What’s the cost of cruising on the Rhine River? In this post, we look at Rhine River Cruise Prices by comparing 2018 rates from the major river cruise operators.
Together with the Danube, a river cruise along the Rhine River is one of the quintessential experiences in Europe. Lined with castles, quaint towns and big cities like Strasbourg, Cologne and Amsterdam, the Rhine offers plenty of culinary, historic, and photographic opportunities on river cruises that can last as little as a week, or as many as two, as ships make their way between Basel, Switzerland and the Dutch capital of Amsterdam.
A few things we appreciate most about Rhine River cruises:
- A Foodie’s Paradise: From Rudesheim‘s namesake coffee to traditional Kolsch beer in Cologne, the Rhine is filled with cultural delights that will keep river cruisers coming back for more.
- Castles: The banks of the Rhine are lined with them. Many can still be visited on shore excursions offered by the cruise lines. The castles provide dramatic views across the river and surrounding countryside.
- Kinderdijk. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the picture-perfect postcard view of the Netherlands, with 19 mills from the 18th century and three pumping stations.
- Amsterdam. We can’t get enough of this canal-lined Dutch city, which is where many Rhine river cruises either start or end. Be sure to plan a few extra days here pre-or-post cruise to enjoy all that Amsterdam has to offer, from the moving Anne Frank House to the striking Rijksmuseum.
- The Perfect Mix of Ports and Scenic Cruising. Rhine river cruises seem to be well-balanced, with a great mix of scenic cruising time and ports of call. It tends to be less rushed and hurried than the Danube, thanks to the relatively small number of locks.
Like the Danube, all the major river cruise lines operate voyages on the Rhine. These run from the immersive yet price-conscious offerings from CroisiEurope to the all-out, no-holds-barred luxury of Crystal River Cruises. But take note: When you throw in applicable special offers, Viking River Cruises voyages come out to be quite the deal, too.
Rhine River Cruise Prices
AmaWaterways | Avalon | CroisiEurope | Crystal | Emerald | Riviera | Scenic | Tauck | Uniworld | Viking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ship | |||||||||
AmaStella | Avalon Imagery II | MS Douce France | Crystal Debussy | Emerald Sun | ms Oscar Wilde | Scenic Opal | ms Inspire | S.S. Antoinette | Viking Ingvi |
Rate | |||||||||
$4,798 | $4,398 | $3,042 | $5,900 | $4,495 | $3,019 | $4,945 | $6,840 | $4,699 | $3,999 |
Sailing Date | |||||||||
June 11, 2018 | June 9, 2018 | July 6, 2018 | June 13, 2018 | June 16, 2018 | June 21, 2018 | July 18, 2018 | June 25, 2018 | June 10, 2018 | June 12, 2018 |
# of days | |||||||||
8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
Cabin Category | |||||||||
Category BB | Category B | Standard Cabin | Petite Suite with Panoramic Balcony Window | Vista Deck Balcony A | Ruby Deck Suite (Middle) | Sapphire Deck Balcony BB | Category 3 | Category 3 | Veranda B |
Square Footage | |||||||||
210 | 200 | 150 | 188 | 180 | 183 | 205 | 225 | 194 | 205 |
Balcony | |||||||||
Twin: French & Step Out | French | None | French | French | French | Step out | None; Loft-style stateroom | French | Step out |
Per diem/Per Person/Double Occupancy | |||||||||
$599 | $550 | $338 | $590 | $561 | $377 | $618 | $684 | $587 | $499 |
Port Charges | |||||||||
$168 ($21 per day) | $168 ($21 per day) | Included | $175 ($25 per day) | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
Gratuities (on ship - non-compulsory) | |||||||||
$136 ($17 per day) | $119 ($14.88 per day) | $90 ($11.25 per day) | Included | Included | $46 (€5 per day, approximately $5.80 USD) | Included | Included | Included | $127 ($15.87 per day) |
Gratuities (on shore - non-compulsory) | |||||||||
$20 ($2.50 per day) | Included | $20 ($2.50 per day) | $20 ($2.50 per day) | Included | $20 ($2.50 per day) | Included | Included | Included | $20 ($2.50 per day |
Beverages | |||||||||
$80 ($10 per day) | $80 ($10 per day) | Included | Included | $80 ($10 per day) | $209 ($26 per day)^^ | Included | Included | Included | $80 ($10 per day) |
Laundry | |||||||||
$24 ($3 per day) | $24 ($3 per day) | n/a | Included*** | $24 ($3 per day); included for suites. | $24 ($3 per day) | Included* | $24 ($3 per day) | Included* | $24 ($3 per day) |
Optional Shore Excursions | |||||||||
all excursions included | all excursions included | all excursions included | $300 ($43 per day) | $100 ($12.50 per day)* | $100 ($12.50 per day)* | all excursions included | all excursions included | all excursions included | $100 ($12.50 per day)* |
Incentive (may have expired depending on end date of promotion) | |||||||||
n/a | † | n/a | n/a | **** | n/a | ***** | n/a | n/a | ****** |
Our Estimated Value of Incentive | |||||||||
$0 | $250 | $0 | $0 | $1100 ($137 per day) | n/a | $1,500 ($187 per day) | $0 | n/a | $1,200 ($150 per day) |
True Per Diem | |||||||||
$652 | $536 | $351 | $660 | $449 | $426 | $431 | $687 | $587 | $393 |
* Emerald Cruises and Viking River Cruises include at least one shore excursion in each port of call, with optional excursions for a fee.
