Rhine River Tours & Trip Packages

Rhine River Tours & Trips

232 Rhine River trips. Tours from 46 tour companies. 13 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

14 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
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Boppard
Iconic Rivers of Europe - the Rhine, Main & Danube with 1 Night in Bucharest
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

Visits

Amsterdam, Bamberg, Belgrade, Belogradchik, Boppard, Bucharest, Budapest, Croatia, Heidelberg, Linz, Munich, Nuremberg, Passau, Romania, Vienna

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Canal cruise
  • Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; choice of visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum or cable-car ride to the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim
  • Guided walk
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it was the polar opposite. Most sites were awesome but the tour needed a guide in addition to the Egyptologist, who didn’t look out for the safety/best interests of the guests. I submitted a detailed review of Egypt and Jordan but have not yet heard back."

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The Rhine & Moselle (Southbound)
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

Visits

Amsterdam, Basel, Boppard, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Luxembourg, Rudesheim, Strasbourg, Trier, Zurich

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Canal cruise
  • Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of guided walk, visit Reichsburg Castle or visit to Bundesbank bunker or bike tour with your Adventure Host
  • Guided tour in Trier; guided tour in Luxembourg
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it was the polar opposite. Most sites were awesome but the tour needed a guide in addition to the Egyptologist, who didn’t look out for the safety/best interests of the guests. I submitted a detailed review of Egypt and Jordan but have not yet heard back."

Trip dates & details
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German Grandeur (Eastbound)
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Bamberg, Basel, Boppard, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Heidelberg Castle, Munich, Nuremberg, Prague, Rudesheim, Strasbourg, Zurich

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of excursion to Black Forest or visit to a local winery in Breisach or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of guided tour, visit to La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or visit to Freiburg or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, cable-car ride to the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim, or a hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host; scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge; time at leisure in Boppard
  • In Frankfurt choice of guided tour or bike with your Adventure Host or guided tour in Seligenstadt
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it was the polar opposite. Most sites were awesome but the tour needed a guide in addition to the Egyptologist, who didn’t look out for the safety/best interests of the guests. I submitted a detailed review of Egypt and Jordan but have not yet heard back."

Trip dates & details
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Enchanted Europe (Westbound)
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Bamberg, Basel, Boppard, Budapest, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg, Passau, Rudesheim, Salzburg, Strasbourg, Vienna, Zurich

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Scenic sailing, pass through Bratislava; free time in Vienna in the evening
  • Choice of guided sightseeing, or Künsthistorisches Museum visit, or bike with your Adventure Host
  • In Dürnstein choice of guided tour or a hike up to the castle ruins; scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley; bike with your Adventure Host along the river; choice of guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk; onboard wine tasting
  • Guided walk
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it was the polar opposite. Most sites were awesome but the tour needed a guide in addition to the Egyptologist, who didn’t look out for the safety/best interests of the guests. I submitted a detailed review of Egypt and Jordan but have not yet heard back."

Trip dates & details
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German Grandeur with 2 Nights in Munich (Eastbound)
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

Visits

Bamberg, Basel, Boppard, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg, Rudesheim, Strasbourg

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of excursion to Black Forest or Freiburg guided tour or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of guided tour, visit to La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or visit to Freiburg or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, cable-car ride to the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim, or a hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host; scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge; time at leisure in Boppard
  • In Frankfurt choice of guided tour or bike with your Adventure Host or guided tour in Seligenstadt
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it was the polar opposite. Most sites were awesome but the tour needed a guide in addition to the Egyptologist, who didn’t look out for the safety/best interests of the guests. I submitted a detailed review of Egypt and Jordan but have not yet heard back."

Trip dates & details
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Active & Discovery on the Rhine (Southbound)
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Bonn, Boppard, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Koblenz, Rudesheim

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of painting class, or kayak tour or canal cruise
  • Choice of guided city sightseeing, or biking tour, or culinary tour
  • Choice of Koblenz walking tour and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress with cable car ride, or Volcano Tour experience, or e-biking tour in the vineyards; cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breath-taking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; private reception at Rheinstein Castle
  • Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle with tasting of local special-ties, see the Great Vat, or a hike up Philosophers’ Way, or beer tour
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it was the polar opposite. Most sites were awesome but the tour needed a guide in addition to the Egyptologist, who didn’t look out for the safety/best interests of the guests. I submitted a detailed review of Egypt and Jordan but have not yet heard back."

