The Rhine flows past castles, vineyards and fairytale towns from Switzerland to the Netherlands. The Middle Rhine Gorge, with the Lorelei rock and dozens of hilltop castles, is one of Europe’s most beautiful stretches of river.
Here are the best Rhine river cruise lines.
You’ll find on this page
- A comparison table of every cruise line in this guide
- Ten Rhine lines
- Rhine highlights
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- How to book or get expert advice at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the cruise lines
| Cruise line | Style | Fleet | Best for | Included highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | River cruises | 13 Super Ships in the fleet | Luxury | All drinks, Daily excursions, Airport transfers |
| Scenic | River and ocean | 17+ Space-Ships | All-inclusive | All meals, All drinks, all day, Daily excursions |
| Viking | River and ocean | 15 Ocean ships | All-rounder | Wi-Fi, Excursion in every port, Beer & wine at lunch and dinner |
| AmaWaterways | River cruises | 27 River ships | Active travellers | All meals, Wine, beer and soft drinks, Daily shore excursions |
| A-Rosa | River cruises | 13 River ships | Families | All meals, Drinks with meals, Indoor pool and spa |
| Viva Cruises | River cruises | 8 River ships | Modern design | All meals + drinks with lunch and dinner, Viva Cucina casual venue, Bicycles |
| CroisiEurope | River cruises | 50+ River ships | Value | All meals + drinks with meals, Open-bar in lounge before/after dinner, Daily excursions |
| TUI River Cruises | River cruises | 3 River ships | UK packages | Flights from regional UK airports, All transfers, All meals + drinks at lunch and dinner |
| Riviera Travel | River cruises | 18+ River ships | Easy packages | Flights from regional UK airports, All transfers, All meals + wine/beer with lunch and dinner |
| Saga Cruises | River and ocean | 7 Ships — 2 ocean + 4 river | Over-50s | Chauffeur from home, Travel insurance, All drinks |
Fleet sizes and inclusions are from each line’s own information and can change; inclusions often depend on the fare you book.
Quick verdicts
Ten Rhine lines
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- River cruises
- 13 Super Ships in the fleet
- 110-160 Guests per ship — boutique scale
Boutique Super Ships with drinks, excursions, gratuities and transfers included.
Best for: Luxury
Scenic
- River and ocean
- 17+ Space-Ships
- 169 Max guests / Space-Ship
All-inclusive Space-Ships with butler service and all drinks all day.
Best for: All-inclusive
Viking
- River and ocean
- 15 Ocean ships
Adults-only Longships from Amsterdam and Basel, with an excursion in every port.
Best for: All-rounder
AmaWaterways
- River cruises
- 27 River ships
- 196 Max guests / ship
Twin balconies and active excursions, from Amsterdam to Basel.
Best for: Active travellers
A-Rosa
- River cruises
- 13 River ships
- 186 Max guests / ship
German river cruising with family departures, an indoor pool and spa, and the battery-electric A-Rosa Sena on the Rhine.
Best for: Families
Viva Cruises
- River cruises
- 8 River ships
- 190 Max guests / ship
A newer, design-led fleet with drinks at lunch and dinner and a sustainability programme.
Best for: Modern design
CroisiEurope
- River cruises
- 50+ River ships
- 200 Max guests / ship
Family-owned since 1976 and based in Strasbourg on the Rhine, with great-value fares including drinks with meals.
Best for: Value
TUI River Cruises
- River cruises
- 3 River ships
- 156 Max guests / ship
Modern ships on the Rhine and Moselle with flights from regional UK airports.
Best for: UK packages
Riviera Travel
- River cruises
- 18+ River ships
- 169 Max guests / ship
Fully inclusive packages from regional UK airports, with drinks with meals and gratuities.
Best for: Easy packages
Saga Cruises
- River and ocean
- 7 Ships — 2 ocean + 4 river
Spirit of the Rhine for over-50s, with a chauffeur from your home.
Best for: Over-50s
Rhine highlights
Classic Rhine cruises sail between Amsterdam and Basel, calling at Cologne, the castles of the Middle Rhine, Rüdesheim, Strasbourg and the Black Forest. Many combine the Rhine with the Moselle or Main. Christmas-market sailings in Germany and Strasbourg are hugely popular in December.
How we chose these cruise lines
We featured lines whose own information includes Rhine sailings. Itineraries and seasons change every year, so check the sailings available for your dates, or ask a Travel Designer to compare them for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Rhine river cruise line?
Uniworld or Scenic for luxury, Viking for an all-rounder and TUI or Riviera Travel for UK packages.
What is the most scenic part of the Rhine?
The Middle Rhine Gorge, with castles and the Lorelei rock.
Rhine or Danube for a first river cruise?
Both are excellent: the Rhine for castles and vineyards, the Danube for grand capital cities.
How long is a Rhine cruise?
Typically 7 to 10 nights between Amsterdam and Basel.
Find your cruise
Browse every cruise line we sell, or ask a Travel Designer to compare ships, cabins and itineraries for you.
Keep planning
Updated October 2026. Cruises can be booked through Travelisto, with flights and hotels added where you need them.
