Germany River Cruises
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10 best river cruises through Germany
Compiled by
SteffGermany travel expert at TourRadar
- Rhine Christmas Markets 2025 (14 destinations)
- Christmas Markets MS River Diamond
- Rheinerlebnis
- German Riverscapes from Trier to Passau (Trier - Passau) (9 destinations)
- Rhine & Danube Symphony (Cologne - Passau)
- Legendary Rhine & Moselle
- Classic Christmas Markets (2026) (Nuremberg to Frankfurt, 2026)
- Classic Christmas Markets (2026) (Frankfurt to Nuremberg, 2026)
- From Stralsund to Berlin: The Baltic Sea and the Oder and Havel Rivers (port-to-port cruise)
- Legendary Rhine & Moselle & Romantic Franconia & Bavaria
A-ROSA ALEA provides premium accommodations for this 5-day Rhine adventure. From Cologne's Cathedral to the mythical Loreley Valley, stops include Rüdesheim's wine town and Frankfurt's modern skyline, with all-inclusive dining and drinks.
Duration 5 days Destinations Cologne, Rudesheim am Rhein, Mainz, Frankfurt-am-Main, Loreley, Koblenz Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Operator A-ROSA From
- NZ$1,062
Christmas Markets MS River Diamond
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The food was wonderful, and the whole crew was wonderful.”
Steven, traveled in December
Duration 5 days Destinations Dusseldorf, Koblenz, Mainz, Rudesheim am Rhein, Cologne Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Crucemundo From $1,190
20% Off- NZ$952+$165 upfront costsYou save $238
Duration 7 days Destinations Cologne, Rudesheim am Rhein, Speyer, Straßburg, Karlsruhe, Wiesbaden Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German Operator DCS Touristik From
20% Off- NZ$2,090
German Riverscapes from Trier to Passau (Trier - Passau) (9 destinations)
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Very laidback and enjoyable. We loved it.”
paula, traveled in June
Duration 9 days Destinations Trier, Cochem, Koblenz, Miltenberg, Wertheim, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Regensburg, Passau Age Range Ages 8+ Operated in English, German Operator Lueftner Cruises From $7,592
15% Off- NZ$6,454You save $1,139
Duration 8 days Destinations Cologne, Rudesheim am Rhein, Miltenberg, Wertheim, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau Age Range Ages 8+ Operated in English, German Operator Lueftner Cruises From $3,756
15% Off- NZ$3,193You save $563
Emerald's luxury vessel winds through Germany's iconic rivers from Mainz to Cochem. Guided tours of Trier's Roman ruins, wine tastings at Schloss Johannisberg, and evening entertainment at Cochem Castle unfold against UNESCO-listed landscapes.
Duration 8 days Destinations Frankfurt-am-Main, Mainz, Rudesheim am Rhein, Bernkastel, Moselle Valley, Trier, Schweich, Cochem, Koblenz Age Range Ages 12+ Operator Emerald Cruises From $15,101
50% Off- NZ$7,550You save $7,550
The S.S. Elisabeth, featuring luxurious Savoir beds and riverview accommodations, sails from Nuremberg to Frankfurt. Christmas markets in seven riverside towns await, including Würzburg's baroque palace and Rothenburg's medieval charm.
Duration 8 days Destinations Nuremberg, Bamberg, Kitzingen, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Wertheim, Wiesbaden, Frankfurt-am-Main Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection From $8,699
10% Off- NZ$7,829You save $870
S.S. Elisabeth's luxury suites and gourmet dining enhance this cruise from Frankfurt's modern riverfront to medieval Wertheim. The route includes baroque Würzburg and UNESCO-listed Bamberg, with daily excursions to Christmas markets.
Duration 8 days Destinations Frankfurt-am-Main, Wiesbaden, Wertheim, Wurzburg, Kitzingen, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Schweinfurt, Bamberg, Nuremberg Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection From $7,999
10% Off- NZ$7,199You save $800
From Stralsund to Berlin: The Baltic Sea and the Oder and Havel Rivers (port-to-port cruise)
1 Review by TourRadar travelers
The MS Victor Hugo sails Germany's waterways to UNESCO-listed Stralsund and Berlin. The Niederfinow boat elevator demonstrates remarkable engineering prowess. Refined French cuisine and panoramic views complement the 7-day route past Usedom's beaches.
Duration 7 days Destinations Stralsund, Rugen Island, Greifswald, Wolgast, Usedom, Lunow, Oderberg, Henningsdorf, Berlin Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator CroisiEurope River Cruises From $3,040
18% Off- NZ$2,480You save $560
Duration 11 days Destinations Frankfurt-am-Main, Mainz, Rudesheim am Rhein, Bernkastel, Trier, Cochem, Koblenz, Nuremberg, Munich, Neuschwanstein Age Range Ages 12+ Operator Emerald Cruises From $18,082
45% Off- NZ$9,944You save $8,138
River Cruises in Germany Reviews
- Rhine Christmas Markets 2025
It was fabulous! The cruise staff were lovely, the room was great (we got used to the orange decor), and the food was amazing. Even though it was frequently raining and quite cold, we had a great time and made some great friends. Thank you
A nice sized boat and beautifully fitted out. Buffet breakfasts and a good choice of 4 course lunch and dinners, which you preordered at breakfast each day. Xmas decorations were up which added to the atmosphere. The ports we called at were great, with Xmas Markets fairly easy to find just strolling around. Although the Mainz Xmas Market was still being set up, it was still nice to wander around. There were 2 large groups (Norwegian and Spanish) with their own guide, so it was hard to mix with others, but we connected with a Spanish couple also travelling on their own, even though they had limited English and we only knew the courtesies in Spanish. No set tours were offered.