Trip dates & details
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Active & Discovery on the Rhine (Northbound)
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Bonn, Boppard, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Koblenz, Rudesheim

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of excursion to Black Forest, or e-bike tour in the Black Forest or visit to a local winery
  • Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or culinary walk, or active walk along the river
  • Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle with tasting of local specialties, see the Great Vat, or a hike up Philosophers’ Way, or beer tour; private reception at Rheinstein Castle
  • Cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; choice of Koblenz walking tour and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress with cable car ride, or Volcano Tour experience, or e-biking tour in the vineyards; classic concert
Show more

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it was the polar opposite. Most sites were awesome but the tour needed a guide in addition to the Egyptologist, who didn’t look out for the safety/best interests of the guests. I submitted a detailed review of Egypt and Jordan but have not yet heard back."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Enchanted Europe (Eastbound)
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Bamberg, Basel, Boppard, Budapest, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Heidelberg Castle, Linz, Munich, Nuremberg, Passau, Rudesheim, Salzburg, Strasbourg, Vienna, Zurich

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of excursion to Black Forest or visit to a local winery in Breisach visit to Freiburg or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Guided tour, visit to La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, cable-car ride to the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim, or a hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host; scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge; time at leisure in Boppard
  • Choice of guided tour in Frankfurt, or guided tour in Seligenstadt
Show more

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it was the polar opposite. Most sites were awesome but the tour needed a guide in addition to the Egyptologist, who didn’t look out for the safety/best interests of the guests. I submitted a detailed review of Egypt and Jordan but have not yet heard back."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
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Accessible Germany River Cruise
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5/5 Excellent
16 reviews
River Cruise
Why we love them
Their accessibility specialists have traveled with their own disabilities so they have a deep understanding of how to accommodate different needs.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Bonn, Dusseldorf

Highlights

  • Fully Accessible River Cruise
  • Visit Bonn

Themes

Accessible & Limited Mobility, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"I recently booked a trip to Mexico with Tarita for my family. I use a wheelchair and have two small children, and Tarita was a wealth of knowledge about which resorts would be both accessible AND kid friendly, which was awesome. Access was at the top of her list and she handled all the details. Really happy that I found her!"

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10 Day Bavaria & Alps Experience
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5/5 Excellent
9 reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
They go the extra mile to cater to travelers of all abilities by limiting hotel transfers, choosing accessible tour routes and more.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Alps, Bavaria, Berlin, Frankfurt, Grindelwald, Lucerne, Mt. Pilatus, Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle, Zurich

Highlights

  • Experience Munich and see the highlights of this 850 year old city
  • The day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle
  • Travelling the Romantic Road, we first reach Harburg
  • Fully guided experience of the Dachau Concentration Camp
  • Drive through the beautiful upper Bavarian countryside to Chiemsee, Bavaria's largest lake.

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"I've traveled to Europe several times before but not like this. Thanks to Kelley and her amazing knowledge and patience with all my queries, my famiy and I enjoyed a customized itinerary filled with a food tour in Paris and a cooking lesson in Naples, history and art lessons at the British Museum and Musee D'Orsay, with enough time to travel independently and make new discoveries with less hassle than before. I absolutely recommend the Relaxed Explorer to anyone looking to make memorable trips with their families that will be cherished by all. Thank you so much Kelley!! Would love to make more good travel memories with your help!!"

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Christmas Markets along the Rhine
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Strasbourg

Highlights

  • Cruise highlights An exciting cruise on the Rhine River bringing on the holiday cheer
  • THE MUST-SEE SITES: Heidelberg and one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany
  • Koblenz and the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

