The Best Rhine River Cruises for Every Traveler

It’s a truly monumental building, taking over 600 years to build and featuring myriad religious and art treasures and perhaps the most intricate stained glass windows in Europe. All in all a spectacular and relaxing cruise in some of the finest landscapes that Germany has to offer, appreciated from a most privileged vantage point. Find interesting Rhine River facts – from key cities along its banks to history, culture, cuisine and more.

Hidden Waterways of Flanders and Holland

WAI believes strongly in the importance of travel insurance for financial and medical protection from any number of unforeseen circumstances that can arise before departure or during your Adventure. Laura Pfahler and Sharon Mitchell of World Travel Inc. are travel agents who provides air travel and insurance services to many WAI travelers. A Walking LITE itinerary widens the range of travelers who can comfortably enjoy a WAI travel experience. Travelers who prefer a slower pace and less walking than a standard WAI Adventure, but still appreciate a non-sedentary, experiential approach to travel, can join a Walking LITE group knowing that the itinerary will be less demanding physically.

RHINE GORGE & RÜDESHEIM

A Frugal Exploration of Christmas Markets Along the Rhine River - The New York Times

A Frugal Exploration of Christmas Markets Along the Rhine River.

Posted: Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Heidelberg is famous for a magnificent ruined castle thatstands guard over the riverbanks, proudly looking over the townbelow. Your first option is a city tour ofStrasbourg, uncovering its charm and history. Your second choicesees you travel into the famous Black Forest, passing throughstunning fairytale panoramas. After lunch, we join a local guide for an informative tour of the city, with time to explore its tree-lined squares and perhaps visit one of its traditional bars, many of which still brew their own beer.

Rhine & Moselle River Cruise

As we sail along the Rhine, look upon influences fromthe Romans, Prussians, French and other European cultures. Spendtime walking amongst buildings constructed in the Middle Ages onguided tours or during periods of independent sightseeing.Experience the timeless grandeur of castles and the elegance thatcan only be found in this part of the world. The Avalon Waterways “Active & Discovery on the Rhine” itinerary incorporates an array of customizable excursion options that emphasize physical activity. Choose from guided tours like kayaking the canals of Amsterdam, hiking through the Netherland’s De Hoge Veluwe National Park (140,000 acres and home to red deer, wild boars, and pine martens), jogging while sightseeing in Cologne, or biking through Düsseldorf. Or set out on your own in ports with loaner bikes and Nordic walking sticks on hand. The river cruise operator also offers a series of “discovery” excursions, hands-on, interactive experiences that often focus on culture and cuisine.

Rhine River Cruises for Every Type of Traveler

European river cruises are especially popular around the holiday season when Christmas markets are in business. A standout feature on the ships is the glass-enclosed swimming pool which converts to a movie theater at night (complete with popcorn). Emerald Cruises also has activity managers that coordinate the shore tours and arrange daytime and evening programs. Lined with more castles than any other river, the Rhine River is a spectacular showcase of enchanting wine villages, cultural treasures and ever-changing scenery. That makes the Rhine an ideal choice for both first-time and seasoned river cruisers alike -- and means there are plenty of candidates for the best Rhine River cruise. More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour.

Both of the above experiences can be booked locally with your cruise director. Many of the Moselle vineyards we cruise past were first planted by the Romans in the 4th century. Their continued existence proves the enduring quality of the wines, which are testament to a blend of good fortune and an indomitable human spirit. Sample a selection of these with a wine tasting, set against gorgeous wine country. We return to our ship, moored in the charming town of Bernkastel, in time for another exquisite meal.

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. Explore Germany’s fabled Black Forest region and admire verdant hills amid stunning scenery. Stroll the pedestrian-only Drosselgasse; sample local wines at a quaint restaurant. Sail past hilltop castles along the Middle Rhine, a UNESCO Site, and look for Lorelei Rock. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule provided with your final documents.

The Rhinegau wine country

Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this Adventure Advice email. A final payment is due 90 days before departure and is non-refundable after the due date. Located on the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers, and home to Mercedes Benz and other major corporations, Mannheim is the launching point for today’s excursion to Heidelberg.

A final payment is due 90 days before departure (February 17, 2023) and is non-refundable after the due date. Please see our General Tour Conditions for the full terms and conditions for participation in this Adventure. WAI has relaxed our policies and currently require no mitigation procedures (current WAI Wellness on Tour Policy). However, Walking Adventures International policy includes endeavoring to comply with any COVID-19 policies in place in the destinations through which we travel. WAI bears no responsibility for travel insurance benefits advertised by various credit card companies.

Cruising through the Rhine Gorge, we experience spectacular scenery, emerald vineyards and a landscape studded with half-timbered houses and picturesque villages. With Tauck, you'll visit this imposing cathedral, along with the nearby Roman Germanic Museum, housing extraordinary exhibits of archaelogical finds from the Köln region. WAI guides will offer an after lunch walk through Petite France, the UNESCO listed historic core of the city perched on the Grande Île, an island of meandering lanes lined with colorful photogenic, medieval houses. WAI planners are negotiating for additional time in Heidelberg to offer the Philosopher’s Way Walk. If possible, the plan is to ascend the hillside across the Neckar River from Heidelberg Old Town.

Scott is one of WAI’s busiest guides and on-site Adventure planners, and has led tours on all 7 continents! During his childhood, Scott developed a passion for the outdoors while exploring the waterfalls and outstanding hiking trails of the Columbia River with his family. Travelers on the Rhine River Cruise will likely fly into Amsterdam and out of Frankfurt. AmaWaterway’s “Captivating Rhine” itinerary runs from Amsterdam to Basel, while its “Enchanting Rhine” cruise runs in the opposite direction.

AmaWaterways Reveals Six Trends Shaping the River Cruise Industry - Travel Agent Central

AmaWaterways Reveals Six Trends Shaping the River Cruise Industry.

Posted: Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The Rhine River Cruise includes outstanding historic, cultural, and scenic experiences in three countries. Scenic Cruise’s “Christmas on the Rhine” takes the best parts of a typical Rhine river cruise and sprinkles in a little holiday magic. Taking place just once a year from December 21 to 28, this cruise sails during Christmas—a memorable way to observe the holiday.

If you are relying on this type of benefit for insurance, we advise you to verify coverage types and limits and that your purchase does in fact qualify you for this insurance. We recommend that you contact Laura Pfahler, the travel agent we work with, to help book your flight arrangements. Soon after registration, an “Adventure Advice” email will be sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip.

A cruise down the Rhine River remains one of the most popular vacation options for travelers looking to get a taste of central Europe. Emerald Cruises is a great option for cruisers in their earlier adult decades. The lower-priced offshoot of Australian-owned all-inclusive line Scenic has contemporary ships that tend to attract a slightly younger crowd -- with good reason. Recommending to friends and will be back for a different cruise in the future. Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility.

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. 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.

Travelers can enjoy the standard ship itinerary, which normally includes a number of walking tours, knowing that, where possible, WAI will offer more and longer walking opportunities on an optional basis. Further, travelers have the assurance that the ship, our floating hotel, is always a ready refuge where they can relax and transition from participant to observer as they choose. It’s a romantic route marked by the region’s legendary castles and half-timbered houses, hillside vineyards, and fairy-tale Black Forest landscapes—along with a pass through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The first morning on board a river cruise is always a thrill, awakening to the peaceful lapping of the water outside as the scenic valley sides slip past your cabin window – there’s no other holiday experience quite like it. Breakfast is a leisurely affair; life on board is unhurried, so you can linger over that extra cup of tea or coffee.