Friday, April 12, 2024

The Best Rhine River Cruises for Every Traveler

rhine river cruise map

For wallet-conscious cruisers used to deals on ocean-going lines, the price of a Rhine River cruise can come as a shock. For about $1,000 less than the closet competitor, Gate 1 Travel manages to be one of the best Rhine River cruises for those watching there budget. While Uniworld brings luxurious touches to a romantic cruise, those who want to spoil themselves no matter the reason would do well to check out Tauck's Rhine River cruises. Out of the 67 cabins on its 130-passenger vessels, 22 are suites -- the highest ratio on any European riverboat of the same size. All clock in at around 300 square feet, so there's plenty of space to spread out. My husband and I took a winter cruise down the Rhine.It was the first time for both of us.

Rhine River Cruises

Closer to the river we heard how the shops are sometimes flooded when the river rises. Businesses monitor the water level at Trier further up river and get sufficient warning to empty out all their goods before the flood hits Cochem. Taking a detour from the Rhine, the Amadeus Princess headed up the Mosel river to the town of Cochem, overlooked by a picturesque castle on the hill. Although built in the 11th century, the Reichsburg castle was later given the fashionable romantic look of towers and turrets.

NEW! Rhine & Main Explorer

If scenery, history, food or wine are on your must-see list, look no further than the Rhine. And chances are high that you'll get a taste of the Rhine River's coolest destinations whether you opt for a short Christmas market cruise or a one- or two-week itinerary. To help you plan your cruise vacation, take a look at some of the best Rhine River cruise destinations and some lesser-known gems you can visit along the way. Mainz is home to the six-towered Cathedral of St. Martin, founded in 975 AD, as well as the Gutenberg Museum, where you can see the famous 15th-century Gutenberg Bible. Every town seems to offer yet another historic and important place to see, but there is always plenty of time to sample local food and wine.

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After a visit to the charming town of Rüdesheim, we cruised through the romantic Middle Rhine Valley, past castles and vineyards, arriving at Koblenz. One of the best Rhine River destinations to round out your travel photos is at Kinderdijk, which has the Netherlands' biggest concentration of historic windmills. Here, you can get a close-up view of 19 windmills, including the chance to look inside some of them, watch a movie and learn how the Dutch manage to live on land that sits below sea level.

Cologne Chocolate Museum

You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen. Loreley-Linie Weinand operates from Kamp Bornhofen with cruises to the Loreley Valley with stops mostly in Boppard, Kamp Bornhofen, Kestert, St Goar, and St Goarhausen. KD also often has arrangements with other local boat operators to offer a high number of departures. During the high season, KD has at least two boats doing the daily cruise route from Rüdesheim and Bingen to Koblenz (and return) with further boats cruising between Mainz and Boppard. Many more KD boats cruise between Bonn and Linz with the occasional boat starting from Cologne. Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure.

Cruises

Cruising on Europe’s romantic Rhine River - The Denver Post

Cruising on Europe’s romantic Rhine River.

Posted: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT [source]

As our previous days had been busy with sightseeing, we really enjoyed the chance to relax on the top deck and enjoy the picturesque castles and scenery. Later in the morning, the Amadeus Princess sailed from Rüdesheim, passing through the sloping vineyards and romantic scenery of the Middle Rhine valley. This area of the Rhine has many castles set high above the river that were built in the Middle Ages by local princes, in order to tax the merchandise being transported along the river.

Wrap up your day with a scenic cable car ride above the vineyards to the impressive Niederwald monument overlooking the Rhine. Approximately 800 miles long, the Rhine River is one of the most important rivers of Europe, as well as one of its most popular rivers to cruise. With its fairytale scenery, complete with beautiful castles, medieval villages, lush vineyards and notable Christmas markets, cruisers have plenty to enjoy on the Rhine River. Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) and the Weisse Flotte Rhein are the best-known day-trip riverboat cruise lines on the Rhine River in Germany and are good choices for short to all-day excursion cruises. Popular day-trip cruises are to tour the Loreley Valley between Rüdesheim, St Goar, and Koblenz or panorama sightseeing cruises in larger cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Cochem (Mosel), and Frankfurt (Main). This panoramic luxury pairs with a spectrum of engaging activities and Avalon Choice excursions, including a day trip to the charming Alsace region.

New itineraries for 2024 include an extended 10-night Cologne, the Rhine Gorge & Medieval Germany River Cruise from Cologne to Nuremberg. But it's Tauck's fully-inclusive rates that really help make this line a great choice for luxury seekers. Exclusive events for Rhine River passengers include a special reception, dinner and entertainment at the historic Rheingau wine estate overlooking the river. You can also expect thoughtful extra touches, such as money to buy something to eat if any tours take place over lunchtime. For starters, all of the major river cruise lines sail the Rhine, from Viking to Uniworld and AmaWaterways. That puts the best Rhine River cruise within reach for any type of traveler.

