:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TAL-riverside-luxury-cruises-RHINERIVERCRUISE0824-de673810ecee4b0a80dd89eec7a8b1c6.jpg "The 10 best Rhine cruises")
River cruises have become increasingly popular in recent years, with new lines offering unique ways to experience Europe’s most famous rivers, including the Danube, Douro, Seine and of course the Rhine. “Famous for its castles, cathedrals, historic sites and medieval towns, the Rhine offers majestic scenery as you travel through several European countries. You feel like you have travelled back in time to another era of our world,” Travel + Leisure Says A-list consultant Olga Placeres.
Most Rhine cruises allow guests to explore the area at their leisure, making this a great trip idea for multigenerational travel. From family-friendly trips to beer-focused itineraries to festive holiday cruises, here are 10 of the best Rhine cruises for every type of traveler.
AmaWaterways
Courtesy of AmaWaterways
Enchanting 7-night Rhine cruise
Cruise expert Placeres has named AmaWaterways one of her favorite river cruise lines. This family-run line offers all-inclusive river cruises with a range of shore excursions for active and relaxed travelers. Several Rhine cruises are available, and some include the Mosel and Main. Christmas market cruises and wine-focused itineraries are also offered.
The enchanting Rhine cruise begins in Basel, Switzerland, where passengers board (the exact ship varies by date, but all carry fewer than 170 guests). In Breisach, Germany, guests can choose between a bike tour of the wine region, a hiking tour, or a hike in the Black Forest. The cruise continues to Strasbourg, Heidelberg, and Rüdesheim, with the option of active or relaxed excursions each day. The scenic Rhine Gorge area is a highlight, and there are visits to Cologne and Düsseldorf before the voyage arrives in Amsterdam.
Viking River Cruises
Courtesy of Viking River Cruises
11-day Rhine and Main discovery cruise
Placeres also recommends Viking Cruises, founded in 1997 by Torstein Hagen, which offers river, ocean and expedition cruises on all seven continents. Viking’s Rhine cruises last between eight and 15 days and itineraries extend beyond the Rhine to include the Main, the Moselle and a trip across the North Sea to the Norwegian fjords.
The Rhine and Main Explorer Tour begins in Nuremberg and continues to Bamberg, where you can take a walking tour of the winding streets of the medieval city. Cruise highlights include castle tours in Würzburg, local Bavarian culture and cuisine in Marktheidenfeld, a scenic boat ride on the Main River, a tour of the charming French city of Strasbourg, and admiring Germany’s famous Black Forest. The tour ends with two nights in Basel, where you can take a city tour and enjoy cheese fondue.
Adventures of Disney
Terry Ward
8-day Rhine cruise
Adventures by Disney river cruises are designed for families, but also offer adults-only (18+) experiences on Europe’s rivers. Rather than setting sail on a Disney Cruise Line large ship, these itineraries use AmaWaterways riverboats to provide a more intimate experience with a maximum of 156 guests. Travel writer Terry Ward took her six- and seven-year-old children and her 18-year-old niece on Adventures by Disney’s Rhine River cruise in July. “I can attest to the fact that it’s a trip that appeals to all generations,” says Ward. “There were always multiple options for shore excursions – there was something for all passengers.”
“For example, during a stop in the Black Forest, we could choose to go sledding through the forest, learn to carve wooden toys and butter making, visit Europa-Park or enjoy the medieval old town of Riquewihr.” Ward tells T+L: “On several evenings, Disney’s Adventure Guides whisked the children away to the lounge where they could enjoy themselves – perhaps a Disney film and dinner or games – while the adults could try the chef’s tasting menu or enjoy a quieter dinner. Teenagers had their own tables for dinner if they wanted.” Ward added: “The Adventure Guides were from some of the countries we drove through, so it felt a bit like riding along with a friend who was in the know, like traveling through Europe with them.”
Avalon Waterways
Courtesy of Avalon Waterways
8-day Tulip Time Cruise for Beer Lovers
After nearly a century in European tourism, the Globus family of brands founded Avalon Waterways in 2004, which was ranked among the world’s best river cruise companies by T+L readers in 2024. Avalon’s Rhine cruises last between five and eleven days; some also include the Moselle, and they offer seasonal Christmas market cruises.
