Where do river cruises from Amsterdam typically visit?

Starting from Amsterdam, most cruises follow the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers. You'll stop at places like Cologne where you can visit its towering cathedral, the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, and the beautiful palace in Würzburg. Many travelers love exploring Vienna's grand buildings and Budapest's impressive parliament. The route takes you through the Rhine Gorge, where you'll see more than 40 historic castles, and you can visit the amazing Melk Abbey. If you want to spend extra time in Amsterdam or Budapest before or after your cruise, many people stay at the Hotel Estherea or the Ritz-Carlton.

When is the best time to take a river cruise from Amsterdam?

Most people cruise between April and October, but each season offers something special. If you love flowers, come in April or May when millions of tulips are blooming. Summer brings warm weather around 72°F (22°C), perfect for walking around towns and sitting on deck. In fall, the trees along the rivers turn beautiful colors and temperatures stay mild at about 61°F (16°C). December is magical too - that's when you can visit traditional Christmas markets in towns along the way.

How long do river cruises from Amsterdam usually last?

Most trips run between 8 and 15 days. Many people choose the 8-day Classical Rhine Cruise, which gives you a good taste of the region. If you have more time, the 15-day Jewels of Europe cruise lets you really explore the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland. Many travelers tell us they like having enough time to properly see each place without feeling rushed.

What happens on the first day of an Amsterdam river cruise?

You'll usually board your ship in the afternoon around 4 PM. The crew welcomes you with cocktails and you'll meet your fellow travelers. Your first dinner on board is always special, and sometimes there's entertainment like Dutch singers performing traditional songs. One traveler told us: "The crew of 36 did everything they possibly could to make our trip both memorable and enjoyable from day one, starting with a wonderful welcome reception."

Which route do ships take after leaving Amsterdam?

Your ship will first sail to Utrecht, which takes about 4 hours. From there, you'll continue south through Dutch waterways toward Cologne, Germany. Most ships spend the first morning in Amsterdam so you can explore the city, then start sailing in the afternoon. Ships usually leave Amsterdam either around 10 PM on the first day or 8:30 AM the next morning.

What special events can I experience during different seasons?

Each season on the rivers brings different experiences. In spring (March to May), you can visit Keukenhof Gardens when millions of tulips are in bloom. Summer's long days and warm temperatures around 72°F (22°C) are perfect for exploring towns and relaxing on deck. Fall cruises coincide with grape harvests along the Rhine. In December, you can visit Christmas markets in places like Cologne and Strasbourg, where the old town squares fill with lights, decorations, and local food stands.

River Cruises from Amsterdam

A cruise starting in Amsterdam is a great way to experience river cruising. We have 220 cruises that range from 5 days up to 52 days in length. The most popular time for river cruises leaving Amsterdam is May.

