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River cruising has grown in reputation lately, with new strains providing distinctive methods to expertise Europe’s most iconic rivers, together with the Danube, Douro, Seine, and, in fact, the Rhine. “The Rhine River is known for castles, cathedrals, historic websites, and medieval cities, providing majestic surroundings as you journey by a number of European nations. You are feeling as for those who’ve traveled again to a distinct time in our world,” Journey + Leisure A-list advisor Olga Placeres says.
On most Rhine River cruises, friends can discover on their phrases, making this an ideal journey concept for multi-generational journey. From family-friendly journeys to beer-focused itineraries to festive vacation cruises, listed here are 10 of the most effective Rhine River cruises for each sort of traveler.
AmaWaterways
Courtesy of AmaWaterways
7-night Enchanting Rhine Cruise
Cruise skilled Placeres named AmaWaterways one in every of her favourite river cruise strains. This family-owned and operated line affords all-inclusive river cruises with a variety of shore excursions for each energetic and relaxed vacationers. A number of Rhine River cruises can be found, and some embrace the Moselle and Essential Rivers. Christmas market cruises and wine-focused itineraries are additionally supplied.
The Enchanting Rhine cruise begins in Basel, Switzerland, the place passengers board their vessel (whereas the precise ship varies relying on the dates, all carry fewer than 170 friends). In Breisach, Germany, friends can select a wine nation bike tour, strolling tour, or hike within the Black Forest. The cruise continues to Strasbourg, Heidelberg, and Rüdesheim, with choices every day for energetic or relaxed excursions. The scenic Rhine River Gorge space is a spotlight, and there are visits to Cologne and Düsseldorf earlier than arriving in Amsterdam.
Viking River Cruises
Courtesy of Viking River Cruises
11-day Rhine and Essential Explorer Cruise
Placeres additionally recommends Viking Cruises, which was established by Torstein Hagen in 1997 and operates river, ocean, and expedition cruises throughout all seven continents. Viking’s Rhine River cruises vary from eight to fifteen days, and itineraries transcend the Rhine to incorporate the Essential, Moselle, and a voyage that goes throughout the North Sea to Norway’s fjords.
The Rhine and Essential Explorer begins in Nuremberg and continues to Bamberg for a strolling tour by the winding streets of the medieval metropolis. Cruise highlights embrace palace excursions in Würzburg, native Bavarian tradition and meals in Marktheidenfeld, scenic crusing on the Essential River, touring the charming French metropolis of Strasbourg, and admiring Germany’s well-known Black Forest. The tour ends with two nights in Basel, the place you’ll be able to take a tour of town and luxuriate in cheese fondue.
Adventures by Disney
Terry Ward
8-day Rhine River Cruise
Adventures by Disney river cruises are designed for households, however in addition they provide adults-only (18+) experiences on Europe’s rivers. As an alternative of setting sail on a Disney Cruise Line mega ship, these itineraries use AmaWaterways river ships for a extra intimate expertise with a most of 156 friends. Journey author Terry Ward took her six and 7 12 months olds and her 18-year-old niece on the Adventures by Disney Rhine River Cruise in July. “I can verify it’s a visit with complete multigenerational enchantment,” Ward says. “There have been all the time a number of choices for shore excursions — one thing to curiosity passengers throughout the board.”
“Throughout a port of name in Germany’s Black Forest area, for instance, we may select a toboggan run by the forest with time spent carving picket toys and studying to make butter, visiting Europa Park, or having fun with the medieval outdated city of Riquewihr.” Ward tells T+L, “On a number of nights, Disney’s Journey Guides whisked the children off to the lounge for their very own enjoyable — perhaps a Disney film and dinner or video games — so the adults may strive the chef’s tasting desk or take pleasure in a quieter dinner. Teenagers had their very own tables for dinner in the event that they wished.” Ward added, “The Journey Guides hailed from a number of the nations we sailed by, so touring with them in Europe felt a bit like being alongside for the experience with an in-the-know pal.”
Avalon Waterways
Courtesy of Avalon Waterways
8-day Tulip Time for Beer Lovers Cruise
After almost a century in European tourism, the Globus household of manufacturers launched Avalon Waterways in 2004, and it was ranked among the many prime river cruise strains on the planet by T+L readers in 2024. Avalon’s Rhine River cruises vary from 5 days to 11 days; a number of embrace the Moselle, they usually provide seasonal Christmas market cruises.