The Tulip Time for Beer Enthusiasts cruise is a round-trip cruise from Amsterdam offered in the spring. A beer expert is on board to provide lectures, beer tastings and food and beer pairings. The ship sails to Rotterdam for a walking tour, bike tour or guided excursion to Keukenhof, known as the “Garden of Europe” with its over seven million tulips. In Antwerp and Ghent, guests can choose between bike or walking tours, while guided tours in Willemstad take guests between centuries-old buildings. In Amsterdam, guests can take a guided canal cruise followed by a Dutch beer experience.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
8-day Rhine Valley cruise
Founded in 1976, Uniworld is a luxury, all-inclusive cruise line that offers itineraries on Europe’s famous rivers. Uniworld’s Rhine cruises start at eight days, but travelers with more time can combine the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers on a 25-day cruise through eight countries.
The eight-day Rhine Valley cruise begins in Nuremberg and continues to Bamberg, where guests can choose between a hiking tour, a nature park hike or a brewery tour. In Würzburg, guests can choose a tour of the 18th-century castle or a wine tasting; other stops include Miltenberg, Mainz, Baden-Baden, Strasbourg and Breisach before disembarking in Basel.
Tauck
8-Day Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure Cruise
This century-old, family-run company offers travel experiences in more than 100 destinations, from small group tours to river cruises. Tauck’s Rhine cruise itineraries range from eight days to the 15-day Grand European Cruise, which covers nine countries along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.
The eight-day Castles on the Rhine: Family Riverboat Adventure is a Tauck Bridges family cruise for guests of all ages. The cruise begins in Basel, and the next day guests travel by rail to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland to ride the world’s steepest cog railway. In Strasbourg, there’s a French sing-along concert and chocolate tasting. The family-oriented fun continues with stops in Heidelberg, Rüdesheim and Cologne before the ship reaches its final stop. In Amsterdam, guests can take a canal cruise, tour a windmill or sample local cheeses.
Scenic
Courtesy of Scenic
8-day Christmas market cruise on the Rhine
Founded in 1986, this Australian company offers river cruises, sea voyages and expeditions to the polar regions. Scenic is considered an ultra-luxurious five-star cruise line and offers special Rhine routes with Christmas markets or focus themes such as wine and food.
The Rhine Christmas Markets cruise begins in Amsterdam with the option of a walking, cycling or canal tour before heading to Cologne, where guests can tour the magnificent 13th-century Gothic cathedral, visit a brewery and browse the Christmas markets. In Baden-Baden, a famous German spa town, you can browse the markets or relax in the thermal waters. Koblenz, Mannheim and Strasbourg are other stops on this Christmas itinerary.
Emerald Cruises
Courtesy of Emerald Cruises
8-day cruise “Jewels of the Rhine”
Founded in 2013, Emerald specializes in luxury river and yacht cruises. Emerald’s Rhine cruises include an eight-day voyage and an eleven-day cruise that includes the Moselle.
The Jewels of the Rhine cruise begins with two nights in Amsterdam, where guests can enjoy a bike ride or canal cruise before the captain’s dinner. The cruise then continues to Cologne and the charming cities of Koblenz, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Freiburg, where castles, historic churches and half-timbered houses await. The next day, the ship reaches Basel for the end of the cruise.
CruiseEurope
Courtesy of CroisiEurope
5-day Rhine in Flames cruise
Founded in France in 1976, CroisiEurope is the largest European river cruise company. The company also offers sea cruises and canal cruises. The budget river cruises include some shore excursions and the duration of the Rhine cruises varies from three days to two weeks or longer.
The five-day Rhine in Flames cruise begins in Strasbourg for an overnight cruise. The next day in Rüdesheim there are excursion options such as a train ride to a wine cellar followed by a visit to the Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments or a gondola ride to the Niederwald Monument and a vineyard hike. The next day is the main event when the ship sails to Trechtingshausen where the famous Rhine in Flames fireworks display takes place. The ship arrives in Mannheim where there is an optional visit to Heidelberg and later a gala evening before heading back to Strasbourg.
A-Rosa Cruises
Courtesy of A-ROSA Cruises
6-day Rhine Legends Cruise
This German company has been sailing the Rhine and its tributaries since 2009. The family-friendly line features a kids’ club and family suites with plenty of space to spread out. River cruises last four to seven days, and there is a fee for most excursions.
The five-day Rhine Legends cruise begins in Cologne and travels along the Middle Rhine. In Rüdesheim, guests can explore the countryside on a bike or rail tour. Stops in Speyer, Strasbourg, Mainz and Koblenz offer further opportunities to explore the beautiful region before the ship returns to Cologne for disembarkation.
