Joy Gawf-Crutchfield

From my very first European river cruise, I was hooked.  History, culture, cuisine, adventure; European river cruising has it all.  I am an expert in European travel and have been personally escorting my own private tour groups in Europe since 2008.  

While my travel style in Europe varies from river cruises to fully escorted tours as well as independent travel, my favorite way to travel in Europe is on the rivers.   

I am both an Avalon Waterways Specialist and an AMA Waterways Specialist.  Over the years I have sailed multiple times on multiple rivers with each of these amazing brands.  

In October 2024 I am hosting the wonderful “German Grandeur” Rhine and Main River cruise that includes some of the most stunning areas of Germany as well as extra time in both Nuremberg and Zurich.  

In 2025 my Signature Event is a personally escorted Avalon Waterways cruise on the Nile, including a significant portion of “must see” land experiences to make it truly the trip of a lifetime. 

I have spent over 40 years "going there, doing that" and would love to introduce you to the fastest growing, most highly satisfying travel experience, river cruising.

Feel free to contact me about individual river cruises anywhere in the world or inquire about joining my upcoming personally escorted river cruise groups. 

I am the proud and amazed recipient of the 2020 "Leadership in Travel" WAVE award from the Globus Family of Brands and Travel Age West   It was the first time in the history of the award that it was presented to an agent.

Joy Gawf-Crutchfield is the founder and CEO of The Joy of Travel LLC.  She is a proud member of The Joy of Travel River Cruise Specialist Team.  She continues to be recognized as a Top 1% Agent in the United States.