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 6,086 river cruises along the Rhine travelling with the world's leading river cruise lines.

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Search 6,086 river cruise departures along the Rhine

Popular Rhine River Cruises

8 Days Basel to Amsterdam

Operator: Viking River Cruises

From 4,209pp
Save 2,726pp

8 Days Basel to Amsterdam

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 3,424pp
Save 2,646pp

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Viking River Cruises

From 2,935pp
Save 2,638pp

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 3,424pp
Save 2,995pp

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

Trafalgar
Trafalgar's river cruises combine decades of expertise with local connections, iconic sights and expert hosts to deliver effortless, unforgettable journeys. more From scenic sailing to biking along the riverbanks or relaxing onboard, our itineraries let you explore each destination at your own pace - both onboard and ashore.
Rhine Rivers86
Budget:Affordable & Premium
Known For:
Fleet Size:3
Emerald Cruises
From culture-rich cities to world-famous wine regions, Emerald Cruises represents a new chapter in the world of river cruising. Our deluxe fleet of revolutionary more Star-Ships promise contemporary comfort and unique on-board innovations, while our generous offering combines affordability with great dining, exceptional service and immersive itineraries across Europe and Asia.

With return flights, transfers, all on-board meals, complimentary drinks, tips and much more included in the price of an Emerald Cruises river cruise, we’ve taken care of everything. Our attentive team of crew, sommeliers and personal butlers are available day and night to ensure every minute on-board the Emerald Cruises fleet is as enriching, enjoyable and relaxing as possible.
Rhine Rivers617
Budget:Premium
Known For:Affordable Luxury
Fleet Size:11
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 Rivers249
Budget:Luxury
Known For:Boutique River Cruising
Fleet Size:20

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
Eastern Block and River cruise   Eastern Bloc with Magnificent Europe , QLD, Australia, Jun 2026
APT is definitely a luxury company - accommodation, meals, staff were all exceptional. Mostly Australians and New Zealanders on our 2 tours which made it easy for us to assimilate and find discussion topics with like-minded people. Our tour guides were also exceptional - very helpful, tolerant and accommodating. This was our first journey with APT and read more we would go with this travel company again.

Global Journeys provided timely updates and information and Mandy was also quick with responses to questions and provided the tactful “prod” we needed to get organized for our trip. It’s too easy to let things slide when you are flat strap with daily business but Mandy was diligent in reminding us of things that needed to be done. Loved the “check list” provided.

Name badges: I could have sworn I packed them but they weren’t in the bag when we opened them in Prague. Some travellers didn’t receive them before they left Australia. I would have preferred that APT gave us the name badges at the welcoming event in Prague. The staff on the cruise ship did prove us with one when we asked.
Fantastic River Cruise Jewels of Europe , AB, Canada, Jun 2026
The trip was everything the advertised and more. Staff was excellent, room as advertised and food and beverage service was excellent. Rita is Celiac and they took great care of her. Absolutely no complaints.
A great holiday Romantic Rhine & Moselle with Switzerland , SA, Australia, May 2026
We really enjoyed this cruise and also the land leg in Switzerland. We went to some beautiful places and were totally spoilt by the cruise staff. The available options for sightseeing were really good. The meals and all accommodation was first class. Thanks also to Grace for handling our booking so efficiently.
One of our very best holidays   Grand European Tour , VIC, Australia, May 2026
After doing several ocean cruises, we did our first river cruise and it will not be the last. We really enjoyed the 15 days on the Danube and Rhine, sailing from Budapest to Amsterdam. Got to know most of the 180 odd passengers on the cruise and they were very friendly, outgoing and supportive. Cruising along the scenic Wachau Valley and the Mid-Rhine read more wine growing area and castles along the rivers were spectacular. The cruise staff took good care of us and obliged to all our requests.
Romantic Rhine and Moselle Romantic Rhine & Moselle , New Zealand, May 2026
Scenic provided excellent service and made you feel like a big family. This itinerary was excellent beautiful views along the Moselle River and the best of the Rhine. Included excursions were top notch.
Jewels of Europe Jewels of Europe , AB, Canada, May 2026
Scenic Jade. Amsterdam to Budapest amazing , spectacular, 5 star service. For our very first ever cruise this five cruise was exceptional. Our tour host Richard was fantastic from organizing tours to entertaining guests answering questions. Fantastic. Everyone was friendly and accommodating with all our needs and want through our whole journey. read more Food was top notch with a different dinner selection every night. Worth every dollar spent. Highly recommend this all inclusive river cruise.