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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Frank • traveled in October, 2025
A great experience. Great value. Personnel very helpful and friendly. Cleanliness was great. Bar and wait staff attentive. Food was perhaps a little to salty to our liking, but otherwise good (four stars). House wine and draft beer were quite enjoyable. In all, the experience was better than expected, so who knows if we won’t take a different Crucevita cruise?
SPECTACULAR RHINE, Cologne – Strasbourg-Basel – Cologne - B
Brian • traveled in April, 2026
The trip was great. Well planned and organized at each port. Some excursions were better than others. As it was our first river cruise, we opted for all the excursions. We would likely do more research at each port and do some of our own touring next time. The guides at each port were very knowledgeable. Definitely looking forward to our next one. TourRadar was excellent in doing the bookings and providing communication through the entire process.
Classical Rhine Cruise (Basel - Amsterdam) (15 destinations) - E
elizabeth • traveled in July
Clean boat, staff efficient, abundant food, but where were the ten destinations
Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2026
Traveler Photos & Videos from Rhine Cruises
- Classical Rhine Cruise (Amsterdam - Basel) (11 destinations)
- Christmas Markets on Rhine, MS Vista Rio
- Rhine Highlights 2026 - 8 Days
- Christmas and New Year Rhine cruise: Dusseldorf - Dusseldorf - MS Vista Rio
- UNDISCOVERED NETHERLANDS, Cologne - Amsterdam - Cologne, MS Vista Rio
- SPECTACULAR RHINE, Cologne – Strasbourg-Basel – Cologne
- Romantic Rhine (Northbound) 2024
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
SPECTACULAR RHINE, Cologne – Strasbourg-Basel – Cologne
27 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Boat very well appointed, all staff very friendly and accommodating. Would recommend the trip.”
Jeremy, traveled in September
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 Germany, France, Switzerland Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, French, Spanish Ships MS Vista Gracia (ex. Crucevita)MS Vista Rio River Rhine Operator Crucemundo From
- US$2,164+$146 upfront costs
Rhine Experience Netherlands & Belgium 2026
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“very comfortable room, pleasant staff, excellent food.”
Paula, traveled in September
Duration 8 days Destinations Germany, Netherlands, Belgium Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German River Rhine Operator A-ROSA From
- US$1,937
Duration 8 days Destinations Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands Age Range Ages 8+ Operated in English, German Ship AMADEUS Aurea River Rhine Operator Lueftner Cruises From
- US$2,681
Rhine Experience Amsterdam & Rotterdam 2026
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Helpful responsive staff.”
Andrew, traveled in April
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 Ages 12+ Operated in English, German Ship A-ROSA SENA River Rhine Operator A-ROSA From
- US$1,996
Family Club - The Romantic Rhine Valley and the Rock of Lorelei (port-to-port cruise)
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Fantastic views, fantastic food and fantastic service!”
Larissa, traveled in June
Premium ships MS Beethoven and MS Lafayette offer panoramic cabins and French balconies. The route passes Stolzenfels Castle, Rudesheim's wine taverns, and the Lorelei Rock. All-inclusive dining features regional wines, approx. $200 per day.
Duration 5 days Destinations Germany, Switzerland, France Age Range All Ages Welcome Ships MS Gerard SchmitterMS La BohèmeMS Monet River Rhine Operator CroisiEurope River Cruises From
- US$1,501
Rhine Highlights 2026 - 8 Days
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Excursions were very good with varied options and terrific guides.”
Frederick, traveled in April
Duration 8 days Destinations Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland Age Range Ages 18+ Ships Scenic Opal Scenic Pearl River Rhine Operator Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours From $4,395
9% Off- US$3,998You save $397
Duration 12 days Destinations Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Austria Age Range All Ages Welcome River RhineVltava Operator Europamundo From
9% Off- US$2,611
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
Who are you traveling with?
Top Rhine travel itineraries to fit your plans
Demographics
Solo Travelers274 tours- Couples309 tours
- Seniors (50+)278 tours
Best time to visit
- Summer 2026
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 2026 52 tours
- July 2026 49 tours
- August 2026 popular 72 tours
- 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 52 tours
- October 2026 popular 57 tours
- 47 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 62 tours
Contact our Rhine travel experts
Kaitlyn
Expert in Rhine at TourRadar
Kaitlyn 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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