Christmas Markets MS River Diamond
- German Riverscapes from Trier to Passau (Trier - Passau) (9 destinations)
We appreciated that we were well informed as to where our ship would be rocked on the day of embarkation. We also were notified of changes to our itinerary, because of river closures because of river closure, due to annual upkeep. I was not clearly informed that wifi was not included in my plan. That was very inconvenient. I would have liked to be given the opportunity to decide to include that in my package, even though it may have meant an extra cost. The Amadeus Star crew were magnificent! Arno, the cruise director, orchestrated the tour through the many unexpected changes that were cause by no fault of theirs. He quickly made alterations to the itinerary, that I am sure we’re very difficult for him to do, but we’re pulled off seamlessly. We passengers were shielded from the stress that would have been invoked in last minute changes to the schedule and instead we’re allied to enjoy a stress free vacation. All of the staff we very friendly and and helpful. I have endless examples, but for the sake of time I will just mention a few of the people who stood out to me. Elvira, was so welcoming and warm. She alway was available for the passengers and paid close attention to the small details, that personalized our cruise experience and made us feel important. Carlin our main server in the dining room was so efficient and friendly and funny. We loved him and it was sad to say goodbye to him and his team on the last morning of our cruise. Our cabin attendant was the invisible fairy who would clean and pick up after us everyday. When we passed him in the hall, he always greeted us with a smile. On our anniversary and on my husbands birthday, he mad beautiful towel sculptures and left them to greet us, in our cabin, at the end of the day. There are so many examples I could share, but suffice it to say that because of the wonderful crew on the Amadeus Star, our cruise experience will remain an amazing memory for us to keep and share! We will travel with Lueftner Cruise Lnes
What our customers ask about Germany River Cruises
What are the most popular rivers for cruising in Germany and what makes each unique?
Germany's main river cruise routes follow the Rhine Main Moselle and Danube. Each waterway offers distinct experiences. The Rhine flows past the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge where medieval castles dot the hillsides above riverside vineyards. The Moselle curves through steep valleys lined with terraced vineyards leading to wine towns like Cochem and Bernkastel. Along the Main River route travelers can explore historic cities including Frankfurt and Würzburg where the Würzburg Residence palace stands as a baroque masterpiece. A TourRadar traveler describes the Moselle: "The entire Moselle region around Cochem is a real sight to behold with the town's landmark Reichsburg castle towering above the river."
What kind of cabins are available on German river cruise ships and how do they differ?
River cruise ships in Germany provide various cabin options. Take AmaWaterways vessels which offer Panorama Suites with twin balconies on upper decks and standard rooms with fixed windows on lower decks. The MS Crucevita features 12.3m² cabins that come with French balconies on the Promenade deck while rooms on the Main deck have panoramic windows. Room sizes amenities and views vary by deck level and price point. According to one TourRadar traveler: "Our cabin was upgraded which greatly added to our enjoyment of the cruise. The rooms were spacious and well-appointed with comfortable bedding and excellent views."
What are the best times of year for a Germany river cruise?
The main cruise season runs April through October when weather conditions are ideal for sightseeing. A second peak occurs from late November through December during Christmas market season. Summer months provide full access to riverside attractions like Marksburg and Drachenburg castles. December transforms cities like Nuremberg into festive destinations with Germany's largest Christmas market. One TourRadar traveler's experience on an A-ROSA Christmas Market cruise: "The ports we called at were great with Christmas Markets fairly easy to find just strolling around. The Mainz Christmas Market was still being set up but it was still nice to wander around."
Which rivers in Germany offer the most scenic cruise routes?
The Rhine and Main rivers present different but equally engaging landscapes. Along the UNESCO-protected Upper Middle Rhine Valley travelers pass more than 40 castles including Marksburg Castle and the Rheinfels ruins near St. Goar. The Main River route leads to cultural gems like Würzburg's baroque Residenz palace and Bamberg's medieval center. At Koblenz's Deutsches Eck the Moselle joins offering views of dramatic vineyard-covered slopes. A TourRadar traveler notes: "Towns we docked/visited along the Rhine are all very near the ports; all walkable within a few minutes; wonderful experience overall!"
What types of shore excursions are typically offered on Germany river cruises?
Shore activities range from city walking tours to castle visits and wine tastings in the Rheingau region. UNESCO sites feature prominently including Würzburg Residence and Bamberg's historic center. Active travelers can join bike tours along the Rhine or hike to landmarks like the Niederwalddenkmal monument. Uniworld's Classic Christmas Markets cruise includes special seasonal excursions such as the "Taste of Christmas Frankfurt Walking Tour" and visits to Rothenburg's holiday market. As shared by a TourRadar traveler: "The excursion package includes visits to Koblenz Rudesheim and Cologne which gave us a great overview of the region."
What is the typical length and price range for Germany river cruises?
Standard river cruises last 6-8 days with prices from $1500-4500 per person. Luxury lines like AmaWaterways reach $9000 per person. These rates typically cover lodging meals and guided tours. A-ROSA's 8-day Rhine cruise begins at $1543 while the premium AmaSiena 8-day journey starts at $4298. One TourRadar traveler notes: "The value for money was excellent with the Crucevita ship offering luxury amenities at a moderate price point."