Post: Basel

A few independent Rhine boat cruise operators cooperate under the Weisse Flotte Rhein banner. These companies cruise on all parts of the Rhine but departures and cruises are most frequent in the vicinity of the Rhine where these independent boat cruise lines are based. Many cruise lines offer discount combination tickets for cruises and sightseeing sites. Depending on the season, KD has scheduled cruises on the Rhine, Mosel, and Main rivers and panorama cruises in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Cochem, and Frankfurt. Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) is the best Rhine River day trip cruise line with excursions from Cologne (Köln), Koblenz, Rüdesheim, and the Loreley Valley. Early birds and all that jazz – you’ll be sitting pretty while the procrastinators scramble.

Whether its enchanting fairy-tale scenery or pulse-quickening adventure you seek, this guide is your ticket to an unforgettable odyssey along one of Europe’s most legendary waterways. AmaWaterways’ itineraries cater to the oenophile with experiences steeped in viniculture lore and tradition. It’s a blend of education and epicurean ecstasy, presented in settings that range from rustic cellars to the rolling vineyards themselves. Unlike their Danube river cruise counterparts, Rhine cruises offer a voyage through the beating heart of Europe, a core where history and culture collide in a spectacular display.

Follow our journey on the Rhine river map and read my account of our 6 day Rhine River Cruise in the article below. Rhine River cruise destinations frequently include Strasbourg, the intriguing capital of France's Alsace region, which borders Germany and Switzerland and has been shaped by different cultures over time. Although it's the smallest region in France, Strasbourg has been called the principal city of Europe, as the European Parliament and other important E.U. You can't get lost in the city, as the UNESCO-listed cathedral's 515-foot spires dominate the skyline (and are visible from all cruise docking spots). The Cologne Cathedral took more than 600 years to build and the panoramic views from the top of the south spire make the climb up 509 steps worth the effort.

On an Adventures by Disney river cruise, families are the only passengers onboard. Programming and excursions are geared toward kids, with a focus on stories rather than history, and activities designed to burn off energy and keep children engaged, such as tobogganing in the Black Forest. The ships also have small pools onboard, so kids can take a break from touring and just have fun (while their parents relax). One of the smaller Rhine River cruise destinations is the delightful German wine-making town of Rudesheim. You can walk or take a land train to bustling Drosselgasse street where cozy bars serve local riesling and Rudesheimer coffee made with cream and brandy. One of the more unusual local Rudesheim attractions is Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum, where exhibits range from tiny music boxes to fairground organs.

Shoulder Season River Cruises: 6 Things to Know - Cruiseline.com

Shoulder Season River Cruises: 6 Things to Know.

Posted: Fri, 25 Aug 2017 07:31:55 GMT [source]

Our handpicked recommendations for accommodations ensure you find a comfortable haven to rest after a day of exploration, whether you’re seeking luxurious comfort or charming boutique experiences. Discover the turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, historic cities, medieval towns and stunning scenery of the Middle Rhine—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taste the region’s renowned white wines, the roots of its terraced vineyards reaching back to Roman times. With calls in Amsterdam, Cologne and Basel, this journey reveals a rich landscape of beauty and culture. Our “Rhine River Cruise Travel Guide” stands apart by offering not only practical advice on navigating the logistics of river cruising but also by providing cultural insights that enrich your journey.

rhine river cruise map

Driving back down to the town centre, our guide pointed out to us several houses decorated by flags. These are owned by wealthy fraternities of university students who gather (men only!) to drink as much beer as possible and practice sword fighting. The first stop on our walking tour was a look around the medieval Mikveh or Jewish baths, used for ritual purification, where the water of heavens (rainwater) and earth (groundwater) mingled. Our walk continued to the Lutheran Trinity church where we admired the beautifully decorated roof and gilded altar to the accompaniment of an organist who was practicing for a wedding.

A major highlight of a Rhine River cruise is the 40-mile stretch between Rudesheim and Koblenz, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich with romantic castles and scenic towns. Other UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are often visible on a Rhine River sailing include the Cologne Cathedral, the historic center of Strasbourg, Speyer Cathedral and Amsterdam's canal ring. Henk Bekker is a freelance travel writer with over 20 years of experience writing online. In addition to European-Traveler.com, he also owns a travel website on the Lake Geneva region of Switzerland and maintains statistical websites on car sales and classic car auction prices.

You're likely to visit a cuckoo clock workshop and a get taste of authentic Black Forest cake (schwarzwalder kirschtorte in German). The Rhine River is one of the longest in Europe and the amount of amazing destinations along its banks is extensive. Romantics, wine and food lovers, historians and museum-goers are sure to love a Rhine River cruise. The river sailings offer a wonderful mix of activities and sights to interest a wide audience. A river cruise on the Moselle is often combined with sailings on the Rhine.

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