How long have you been working for Fred.\ River Cruises?

I started working for Fred.\ River Cruises at the beginning of the year, however previously I have worked for Uniworld, Scenic and Emerald Waterways, so I have had several years working in the river cruising industry. Prior to that I worked on ocean cruise lines such as Hurtigruten and Norwegian Cruise Line, however now my passion is river cruising and the wonderful experiences that you can enjoy whilst sailing along the rivers of the world.

What, do you believe, makes river cruising unique?

I think that river cruising is a lot more immersive than other forms of travelling, as you touch all the senses  - you see the different towns & cities, you experience them with the different excursions, you taste the destination, as all your menus are tailored to reflect the regional that you are sailing through.  You have local wines to complement the regional food that is served on board, so you feel that you are in the destinations. Also being on a river ship means that at each destination you are right in the middle of the cities, which ensures that you have the maximum time to enjoy the places you visit.

Which river cruise lines have you cruised with?

So far i have sailed with Uniworld, Scenic & Emerald Waterways, and they all offer a different experience.

Are there any rivers or regions that you would particularly recommend?

I think that some rivers such as the Rhine and Danube are really about historical cities, so sometimes are great ones to start with, especially if you have never done a river cruise before, as you get to see such grand cities as Vienna and Budapest. Other rivers such as those in France and along the Douro, offer more about the scenery, food and wine and also have very little overnight sailing, so sometimes clients who want to be a little more relaxed might prefer these. River cruising is also a great way to see lots of different places and on some of the long haul destinations such as the Mekong, river cruising is the best way to see the more rural areas of Vietnam & Cambodia.

What is your most memorable river cruising experience?

My most memorable experience on a river cruise was on the Danube, whilst in Vienna. We went to an evening concert in a private venue, the Palais Lichenstein and enjoyed an evening of classical music, ballet and opera, which was amazing.  I would say that I am not a classical music lover but when you are in a city like Vienna, the home of Mozart and in such a wonderful setting, this really immersed you in the culture of this city.

What are the unique factors of booking with Fred.\ River Cruises?

The staff we have on the team are very customer focused and have experienced the rivers that we offer, so can recommend first-hand the rivers and excursions that they think would suit you.  We offer unique river voyages that you are unable to find elsewhere, such as on Brahmaputra with Far Horizon and with Pandaw to remote parts of Asia, on their hand crafted traditional made vessels.