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.
Excellent
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We had originally booked a Rhine River cruise with stops in Germany, but because of the drought it had to be changed (The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars, because I was disappointed). We ended up cruising to stops in the Netherlands and were transferred to different towns by bus. This, of course, was not the fault of the cruise line. They quickly were able to make changes and would give us updates as changes needed to be made. Our whole group had an enjoyable time. The staff was excellent and specifically our waitress Nu and the cruise director Marcos. They both went above and beyond. The rooms were clean. The whole ship was clean. The restaurant, lounge and sundeck were large and comfortable. The food was good and we were served large portions (you could request half portions or extra). We met many wonderful people and a group of us are continuing to stay in touch with each other. We plan to do more river cruises.
SPECTACULAR RHINE, Cologne – Strasbourg-Basel – CologneGreat value for money, whirlwind tour of 7 beautiful countries, each one more beautiful than the last. Expect to have long days packed with wonderful experiences. I would highly recommend this tour. Bring comfortable shoes and a happy disposition 😁 you won't regret booking this wonderful your!
European VistasWe 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
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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
“The rooms were clean. The whole ship was clean.”
Katie, traveled in August
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 $2,155
30% Off- US$1,508+$145 upfront costs
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
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 $1,639
12% Off- US$1,450
Europe Explorer
“Genuinely did not think a tour could be as fun as the one I had been on.”
Aaron, traveled in July
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 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 $1,988
10% Off- US$1,798
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
10% Off- US$2,961
Rhine Highlights with Switzerland 2026 - 12 Days
“A credit to the ship, nothing was too much trouble, lots of fun.”
Michaeljohnson, traveled in September
Scenic Crystal's butler-serviced suites with Sun Lounges grace the legendary Rhine. Forty medieval castles line the UNESCO Rhine Gorge, while Cologne's Gothic Cathedral and Strasbourg's Petite France district beckon. Classical concerts at Rastatt Palace provide exclusive entertainment.
Duration 12 days Destinations Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland Age Range Ages 12+ Ship Scenic Pearl River Rhine Operator Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours From $10,785
8% Off- US$9,971
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 Travelers731 tours- Couples774 tours
- Seniors (50+)651 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 92 tours
- October 2026 popular 113 tours
- 109 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 111 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 99 tours
- April 2027 155 tours
- May 2027 popular 209 tours
Contact our Rhine travel experts
Melissa
Expert in Rhine at TourRadar
Melissa 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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