River Cruise Specialist

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Laura Skates, Travel Agent in Woodstock, GA

Laura Skates

Woodstock, GA Travel Agent
Super Agent

Laura Skates

Woodstock, GA · 9 Years of Experience

All Travel Company, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
5.0
(22)
100% Recommended
Laura was amazing to work with in planning this trip to Alaska/Canada/Northern California. She carefully considered our unique desires in each step of planning. ... Read More >
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Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Europe, Switzerland, France, Germany, Budapest

Interests:

River Cruises, Food & Wine, Castles & Cathedrals, Luxury Cruises, European Culture

Suppliers:

AmaWaterways, Tauck, Celebrity Cruises, Delta Vacations

About Me

Walking the streets in Koblenz
Walking the streets in Koblenz

River Cruise Specialist | Europe, Luxury & Scenic Sailings

European river cruising has become one of my favorite ways to help travelers experience Europe — slowly, beautifully, and without the stress of logistics.

As a European River Cruise Specialist, I guide my clients through choosing the right line, itinerary, and sailing style across the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, Seine, and Douro. Whether you’re drawn to AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Emerald Cruises, Scenic, or Tauck, I help you understand the differences so your journey feels perfectly matched to your pace and interests.

I also curate pre- and post-cruise stays in cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Budapest, and Porto, making your travel feel seamless from start to finish. From Christmas Market river cruises to wine-focused sailings and classic European itineraries, my goal is to make your river cruise effortless, personal, and unforgettable.

 

Your River Cruise Planning Questions Answered

Q: Which river cruise line is right for me?

A: Each line has its own personality. AmaWaterways is known for warm service and great excursions. Avalon offers spacious Panorama Suites. Emerald Cruises blends contemporary style with value. Scenic provides true all-inclusive luxury. Tauck delivers fully guided, immersive journeys. I help you compare the feel, inclusions, and itineraries so you choose the line that genuinely fits your travel style.

Q: What’s the best river to cruise for a first-timer?

A: The Danube and Rhine are ideal for first-time cruisers — castles, vineyards, charming towns, and iconic capitals. If you love wine and food, the Rhône and Douro are exceptional. I’ll help you choose the river that best matches your interests, whether you prefer history, scenery, wine, or a little of everything.

Q: When is the best time to take a river cruise?

A: March–October is perfect for classic sailing seasons with long daylight hours. November–December is magical for Christmas Market river cruises along the Danube and Rhine. I help you align season, weather, and crowd levels with the experience you want.

Q: Do you help with flights, hotels, and pre/post stays?

A: Absolutely. I often arrange boutique or luxury hotels, private transfers, curated tours, and dining recommendations in cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Budapest, and Porto. Your entire journey—before, during, and after your cruise—feels smooth and stress-free.

Q: What’s included in a river cruise?

A: Most lines include meals, wine/beer with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi, and daily excursions. Scenic and Tauck are fully all-inclusive, covering drinks, tours, gratuities, and more. I walk you through each cruise line’s inclusions so you know exactly what’s covered.

Q: Are river cruises good for active travelers?

A: Yes! Many itineraries include biking, hiking, wine tastings, cooking classes, and adventure options. If you want a more active experience, I match you with ships and itineraries that offer a wider range of excursions.

 

Ready to Start Planning?

If you’ve been dreaming about exploring Europe through river cruising — at a slower pace, with beautiful scenery and effortless travel — I’d love to help you get started. Send me a message or request a quote, and together we’ll design a river cruise that feels personal, seamless, and truly unforgettable. ?

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0
22 reviews
100% Recommended
Your trust is our priority. Every review is submitted by verified travelers after they have booked and completed their trips. Learn more about our review guidelines.
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Showing 22 reviews