The Tulip Time for Beer Lovers cruise is a round-trip cruise from Amsterdam supplied within the spring, with a beer skilled on board to host lectures, beer tastings, and meals and beer pairings. The ship heads to Rotterdam for a strolling tour, bike experience, or a guided tour to Keukenhof, referred to as the “Backyard of Europe” with over seven million tulips. In Antwerp and Ghent, friends can select between bike or strolling excursions, whereas guided excursions in Willemstad take friends amongst centuries-old buildings. In Amsterdam, friends can take a guided canal cruise adopted by a Dutch beer expertise.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
8-day Rhine River Valley Cruise
Based in 1976, Uniworld is an opulent, all-inclusive cruise line that provides itineraries on Europe’s well-known rivers. Uniworld’s Rhine River cruises begin at eight days, however vacationers with extra time can mix the Danube, Essential, and Rhine Rivers on a 25-day, eight-country cruise.
The eight-day Rhine River Valley cruise boards in Nuremberg and cruises to Bamberg the place friends can select a strolling tour, nature park hike, or brewery tour. In Würzburg, an 18th-century palace tour or wine tasting are choices; extra stops embrace Miltenberg, Mainz, Baden-Baden, Strasbourg, and Breisach, earlier than disembarking in Basel.
Tauck
8-day Castles on the Rhine: Household Riverboat Journey Cruise
This century-old, family-owned firm affords journey experiences in additional than 100 locations, starting from small-group excursions to river cruises. Tauck’s Rhine River cruise itineraries vary from eight days to the 15-day Grand European Cruise that covers 9 nations alongside the Rhine, Essential, and Danube rivers.
The eight-day Castles on the Rhine: Household Riverboat Journey is a Tauck Bridges household cruise designed for friends of all ages. The cruise departs from Basel, and the following day, friends journey by rail to Switzerland’s Lake Lucerne to experience the world’s steepest cog-wheel prepare. In Strasbourg, there’s a French sing alongside and chocolate tasting. The family-focused enjoyable continues at stops in Heidelberg, Rüdesheim, and Cologne earlier than the ship reaches its last cease. In Amsterdam, friends can take a canal cruise, go to a windmill, or style native cheeses.
Scenic
Courtesy of Scenic
8-day Rhine Christmas Markets Cruise
This Australian-founded firm established in 1986 affords river cruises, ocean voyages, and expeditions to the polar areas. Billed as an ultra-luxury, five-star cruise line, Scenic affords particular Rhine River itineraries that characteristic Christmas markets or deal with subjects like wine and meals.
The Rhine Christmas Markets cruise begins in Amsterdam with choices of a strolling, biking, or canal tour earlier than setting off for Cologne, the place friends can see the magnificent Thirteenth-century Gothic cathedral, go to a brewery, and browse the Christmas markets. In Baden-Baden, a famed German spa city, browse the markets or soak in thermal waters. Koblenz, Mannheim, and Strasbourg are extra stops on this holiday-themed itinerary.
Emerald Cruises
Courtesy of Emerald Cruises
8-day Jewels of the Rhine Cruise
Emerald, based in 2013, focuses on luxurious river and yacht cruises. Emerald’s Rhine River cruises embrace an eight-day voyage and an 11-day cruise that features the Moselle.
The Jewels of the Rhine cruise begins with two nights in Amsterdam, the place friends can take a bicycle tour or canal cruise earlier than the captain’s dinner. Then, it is off to Cologne and the charming cities of Koblenz, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, and Freiburg, the place castles, historic church buildings, and half-timbered buildings await. The ship arrives in Basel for the tip of the cruise the following day.
CroisiEurope
Courtesy of CroisiEurope
5-day Rhine in Flames Cruise
Based in 1976 in France, CroisiEurope is the most important European-based river cruise line. The corporate additionally affords sea voyages and canal barge cruises. Their budget-friendly river cruises embrace some shore excursions, and Rhine River cruises range in size from three days to 2 weeks or longer.
The five-day Rhine in Flames cruise boards in Strasbourg for an evening of cruising. The subsequent day in Rüdesheim, tour choices embrace a prepare experience to a wine cellar adopted by a go to to the Museum of Mechanical Musical Devices or a gondola carry to the Niederwalddenkmal and winery hike. The subsequent day is the principle occasion because the ship sails in direction of Trechtingshausen for the well-known Rhine in Flames fireworks present. The ship arrives in Mannheim for an non-compulsory go to to Heidelberg and later a gala night earlier than crusing again in direction of Strasbourg.
A-Rosa Cruises
Courtesy of A-ROSA Cruises
6-day Rhine Legends Cruise
This German firm has been cruising the Rhine River and its tributaries since 2009. The family-friendly line has a youngsters membership and household suites with loads of room to unfold out. Their river cruises vary from 4 to seven days, and there’s a charge for many excursions.
The five-day Rhine Legends cruises the Center Rhine round-trip from Cologne. In Rüdesheim, friends can tour the countryside on a motorbike or prepare tour. Stops in Speyer, Strasbourg, Mainz, and Koblenz present extra methods to discover the attractive area, earlier than the ship returns to Cologne for disembarkation.