On my very first European river cruise, I thought it would feel like an ocean cruise… and that assumption cost me. In this video I’m sharing the 7 biggest (and most expensive) river cruise mistakes I made—between my AmaWaterways Rhine sailing and my Uniworld Venice Lagoon experience—so you can skip the stress and actually enjoy your trip. I cover everything from embarkation confusion (it’s not the same process as the big ships) to dress code reality (we were way overdressed), plus the drink-policy differences that can catch you off guard when you switch lines. I also get into the painful stuff: my $200 laundry surprise, what water-level disruptions can do to your itinerary, and the shoe mistake that ruined three days for me. And because I’m a travel agent and a former flight attendant, I’m giving you the practical “do this instead” tips—what to pack, what to ask your cruise line ahead of time, and what mobility/accessibility is really like on river ships. If you’re researching AmaWaterways, Uniworld, Viking, or any first-time river cruise, this is exactly what I wish someone had told me before I boarded.