Most Fabulous Vacation of a Lifetime!
Reviewed By Rhonda - Woodstock, GA | Traveled to Alaska ~ USA
Laura was amazing to work with in planning this trip to Alaska/Canada/Northern California. She carefully considered our unique desires in each step of planning. She offered guidance in choosing the right cruise line, land excursions, and travel options to fit our needs. Every detail, from booking airfare, accommodations, tours, transfers, etc.., was thoroughly taken care of to alleviate any stressors on us. Even when Covid-related hiccups occurred, she was quick to regroup, replan, rearrange without us skipping a beat. While prepping for our trip, she sent timely reminders to keep us on track in submitting our travel documents. This trip had perfectly coordinated moving parts: plane, train, ship, motorcoach, rental car, even a helicopter, ATV and dog sled, thanks to Laura! We stayed at top-rated accommodations: hotel, lodge, rustic cabin, bed/breakfast and had the most scenic view from our private balcony on the cruise. I highly recommend Laura for all of your travel needs!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Single momma vacationing with ease
Reviewed By Jodi - Columbus, Ohio | Traveled to Walt Disney World ~ Florida ~ USA
I am currently working with Laura for an upcoming cruise. And although this cruise has been rescheduled twice (once bc of Covid shutdowns and then once again for a personal medical injury) she has made the planning process easy and has really helped me explore my options. Not only that... I found Laura because she and her family were on the Disney Dream with me for my first cruise. I was not prepared and my TA gave me very little information. The Skates family showed me the ropes and gave me tons of helpful tips and tricks.... so I knew I wanted to work with her when I started planning this next trip!!!! You can trust her... not only does she know what she is doing... she has been able to connect with me In "Mommy mode" to plan ahead for things to make traveling alone with a little one fun rather than stressful!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Family Trip
Reviewed By Cruise - Dalton, Ga | Traveled to Skagway ~ Alaska ~ USA
Laura was AMAZING! She handled every detail of my trip efficiently and promptly!!!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Legit The Best Trip Ever!
Reviewed By Kate - Dacula, Georgia | Traveled to Walt Disney World ~ Florida ~ USA
Laura Skates is an amazing professional who is extremely knowledgeable about her field. She guided us through beautifully, answered any and all questions; even the ones that I knew were very basic. It was an absolute joy to work with her, and I would recommend her to anyone who is looking to plan a trip anywhere! I asked for Ms. Skates to plan our first Disney trip ever, and it was magical for my child and for myself. I thought when you are raising a child that you are in touch with your inner child. I did not realize that wasn’t the case for me until I saw Eeyore, and immediately had tears because seeing Eeyore connected me to my inner child I hadn’t felt in decades. There is something for every soul at Disney World, and if you have Ms. Skates plan your trip, you’re set! She chose restaurants for us we may never have chosen, that we loved! The events, the flow of where to go and when, was stellar! It was like we were always in the right place at the right time because of her planning.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Jamaicamazing!
Reviewed By Nate and Kelly - Bethlehem, GA | Traveled to Jamaica ~ Caribbean
Very happy with the service, communication, planning, and results after working with Laura on our first Caribbean vacation. I asked Laura to plan the perfect relaxation focused Caribbean getaway for my wife and me. We have never done any all inclusive before and didn't know if that was a good idea or not, had never been to the Caribbean before, and didn't know the details of customs, passports, transfers, rental cars, etc. Laura handled it all beautifully. She provided several options with pros and cons of each and guided us through the decision making process. She booked everything (even things we had no idea we needed)! I am not sure we would have survived with out Club Mobay! Laura arranged for private drivers from the airport to our resort and back and made sure we had all the paperwork needed for a simple and seamless experience. Azul Beach Resort in Negril was exactly what we needed. We had 5 days of pure relaxation, great drinks, good food, and amazing views.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

Certifications & Awards

ASTA is the leading global advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public.It is the world's largest association of travel professionals.Our members include travel agents and the companies whose products they sell such as tours, cruises, hotels, car rentals, etc.Expand your world. Go with the pros.
Member of ASTA

My Places

When it comes to travel planning, real-world experience makes a huge difference. Check out the map below to see all the places I have personally visited or booked for my clients. I know these destinations well and can give you reliable guidance.

My Photo Albums and Videos

Walt Disney World 50th Celebration
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My Travel Stories

Ready to take on the Magic Kingdom

Disney's 50th Celebration Vacation

We were fortunate to visit Walt Disney World not once, but twice during the 50th anniversary celebration.   Our first visit was in January of 2022.  For this visit, we stayed at Art of Animation in the Finding Nemo Family Suites.  The Family Suites are such a wonderful option for larger families.  With two bathrooms and a main bedroom tha...
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