** To calculate the value of included roundtrip economy air, I used Viking's $1,595 per person published rate from select gateways in North America.
*** Crystal River Cruises includes complimentary self-service laundry machines on all its river ships; pay-per-use service is can be arranged through suite butlers.
† Save up to $299 on air to Europe. Source: Avalon
**** Fly to Europe for $495 per person. Source: Emerald Cruises
***** Shoulder season sailings (March, April, October & November) receive up to fly free air to Europe. All other sailings receive air as low as $595 per person. Premium Economy is available for $1,395 per person. Book & pay in full by October 31, 2017 and receive up to an additional $500 savings per person. Source: Scenic
****** Economy air from $395 per person
^^Riviera offers beverage packages starting at $129 per person for most weeklong voyages that adds beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Beverages purchased outside of mealtimes are still billed separately, so we've added $80 ($10 per day) to our valuation for beverages to bring it alongside with lines like AmaWaterways and Viking, which offer complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. For non-drinkers, however, this total can be subtracted from the True Per Diem amount.
Yolanda C Castillo says
Hello Ralph: I’m traveling solo and I’m in the planning stage of my first Viking River Cruise. Any advice you can send me would very much appreciated. I’m originating from Florida, do I need U.S. passport to Europe (which I have)?
Ralph Grizzle says
Yes, you do need a passport, and soon a visa.
Maggie madden shoobridge says
Hi Ralph!
Doing the Rhine cruise from Basel to Amsterdam the end of July. Do you have a place on your site about excursions? Which to do, skip, try on our own? (Avalon expression) also any other advice would be great!
Astor Kinney says
RALPH, My wife and I will be leaving June 1st for our 4th river cruise in Europe. The first being with Viking and the next 3 with Emerald Waterways. I would like to mention to you that while you give quotes from cruise lines, and unless I missed it, you never mention discounts for those times you sail more than once with the same company. This year we are getting the following discounts with Emerald: Loyalty and military discounts. The discounts helped us with our decision to use Emerald again this year. Thank you for all your free info.
Sirgym says
I believe Scenic includes airfare on this cruise. Which, coming from Washington DC, for a couple, can be close to three thousand dollars. A definite “incentive!”
And…your calculation of the per diem/per person is incorrect for the 15 days on Scenic Opal. It should be 606…not 909. (upside down maybe?) That brings the cost per diem, with the inclusions down to $533.
Ralph Grizzle says
Thanks for helping us correct a few errors here. Actually, we went back and compared an 8-day sailing in the updated chart (thanks to your sharp eye). The air on this particular cruise is $595, although some dates offer free air. Scenic’s per diem on the cruise we looked at is a little more than $400 per person when all incentives are tallied. Quite a value.
Sirgym says
Ralph: You’re quite welcome! I’ve sent your response to Scenic headquarters in Australia and am eagerly awaiting my complimentary Rhine cruise in a Royal Panarama Suite!
Ralph Grizzle says
They can put me across the corridor in that case!
Sirgym says
Oh no Ralph. There will be ample room for your 6 foot four inch frame on my Panorama “Sun Lounge” Balcony. ?
Ralph Grizzle says
Mojito in hand – yes!