Germany River Cruises
Castles on the Rhine, wine villages on the Moselle, medieval Bavaria on the Main and Dresden’s art on the Elbe — sail Germany’s rivers with a specialist who knows them all.
No country packs more river-cruise variety than Germany. The Rhine delivers the castle-lined gorge and Cologne’s cathedral; the Moselle winds past impossibly pretty wine villages; the Main threads medieval Bavaria to Nuremberg; the Elbe reaches Dresden, Meissen and Prague; and the German Danube runs from Passau to Regensburg. Add Europe’s most famous Christmas markets in December. We help you choose the river, line, ship, cabin and season, and get you the best cruise price free from a true cruise specialist.
Why cruise the Germany?
Five rivers, one country
Rhine, Moselle, Main, Elbe and Danube — each with its own castles, wines and cities.
Christmas-market capital
Germany’s Advent markets — Cologne, Nuremberg, Regensburg and more — are the highlight of December sailings.
Castles & wine
The Rhine Gorge and Moselle deliver more castles and Riesling vineyards than anywhere in Europe.
Central docking
Ships tie up in the heart of each town — step off into the old town, no transfers.
Which German river?
The Rhine is the classic (castles, Cologne, the Gorge); the Moselle is the prettiest detour (Cochem, Bernkastel, Riesling); the Main links Frankfurt to Nuremberg through medieval Bavaria; the Elbe pairs Dresden and Meissen with Prague.
Longer Rhine-Main-Danube voyages cross the whole continent from Amsterdam to Budapest. We’ll match the route and season to you — including the coveted Christmas-market dates.
Flying into Frankfurt for a Main sailing? Look through Frankfurt hotels for a convenient first night.
Ending an Elbe voyage in Prague? Add a night or two in the Czech capital with Prague hotels.
Germany river cruising in pictures
Ready to plan your Germany river cruise?
Tell us which German rivers and cities interest you, your dates and preferred line, and we’ll get you the best cruise price free from a true cruise specialist, with no obligation.
Get your best Germany cruise price freeFrequently Asked Questions
Which German river is best?
The Rhine for castles and the Gorge, the Moselle for wine villages, the Main for medieval Bavaria and the Elbe for Dresden and Prague. Many combine the Rhine with the Moselle.
When is Christmas-market season?
Late November through late December. These sailings are the most popular of the year and sell out early — book well ahead.
What cities will I see?
Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim and the Rhine Gorge; Cochem and Bernkastel on the Moselle; Würzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg on the Main; Dresden and Meissen on the Elbe.
Which lines cruise Germany?
AmaWaterways, Viking, Avalon, Scenic, Uniworld, Emerald, Tauck, Riviera and CroisiEurope all sail German rivers. We match the line to your budget and style.
How do I get a quote?
Request your best cruise price free from a true cruise specialist, with no obligation, and compare rivers, lines, ships, cabins and dates.