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River Cruise
Amsterdam – Bruges (Tulip Tour, Spring)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Amsterdam, Oude Wetering, Gouda, Dordrecht, Zierikzee,Middelburg,Vlissingen,Ghent,Bruges+4 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Operated in
English
Operator
Feniks Charter
From
NZ$2,821per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Grand Holland & Belgium Cruise
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Maastricht, Namur, Liege,Antwerp,Brussels,Ghent,Middelburg,Veere,Rotterdam,Zaandam,Haarlem+8 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Ship
Avalon Imagery II
Operated in
English
Operator
Avalon Waterways
From
NZ$20,152per person
+$796 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Highlights of Holland & Belgium
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Maastricht, Namur, Liege,Antwerp,Brussels+2 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Ship
Avalon Imagery II
Operated in
English
Operator
Avalon Waterways
From
NZ$6,890per person
+$398 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Grand European Tour Amsterdam to Budapest
4.3 (3 traveler reviews)
"The staff were friendly and very professional, the food was amazing and the Tours each day were special."
Cheryl, traveled in March
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Netherlands Germany Austria Hungary
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ships
Viking Lif Viking Lofn Viking Magni Viking Mimir Viking Skadi Viking Tir Viking Vali Viking Ve Viking Vidar Viking Vili Viking Baldur Viking Bragi Viking Gefjon Viking Gymir Viking Egdir+14 ships
Operated in
English
Operator
Viking Cruises
From
NZ$10,080per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
Holland and the romantic Rhine valley (port-to-port cruise) - GERARD SCHMITTER
4.5 (2 traveler reviews)
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Netherlands Germany France
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
MS Gerard Schmitter
River
Rhine
Operated in
English
Operator
CroisiEurope River Cruises
From
NZ$3,638per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Rhine Getaway Amsterdam to Basel
5.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"Absolutely fabulous - best experience of my life! The crew were all beautifully lovely people."
Yasmine, traveled in September
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Netherlands Germany France Switzerland
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ships
Viking Kara Viking Mani Viking Modi Viking Rolf Viking Sigrun Viking Sigyn Viking Skirnir Viking Tialfi Viking Alruna Viking Vali Viking Bragi Viking Einar Viking Eir Viking Gefjon Viking Idun Viking Hild Viking Herja Viking Hlin Viking Mani Viking Eir Viking Egdir Viking Freya+21 ships
River
Rhine
Operated in
English
Operator
Viking Cruises
From
NZ$6,298per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
Captivating Rhine (Christmas Cruise) 2025
4.9 (9 traveler reviews)
"The cruise experience has not failed me a bit. Am recommending it to more friends."
Charurat, traveled in October
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Netherlands Germany France Switzerland
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
AmaPrima
River
Rhine
Operated in
English
Operator
AmaWaterways
From
NZ$10,334per person
+$414 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
Holland and Belgium Springtime River Cruise
4.7 (23 traveler reviews)
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Amsterdam, Arnhem, Middelburg, Bruges, Antwerp, Kinderdijk
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Collette
From
NZ$8,149per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Jewels of the Rhine 2026 - 8 Days (from Amsterdam to Zurich)
3.0 (2 traveler reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Netherlands Germany Switzerland France
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
Emerald Sky
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
50% Off
From $17,064
NZ$8,532per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Legends of the Rhine from Amsterdam to Alsace RIVER DIAMOND Intermediate
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Netherlands Germany Switzerland France
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
River
Rhine
Operated in
English
Operator
Europamundo
50% Off
From
NZ$3,862per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Tulip Serenade (Amsterdam - Amsterdam)
4.7 (18 traveler reviews)
"Everything was wonderful!"
Joseph, traveled in April
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Amsterdam, Arnhem, Middelburg, Ghent, Antwerp, Rotterdam
Age Range
Ages 8+
Ships
Amadeus Brilliant AMADEUS Queen Amadeus Imperial Amadeus Cara Amadeus Riva AMADEUS Amara+5 ships
Operated in
English, German
Operator
Lueftner Cruises
50% Off
From
NZ$4,164per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
LEGENDS OF RHINE (Amsterdam-Mainz) MS River Diamond 5*
4.3 (20 traveler reviews)
"Accommodations great, staff outstanding."
CaterineFares, traveled in June
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Netherlands Germany France
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ships
MS Crucevita MS RIVER DIAMOND+1 ship
River
Rhine
Operated in
English, German,French,Spanish+2 more
Operator
Crucemundo
50% Off
From
NZ$3,903per person
+$253 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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River Cruise
Tulip Tour, Bike & Barge in Holland
4.0 (5 traveler reviews)
"This is the best way to see the Netherlands and all its beauty. Barbara had prepared delicious and well prepared meals that were a great surprise."
Jonathan, traveled in April
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Amsterdam, Kudelstaart, Gouda, Kinderdijk, Delft, Leiden,Keukenhof,Haarlem,Zaanse Schans+3 more
Age Range
Ages 10+
Operated in
English, Dutch
Operator
Feniks Charter
50% Off
From
NZ$2,821per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Enchanting Rivers of Europe Grand Journey
Duration
52 days
Destinations
Netherlands Belgium Germany France Switzerland
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ships
Scenic Sapphire Scenic Diamond Scenic Pearl Scenic Gem +3 ships
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
19% Off
From $74,120
NZ$60,120per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Tulips & Windmills (2026) (Amsterdam to Antwerp, 2026)
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"Good value for money very professional managed and staff were great."
Pieter, traveled in March
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Amsterdam, Zaandam, Hoorn, Nijmegen, Rotterdam, Veere, Ghent,Antwerp+1 more
Age Range
Ages 16+
Operated in
English
Operator
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
19% Off
From
NZ$13,099per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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