About the Rhine
The Rhine is the busiest river-cruise corridor in the world. Its Middle-Rhine gorge between Bingen and Koblenz is a UNESCO World Heritage Site studded with more than forty hilltop castles. Most Rhine itineraries run between Amsterdam and Basel, covering Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Mannheim, Speyer, Strasbourg and Breisach in seven to ten days.
Headline destinations: Cologne Cathedral, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Marksburg Castle, the Middle Rhine UNESCO gorge.
The river flows through 6 countries — Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, Netherlands. 132 ships from 13 different operators currently sail itineraries here, ranging from week-long classic loops to multi-week extended voyages.
Featured itineraries on the Rhine
| Itinerary | Length | Sample ports |
|---|---|---|
| Romantic Rhine | 8 nights | Amsterdam · Cologne · Koblenz · Rüdesheim · Mannheim · Strasbourg · Breisach |
| Rhine Highlights | 7 nights | Basel · Breisach · Strasbourg · Speyer · Mainz · Rüdesheim · Koblenz |
| Tulip Time on the Rhine | 8 nights | Amsterdam · Kinderdijk · Antwerp · Veere · Hoorn · Arnhem · Cologne |
| Castles of the Rhine | 8 nights | Amsterdam · Cologne · Koblenz · Heidelberg · Strasbourg · Breisach · Basel |
Operators sailing the Rhine
Viking River Cruises
Scandinavian-styled Longships exploring Europe's great waterways.
AmaWaterways
Boutique river ships with twin balconies and onboard bicycles.
Avalon Waterways
Suite Ships with beds that face the river.
Scenic Luxury Cruises
All-inclusive Space-Ships with butler-served suites.
Emerald Cruises
Star-Ships with an indoor pool that converts to a cinema.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Floating boutique hotels with hand-curated antiques.
CroisiEurope
Family-owned French line covering Europe's lesser-known rivers.
Tauck
Family-owned American operator with multi-generational departures.
A-ROSA River Cruises
Lifestyle river cruising for a German-speaking market.
Riviera Travel
British operator with single-supplement cabins on every ship.
Amadeus River Cruises
Family-owned Austrian line with classic European itineraries.
Grand Circle Cruise Line
Small-ship river cruises for active North American travellers.
Riverside Luxury Cruises
New ultra-luxury entrant with all-suite ships.