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Rhine River Tours & Trips
171 Rhine River trips. Tours from 17 tour companies. 13 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.
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Rhine River Reviews & Ratings
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
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
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
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...
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 Austria, Hungary 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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