River Cruises in Rhine Valley
Explore a wide diversity of river cruises through Rhine Valley. We have 84 cruises that vary from 3 days to 11 days. With the greatest number of departures in December, this is also the most popular time of the year.
10 best river cruise Rhine Valley tours
Compiled by
MelissaRhine Valley travel expert at TourRadar
- New Year's Eve Cruise on the Rhine - AMADEUS Aurea (Cologne - Cologne)
- Christmas Cruise on the Rhine - AMADEUS Riva (Cologne - Cologne)
- The Majestic Rhine 2026 - 8 Days (from Zurich to Frankfurt-am-Main)
- The Magic of Christmas: Savory delights and holiday traditions on a Rhine River cruise (port-to-port cruise)
- Classic Rhine, MS CruceRio
- The Rhine Gone Wild : A lively cruise filled with legends, flavors, and good cheer (port-to-port cruise) - MONA LISA
- Christmastime in Alsace & Germany (Southbound) 2026
- Rhine Holiday Markets (2027) (Cologne to Basel, 2027)
- City Escape: Strasbourg & the Rhine 2026
- Rhine Enchanting Christmas Markets 2026
You'll cruise through the Rhine Gorge past Lorelei Rock while having free-flowing hand-selected European wines at dinner. The ship docks in Rüdesheim am Rhein for a morning walking tour of Drosselgasse and traditional Rüdesheimer coffee tasting, then stops in Speyer to see the UNESCO-listed cathedral.
Duration 8 days Destinations Germany, France, Switzerland Age Range Ages 8+ Operated in English, German River Rhine Operator Lueftner Cruises From
- US$4,292
Duration 7 days Destinations Cologne, Koblenz, Speyer, Strasbourg, Mainz Age Range Ages 8+ Operated in English, German Ship Amadeus Riva River Rhine Operator Lueftner Cruises From
- US$1,368
The Majestic Rhine 2026 - 8 Days (from Zurich to Frankfurt-am-Main)
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers
Duration 8 days Destinations Switzerland, Germany, France Age Range Ages 12+ Ship Emerald Destiny River Rhine Operator Emerald Cruises From $4,525
9% Off- US$4,110You save $415
The MS Beethoven glides past legendary Lorelei Rock and medieval castles along the Rhine Valley. Highlights include Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet in Rüdesheim and Saint-Martin's Cathedral in Mainz. Traditional Alsatian celebrations enhance evening entertainment.
Duration 5 days Destinations Strasbourg, Rudesheim am Rhein, Mainz, Gambsheim Age Range All Ages Welcome Ships MS BeethovenMS Victor Hugo River Rhine Operator CroisiEurope River Cruises From
9% Off- US$1,347
Duration 8 days Destinations Dusseldorf, Koblenz, Mannheim, Strasbourg, Speyer, Mainz, Rudesheim am Rhein, Andernach Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, Spanish Ship MS Vista Rio Operator Crucemundo From
9% Off- US$1,920+$87 upfront costs
The Rhine Gone Wild : A lively cruise filled with legends, flavors, and good cheer (port-to-port cruise) - MONA LISA
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers
Duration 5 days Destinations Strasbourg, Koblenz, Rudesheim am Rhein, Mannheim, Heidelberg Age Range All Ages Welcome Ship MS Mona Lisa Operator CroisiEurope River Cruises From
9% Off- US$721
Avalon Visionary's Panorama Suites with Open-Air Balconies provide stunning views of the romantic Rhine Valley. The itinerary features Christmas markets in Heidelberg and Strasbourg, wine tasting in Breisach, and Black Forest traditions.
Duration 5 days Destinations Germany, France, Switzerland Age Range Ages 8+ Ship Avalon Illumination River Rhine Operator Avalon Waterways From
9% Off- US$3,792+$132 upfront costs
This 8-day cruise aboard the S.S. Antoinette or S.S. Victoria sails the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley with its castle-covered hillsides between Koblenz and Rüdesheim. You'll visit Christmas markets in Cologne's Old Town near the famous cathedral, walk through Strasbourg's Place Kléber to see its lit-up tree, and try vin chaud and gingerbread.
Duration 8 days Destinations Germany, France, Switzerland Age Range Ages 16+ Ships S.S. AntoinetteS.S. Victoria River Rhine Operator Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection From $4,449
10% Off- US$4,004You save $445
Duration 8 days Destinations Switzerland, Germany, France, Netherlands Age Range Ages 12+ Ships AmaViolaAmaCertoAmaLucia River Rhine Operator AmaWaterways From
10% Off- US$5,198+$250 upfront costs
Rhine Enchanting Christmas Markets 2026
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The food was top rate and plentiful the cabins clean and well maintained and hand sanitizer stations at each entrance.”
Lori, traveled in December
The A-ROSA SILVA visits Rhine Valley's Christmas markets, including medieval Rüdesheim's Drosselgasse and UNESCO-listed Speyer Cathedral. The ship sails through the legendary Loreley Valley with festive onboard celebrations. Six historic ports include Strasbourg's decorated old town.
