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2026

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2027

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2028

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Who is travelling?

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Romantic Rhine (Northbound) 2024

8 days
From Basel to Amsterdam
4.6
63 traveler reviews

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:
River Cruise
Scenic waterways and effortless exploration
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 30 - 160
Ages 8+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Arrival in Basel/Zürich

    Meals
    Dinner
    Itinerary Image 1
  2. Day 2

    German Winemaking and Black Forest

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with Adventure Host
    • Full-day Guided Tour to Black Forest including Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, authentic water mill, and traditional butter-making demonstration
    • Visit to local winery in Breisach with German winemaking education and wine tasting
    • Guided Tour of Freiburg's medieval city center with Black Forest and Upper Rhine Valley backdrop

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village with half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings
    Landmarks
    Black Forest
    Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum
    Freiburg
    Colmar
    Itinerary Image 1
  3. Day 3

    Strasbourg

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Discover Strasbourg by bike with Adventure Host
    • City Sightseeing Tour including Gothic cathedral with stained glass and astronomical clock, and La Petite France District
    • Free time in Strasbourg for museum visits or city exploration

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Optional Excursion to historic Maginot Line
    • Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace wine country
    Landmarks
    Strasbourg Cathedral
    La Petite France
    Maginot Line
    Alsace wine country
  4. Day 4

    Mainz and Heidelberg to Rüdesheim

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Inspiring walk in Heidelberg on the Philosophers' Way with Avalon Adventure Host
    • Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle viewing renaissance ruins and the Great Vat (World's Largest Wine Barrel)
    • Guided City Walk in Mainz with visit to Gutenberg Museum
    • Live entertainment on board ship
    Landmarks
    Philosophers' Way
    Heidelberg Castle
    Gutenberg Museum
  5. Day 5

    Rüdesheim to Koblenz

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Hike through picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim with Avalon Adventure Host
    • Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum with Rüdesheimer coffee tasting
    • Rhine Gorge cruise viewing ancient castles and Rock of the Lorelei
    • Free time in Koblenz
    • Live entertainment on board
    Landmarks
    Rhine Gorge
    Rock of the Lorelei
    Mechanical Music Museum
    Itinerary Image 1
  6. Day 6

    Koblenz to Cologne

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Bike ride through Cologne with Adventure Host
    • Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites
    • Guided City Walk of Cologne with twin-steepled gothic cathedral
    • Free time to enjoy local Kölsch beer
    Landmarks
    Cologne Cathedral
    Itinerary Image 1
  7. Day 7

    Amsterdam

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Early morning walk in Amsterdam with Adventure Host
    • Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam's Golden Age
    • Free time to explore Amsterdam's colorful streets, canal houses, galleries, and shops

    Optional Activities

    • Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens featuring more than seven million tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other bulbs (seasonal - tulip season)
    • Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses (available outside tulip season)
    • Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside
    Landmarks
    Amsterdam Canal System
    Keukenhof gardens
    Zaanse Schans
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  8. Day 8

    Disembarkation in Amsterdam

    Meals
    Breakfast
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Avalon Waterways

Number of tours

479

Age Range

8 to 99 years old

Response time

within 2 days

Response rate

84%

Introduced in 2003, Avalon Waterways sets the standard in river and...

Read more

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Avalon Waterways Ship

  • Avalon Panorama
    Avalon Panorama
    A unique Suite Ship®, the Avalon Panorama features unmatched cabin views as the first of its kind in the industry with two full decks… Read more
    Built
    2011
    Guests
    84 - 166
    Crew
    47
    Length
    135 m / 443 ft
    Suites
    66
    Staterooms
    17
    Gross Tonnage
    2775 gt
    Beam
    12 m / 39 ft
    Cruising Speed
    12 kn / 22 kph / 14 mph

Traveler Moments

Traveler Reviews

4.6
Overall rating based on 63 Reviews
  • Itinerary
    4.6
  • Transport
    4.7
  • Guide
    4.6
  • Accommodation
    4.7
  • Food
    4.7
  • 4.6

Sort by

Most recent
Most popular
Highest first
Lowest first

Sort by

Most Recent
Most Popular
Highest First
Lowest First
  • K
    July 28th, 2024
    5.0
    ship was excellent, food and drinks were great, adventures perfectly organized,all crew members were extremely...
    Show more
    Traveled in July 2024
  • L
    April 30th, 2024
    4.0
    Great service, good guides, excellent food
    Traveled in April 2024
  • Y
    April 20th, 2023
    2.0
    1. The WIFI solution is really poor. Most of time on ship has no connection. 2. It seemed to be lack of staff. The...
    Show more
    Traveled in April 2023
  • Romantic Rhine (Northbound) 2024 reviewer 4
    April 12th, 2023
    4.0
    The Wi-Fi didn’t work as expected and it caused quite an inconvenience. The excursion plan is not as clear either....
    Show more
    Traveled in April 2023
  • Romantic Rhine (Northbound) 2024 reviewer 5
    October 16th, 2022
    5.0
    Wonderful cruise, very comfortable, food was great and staff very friendly.
    Traveled in October 2022
  • G
    September 4th, 2022
    5.0
    Wonderful!! Food and staff were above average par none!!!
    Traveled in August 2022
  • W
    August 29th, 2022
    4.0
    The crew was incredible. I felt a bit duped by the lack of transparency re the Rhine’s low levels. The cruise...
    Show more
    Traveled in July 2022
  • L
    August 26th, 2022
    5.0
    Overall, our trip was excellent. There was a disruption during the river cruise because water levels were too low...
    Show more
    Traveled in August 2022
  • T
    July 22nd, 2022
    3.0
    A few of the cruise ports were in heavy industrial areas - therefore walking to city centers was not an easy option....
    Show more
    Traveled in July 2022
  • M
    July 12th, 2022
    4.0
    We had an excellent experience, the ship was great, service was great, personnel were so attentive, professional,...
    Show more
    Traveled in June 2022

