Rhine River Cruises
Did you know that there are more than 40 medieval castles and fortresses along the Rhine Gorge?. Sail down the mighty Rhine in total comfort, enjoying some of the best locations as you go. Head to Cologne and visit the iconic cathedral, try local wines in Rüdesheim, and simply gaze in awe at the sights around you. This river is legendary, and your trip will be, too.
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Well organized and the plus are the meals.
European VistasAn excellent river cruise experience! The food was delicious, the itinerary was great, and the cabin was very clean and comfortable. We enjoyed the cruise very much.
Christmas and New Year Rhine cruise: Dusseldorf - Dusseldorf - MS Vista RioWe enjoyed our cruise. It was great! 👍 We were the only English speaking onboard, an all German cruise. However when we booked we understood it was a German company and that was a possibility but it didn’t take anything away from our experience. All the crew speak English and never did we not know where we needed to be or doing. We enjoyed the smaller villages that we stopped at and could explore on our own. The food onboard was amazing. We had a fabulous entertainer on board, her name was Karina and her shows were amazing. All the staff are so friendly and accommodating. The spa services were great 👍 We really enjoyed our cruise. What we liked was we visited places not so touristy and the ship dock was a short walk from the township. We visited places we wouldn’t have been able to visit or actually know to visit! Awesome. 🤩
Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2026
Traveler Photos & Videos from Rhine Cruises
- Europe Explorer
- Tulip Serenade (Amsterdam - Amsterdam, 16 destinations)
- From Amsterdam to Basel: The Treasures of the Celebrated Rhine River (port-to-port cruise)
- Christmas Markets on Rhine, MS Vista Rio
- Castles along the Rhine (2024) (Amsterdam to Basel, 2024)
- The romantic Rhine Valley and the rock of the Lorelei (port-to-port cruise)
- European Vistas
- Tulip Time Highlights
- Holland and its tulips (port-to-port cruise)
- Classical Rhine Cruise (Amsterdam - Basel, 12 destinations)
- Rhine Highlights 2026 - 8 Days (from Amsterdam to Basel)
- SPECTACULAR RHINE, Cologne – Strasbourg-Basel – Cologne
- Romantic Rhine (Northbound)
Table of contents
- The best Rhine cruises
- Travel Rhine your way
- Best tour companies
- Popular Rhine Cruise Ships
- Best places to start your adventure
- Discover Rhine tours for every budget
- Rhine tours for every type of group
- Top Rhine travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit
- Contact our Rhine travel experts
The best Rhine cruises
Compiled by
MelissaRhine travel expert at TourRadar
European Vistas
“It was a great way to discover some part of Europe at one time. We got to discover the major attractions that have been on our bucket list.”
Patience, traveled in July
Duration 8 days Destinations Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium Age Range Ages 10+ River RhineSeine Operator Expat Explore Travel From $2,010
22% Off- US$1,565
Christmas and New Year Rhine cruise: Dusseldorf - Dusseldorf - MS Vista Rio
“The ship was clean and well run; the itinerary was well done with great excursions.”
Kimberly, traveled in December
MS Crucevita offers Rhine Christmas market visits with French balcony cabins and festive entertainment. The 8-day journey from Dusseldorf covers Christmas markets at Cologne's UNESCO Cathedral, Strasbourg's historic Noël, and Mainz's medieval square.
Duration 8 days Destinations Dusseldorf, Koblenz, Mannheim, Strasbourg, Speyer, Mainz, Rudesheim am Rhein, Bonn, Cologne Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, Spanish Ship MS Vista Rio River Rhine Operator Crucemundo From $1,643
30% Off- US$1,150+$145 upfront costs
Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2026
“very comfortable room, pleasant staff, excellent food.”
Paula, traveled in September
A-ROSA AQUA navigates past Cologne Cathedral and Emmerich's iconic bridge. Dutch fortress town Willemstad and historic Gorinchem offer cultural highlights, complemented by luxury amenities and regional cuisine during the 8-day voyage.
Duration 8 days Destinations Germany, Netherlands, Belgium Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Ship A-ROSA AQUA River Rhine Operator A-ROSA From $1,641
12% Off- US$1,451
Duration 18 days Destinations Netherlands, Belgium, France, Andorra, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City (Holy See), Switzerland, Germany Age Range Ages 10+ River RhineSeine Operator Expat Explore Travel From $4,565
23% Off- US$3,505
A-ROSA BRAVA welcomes passengers to Cologne's Cathedral, Antwerp's Diamond District, and Amsterdam's historic center. Panoramic sailing through Markermeer & IJsselmeer lakes comes with all-inclusive amenities.
Duration 8 days Destinations Germany, Netherlands, Belgium Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Ship A-ROSA AQUA River Rhine Operator A-ROSA From $1,815
30% Off- US$1,277
Classical Rhine Cruise (Basel - Amsterdam, 15 destinations)
“The trip was great. Well planned and organized at each port.”
Brian, traveled in April
Duration 8 days Destinations Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands Age Range Ages 8+ Operated in English, German Ship Amadeus Riva River Rhine Operator Lueftner Cruises From
30% Off- US$2,960
Luxury Suite Ships transport guests along the legendary Rhine River. Rüdesheim's Drosselgasse, Cologne's Gothic cathedral, and Amsterdam's canals provide endless wonder. Wine tastings in Rhine Gorge and guided walks through medieval towns complement stunning river views.
Duration 15 days Destinations Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands Age Range Ages 8+ Ships Avalon ExpressionAvalon Impression River Rhine Operator Avalon Waterways From
30% Off- US$7,299+$462 upfront costs
Travel Rhine your way
More travel styles:
Best tour companies
Popular Rhine Cruise Ships
Best places to start your adventure
Discover Rhine tours for every budget
Rhine tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Top Rhine travel itineraries to fit your plans
Demographics
Solo Travelers728 tours- Couples769 tours
- Seniors (50+)648 tours
Best time to visit
- Fall / Autumn 2026
Fall turns the Rhine Valley golden and red, making it prime time for cruises between Amsterdam and Basel in either direction. The vineyard hillsides change color beautifully, setting up perfect wine-focused trips through the Rhine Gorge. Our guests particularly like autumn cruises with wine tastings in Rudesheim - you can try local Rieslings while watching the grape harvest in nearby vineyards. Cool temperatures make it just right for getting active - you might hike Heidelberg's Philosopher's Path or cycle through Strasbourg's old town without summer crowds. When evening comes, entertainment moves inside, often with local musicians joining while ships dock in riverside towns.
- September 2026 81 tours
- October 2026 popular 119 tours
- 111 tours
- Winter 2026 / 2027
Winter brings something special to the Rhine, particularly in December when Christmas markets fill the historic squares. The Dusseldorf round-trip route on MS Crucevita takes you to festive markets in Koblenz, Rudesheim and also Mainz. Our guests tell us how much they love wandering from the ship right into these easy-to-find markets, with the boat's seasonal decorations adding just the right touch to the experience. There's also a popular route through Vienna, Budapest and also Bratislava, where traditional markets pop up against beautiful baroque buildings. The crews make winter trips extra welcoming - they're known for adding thoughtful festive details that turn cold-weather sailing into something really memorable.
- December 2026 popular 108 tours
- Spring 2027
Spring sets up perfect conditions for Rhine cruising, especially when Dutch tulip fields burst into color. The Amsterdam-based Tulip Serenade aboard AMADEUS Riva lets you mix city visits with time at Keukenhof Gardens while millions of bulbs bloom. Our travelers particularly enjoy combining cultural stops in medieval Ghent and Bruges with countryside bike rides past windmills and also canals. The Basel to Amsterdam route shows off riverbanks dotted with wildflowers, plus you'll get to explore Strasbourg's cathedral and walk through the Black Forest as it wakes up for spring. The mild temperatures work perfectly for active outings - think guided cycling through Cologne or hiking above Rudesheim's vineyards.
- March 2027 98 tours
- April 2027 150 tours
- May 2027 popular 205 tours
- Summer 2027
Summer along the Rhine means long daylight hours that make scenic cruising through the gorge especially good. The Basel to Amsterdam routes get lots of praise for their outdoor dining spots and open-air viewing areas - just right for watching castles go by on warm evenings. Active options really shine in summer, with cycling tours, vineyard walks and also gondola rides above the river. MS Crucevita's summer sailings earn great feedback, especially for stops in Koblenz, Rudesheim and also Strasbourg. The crews set up fantastic outdoor activities, from deck barbecues to evening shows under the stars while docked in small wine towns.
- June 2027 184 tours
- July 2027 192 tours
- August 2027 popular 201 tours
Contact our Rhine travel experts
Kristina
Expert in Rhine at TourRadar
Kristina is one of our seasoned Rhine Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Rhine tours answered!
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