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Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps
- Taste of Christmas
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Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps – Taste of Christmas
Four countries and a proper change of scenery each day, this AmaWaterways cruise sails the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel, taking in the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland as you sail. Experience canals and Christmas markets through the Netherlands and Germany first, then vineyard towns and the Rhine Gorge, before finishing in the Alps on Switzerland’s doorstep.
4.72
from
178 reviews
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Cruise Line: AmaWaterways -
Ship: AmaSerena & AmaVenita -
Duration: 6 Nights
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Departure: Nov - Dec
Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps – Taste of Christmas Cruise Prices
Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps – Taste of Christmas Gallery
Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps – Taste of Christmas Cruise Itinerary
This cruise brings you from Amsterdam to Basel, taking in canals, Christmas markets, vineyard hillsides and the Rhine Gorge along the way.
Day 1
Amsterdam (EMBARK)
Board your ship in Amsterdam to begin your Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps cruise.
Day 2
Amsterdam
Amsterdam has 165 canals in total, and you’ll get to see some of them on a dedicated canal cruise. The ship sets sail out of Amsterdam later in the day.
Day 3
Cologne
Join a guided tour through Cologne’s Old Town before visiting the city’s Christmas markets in your free time, with 160 wooden pavilions to explore. Active guests can instead take the Cologne bike tour, riding along the Rhine and through the historic Stadtgarten.
Day 4
Rudesheim
Cruise through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge before reaching the winemaking town of Rüdesheim. In the afternoon, join a wine tasting to sample the local vineyards, then spend your free time exploring the Drosselgasse, the town’s cultural heart, and its Christmas markets, or take the gondola ride up to the Niederwalddenkmal, also with free time at the markets afterwards. For something more active, there’s a vineyard hike or a guided bike tour along the Rhine. Later, visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Cabinet, home to a collection of self-playing musical instruments, or try a traditional Rüdesheimer coffee, made with brandy, coffee and whipped cream.
Day 5
Ludwigshafen
Ludwigshafen is your gateway to a choice of four excursions. Visit Heidelberg, the perfectly preserved medieval city on Germany’s Castle Road, taking in the red sandstone Heidelberg Castle and the Great Vat, an 18th-century wine cask holding around 49,000 gallons, along with the town’s Christmas markets. For something more active, there’s a guided hike up the Philosopher’s Path for panoramic views over the city. Alternatively, visit Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities, known for the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the medieval Altpörtel gate, with free time for the Christmas markets or the Technik Museum, home to vintage cars, military aircraft and even a submarine.
Day 6
Strasbourg
Walk through the fairytale streets of La Petite France on a guided tour past the Cathédrale de Notre-Dame and its famous astronomical clock, with free time built in for the Christmas markets. Alternatively, take a guided bike ride through the city and the Parc de l’Orangerie.
Day 7
Basel
Get to know Basel, Switzerland’s third-largest city and long an important university, banking and trade centre, on a walking or guided bike tour that takes you through three countries: Switzerland, France and Germany. Alternatively, take the full-day excursion to Lucerne, walking beneath its medieval towers, some dating back to 1386, and the Chapel Bridge, one of the oldest wooden bridges in Europe. For those not joining the Lucerne trip, the afternoon offers a Swiss wine tasting, a tour of Wildegg Castle, a hike up to the castle, or a stroll through Basel’s own Christmas markets.
Day 8
Basel (DISEMBARK)
Disembark in Basel and prepare for your flight home.
RHINE CASTLES & SWISS ALPS – TASTE OF CHRISTMAS HIGHLIGHTS
Rhine River Cruise Deals
AmaWaterways runs a wide range of Rhine sailings beyond this one, from single-country German itineraries to longer, multi-country routes like this one. Browse our full set of Rhine itineraries to see which route and pace suits you best.
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Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps – Taste of Christmas Cruise Review
Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps – Taste of Christmas FAQs
Is this cruise one-way or roundtrip?
It’s one-way. This itinerary only sails from Amsterdam to Basel, with no reverse option currently offered, so it’s worth booking your flight home from Basel rather than back to Amsterdam.
Do I need a visa for the Netherlands, Germany, France or Switzerland?
No, UK travellers don’t need a visa for any of these four countries. All of them, including Switzerland, are part of the Schengen area, so your standard 90-day visa-free allowance covers the whole trip. The EU is introducing a new online travel authorisation called ETIAS later in 2026, but it’s not a visa, and it hasn’t launched yet, so there’s nothing extra required to travel right now. Worth a quick check closer to your departure date in case that’s changed by the time you sail.
What currency will I need on this cruise?
The Netherlands, Germany and France all use the euro, so that covers most of the week. Switzerland is the exception: despite being part of Schengen, it isn’t in the EU and uses the Swiss franc instead, so it’s worth having some on hand for your day in Basel.
What is the Niederwalddenkmal, seen above Rüdesheim?
It’s a 38-metre monument built between 1871 and 1883 to commemorate the unification of Germany after the Franco-Prussian War. It’s topped by a 12-metre statue of Germania, and the site offers sweeping views back down over the Rhine Gorge and the town of Bingen across the river, which is as much a reason to visit as the history itself.
What makes the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne worth the full-day trip?
Built around 1333, it’s considered one of the oldest surviving wooden bridges in Europe, originally constructed as part of Lucerne’s medieval fortifications. A fire in 1993 destroyed much of the structure and most of its 17th-century painted panels, but it was rebuilt within the year and remains the city’s best-known landmark, so what you’ll be seeing is a careful reconstruction rather than the untouched original.
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