Best Cologne Rhine River Cruises for 2025-2026

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10 Best Rhine River Cruises to Cologne for 2025-2026

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10 Best Luxury Rhine River Cruises to Cologne for 2025-2026

Trip Name	From	Days	Next Departure	Summary
Rhine Christmas Markets	$9,090	8	Dec 06, 2025	Admire festive decorations and twinkling lights along streets and squares, and even the Scenic Crystal will be decked out in all its Christmas finery. See the beautiful cities of Strasbourg, Baden-Baden, and Heidelberg. Admire the Rhine Gorge, enjoy Cologne's Christmas markets, and wander Amsterdam's canals. 0
Jewels of the Rhine	$6,790	8	May 24, 2025	From Zurich to Amsterdam, the Emerald Sun invites you on this mesmerizing 8-day Rhine River cruise, visiting Basel, Breisach, Cologne, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Mannheim, and Strasbourg. Each day, you can choose how you'd like to explore each of these historic cities, with chances for hiking, biking, and walking tours. 0
Rhine & Moselle Fairytales	$7,459	18	Jun 30, 2025	Join the MS Amaprima on this unique adventure starting with an 11-night cruise from Amsterdam to Zurich, followed by three magical nights in Zurich. Enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours and in many cases, choose between excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, and hikes. 0
Rhine & Moselle Delights - Cruise Only	$4,939	11	Jul 13, 2025	Begin this exclusive 11-day cruise in Basel and conclude in charming Amsterdam. This voyage includes a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore the wondrous delights of the Rhine and Moselle River regions. 0
Castles along the Rhine	$4,699	8	Apr 25, 2025	During this 8-day cruise from Basel to Amsterdam aboard the S.S. Victoria, cruise along the impressive Rhine River —Germany on one side, France on the other. Discover Alsace, whose dual French and German heritage has given it fabulous food and a winemaking tradition that goes back to the Romans. 0
Christmas Markets on the Rhine	$6,729	14	Nov 27, 2025	Sail the Rhine on a 14-day holiday cruise with stays in Amsterdam, Lucerne, and Zurich aboard the MS Amastella. Stroll Europe’s most enchanting Christmas Markets, from Cologne’s Gothic backdrop to Strasbourg’s festive charm and Gengenbach’s giant Advent calendar. 0
Rhine & Moselle Fairytales - Cruise Only	$5,379	12	Jul 02, 2025	Board the MS Amaprima for an 11-night cruise from Amsterdam to Zurich. Enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours and in many cases, choose between excursions, such as standard tours, bike tours, hikes, and wine & beer tastings. Visit historic medieval towns of Germany, France, and the Netherlands, highlighted by castles & other landmarks. 0
Rhine & Moselle Delights - Cruise Only	$5,139	11	Jun 15, 2025	Embark on an 11-day cruise along the Rhine and Moselle, exploring Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Discover charming villages, UNESCO treasures, and enjoy hikes, bike rides, and scenic gondola views. 0
Rhine Highlights	$9,090	8	Jun 23, 2025	From Amsterdam to Basel, journey along the Rhine in all-inclusive luxury. Explore Amsterdam's famous canals, relax in the spa town of Baden-Baden, marvel at Cologne's massive cathedral, and explore castles of historic towns along the Rhine river valley. 0
Christmas Markets on the Rhine - Cruise Only	$3,939	8	Nov 26, 2025	Enjoy a 7-night cruise from Amsterdam to Basel aboard the MS Amaprima. As you sail the Rhine River, visit classic Christmas markets, bike along Rüdesheim, boat down canals, and visit historic castles that highlight this region of central Europe, including stops in Cologne, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, and Breisach. 0

Top 10 Deals on Rhine River Cruises for 2025-2026

Trip Name	From	Days	Next Departure	Summary
Tulips & the Rhine	$9,790	8	Mar 29, 2025	Embark on an 8-day cruise aboard the Emerald Star through Europe’s scenic treasures. Explore Strasbourg, Koblenz, and Heidelberg, admire Cologne’s Gothic cathedral, and end in Amsterdam with its iconic canals and stunning Keukenhof Gardens. 0
Swiss Alps and Rhine Castles - Cruise Only	$4,139	8	Dec 22, 2025	Experience an 8-day Rhine River cruise on the MS Amaserena, visiting festive cities like Basel, Strasbourg, and Cologne. Enjoy Christmas markets, cultural highlights, and beautiful winter scenery, concluding your journey in historic Amsterdam. 0
Christmas on the Rhine	$2,799	8	Nov 26, 2025	Embark on an 8-day Christmas on the Rhine Cruise with Viking Cruises from Amsterdam to Basel. Experience festive charm in picturesque villages, savor holiday treats at vibrant stalls and revel in the Rhine Valley's joyful atmosphere, including Cologne's sparkling lights. 0
Enchanting Rhine	$5,999	12	Jul 15, 2025	Sail the Rhine on a 12-day cruise with stays in Zurich and Lucerne aboard the MS Amastella. Explore vibrant cities, storybook towns, and a UNESCO-listed landscape of castles, breweries, and timeless traditions. 0
Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps	$6,419	13	May 17, 2025	Sail aboard the MS Amaserena on a 13-day cruise through Europe, featuring Amsterdam’s canals, Germany’s Rhine Gorge castles, France’s Alsace charm, and Italy’s glamorous Lake Como. Explore five countries and iconic landmarks. 0
Captivating Rhine	$6,329	14	May 12, 2025	Sail the legendary Rhine on a 14-day cruise with stays in Lucerne and Zurich aboard the MS Amaprima. From Amsterdam’s canals to the Swiss Alps, explore vineyard-clad hills, fairytale towns, and historic cities along this enchanting river. 0
Christmas Markets on the Rhine	$6,629	14	Nov 24, 2025	Embark on a 14-day cruise with 2 nights in Lucerne and Zurich aboard the MS Amaprima. From Amsterdam’s canals to Switzerland’s lakes, explore Europe’s enchanting Christmas markets, sip glühwein, and soak in the holiday magic. 0
Splendours of Europe	$11,590	15	Jun 03, 2025	Join this 15-day Splendors of Europe cruise on the Emerald Sky from Amsterdam to Budapest. Cruise through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Experience stunning landscapes, medieval towns, and hikes to hilltop fortresses. Explore four capital cities, each providing a distinctive perspective on the region's rich history. 0
Splendours of Europe	$11,590	15	Aug 23, 2025	Embark on the 15-day Splendours of Europe cruise aboard the Emerald Destiny, traveling from Amsterdam to Budapest. Discover the wonders of the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary while indulging in a glass-top canal boat excursion in Amsterdam. Throughout the visit to four capital cities, immerse in rich history of the region. 0
Magnificent Europe - Cruise Only	$7,479	15	May 17, 2025	Embark on a 15-day cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam aboard the MS Amastella, sailing the Danube, Main, and the Rhine through five captivating countries. Explore UNESCO treasures, savor Rieslings, enjoy European cuisine, and adventure through scenic landscapes. 0

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Cologne Travel Guide

Cologne, Germany Highlights

From history to architecture, the storybook German city of Cologne seems to come straight out of a fairytale. Whether embarking here or simply passing through, this city is full of delights, including:

The twin-spired Gothic cathedral, immediately recognizable as one of Germany's foremost masterpieces of the Gothic period.
The Fragrance Museum, where you will see how cologne is made and how this city earned a reputation as one of the world's most aromatic destinations.

After getting to know this historic city, your cruise will continue on to other destinations along the Rhine River, from Germany's medieval cities to charming towns in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and perhaps even France.