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Upcoming departures
  • From Sunday
    5 Apr, 2026
    To Sunday
    12 Apr, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $3,899 per person
    Taxes
    $231
    2026 Version
    View this tour
  • From Saturday
    2 May, 2026
    To Saturday
    9 May, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $7,998 per person
    Taxes
    $231
    2026 Version
    View this tour
  • From Saturday
    9 May, 2026
    To Saturday
    16 May, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $6,098 per person
    Taxes
    $231
    2026 Version
    View this tour
  • From Saturday
    16 May, 2026
    To Saturday
    23 May, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $4,199 per person
    Taxes
    $231
    2026 Version
    View this tour
  • From Tuesday
    19 May, 2026
    To Tuesday
    26 May, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $6,248 per person
    Taxes
    $231
    2026 Version
    View this tour
  • From Saturday
    23 May, 2026
    To Saturday
    30 May, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $6,098 per person
    Taxes
    $231
    2026 Version
    View this tour
  • From Tuesday
    26 May, 2026
    To Tuesday
    2 Jun, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $4,199 per person
    Taxes
    $231
    2026 Version
    View this tour
  • From Tuesday
    2 Jun, 2026
    To Tuesday
    9 Jun, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $4,199 per person
    Taxes
    $231
    2026 Version
    View this tour
  • From Saturday
    6 Jun, 2026
    To Saturday
    13 Jun, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $4,199 per person
    Taxes
    $231
    2026 Version
    View this tour
  • From Tuesday
    9 Jun, 2026
    To Tuesday
    16 Jun, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $4,199 per person
    Taxes
    $231
    2026 Version
    View this tour
Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

Why book with TourRadar?

    • Trusted and vetted operators
    • Rated excellent on
    • Best price guarantee
    • 24/7 customer support
    • Earn $50 in travel credits
    • Free eSim with every purchase

    To protect your payment and ensure your booking will be processed in United States, never transfer or communicate outside of the TourRadar website or app.

More benefits

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
We couldn't find results
Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts
  • M

    Maurice

    Asked on March 10th, 2025

    What are the payment options available for the tour?

    Payments
    • Avalon WaterwaysOperatorWritten March 2025

      You can make monthly payments towards your tour until the end of January.

  • M

    Martin

    Asked on March 6th, 2025

    What is included in the price regarding meals?

    Meals
    • Avalon WaterwaysOperatorWritten March 2025

      Meals during the cruise are generally included in the package price.

  • J

    Jenny

    Asked on November 4th, 2024

    What airport do we fly into for this cruise?

    Flights / Transfers
    • Avalon WaterwaysOperatorWritten November 2024

      The main airport for this cruise is Basel, Switzerland.

  • L

    Laurens

    Asked on July 9th, 2024

    Is wifi access available onboard?

    Transport
    • Avalon WaterwaysOperatorWritten July 2024

      Wifi may be available; please check if it is included or if there are additional costs.

  • J

    Jennifer

    Asked on July 2nd, 2024

    What is the cancellation policy for the tour?

    Payments
    • Avalon WaterwaysOperatorWritten July 2024

      The cancellation policy will be provided upon booking, and it is important to review this before confirming.

  • C

    Crystal

    Asked on May 22nd, 2024

    What services are included in the base price for the cruise?

    Meals
    Price / Availability
    Tour Details
    • Avalon WaterwaysOperatorWritten May 2024

      The base price will include meals, the room, taxes, and one excursion per port.

  • L

    Lindsay

    Asked on May 11th, 2024

    Can I personalize my cruise experience?

    Other
    • Avalon WaterwaysOperatorWritten May 2024

      Customization options may be available depending on the cruise and your preferences.

  • J

    Juan

    Asked on April 22nd, 2024

    How can we find out about available excursions on the cruise?

    Tour Details
    • Avalon WaterwaysOperatorWritten April 2024

      You can refer to the cruise itinerary for details about excursions at each port.

  • L

    Lars

    Asked on April 19th, 2024

    What discounts are available for group bookings?

    Group size
    Price / Availability
    • Avalon WaterwaysOperatorWritten April 2024

      Discounts may be offered for larger groups; details can be provided upon inquiry.

  • B

    Björn

    Asked on March 2nd, 2024

    How can I check the availability for specific dates?

    Price / Availability
    • Avalon WaterwaysOperatorWritten March 2024

      Check our website or contact us for the most current availability on specific dates.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Avalon Waterways with your enquiry, they usually respond within 2 days.

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

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Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 231157

  • Currencies
    Euro
    France, Germany and Netherlands
    Fr.
    Swiss Franc
    Switzerland
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type J.

    Type J
    Switzerland
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Tick-borne encephalitis - Recommended for Germany.Switzerland. Ideally 6 months before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before June 6th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 6th, 2026, a minimum payment of $250 is required to confirm your booking with Avalon Waterways. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 95 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Avalon Waterways" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec