Rhine River Cruises
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Table of contents
- 10 best Rhine cruises
- What people love about Rhine Cruises
- Travel Rhine your way
- Top operators
- Best places to start your adventure
- Discover Rhine tours for every budget
- Rhine tours for every group
- Top Rhine travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit
- Contact our Rhine travel experts
10 best Rhine cruises
Compiled by
MelissaRhine travel expert at TourRadar
Treasures of the Rhine cruise (Amsterdam-Basel) MS Crucevita
27 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The food was amazing everyday. The cleanliness of the ship and cabins were at a high standard.”
Kristy, traveled in June 2024
The scenic route takes you through Amsterdam's canals, Cologne's Gothic Cathedral, and Strasbourg's La Petite France district. The UNESCO-listed Rhine Valley unfolds with stops at medieval Koblenz and wine-rich Rüdesheim. MS Crucevita offers elegant 12.3m² cabins, with an all-day drinks package and three daily meals.
Duration 8 days Destinations Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland Age Range up to 105 year olds Operated in English, German, Spanish Operator Crucemundo From $1,808
20% Off- US$1,446+$108 upfront costsYou save $361
Treasures of the Rhine cruise (Basel-Amsterdam) MS Crucevita
22 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The trip was just fantastic!”
Paul, traveled in September 2024
The elegant MS Crucevita welcomes passengers to French balcony cabins on the Promenade deck. Local specialties await at 3 daily meals, while Heidelberg Castle ruins and Rudesheim's vineyards beckon. Includes welcome cocktails, 24-hour coffee station, and nightly entertainment for approx. $210 per day with optional WiFi and excursion packages.
Duration 8 days Destinations Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands Age Range up to 105 year olds Operated in English, German, Spanish Operator Crucemundo From $1,808
20% Off- US$1,446+$108 upfront costsYou save $361
Avalon's Suite Ships carry passengers from Basel to Amsterdam in wall-to-wall window suites. The route features Strasbourg's Gothic Cathedral, Black Forest villages, UNESCO Rhine Gorge castles, and Amsterdam's Golden Age canals. Chef-prepared meals, complimentary wines, and daily excursions enhance the voyage.
Duration 8 days Destinations Switzerland, Germany, France, Netherlands Age Range 8 to 99 year olds Operated in English Operator Avalon Waterways From
20% Off- US$3,899+$210 upfront costs
Captivating Rhine (Christmas Cruise) 2025
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The cruise experience has not failed me a bit. Am recommending it to more friends.”
Charurat, traveled in October 2023
The 4.9-rated AmaWaterways ship sails from Amsterdam to Basel with twin-balcony staterooms. The UNESCO Rhine Gorge, Heidelberg Castle, and Strasbourg's La Petite France highlight the journey. Wine tastings, bike tours, and The Chef's Table dining included for approx. $540 per day.
Duration 8 days Destinations Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland Age Range up to 90 year olds Operated in English Operator AmaWaterways From
20% Off- US$3,399
Rhine Experience Amsterdam & Rotterdam 2025
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Helpful responsive staff.”
Andrew, traveled in April 2024
A-ROSA SENA offers harbor tours in Rotterdam and Antwerp, plus extended Amsterdam stays. Luxurious 21m² balcony cabins, SPA-ROSA facilities, and comprehensive dining with live-cooking stations create an ideal setting between historic sites and modern cities.
Duration 8 days Destinations Germany, Netherlands, Belgium Age Range 12 to 99 year olds Operated in English, German Operator A-ROSA From
20% Off- US$1,234
What people love about Rhine Cruises
- Treasures of the Rhine cruise (Amsterdam-Basel) MS Crucevita
Crucevita was a nice sized boat. Excellent accommodations, clean everywhere, terrific food and good service. Marina, our cruise director, was very helpful. The journey was great. Nice to see all the castles and we enjoyed the stops. Suggestions would be to have more waiters and to improve the drink package. Meals took 1.5 hours which was a little long. Increase the variety of wine for the drink package. Offer wines from the region or even some spirit drinks at reduced cost.
- Treasures of the Rhine cruise (Amsterdam-Basel) MS Crucevita
Price great….cruise director excellent…food just so so…6 English speaking thankful for at least four others English speaking…..we had to have our own guide’s. They should have American coffee and always ice. And free wine and beer at dinner
- Treasures of the Rhine cruise (Amsterdam-Basel) MS Crucevita
Great, it could do more local food & wine from the area
Travel Rhine your way
Explore a wide diversity of river cruises through Rhine. We have 452 cruises that vary from 3 days to 29 days. With the greatest number of departures in December, this is also the most popular time of the year.
See all River Cruise toursSelect from our extensive range of 416 fully guided tours to enjoy a worry-free experience through Rhine with our expert guides leading the way.
See all Fully Guided toursExplore a wide diversity of partially guided tours through Rhine. We have 32 adventures that vary from 5 days to 21 days. With the greatest number of departures in August, this is also the most popular time of the year.
See all Partially Guided tours
Top operators
- 4.5 (425 reviews)
"I had an amazing time. The ship was clean and well run; the itinerary was well done with great excursions; and the food was amazing. This was a great value and I really appreciate all on the staff that made my stay amazing. Jessica and Mohamed lead their departments expertly.
- Tours
- 7 tours
- Age range
- 1 to 105 years old
- Adventure type
- River Cruise
- Response time
- 17h
- Response rate
- 100%
- Average price
- $216
- 4.5 (399 reviews)
"The New Year in Holland and the Romantic Rhine (port to port) was a lovely cruise. My husband and I were very happy with the staff, the cruise itself and the places we visited. It was relaxing and informative. The food was wonderful and varied and well presented. We did not have to do anything, the staff greeted us on arrival and took our bags to the cabin, and took our bags to the taxi on departure. We had a great time.
- Tours
- 84 tours
- Age range
- 1 to 99 years old
- Adventure type
- River Cruise
- Response time
- 27h
- Response rate
- 88%
- Average price
- $360
- 4.5 (231 reviews)
"ship was excellent, food and drinks were great, adventures perfectly organized,all crew members were extremely friendly and helpful. One person was outstanding and needs to be mentioned: our cruise director GAYLE. She was just outstanding and the best we ever experienced.
- Tours
- 56 tours
- Age range
- 8 to 99 years old
- Adventure type
- River Cruise
- Response time
- 14h
- Response rate
- 94%
- Average price
- $804
Best places to start your adventure
Choose which city to start from:
Discover Rhine tours for every budget
Several Rhine River cruise options work well if you're watching your budget without missing any of the good stuff. The Classical Rhine cruise from Basel to Amsterdam puts you right in the action even from lower deck cabins. You'll dock at medieval towns and wine regions along the way - though you might need to pick and choose your excursions since not all are included in basic packages. Many of our customers love the Christmas market cruise through Alsace and the Black Forest, where you can wander through Freiburg's winter wonderland and shop for local crafts from your river base. The ships cover meals in their pricing, but you'll usually need to pay extra for drinks. While the onboard entertainment stays simple, you won't miss any Rhine highlights - from Cologne's massive cathedral to the sloping vineyards of Rudesheim.
Luxury Rhine cruises take things up several notches, especially on ships like AmaWaterways. These vessels come with roomy cabins, modern touches and restaurants with big windows where regional wines flow freely at mealtimes. The shore activities really set these cruises apart - you could be cycling through old Düsseldorf before stopping at traditional beer halls, or floating above Rüdesheim's vineyards in a gondola. Our guests particularly value having choices in each port - maybe a vineyard hike one day and an in-depth town tour the next. With fewer passengers onboard, you'll get more personal attention and flexibility with dining times and tour options.
- Rhine luxury tours
Rhine tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Group
448 tours in RhineExplore a wide diversity of group tours through Rhine. We have 448 adventures that vary from 3 days to 29 days. With the greatest number of departures in December, this is also the most popular time of the year.
Top Rhine travel itineraries to fit your plans
Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Middelburg, Veere, Kinderdijk, Dordrecht
See all toursAmsterdam, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Koblenz, Germersheim, Kehl, Strasbourg, Breisach, Basel
See all toursDemographics
The Rhine River cruises really shine for couples exploring together, especially on the Basel to Amsterdam route aboard the MS Crucevita. The smaller ship creates just the right intimate feel, and you'll notice how the crew makes everyone feel at home while you're discovering places like Strasbourg's charming La Petite France. The cabins work really well - they transform from sleeping spaces to daytime lounges, perfect for watching the scenery drift by. We've found the northbound route through the Rhine Gorge is particularly popular with wine enthusiasts who enjoy the local vineyard visits and evening wine tastings. Our couples often tell us they love having both guided tours and free time to explore medieval towns together.
The four-country cruise stopping at eight cities lets you experience Dutch canal houses, French Gothic cathedrals and also German castles. There are lovely moments throughout - sharing authentic Rüdesheimer coffee in its hometown, taking the Koblenz cable car ride and finding peaceful spots in Heidelberg's castle grounds. While the onboard experience offers good food, attentive service and evening entertainment, some travelers mention they'd like to see more local dishes on the menu. Many guests suggest getting the drink package to fully enjoy the social side of river cruising.
Our Rhine cruises work really well for seniors, balancing comfort with rich cultural experiences. The Amsterdam to Basel route is particularly popular with older travelers, combining well-organized city tours and scenic sailing through the Rhine Gorge. Seniors regularly praise the MS Crucevita for its manageable size, clean spaces and helpful crew. The cabins lean traditional rather than luxury, but you'll find plenty of comfortable spots in the public areas for relaxing and meeting fellow travelers.
The pace suits active seniors nicely - you can join guided walks through Cologne and Strasbourg's historic centers or take it easier enjoying castle views from deck. Our older guests particularly value having all meals included and only unpacking once for the whole trip. The cruise directors do a great job looking after everyone's needs and making sure language differences don't get in the way. While some tours involve steps and cobblestones, there are usually gentler options available for those who prefer easier going.
- Solo Travelers325 tours All tours for Solo Travelers
- Couples341 tours
- Seniors (50+)324 tours All tours for Seniors
Best time to visit
- Spring 2025
Spring sees the Rhine burst into bloom. Enjoy mild hikes, riverside cafes, and the fresh mountain air
- March 2025 21 tours
- April 2025 55 tours
- May 2025 popular 63 tours
- Summer 2025
Summer offers long, sunny days on the Rhine. Perfect for exploring castles, picturesque towns, and old ruins.
- June 2025 popular 58 tours
- July 2025 45 tours
- August 2025 54 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2025
Autumn bathes the Rhine's landscapes in gold. Visit the vineyards in harvest season and partake in local wine festivals.
- September 2025 61 tours
- October 2025 popular 70 tours
- 48 tours
- Winter 2025 / 2026
Winter brings a serene, frosty charm to the River Rhine. It's ideal for visiting festive Christmas markets and sipping glühwein in medieval town squares.
- December 2025 popular 83 tours
Contact our Rhine travel experts
Esteban
Expert in Rhine at TourRadar
Esteban 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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