Recently, the Globus family of brands (Globus, Cosmos and Avalon Waterways) surveyed past guests about their travel interests for 2023. You can read more about the results of that survey here, but I’ll go ahead and give you a spoiler: a whopping 76 percent of Avalon cruisers are interested in sailing the Rhine on their next river cruise!

With castle-lined river banks and cities rich with culture and history, the Rhine river has much to explore. Rhine river cruises can visit numerous countries in a single week, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland. It’s no wonder this itinerary is high on the list of so many. But wait, there isn’t just one Rhine river itinerary – is there?

No, of course not. Rhine itineraries are not only seeing popularity with travel trends this year, they have been one of the most popular river cruise itineraries since the industry’s start. This means that there are a whole lot of Rhine itineraries to choose from, which can be a little bit daunting sometimes.

With itineraries on the Rhine ranging from 4-nights to 20+-night combination cruises, there are many ways to see Europe from an Avalon suite ship. Unique to Avalon, Active & Discovery itineraries are one of my favorite ways to travel. These itineraries feature curated active and discovery excursions, ranging from painting and cooking classes to workshops to kayaking, hiking and biking tours. These itineraries are great for those who like to stay active and get hands on. 

We’ve rounded up Avalon’s “classic” itineraries, as well as a few longer voyages to provide a sampling of what the company has to offer on the Rhine.

Romantic Rhine – 8-days from Amsterdam to Basel

Countries visited: Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland 

Stops in: Amsterdam, Cologne, Rudesheim, Mainz, Strasbourg, Breisach, Basel 

Closest to a “typical” Rhine itinerary, this eight-day sailing takes guests from Amsterdam to Basel. Stops in Cologne and Strasbourg allow for sightseeing, both cities with famous (and beautiful) cathedrals, while stops in smaller towns allow for deeper exploration of the region with excursions to the Black Forest and Heidelberg Castle.  

Prices for the 2024 season start at $2,249

The Best Of The Rhine – 5-days from Frankfurt to Basel

Countries visited: Germany, France, Switzerland 

Stops in: Frankfurt, Strasbourg, Breisach, Basel 

This itinerary is best described by its name, showcasing some of what the best the Rhine has to offer. At a short four nights on board, this is a perfect sailing for travelers looking to get a taste of river cruising or a perfect pre- or post-addition to another river cruise. Though the itinerary is not as long as some of the others Avalon offers, guests will still have a chance to see the famous Lorelei rock and venture to the Black Forest. 

Prices for 2024 start at $1,924 per person 

Active & Discovery Sailings 

Active & Discovery on the Rhine – 8-days from Basel to Amsterdam 

Countries visited: Switzerland, Germany, France, Netherlands 

Stops in: Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Mainz, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Dusseldorf, Amsterdam 

With multiple bike tours, a beer tour, painting class, kayak tour, and much more (including a “Volcano Encounter” in Mendig), guests have ample choice of things to do and see along the Rhine. These itineraries also include classic tours in the ports of call, making them great for families and groups with multiple interests. 

Active & Discovery in Holland & Belgium – 8-days roundtrip Amsterdam 

Countries visited: Netherlands, Belgium

Stops in: Amsterdam, Middelburg, Ghent, Antwerp, Rotterdam

Guests will have the chance to visit an oyster farm, create street art on Graffiti Street in Ghent, attend chocolate making and workshops, and hike and bike through the Netherlands and Belgium. This itinerary provides more exploration of Belgium than “traditional” Rhine itineraries, with ample time to explore Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp. 

Combination Itineraries/Multiple River Journeys  

German Grandeur – 9-days from Basel to Nuremberg 

Countries visited: Switzerland, Germany, France

Stops in: Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Rudesheim, Boppard, Frankfurt, Main River Village, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg 

Sailing both the Rhine & Main rivers, this itinerary adds stops in Main River Village, Wurzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg. These added ports of call allow travels more time to explore Germany, visiting a traditional Bavarian village, baroque Bishop’s Residenz, and a Romanesque cathedral in Bamberg. Avalon also offers a July 19, 2024, departure for beer enthusiasts, which includes a visit to a hop garden and a designated Beer Expert on board who will host lectures and beer tastings. 

Prices for 2024 start at $2,699 per person

Prices for the beer enthusiast sailing start at $2,899 per person 

The Rhine & Moselle – 11-days from Basel to Amsterdam

Countries visited: Switzerland, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands 

Stops in: Basel, Breisach, Strasbourg, Ludwigshafen, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Bernkastel, Remich, Trier, Cochem, Alken, Cologne, Amsterdam 

Overnights in: Rudesheim, Amsterdam 

The Moselle is one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe, with vineyard clad hills and charming cities along its banks. Explore the Roman baths in Trier, Germany’s oldest city, and the medieval marketplace of Bernkastel, a village well known for wine growing. 

Prices for 2024 start at $3,649 per person 

The Rhine & Moselle: Canals, Vineyards and Castles – 8-days from Remich to Amsterdam

Countries visited: Luxembourg, Germany, Netherlands 

Stops in: Remich, Bernkasetel, Rudesheim, Cologne, Amsterdam 

Similar to the above itinerary, this shorter version still provides deeper exploration into the region than a typical Rhine sailing. Though the sailing starts in Remich, on the Moselle River, guests will still get to visit cities along the Rhine, like Cologne and Amsterdam. This itinerary is perfect for past river cruise guests looking to see more of Germany. Avalon also offers a wine lovers sailing departing October 10, 2024. Guests will have the opportunity to attend wine tastings and the sailing will include a dedicated Master of Wine who will host lectures and give tips on food-and-wine pairing. 

Prices for 2024 start at $2,549 per person

Prices for the wine lovers departure start at $2,749 per person 

Rhine & Rhone Revealed – 15-days from Amsterdam to Arles 

Countries visited: Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France 

Stops in: Amsterdam, Cologne, Rudesheim, Mainz, Strasbourg, Breisach, Basel, Beaune, Tournus, Lyon, Tournon, Viviers, Avignon, Arles

A combination of two great itineraries, this voyage takes passengers down the Rhine, through the Netherlands and Germany before reaching Switzerland. Once in Basel, guests will transfer to Beaune by bus where they will transfer to another ship to sail the Rhone. This itinerary is also available as a culinary experience, where guests will partake in an onboard chocolate and wine tasting, pastry demonstration, and a special food-and-wine pairing dinner. The French portion of the itinerary will also feature a Master of Wine on board to help you learn about the wines of the region. 

Prices for 2024 start at $5,098 per person

Prices for the April 2, 2024 culinary experience start at $5,198 per person