Rhine River Cruises

Embark on a river cruise along the Rhine - stretching from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea you'll cruise through France, Germany and the Netherlands. Choose from 5,625 river cruises along the Rhine travelling with the world's leading river cruise lines.

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Search 5,625 river cruise departures along the Rhine

Popular Rhine River Cruises

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 3,930pp
Save 750pp

8 Days Basel to Amsterdam

Operator: AmaWaterways

From 3,129pp
Save 1,250pp

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Emerald Cruises

From 2,695pp
Save 2,213pp

5 Days Cologne to Strasbourg

Operator: Amadeus River Cruises

From 1,039pp
Save 150pp

The Rhine River

Map of the Rhine River

Where does the Rhine start & finish?

The Rhine River originates in the Swiss Alps and flows through six countries including Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The river ultimately empties into the North Sea at Rotterdam after covering a distance of approximately 1,230 kms (760 miles), making it one of Europe's major rivers.

Castle-Studded Journey

The Rhine boasts the highest concentration of castles in the world along its Middle Rhine section, particularly between Koblenz and Bingen. This stretch is known as the "Romantic Rhine" and offers a fairy-tale backdrop.

The Lorelei Rock

This steep rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen, Germany, has inspired myths and legends for centuries. According to folklore, a siren named Lorelei bewitches sailors from atop the rock, causing them to crash — adding a dash of intrigue to your journey.

Culinary Cruising

The Rhine valley is not just rich in scenic beauty but also in gastronomy. It's a wine lover's paradise, with regions like Alsace in France and the Rheingau in Germany producing some of the world's finest Rieslings.

Popular starting ports for cruising the Rhine

Amsterdam, Basel, Cologne and Zurich are the most common logistical starting ports for your Rhine river cruise.

Rhine in Flames

If you time it right, you could experience the "Rhine in Flames," an annual event where spectacular firework displays are set off from castles and boats, illuminating the river. It's a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle that adds magic to your river cruise.

Featured River Cruise Operators Featured Operators

Amadeus
Why pay for other people’s drinks? Why pay for shore excursions that don’t interest you? Family-owned Amadeus has spent 40-years' perfecting the balance more without compromising quality. Beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, but not during the day. Only pay for the shore excursions you want. Book an excursion package in advance for a discount or book individual excursions as you go. Gourmet dining, wi-fi, bottled water in cabins and of course one of the most luxurious five-star fleets on the European waterways. To quote a regular repeat guest “Amadeus are fantastic. A really great product and the crew are all so beautiful”. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.
Rhine Rivers69
Budget:Premium
Known For:Austrian Heritage
Fleet Size:14
Uniworld
Once you step onboard the world’s finest and most awarded river cruise line for the first time, we are quite sure the refined luxury onboard our fleet more will sweep you off your feet.

We draw our inspiration for the design philosophy of every one of the 17 ships in our fleet directly from the destination in which they sail. The craftsmanship, the attention to detail, the art onboard, the handcrafted furniture and intricacy of the fabrics are lovingly assembled to be a masterpiece in and of itself. Stepping onboard is to step into a world of beautiful colours and one-of-a-kind details that truly bring your destination to life.

Crafting experiences you can’t find anywhere else, means continuing to elevate Uniworld to new heights year after year. From the addition of four new Super Ships in Egypt, Vietnam, Portugal and Italy, to the award winning service that comes from the heart, we’re putting even more emphasis on what’s onboard to enhancing several itineraries to accommodate guest’s diverse tastes for the future. We truly look forward to welcoming our Australian guests onboard.
Rhine Rivers275
Budget:Luxury
Known For:Boutique River Cruising
Fleet Size:20
AmaWaterways
From the moment you step aboard AmaWaterways award-winning ships you'll be welcomed by a dedicated crew committed to making your voyage unforgettable. more Sail through the heart of Europe, Asia, or Africa and explore enchanting destinations while indulging in exquisite, locally inspired cuisine and world-class amenities. AmaWaterways thoughtfully designed excursions immerse you in the rich culture and history of each port with every detail of your itinerary crafted to exceed your expectations and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Rhine Rivers570
Budget:Premium
Known For:Luxury & Wellness
Fleet Size:29