Themes

50 plus, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, Family Friendly, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Summary over a cruise on the Haute Seine and Yonne on a barge. As seasoned cruisers, knowing well all aspects of cruising on seas and rivers, we had no experience about traveling on a barge in a canal. It was also time to overcome this lack. A number of companies offer this kind of cruising on barge with 8 to 16 passengers, however very often at exorbitant prices. Luckily, we discovered that the company CroisiEurope offers one week cruise on various canals in Europe, at very decent price, especially considering that all is inclusive (full board, all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and all excursions) on modern barges with a maximum of 22 passengers. We opted for the barge Ms Deborah, which cruises on the canal de la Loire, with the Briare to Nevers’ route. We were looking forward to this itinerary because the proposed excursions particularly suited us. Unfortunately, only a few days before departure, we were informed that due of a lack of water in the Loire canal the Ms Deborah was switched over to the Haute Seine and Yonne for a new itinerary from Paris to Sens. Despites the fact that this new itinerary didn’t really meet our desires, especially the excursions, we decided to accept the change. Our group of 6 persons from Switzerland was very warmly greeted by all members of the crew when arriving on the quai de Grenelle in Paris where we see the MS DEBORAH for the first time, our floating home for the week. With its two dominating colours blue and white, it is difficult not to fall in love with this beautiful small ship. We were invited immediately for the welcome cocktail during which we met officially the crew and the other six individual passengers originating from New Zealand, England and the USA. With less time than it needs to tell, the relation between us was created, so that everyone felt part of a bunch of friends knowing each other for long time. There is no need to present here the MS Deborah itself, as this is already thoroughly done on the Cruise Critic page. The crew of 6 persons is composed of a captain, a sailor, a cruise director, a chef, a waitress and a cabin hostess who put all their efforts to satisfy the passengers and offer them the best possible service. The captain as well as the sailor are always trying to make passengers at ease, answer questions or even bring a drink. The lady cruise director is omnipresent, taking care of the passengers better than a mother hen would do. The talented young French chef aims to produce dishes which please everybody. His outstanding sauces and excellent desserts should be particularly praised. However, referring to comments we made during a cruise on the Seine Princess two years ago, we cannot understand that why today it is not possible to offer the choice of a light buffet at lunch instead a three or even four course menu! The always smiling and friendly Hungarian waitress was very caring and attentive, without forgetting the cabin hostess doing a great job in the cabins, the public spaces and even the kitchen. It wouldn’t be fair to name a single person as all members of the crew, without any exception, do all they can to make the cruise unforgettable. Our one-week cruise on the barge Ms Deborah enables us today to make the following comments: ~ a cruise on a barge cannot be compared to any other kind of cruise ~ despite all the comfort offered on modern barge, one must be very aware that life on board happens at a restraint space, requiring therefore much flexibility and understanding in all aspects from all passengers ~ in our case, being only 12 passengers, we had the opportunity to take our meals on the terrace. We also never had the feeling that the boat was overcrowded. This can be different when the ship is full, especially by bad weather ~ the state of mind between the passengers who are mostly of foreign nationalities, who don’t know each other and don’t speak French, must function well right from the beginning ~ if the interrelation works, it is difficult to find a more relaxing and enjoyable way of travelling ~ the success on a barge is mainly due on the quality of its crew. Ms Deborah’s crew members have quickly created a family spirit on board, showing also that they genuinely like what they do ~ excursions can play a major role in choosing an itinerary. Not speaking French or English can be a handicap Do we recommend to do a cruise on a barge? Yes, definitively! It’s affordable, the atmosphere on board is unique, the routes can be very interesting. In our case, this second try with CroisiEurope gives them a better note."

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14 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
My selections:
Boppard

Rhine River Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
13  Reviews
See all Rhine River tour reviews
Excellent
6
Great
0
Average
1
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
R

RIP off report

May 2020

Written on

Do not use Great Value Vacations

We spent $11, 630.20 for a 12 day trip to Europe, from 6/11/2020 to 6/23/2020. THEY cancelled our trip, and refuse to refund our money, even after we purchased the t...

L

Larry

Oct 2018

Misleading and often just plain dishonest.

We paid for a 3 week luxury river cruise but received a large group bus trip across Europe with many days of packing and unpacking. I called our Viking representativ...

C

Charles

Oct 2022

Good and no so goog

Recently returned from a Viking Rhine trip on 10/14. The good: Rhine water levels were good, no issues. Service on the vessel was A+, excluding one attendant with...

T

Tonya

Aug 2015

Incredible experience

Incredible experience sailing on the Grand European tour from Amsterdam to Budapest! Just wonderful! The tours were interesting, and most allowed for adequate free t...

