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DREAMWORTHY RIVER CRUISES

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Let's Discover the World Together

Treat Yourself to Travel

Have you ever noticed one of the first things someone says they want to do when they win the lottery is to travel? Well, why wait? 

If Covid taught us anything, it's that we must seize every moment and I aim to see as much of the world as possible and love that my job lets me share that excitement.

While I do lead several trips per year, I also can arrange YOUR special trip and my specialities are river cruises, sea cruises, and city breaks.

 

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE SOME FAVOURITES!

 

Plan a fantastic celebration or group cruise with Dave!

AFRICAN CRUISE & SAFARI

AFRICAN SAFARI

Use Dave's personal contacts and expert experience to plan an African safari for the ultimate, life-changing vacation.  Dave will send you on his favorite extraordinary adventure from South Africa to Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, where you’ll combine a water safari on the Chobe River and stay in luxurious hotels and game lodges. Your trip will include a visit to the legendary Victoria Falls and Greater Kruger National Park, where you will have a chance to spot the “Big Five as well as the fabulous winelands of the Cape. 

Best Time of Year 

The best time of year to embark on an African tour is from May to October. The weather is generally cooler and conditions are optimal for viewing big game while on safari. Dave prefers the dry season in September/October as game viewing is at its best and mosquitoes are minimal.

 

Highlights 

  • Victoria Falls & the Sunset Train Ride

  • Greater Kruger National Park Guided Safari tours

  • Chobe National Park & The Elephants

  • Cape of Good Hope tour 

  • Serengeti Migration or Rwandan Gorilla Add-ons

Book a FREE consultation with Dave and pick his brains about his multiple journeys thru Africa

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VIETNAM & CAMBODIA
Image by Paul Szewczyk

EXPLORE VIETNAM & CAMBODIA

For the avid cruiser who is looking to expand their travels, take an enchanting cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia. As you travel from Hanoi to Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh and cruise the Mekong you will be transported to another era. Glimpse into the past when you explore ancient temples and grand royal palaces all while enjoying mouthwatering cuisine and five-star accommodations.  Dave adds special touches with cooking classes and street food tours for that something extra.

Best Time of Year 

The best times of year to cruise Vietnam and Cambodia are late fall and late spring. This is when the weather will be relatively dry and not as hot as it is during other parts of the year.  Dave generally plans his groups cruises to coincide with the Lunar New Year to give his guests the chance to experience this joyful celebration in connection with his escorted cruises.

 

Highlights 

  • Buddhist blessing ceremony

  • Halong Bay Overnight

  • Sunrise at Angkor Wat 

  • Tomb Raider Revisit to Ta Prohm Temple

  • Hanoi City Tour

  • Shopping the Local Markets

Pick Dave's brain from his many trips to Southeast Asia to create your own journey

DANUBE AND RHINE RIVERS

RHINE, MAIN & MOSEL

If you are a first-time cruiser or a repeat visitor, you cannot go wrong with a cruise down the Danube or Rhine rivers. As the two most famous rivers in Europe, the shores of each are dotted with grand European capital cities, quaint villages unmoved by time, vineyard-filled hillsides, and idyllic countryside. 

To really immerse yourself you can combine these rivers with sailings of the quainter, quieter Main and Mosel rivers and discover what German poets, artists and dreamers have captured in song and story for centuries.

Best Time of Year 

It's hard to go wrong at any time of year to sail these rivers: mid April to May let you experience the glory of Spring, June thru August allow you to experience the magical European Summers with their long days and late sunsets, Fall is golden and full of harvest festivals, and late November and December invite the warmth of Advent and the Christmas markets. 

 

No matter when you go, you will have plenty to do. Check with Dave for suggestions that best fit your tastes.

 

Highlights 

  • Lorelie and the Castles of the Rhine

  • Rüdesheim and Dürnstein wine villages

  • Melk Abbey and the Wachau

  • Fantastic bike tours with wine and beer tastings

  • The mighty cities like Vienna, Budapest, Cologne, Mainz, Amsterdam or Strasbourg

  • The fairy tale beauty of the Mosel (combined with Rhine)

  • Add Tulip Time in the Netherlands to a Rhine cruise

  • Explore the wild frontier of the Iron Gates

Join Dave on an incredible Rhine & Main cruise for Christmas 2024!

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CHRISTMAS MARKETS
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THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Experience the magic and tradition of European Christmas when you book an Advent season river cruise. Set sail through some of the oldest and most iconic European capitals and explore their legendary markets along with your regular cultural and culinary cruise activities. Be swept up by the sights, sounds, and smells of the famous Christmas markets and let the spirit of the season bring a smile to your heart.

Best Time of Year 

While most Christmas markets open the Wednesday before First Advent, December is the best time to cruise to experience the full majesty of the Christmas markets. Moreover, the best time to see a Christmas market is from dusk onwards when the lights twinkle a little brighter, the Glühwein tastes a little better, and the mood turns a little merrier.

