River Cruising – No Longer a Well Kept Secret

(20 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Jo Ann Buening

La Crosse, WI

Alaska Destination Specialist and Travel Expert

Alaska became a state of the union on January 3, 1959, the same day I was born. I must have been destined to make this my specialty and over the years, I have developed a passion for Alaska! My first visit to ‘The Great Land’ was in the mid ‘80s. ...

Alaska became a state of the union on January 3, 1959, the same day I was born. I must have been destined to make this my specialty and over the years, I have developed a passion for Alaska! My first visit to ‘The Great Land’ was in the mid ‘80s. Fast-forwarding to the summer of 2021 finds me having completed my 14th visit to Alaska. These journeys have included both sea and land; each time I visit Alaska, I see something different and every time I return, I think, ‘when can I go again?’ There is something intriguing about Alaska that draws me back, time and time again. I’m not sure if it’s the crispness in the air, (I’ve been told you get more oxygen when in Alaska); maybe that’s why I feel so good when I am there, or maybe it’s the friendly people who live in Alaska, or maybe it’s the pristine beauty, or maybe it’s the way life seems to pass so much more slowly in Alaska. Whatever it is … it’s a place I want to return again and again. I have a PASSION for Alaska! When shopping for a trip to Alaska, I equate it to going to the grocery store and trying to find the ‘plain’ French dressing in the salad dressing aisle. It’s pretty difficult; there are WAY too many choices. That’s where I come in. When you are thinking of traveling to Alaska, e-mail me, give me a call or come and see me. I will ask you qualifying questions about what you want to see and do during your visit and will help you find the French dressing (or in this case, the best trip to Alaska!!) Alaska is a very large state (it would cover 1/5 of the lower 48); it’s difficult to see too much of it in one visit, as one inch on a map may result in eight hours of travel time. Since I’ve visited and traveled so much in Alaska, I will be able to help you find the trip that is right for you and your capabilities. Some clients want to stay busy the entire time, while others want to sit back and just enjoy the beauty of Alaska. I will be able to guide you and help you make good choices. I will not only help you make the choices that are right for you, I will assist you during the entire process, including trip research, trip booking and then, about one month prior to your departure, prepare you for your trip. Should you have questions or want assistance with choosing shore excursions, I am happy to assist. Whether I have experienced the shore excursion during one of my travels to Alaska or if one of my clients has, I will provide you with what knowledge I can. I’ve sent several hundred travelers to Alaska and would love to assist you with this ‘trip of a lifetime’, whether it is your first visit or a return visit to see more. Did I mention that I have a PASSION for Alaska? In addition to the hundreds of individual travelers I have sent to the Great Land, I’ve organized several multigenerational groups, including those up to 54 travelers, to this destination. Alaska is a wonderful choice for a multigenerational trip to mark a milestone birthday or anniversary – or for a family reunion. There is something for everyone – young and young-at-heart alike. On the cruise, almost everything is included (accommodations, food, entertainment and more). I help to make it a very easy trip for the group leader as well, as I make the arrangements and take care of the details. All of these groups have been a great success and I have received many referrals (from my happy clients) for their friends and relatives who have subsequently called me to plan THEIR Alaska adventure. I look forward to helping you plan an amazing trip to this beautiful destination. Did I mention that I have a passion for Alaska?

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Jo Ann Buening

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As we sailed the Saone and Rhone Rivers through the South of France, we couldn’t help but think ... this type of travel would be great for our clients who may enjoy traveling in Europe, but don't want to have to pack and unpack and/or spend hours and hours each day on a coach. No early morning 'bags out' with this type of travel. No fighting for deck chairs in the morning as oftentimes happens on some large cruise ships. Like traditional ocean cruising, your vessel is your floating hotel with meals and accommodations included, except instead of ‘island’ or ‘country’ ports of call, you visit cities along the river; usually with daily tours included or the ability to select optional tours (at an additional cost). This river cruise experience was on Uniworld's 128-passenger River Royale. On our itinerary, labeled 'Burgundy and Provence', we sailed from Chalon sur Saone to Arles and while on board, passed through 15 locks, a process we found very interesting. Every Uniworld ship is uniquely decorated by the Red Carnation Hotel brand; think of it as a boutique-style five-star floating hotel. Menus featured regional specialties (plus standard food choices), along with wine, beer and soft drinks included at lunch and dinner. The staff was very attentive and all spoke English. Some of our unique optional excursions … First - it was off to the truffle farm with wine-tasting at a local vineyard. We watched 'Amy', the truffle dog as she helped her master search for these tasty morsels. What trees do you think truffles grow beneath? Call us or stop in and ask; we'd be happy to tell you. Did you know 'truffle dogs' are actually fed truffles from birth? This way they acquire the smell and taste to hunt them. Of course, we saved the best for last with a 'hands-on' cooking class with a French chef at a five-star hotel; this even included shopping for our produce at the local market and choosing our menus. We enjoyed preparing the food as well as a wine-tasting activity in the cellar, followed by wine-pairing. Afterwards, what could be more fun than dining with Chef Jean Claude Altmayer and enjoying the meal we had prepared (together) with him? Imagine – preparing a meal with someone whose long and notable history included having cooked for five French presidents! On these excursions, voice boxes were used for the tour guides to talk to the passengers. They were wonderful and we could always hear what was being said. Every morning we disembarked Uniworld’s River Royale for our morning tour, equipped with our voice boxes. What fun days – venturing out and about in the area with our guides and then having the choice to stay in town or return to our beautiful riverboat to relax. As this article was being written, we were sitting on the top sundeck of our riverboat in Avignon, France. The breeze was cool, the moon full and the stars were out. When we departed, it was with relaxing, fond memories of Burgundy and Provence. River cruises can be experienced in many areas of the world including Asia, Egypt, Europe, Russia and the United States. We’re very lucky to now have two riverboats cruising some of America’s great rivers, including the Mississippi … the Queen of the Mississippi and the American Queen. We’ve been fortunate to have toured both vessels extensively and can share with you what makes either of them special. Interested in a River Cruise? Please call us at 608-784-9820; ask for a River Cruise Specialist and let us know the region in which you are interested. You can also reach us via e-mail at JoAnn.Buening@travelleadersgo.com or Danette.Jacob@travelleadersgo.com. Remember, most riverboats hold less than 200 passengers and river cruising has become so popular that booking nearly one year in advance is oftentimes necessary to obtain the best cabin choice as well as great pricing. Let our expertise help make your river cruising vacation all it can be! 020215