W

Wayne H

Jan 2017

Written on

The most amazing river trip in Europe

Traveling from Belgium through 6 countries to Switzerland is one of the most amazing travel experiences in Europe, especially if traveling with Grand Circle Travel. ...

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Rhine River Tour Selection Trips

  • Rhine cruises typically last between eight and 12 days, largely depending on whether or not they include side-trips along the Moselle, which branches off from Rhine at Koblenz.
  • Some longer itineraries may include other waterways in AustriaHungary or the Netherlands.
  • Be sure to allow at least one extra day in canal- and museum-rich Amsterdam and/or in Basel in Switzerland, to explore those cities before or after the cruise.
  • Christmas market cruises in late November and December are very popular along the Rhine, where festive village outdoor markets sell handcrafted gifts and are filled with the aromas of freshly made gingerbread, sizzling sausages, and mulled wine.
  • The busiest season for Rhine cruises is June through August. May and September can feature pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices.
  • There are about ten more castles on the right (eastern) bank of the Rhine River Gorge than on the left (western). (The Lorelei rock is on the eastern bank.) But don’t worry too much about which side of the ship your cabin is on; even if you have a private balcony, you’ll probably spend much of your time on the top deck, where there’s a 360-degree view.
  • Many Rhine cruise itineraries offer chances for interesting side-trips away from the river. Particularly appealing are the Alsatian city of Strasbourg in France, which combines French and German culture, and the Black Forest area of southwestern Germany.
  • You can also combine a Rhine River cruise with a Danube River cruise via a canal and sail down to Budapest, Hungary, or beyond through eastern Europe.
  • With the perennial popularity of Rhine cruises, don’t expect to find last-minute bargains. Book as early as possible – often a year in advance or more – to be sure to get the cabin you want.
  • To judge the best value as opposed to just the lowest price, keep an eye out for how many “extras” are included in the base rate – such as port excursions, port charges, alcohol, balcony cabins, and even international airfare on occasion – that could considerably inflate the price if purchased separately. (Gratuities are seldom included, though you may be able to pay them up front.)
  • If you plan on traveling alone on your Rhine cruise, check into the cruise lines’ policies on charging for singles supplements, and whether or not they will match you with a same-sex roommate if you’d like to avoid the extra charge.
  • Some cruise lines employ multiple tour directors and offer port excursions at different “speeds,” so you can choose how fast you want to walk or ride and how much you want to see.
  • Be sure to check with cruise lines if you have special diet needs. Some may not be able to do kosher food, for example, while others may fall down on gluten-free or even interesting vegetarian dishes. 

Additional details

River cruises along the Rhine are perfect for those travelers seeking a less crowded European river cruise than the Danube, but are eager to see many similar sights.

Rather than traveling in and east-west direction, Rhine river cruises travel north-south through the Netherlands, western Germany, and some far eastern parts of France.

Unlike many other river cruises through Europe, the Rhine touches on some views of a more industrial side of Europe. You will absolutely see a smattering of castles, and gorgeous countryside, but expect a few industrial plants and factories along the way as well. The Rhine, like all important rivers, has gone through many iterations of importance to the countries it services.

How long are Rhine River Cruises?

Rhine river cruises are usually between 8 and 15 days. This gives you a nice balance of port calls and time out on the water.

However, be sure to check the itinerary and route carefully. Many Rhine River cruises travel in smaller areas, rather than the full expanse of the river. These cruises may be similar amounts of time but hitting a different number of countries.

So when searching for a Rhine River cruise, consider whether you’d prefer to visit more sites within 1 country - meaning some smaller villages and towns, or forgo some sights in the interest of checking off more countries and larger cities.

Christmas Cruises Along the Rhine

The Rhine is an extremely popular river for people wanting to visit some of Europe’s famous Christmas markets. These delightful markets have deep roots in Germany where they are called “Christkindlesmarkt”. Because the Rhine flows through much of Germany’s western regions, it is one of the top rivers that hosts Christmas cruises.

Snow is common, so be ready for some cold weather! But it adds everything to the ambiance, as you stroll through the streets listening to carols, sipping mulled wine, and browsing stalls of crafts and food.

Rhine Christmas cruises fill up fast! Be sure to book early to secure a spot. And book extra early if you or someone you traveling with requires special assistance, such as a wheelchair accessible room. These are first come first serve on river cruise vessels.

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