Discover

Must-do experiences and highlights along the Rhine
Amsterdam Amsterdam
Cycle the streets and explore the winding canals. Or dive into the arts with a visit to the Van Gogh Museum and explore the Rijksmuseum, with works dating back to the Middle Ages.
Cologne Cologne
Discover medieval treasures and vibrant galleries in Old Town, visit the Dom, Germany's largest cathedral, or just sit back and enjoy a crisp Kölsch beer - only brewed in Cologne - Prost!
Rüdesheim Rüdesheim
Delight in picturesque Rüdesheim with a stroll through Drosselgasse lane, sample wines from the surrounding Rhine Valley vineyards or marvel at the Mechanical Music Museum.
Strasbourg Strasbourg
A cultural fusion of France and Germany, Strasbourg's UNESCO World Heritage Grande Île does not disappoint, showcasing the Strasbourg Cathedral as well as the charming la Petite France.
Freiburg Freiburg
Set in Germany's Black Forest Region, take in the expansive views of this vibrant and eco-friendly town from Schlossberg, or quietly wander down cobblestone streets in Münster market.

Latest Reviews

What our clients are saying about their journeys along the Rhine
Wonderful river cruise Jewels of Europe , SA, Australia, Apr 2026
Our cruise with Scenic exceeded all expectations. The ship, the food, the staff and the excursions were all excellent. Highly recommend Scenic and we will be travelling with them again. Global Journeys provided excellent service and were always very quick to respond to my questions.
Scenic Jewel European Cruise Jewels of Europe , ACT, Australia, Apr 2026
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip. It was very well plan. Food and excursion are first class. We are very happy with Scenic and also the service of Georgina and Global Journeys.
Happy river cruising Magnificent Europe , Australia, Mar 2026
Thanks APT for supporting us navigate the difficulties caused by the outbreak of war in the middle east.We were able to change our flights and undertake our planned trip from Budapest to Amsterdam. Special thanks to Global Journeys staff for their guidance and patient reassurance. The cruise was all we had hoped for and the ship, staff, meals and organisation read more were excellent. We met a diverse range of fellow travelers whose company we enjoyed. We would have no hesitation in recommending APT to others.
Romantic Rhine & Moselle   Romantic Rhine & Moselle , QLD, Australia, Mar 2026
We loved our trip! Easy from start to finish thanks to Tracey at Global Journeys. The Scenic team were amazing - the tours, food, beverages & service was all top class. Totally recommend this holiday - however maybe a week or two later for better weather!
Christmas Markets galore Christmas on the Rhine , NSW, Australia, Dec 2025
We saw a lot of Christmas markets on the cruise and they were a highlight when not crowded, which they mostly were unfortunately. If we were the only ship at the port then it wouldn't be so bad but often there were upwards of a dozen ships concurrently, making the Christmas markets quite a slog to get through.

The ship itself was good but facilities read more and entertainment were limited (no pool or gym and entertainment was mostly a pianist and on the last night a local easy listening band) and the rooms are smaller than on larger ships. The ship staff were all very good so kudos to Viking for having excellent crew. The food was mostly great also but meal times are less flexible than on larger ocean cruises so you have to eat at the times they dictate (mainly 7pm and later which did not really suit the mostly older passengers); if you wanted food at any other time it was only pastry items like muffins and cookies (but hot drinks from a machine were available 24/7). The ports were mostly right by the main part of town which was very handy, and with the exception of Dordrecht every port stop had a Christmas market (or three) so that was great. Overall it was a good trip but we wouldn't do another river cruise.
European Gems European Gems , NSW, Australia, Dec 2025
Have travelled with several other cruises lines and whilst Travelmarvel was very nice, we found it at the lower end of the scale. But it was very well priced in comparison so I guess you get what you pay for. We felt the cruise director was was hard to understand whenever she held a microphone and at times tried to give out too much information at once read more which had the guest bored and not listening. The meals were excellent but the tours only basic.