Going into my first U.S. river cruise, I was a little nervous I wasn’t going to like it. Most of my river cruising experience has been in Europe, where the towns are impossibly old and there are castles and beautiful archetecture everywhere you look. I figured a U.S. river cruise would be… fine. Maybe a little slower. Maybe not quite as charming.

But after a week on the American Jazz, sailing from Clarkston to Stevenson, Washington, with stops in Astoria, Pendleton, Mt. St. Helens and a bunch of towns you’ve probably never heard of, I can tell you – I was wrong in the best way. It was beautiful and fun and easy, and it surprised me at almost every turn.

Here are five reasons this trip totally changed my mind about U.S. river cruises:

1. The passengers were half the fun.

I assumed the average age would be higher than what I was used to seeing in Europe and I was right. This was, without a doubt, an older crowd. But what surprised me wasn’t their age; it was how quickly people saw past mine. As most of you know I’m tattooed, pierced and a little younger at 30 years old. Probably not what most people picture when they imagine a river cruise passenger, but that didn’t seem to matter for long. People were kind, curious and genuinely eager to connect.

We met people in their 40s, all the way up to their 80s. There were adult children traveling with their parents, couples looking for a slower pace of travel and widowed friends who made the most of every minute onboard.

Some standouts? Linda and Dave from California, who we ended up spending hours with over breakfast (shoutout to the croissant breakfast sandwiches). They had already rebooked a Hudson River cruise for the fall before our current trip had even ended. Linda shared with me that she liked traveling with American Cruise Lines because she felt really taken care of by them. She and her husband have a few physical limitations, but that doesn’t stop them from traveling. They’re just getting started seeing the world in this new way.

Then there was sweet Deanna, traveling with her daughter Tracy. The radiant duo onboard, always smiling. Deanna is 87 years old and had the absolute time of her life. Whether she was out on deck taking in the views venturing out on an excursion, she always seemed to enjoy it. When we went around the dinner table on our last night to share our favorite parts of the trip, she said simply: “The people and the scenery.” Same, Deanna. Same.

2. The crew made it feel personal.

Service everywhere has taken a bit of a hit these past few years, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going in. But the American Jazz crew really stepped up – not just with kindness and professionalism, but with attention to detail that didn’t go unnoticed.

The housekeeping team worked constantly. I saw them vacuuming hallways, dusting blinds, scrubbing baseboards, wiping down windows and yes, even polishing the doorknobs. (My friend Linda actually commented on how clean her doorknob was, and we realized someone had clearly polished it sometime during the day. That kind of thing doesn’t go unnoticed, by us at least.)

The dining staff was equally impressive. Kevin, one of our servers, shared a secret off-menu dessert creation with me. I won’t give away his secrets here, but if you’re ever sailing with Kevin on American Jazz, ask him for his butter pecan special. He’ll know what you mean. Then there was sweet Jada from Cornelius, our NC neighbor over a couple hundred miles but someone we’ve already invited to visit when she gets done with her contract. She had a gentle spirit, was always laughing and brought such a light to the dining room. And of course, Salina. Not quite so gentle, but an absolute star. Her section was packed every night for a reason. She cracked jokes, got playful with the guests and had the kind of energy that made people want to come back for more. She was incredible at her job and clearly beloved by all the guests.

I always make it a point to get to know the bar team, and this trip was no exception. Joli and Nolan took amazing care of me. Joli was endlessly creative with cocktails, we came up with a few great custom drinks during the week and her Bloody Marys were top-tier. No matter what someone ordered (or how odd the request), she had a smile on her face and made it happen. Nolan was just the sweetest, and let’s just say the older ladies loved him. He even joined a guest for music bingo one afternoon. A stellar bar crew that kept me well-watered and well-entertained.