 

Highlights

  • Markets of the Main River & Braunfels

  • Frankfurt & Cologne Christmas Markets

  • Nuremberg's Medieval Market

  • Vienna's Christmas Markets 

  • Salzburg Christmas Market* 

  • Regensburg Christmas Market at Thurn & Taxis* 

  • Cologne's Christmas Markets

  • Strasbourg Christmas Market

  • Riquewihr's Christmas Village and Market

  • * Dave's favourites

Join Dave's Escorted Group in December 2024 or create your own journey

EGYPT & THE NILE

EGYPT & THE NILE

The secrets of the ancients are yours to discover!  Explore the beguiling Temple of Luxor and the mystifying Valley of the Kings and Queen, see the pyramids at Giza up close and personal or enjoy a private tour of the Tomb of Queen Nefertari.

 

This trip from Cairo to Luxor and back to Cairo will touch so many of your senses and leave you breathless.

You can expand your adventure with a pre-cruise tour of Jordan with a visit to the magnificent Petra and Wadi Rum and finish with an optional tour to Israel.

Best Time of Year 

September - April are considered the best times to visit Egypt. In particular September - October and March - April offer warm but not scorching temperatures. The key is to consider the temperatures in Jordan.  Dave does not like to be overly hot and prefers to travel in mid February and November.

 

Highlights 

  • The newly opened The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization or the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

  • Abu Simbel 

  • Private visit to the Tomb of Queen Nefertari

  • Private lunch at Abdeen Presidential Palace

  • The Great Sphinx and the three Pyramids of Giza.

  • The wonders of Petra

  • A private cooking class at Beit Sitt

Join an Escorted Group with Dave and UniWorld November 2023 or create your own journey

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THE DOURO & LISBON
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THE DOURO & LISBON

Portugal and the gorgeous Douro Valley have become all the rage over the past years and AmaWaterways offers you two itineraries to experience this beautiful region which will leave a lasting impression.

 

Discover the worlds oldest demarcated and regulated wine region with its sublime landscapes, steep mountains and terraced vineyards which reveal charming and ancient wineries.  This is the land of port wine and Queijo da Serra da Estrela and cruising here will introduce you to the rich and colorful history that reached beyond its pre-Roman settlement.

Best Time of Year 

The best times of year to cruise the Douro is Spring and early Fall. Dave particularly likes May, early June and September due to the pleasant temperatures, the longer days, and the beautiful light that shines down on the Douro.

 

Highlights 

  • The Nossa Senhora dos Remédios shrine

  • Port wine tasting in Vila Nova da Gaia

  • An exclusive dinner at Quinta da Avessada

  • Explore UNESCO World Heritage site Salamanca

  • Visit Lisbon and Sintra as part of the optional land package

  • The beauty of the São Bento Railway Station

  • Add Madrid to the Flavors of Spain and Portugal itinerary for a royal flair and also visit romantic Toledo

Let Dave create an incredible adventure thru Portugal and Spain!!

THE FRENCH RIVERS

THE RIVERS OF FRANCE

Pack your beret and get ready for France's legendary rivers, food, wine, scenery, art, culture, and beauty. AmaWaterways offers many ways to discover France's Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Rhone & Saone, along with all the fabulous regions dotting the landscapes around them that you could spend an entire season tasting and sailing your way thru the country.

Combine these rivers with Paris, Lyon, Geneva, Barcelona, Bordeaux, Bilbao, San Sebastian, St. Malo and the magical island monastery of Mont St. Michel for alternate tastes from the same fantastic menu of delights.

Best Time of Year 

The beauty of cruising in France is that it is always gorgeous and each season reveals another facet of its culture and style. Spring and the Fall are still Dave's favourite times to go, and of course, you can also enjoy the delights of the Christmas markets in Strasbourg and also Provence if you wish!

 

Highlights 

  • Monet's gardens in Giverney

  • The Normandy beaches and the visit to the monuments to heroes

  • Culinary surprises at every turn

  • Honfleur, Mont St. Michel, St. Malo, Avignon, and so many enchanting stops on each river

  • The magic of the cities of Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux

  • Wine tasting in the places the grapes are grown

  • Iconic châteaux, timeless vineyards, and pastoral beauty at every turn

Dave has an unending list of great offers for the French rivers!

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EXTENDED JOURNEYS
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EXTENDED JOURNEYS

The latest trend in river cruising is longer, extended journeys and the River Cruise King has a multitude of options for you. Combine multiple rivers into one ultimate life-changing experience or add an ocean cruise before or after a river. 

Immerse yourself in Germany sailing the Mosel, Rhine and Main rivers on a very special journey from Luxembourg to Basel to Nuremberg to Amsterdam, allowing you to experience wine villages and mighty cities, tasting German wines and French delicacies... all on one ship.  

Learn French the old fashioned way and combine Normandy, Bordeaux, and Provence into one extended culinary extravaganza with Paris, Lyon, San Sebastian and Bilbao thrown in for excitement.

Best Time of Year 

My partners have created Spring, Summer and now Fall versions of extended journeys and Dave can match you to the right itineraries and ship cabins based on your personal preferences. Want to see Europe during the gorgeous emergence of Spring? Want to bask in the radiant long days of Summer? Want to experience the thrill of the Fall grape harvest festivals? Dave will help you choose.

 

Highlights 

  • One flight - multiple cities, towns, and experiences

  • Sail the famous Rhine Gorge twice on the same journey 

  • Experience all the flavors France has to offer on one adventure

  • Enjoy the services of one Cruise Manager for the entire journey

  • Have included FREE laundry during your entire trip

  • Enjoy the luxury of extended stays on Ama's award winning ships

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