7-Day Rhine Cruises
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From Basel to Amsterdam : The Treasures of the Celebrated Rhine River (port-to-port cruise)
Rolling through 14 destinations from Swiss Basel to Dutch Amsterdam, this 7-day Rhine journey balances guided tours of riverside landmarks with scenic sailing past vineyards and medieval castles.
View itineraryBasel Switzerland
33 miBreisach Germany
10 miColmar France
41 miBlack Forest Germany
26 miStrasbourg France
99 miMainz Germany
47 miAndernach Germany
20 miShow 2 more
Konigswinter Germany
5 miBonn Germany
14 miCologne Germany
21 miDusseldorf Germany
58 miNijmegen Netherlands
10 miArnhem Netherlands
50 miAmsterdam Netherlands
6 Day Rhine River Cruise Itinerary, incl. Cologne and Amsterdam
A 6-day river cruise links 4 major cities across Germany and Netherlands, featuring 21m² balcony cabins on A-ROSA SENA. Full days explore Rotterdam's maritime port, Amsterdam's historic district with 7,500 listed buildings, and Utrecht's cathedral views and canal houses.
- Day 1
Cologne, Germany
Arrive early to explore Cologne before the 5:00 PM departure. Visit the Gothic Cathedral (Kölner Dom) right when it opens at 6:00 AM to avoid crowds. The dome viewing platform is best visited before 10:00 AM for shorter lines and better city views. You can store your luggage on the ship while exploring since most hotels have late check-in times.
- Day 2
Rotterdam, Netherlands
You'll cruise the Rhine all morning and reach Rotterdam at noon with almost 12 hours to explore Europe's largest port city. Take a water taxi from the cruise dock to see the Cube Houses and Markthal food hall. Stay until evening departure to see Rotterdam's light art collection light up the Erasmus Bridge.
- Day 3
Amsterdam
You'll have a full day in Amsterdam after arriving in the morning. Book Anne Frank House tickets online 2-3 months ahead since they sell out fast. Some ships dock in Lelystad instead, so plan for a 1-hour shuttle ride to central Amsterdam if needed. Skip Dam Square between 11 AM-4 PM when it gets packed with tour groups.
- Days 4-5
Utrecht
- Day 6
Return to Cologne
- Day 1
Cologne, Germany
Plan to arrive by 10:30 AM for boarding and settling in. Visit the Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market when it opens at noon to avoid the afternoon rush. Stop by the Heimat der Heinzel market in the Old Town for local Kölsch beer and traditional lebkuchen cookies. It's less crowded than the Cathedral market and offers a more relaxed experience.
- Day 2
Koblenz & Middle Rhine Valley
Visit the Deutsche Eck Christmas market in Koblenz when it opens at 10 AM. After lunch, enjoy a 3-hour scenic cruise through the Middle Rhine Valley. You'll see more than 20 castles and the famous Lorelei Rock. The sun deck offers the best views but bring warm clothes. December temperatures usually range from 35-40°F (2-4°C).
- Day 3
Speyer
Arrive early morning in Speyer to visit the Christmas market by the UNESCO-listed Romanesque cathedral. Looking for the best Glühwein? Head to the stand near the Old Mint building. You can keep the special mug for a small deposit. If you're interested in midnight mass at the cathedral, arrive 45 minutes early to find seats.
- Day 4
Strasbourg, France
A short 1.5-hour morning cruise takes you to Strasbourg, known as the "Capital of Christmas." Visit Place Broglie market before 2 PM when it's quieter. Check out the huge Christmas tree in Place Kléber and the covered market at Place de la Cathédrale. Take a walk through the small streets of Petite France to find unique Alsatian ornaments away from the crowds.
- Day 5
Mainz
- Day 6
Cologne
Back in Cologne for a full day. Visit the cathedral in the morning before tour groups arrive. The Angels Christmas Market on Neumarkt looks particularly beautiful after 4 PM when they turn on the lights. Want a perfect photo? Head to the KölnTriangle viewing platform across the river around sunset (4 PM in December).
- Day 7
Cologne Departure
On your final morning, you can store luggage at the central station for €5 per locker if you have a late departure. The Alter Markt opens at 11 AM for last-minute shopping. It's about a 15-minute walk from the river to the train station. Give yourself extra time if you're carrying shopping bags.
What people love about 7-day Rhine river cruises
- Rhine Enchanting Christmas Markets 2025
The cruise was so much more than we expected. The staff was so professional and anything we needed was always prompt and courteous. If I had only one comment it would be the bartenders we slow to respond to guests at the bar.
- Holland and the Romantic Rhine Valley
It was well organized and perfect. Would recommend to my friends.
- Christmas markets cruise MS Albertina
Crew were excellent, locations to disembark all great. Food good with excellent service, the overall organisation of the tour was very good. The room service very good with the quality of the rooms good. Overall for us this was a great experience.