Our cruise director, Mary Callie, was a calming presence onboard. She always had something fun going on. Trivia, entertainment, morning walks into town, you name it. She kept the energy light and the logistics smooth. Then there was Hannah, our excursion director and mom of seven (yes, seven). She had that rare combo of sharp organization and big personality. She knew exactly who should be on what bus, got people’s attention without yelling and somehow made it all look easy. I felt like I was in great hands with her every step of the way.

And finally, Taji. I think his official title had something to do with guest experience, but he was basically the ship’s hype man. He greeted us with high fives, scanned us on and off the ship with a smile and kept the energy up no matter what was happening. He was everywhere, doing everything and always with a great attitude.

So many people on this crew deserve a shoutout, but these were the standouts for me.

3. The excursions weren’t just for the “mature” crowd.

One of the biggest misconceptions about U.S. river cruises is that the activities are all slow paced or geared toward older travelers. That wasn’t my experience at all. Sure, there were history lectures and scenic drives and those were great, but there were also hikes, e-bikes and kayaking excursions. And people showed up for them.

Our new friend Ann, who is 81 by the way, signed up for a hike with us up Beacon Rock. I swear I saw smoke coming off her shoes. That woman moves. We were all huffing and puffing trying to keep up, and she just powered up the trail like she does this every weekend. It was one of the most fun and unexpected moments of the trip.

Couples in their 60s were out kayaking, biking and walking long trails without hesitation. The vibe wasn’t extreme adventure, but it was active, flexible and felt good to be a part of. We did a kayak excursion through the Wind River that took us out onto the Columbia. Quiet, green and absolutely gorgeous. Just gliding through that landscape in total silence was one of those “I can’t believe I get to do this” moments. I’ll touch more on that next week in a separate story, but if you’re someone who likes to move, you’ll find plenty of ways to do that here.

4. The ship felt like home.

We stayed in a suite, which gave us a little extra space (and daily desserts, which we did not skip even once). The bathroom had tons of storage, which I appreciated. The closet could have been a bit bigger, but I’m an unapologetic overpacker so I’ll take some of the blame there.

What really stood out, though, were the shared spaces. Each floor had quiet seating areas tucked behind the elevators. One was a small library with computers and a printer, another felt more like a cozy game room. And people actually used them. Guests gathered to play cards and Rummikub, work on puzzles or just sit and read. It gave the ship a lived-in, community feel.

There were also plenty of couches throughout the ship, and tables in the lounges where guests would gather to play games or chat. It made it easy to find a spot to relax without retreating to your room. The River Lounge in particular was the social hub of the ship. Lectures, trivia, live music and evening entertainment all happened there.

The vibe was comfortable and unpretentious, like someone designed the space for people who actually want to use it.

5. The entertainment blew me away.

Okay, I’ll admit it: I thought the entertainment might be a little corny. And I don’t know why, maybe because I thought “small ship = scaled-down performances.” But I was so wrong.

Mystic Soul, our resident musical duo for the week, consisted of Reggie Boue and Latosha Thomas. They were incredible. Reggie shared stories about almost touring with Al Green and others, and Latosha? A total star. She pulled the audience into every song, danced with us, supported the other entertainers, and brought the kind of energy that made everyone smile. People genuinely loved them – not just as performers, but as people.

Then there was Mario Carboni, who calls himself the Honky Tonk Rebell, who could play the piano with the keys covered, by the way. At one point he played the trumpet and the piano at the same time. I don’t even know how to describe him but just trust me, you’ve never seen anything like it.

And the “Saxtette”, a group of six musicians who came on and played everything from the 1940s to modern hits were another crowd favorite.

Between live shows, there were daily brainteasers, crosswords, name-that-tune competitions, and “Getting to Know You” bingo. There was always something happening and never a dull moment.

Final thoughts? I’d go again tomorrow.

This was one of those trips that just felt right. We made friends. We laughed. And we saw stunning landscapes from a front-row seat. It turns out, river cruising in the U.S. offers its own kind of magic. One rooted in connection, comfort and slowing down long enough to notice what’s right in front of you.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering how many people felt the same? Out of 188 guests onboard, 140 rebooked. That says it all.