY early--demand has risen so much that they are building a second ship. I absolutely LOVED this trip when I did it in January, and strongly recommend both the pre-and post- packages to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Siem Reap, and Ho Chi Minh City. This is a terrific offer, so don't wait if this trip is on your wish list for 2025 or 2026.

Have you always wanted to do a Christmas Markets cruise? How about the Holiday Triple Savings offer, which is available for select European sailing dates in 2025. You can enjoy a savings of $1000 per person, a complimentary upgrade, and $50 onboard credit per stateroom. Even if you're not a big shopper, you can still enjoy a Christmas market visit if you wish, focusing on the seasonal food, drink, and atmosphere. You will still find all of the regular excursions available, and you can still fall in love with all the festive decorations and celebrations onboard.

Likewise, there is a Summer Triple Savings offer for dozens ofJuly and August dates in 2024, 2025, and 2026. This is a particularly great time for a multigenerational trip if you would like to introduce your family members of all ages to the fun of river cruising. Many ships have connecting cabins, perfect for extended families traveling together. It's also the perfect time frame for teachers who want to make the most of their summer break!

For 2026 sailings, you can also save up to 20% on select dates with the Early Booking Rewards promotion. Most--but not all--2026 information has been released but we are still waiting on Colombia and some further Mekong dates. 

No time to waste!

All of these offers are set to expire at the end of June, and we need to set your booking in motion no later than the 24th. Unless your desired cruise date is this summer, you will only need to place a $400 per person deposit to secure your place, and the balance will not be due until 90 days before your cruise. This is so much more customer-friendly than some other cruise lines which may require full payment up to a year in advance.

Reach out as soon as possible so we can set up a call to discuss your cruise.

Remember, I book other river cruise lines, too. (And land! And select ocean voyages!)

Although today I have highlighted offers from AmaWaterways, and have sailed its ships often, I can book any other river cruise line as well, if Ama isn't the right fit for you. I definitely don't recommend every line out there, but there are a few others that I may find worthy of my esteemed clients. It's all about matching the right line and the right ship with the right client.

Coming next month:

In June, watch out for updates on the post-Gems Hungarian wine tour next summer, a Berlin City Break in March, and our beautiful trip to Ireland next May (only two rooms left). 

And of course, I will also share my thoughts on whatever topics stand out as I cull through all the travel news that crosses my desk.

P.S. If you regret not having signed up for our Greece trip at the end of this summer, let me know and I can check availability.

One final note

My husband was just discharged from the hospital following major surgery. So the huge hospital staff attending to his needs has been replaced with a staff of one (me). I am working in small bursts at widely varying and sometimes odd hours, so I appreciate your patience as we make progress on his recovery. (He's doing extremely well but has certain physical restrictions for several more weeks.)

A la prochaine,