(7 Reviews)

Macie Strum

New York, NY

Culinary and Food Travel Agent Expert for Europe

I have a true passion for traveling and anything food-related. I've had the travel bug ever since. I have planned several trips by myself for friends and family and have been to more than 15 countries, with a particular love for Europe. In March 2...
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I have a true passion for traveling and anything food-related. I've had the travel bug ever since. I have planned several trips by myself for friends and family and have been to more than 15 countries, with a particular love for Europe. In March 2021, I moved to Rome, Italy to work as an au pair, which I just returned from in December 2021! I plan on going back and forth between Europe and North America for my entire life; I can't just call one my home.

With such a passion for travel and extensive knowledge in trip planning, I am a pro at finding affordable accommodations and engaging activities that are sure to make any trip special and memorable. Travel is an essential part of life, as it gives you the chance to see the world through another culture's eyes and experience things you never knew you could do, as well as discovering delicious cuisines different than what you're used to!  As a travel agent, it means a great deal to me to help others see the world the way I do and have them gain a deep appreciation for the planet we call home.

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Macie Strum

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European River Cruise Travel Agent Expert

Many of the major cities in Europe were built up next to navigational rivers for trade and business. Therefore, taking a European River cruise is an ideal way to explore the sights and cultural history of European cities and countries. As a European river cruise travel agent expert, I can arrange a river cruise that rivals other types of European excursions.Fortunately, you have our choice of river cruise itineraries. European river cruises provide a wide variety of sights and sensations, from the brilliant tulip fields in the Netherlands in the spring to the colorful Christmas markets in Germany. With new ships being launched every year, river cruising is the cruise industry's fastest-growing segment. On the plus side, this opens up more options, such as an expanding selection of themed travel experiences, including food and wine and family-friendly sailings. This is where I can help. I know all the details about cruises, and know which ones to recommend to people going on their first river cruise trip.They nearly always begin in wonderful destinations like Paris, Amsterdam, or Budapest. In order to fit into locks and pass beneath bridges, almost all ships on the Rhine and Danube are exactly the same size. Passengers are fewer on more expensive cruise lines while more affordable cruises carry as many as 190 passengers. Onboard amenities include gyms and spas, and price differentials are reflected in the add-ons you choose. Some of the cruise lines include drinks and gratuities in the cruise price.There is a seasonality to planning a river cruise. The season normally lasts from April through October, with the exception of special Christmas markets and New Year cruises. For a first time cruise guest, I might suggest a Rhine River cruise. However, you’re not necessarily confined to that trip.If you want to see castles galore and spectacular scenery, you’ll find a Rhine river cruise a perfect fit.The Rhine, which has more castles than any other river, is home to some of Germany's oldest and most ancient cities as well as centuries of history and culture. The lesser-known Moselle River meets the Rhine in Koblenz after passing through northeastern France and Luxembourg. Eastern Germany's Main River empties into the Rhine, which will bring you to the Main-Danube Canal. At this point, boats enter the famous "Blue Danube," the entrance to Hungary and beyond.The Main RIver is the lengthiest tributary of the Rhine River. Known as the White Main in northeastern Bavaria in the Fichel Mountain range, it flows west through the center of Germany to meet the Rhine River just below Russelsheim, Hesse. The cities of Wiesbaden and Mainz sit close to the Main’s confluence.The approximately 775-mile Rhine, which winds through six nations—Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands—is the most popular river for cruise holidays and, again, is an excellent place for beginners to embark on a river cruise journey.A popular Rhine cruise is a one-week voyage between Basel and Amsterdam, or the other way around, where the scenery of steep grape slopes, fairy-tale castles, and ancient cities offer an ever-changing vista. The UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley, which is filled with castles and historic wine-growing communities, is the beautiful centerpiece of this cruise. Many of the ships pass the famed Lorelei Rock, a sheer 433-foot slate cliff where a beautiful siren was rumored to entice passing sailors to their deaths. Busy Drosselgasse Street in Rudesheim and the castle perched on a rocky hilltop in Heidelberg, are frequent stops on week-long cruises. Since the castle was struck by lightning twice, in 1537 and in 1764, it has endured a turbulent history and defies the adage that lightning never strikes twice. It was constructed between the 13th and the 17th centuries. City highlights on Rhine cruises include Koblenz, which is guarded by the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, one of the biggest castles in Europe, and Cologne, which is well-known for its landmark, a twin-towered Gothic cathedral that took 630 years to build. Longer routes departing from Koblenz include a portion of the Moselle, which snakes through the center of Germany's wine-producing region. The Moselle, a quieter and narrower river than the Rhine, winds past little wine towns like Cochem, which features lovely half-timbered homes. The city of Strasbourg in France serves as a nice introduction to the sights and flavors of Alsace.I can schedule any river cruise to coincide with a yearly event, such as the fireworks celebration in September that celebrates the harvest of grapes for wine-making. I am your travel agent planner for the ideal European River cruise vacation. Let me give you all the details so we can create the perfect itinerary for your next European holiday.