Duration 6 days Destinations Cologne, Rudesheim am Rhein, Germersheim, Speyer, Kehl, Strasbourg, Mainz, Loreley, Koblenz Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Ship A-ROSA SILVA River Rhine Operator A-ROSA From
10% Off- US$694
Rhine Valley River Cruise Reviews
The cruise was so much more than we expected. The staff was so professional and anything we needed was always prompt and courteous. If I had only one comment it would be the bartenders we slow to respond to guests at the bar.
Rhine Enchanting Christmas Markets 2026
- SPECTACULAR RHINE, Cologne – Strasbourg-Basel – Cologne
This was a great cruise overall. In particular the staff were fantastic, the food provided was plentiful and delicious, the stops chosen, tours given and tour guides provided were excellent and the boat was lovely. There were also a few negatives though. In particular I really objected to being charged €10 for 1Gb or 1 day whichever expired first for relatively slow WiFi. We've been travelling around the world now since March. We've been To 28 countries and stayed at 92 different hotels and hostels, some very basic. Every single one, with the only exception of the Crucivita, offered free WiFi. It wasn't always fast or reliable but it was always free. On our cruise, my wife and I found ourselves skipping parts of the tours in Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne and Amsterdam so we could catch up with events on social.media when we walked through free WiFi hotspots in cities, often near cafes but sometimes not. I started really resenting having to do that. It left a bad taste in my mouth that the cruise tried to get money from.us in this way. Another problem was the fixed seating arrangements for lunch. The four Americans we shared a table with 15 times throughout the week were nice folk but it really put a strain on our civility when we found out, half way through, that they were Trump supporters. It would be good if there was an option to sit at a table of your choice for some meals or something. Finally, our room was towards the back end of the boat and so we had the engine noise pretty bad some nights. But overall, it was great. Thank you.
What our customers ask about River Cruises in Rhine Valley
Which major cities and attractions are typically included on Rhine Valley river cruises?
A Rhine Valley cruise connects Europe's most notable riverside destinations. Passengers visit Strasbourg's UNESCO-listed Grande Île and explore Cologne's towering Gothic Cathedral. The route includes Rüdesheim where narrow streets lead to traditional wine taverns and Koblenz where the Rhine meets the Moselle. Most ships dock in Amsterdam's canal district and stop at the Black Forest region. Notable sights include the Lorelei Rock and Heidelberg Castle. As one TourRadar traveler shared: "The food was amazing and the journey along the Rhine at Christmas something we shall never forget especially visiting Strasbourg's historic center and the Christmas markets."
What are the most scenic stretches along Rhine Valley river cruises?
The Rhine Gorge between Rüdesheim and Koblenz stands out as the route's visual centerpiece. Medieval castles perch 400 feet above the water including the well-preserved Marksburg Castle and the storied Lorelei Rock. As one TourRadar traveler noted "The combination of medieval castles vineyard-covered hillsides and charming villages made the Rhine Gorge absolutely breathtaking." Ships such as MS Modigliani and Emerald Sky feature large windows and open decks designed for viewing these landscapes.
What types of cabins are available on Rhine Valley river cruise ships?
Rhine cruise ships offer accommodations across multiple price points and deck levels. The Emerald Dawn provides options from Owner's Suites to standard Emerald Staterooms. On the MS Gerard Schmitter passengers choose between Category A B and C cabins spread across Upper Middle and Main decks with flexible bed configurations. As one TourRadar traveler mentioned "Our cabin on the upper deck was surprisingly spacious with floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of storage space."
What shore excursions are typically included on Rhine Valley river cruises?
Standard Rhine Valley cruise packages include guided walks through Cologne's Old Town Strasbourg's historic center and Heidelberg Castle. Many ships offer bicycle tours in Breisach and Amsterdam's Waterland area. Additional experiences range from wine sampling in Rüdesheim to Black Forest excursions and visits to Mainz's Gutenberg Museum. As noted by a TourRadar traveler: "The included walking tours were informative and well-paced while optional excursions like the Black Forest tour added great cultural insights."
When is the best time of year to take a Rhine Valley river cruise?
The Rhine Valley cruise season runs year-round with distinct seasonal highlights. April to October sees the highest number of sailings. Spring cruises (April-May) coincide with tulip season near Amsterdam's Keukenhof Gardens. Summer brings warm weather perfect for deck viewing while fall offers wine harvests and colorful foliage. December cruises focus on traditional Christmas markets with Strasbourg hosting one of Europe's largest. As one TourRadar traveler noted about their spring cruise: "A wonderful tour where the staff did all they could to make our experience memorable. The journey along the Rhine at Christmas something we shall never forget."
How much free time is typically available in ports?
Rhine Valley cruise schedules mix guided activities with independent exploration time. Major stops like Cologne and Strasbourg usually allow 2-4 hours of free time after organized tours. Evening ports such as Rüdesheim give passengers time to explore local attractions like the Drosselgasse at their own pace. As one TourRadar traveler mentioned: "We appreciated having free afternoons to wander through charming towns like Koblenz and shop at local markets after our morning tours."