For my first taste in river cruising, I was able to sample a 4-night cruise on the brand new Scenic Jasper – a luxury all-inclusive cruise sailing the Dutch waterways from Amsterdam. It was nice not having to worry about the cost of drinks and excursions as these were all included – even luxury touches such as Moet at breakfast, L’Occitane toiletries, and a personal butler!

It was springtime which was the perfect time to appreciate the landscape and watch the world go by from the comfort of a private balcony, which with one touch of a button converts into a full window for use at night and in the cooler months. One thing I did notice about river cruising is the attention to detail, as with fewer guests on board compared to ocean cruising, the quality of the food and friendliness of the staff was apparent.