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Romantic Rhine (Southbound) River Cruise

Discover Holland, France, Switzerland, and Germany on Europe’s most famous river. Explore Amsterdam’s 700-year heritage with canal tours that showcase this vibrant city before cruising to Cologne, renowned for its twin-spired cathedral and Gothic-style architecture.

The Romantic Rhine Cruise sails the magnificent Rhine Gorge with fairytale castles clinging to the cliffs high above the water and port stops at picturesque towns like Rüdesheim, Mainz, and Heidelberg. Explore Strasbourg and the lovely La Petite France district with quaint shops and the tranquil waterfront promenade before journeying to Breisach, the gateway to the Black Forest.

Avalon offers a choice of passenger experiences, so you can select the tours and activities that interest you the most. Explore independently or take advantage of the exclusive AvalonGO App – there’s something for everyone on the Romantic Rhine cruise.

4.5
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from 409 reviews
  • Cruise Line: Avalon Waterways
  • Ship: Avalon Expression + 6 more
  • Duration: 7 Nights
  • Departure: Apr - Dec
AVG PER PERSON*
£1,460
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Romantic Rhine (Southbound) Cruise Prices

Starting price per person
Apr 19, 2025
Price on Request
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Apr 29, 2025
£4,341 pp
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May 03, 2025
£4,269 pp
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May 10, 2025
£4,397 pp
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May 10, 2025
£4,397 pp
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May 20, 2025
£4,787 pp
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May 27, 2025
£2,550 pp
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May 31, 2025
£3,048 pp
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Jun 03, 2025
£3,438 pp
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Jun 10, 2025
£2,873 pp
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Jun 17, 2025
£4,222 pp
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Jun 21, 2025
£4,222 pp
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Jun 24, 2025
£4,222 pp
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Jun 28, 2025
£2,350 pp
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Jul 01, 2025
£1,700 pp
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Jul 12, 2025
£2,150 pp
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Jul 15, 2025
£1,700 pp
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Jul 19, 2025
£2,150 pp
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Jul 22, 2025
£1,700 pp
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Jul 29, 2025
£1,700 pp
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Aug 02, 2025
£1,700 pp
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Aug 05, 2025
£1,700 pp
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Aug 05, 2025
£1,700 pp
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Aug 09, 2025
£2,150 pp
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Aug 12, 2025
£2,150 pp
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Aug 19, 2025
£2,829 pp
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Aug 26, 2025
£4,456 pp
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Sep 02, 2025
£3,460 pp
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Sep 09, 2025
£3,360 pp
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Sep 13, 2025
£3,460 pp
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Sep 16, 2025
£3,460 pp
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Sep 23, 2025
£3,360 pp
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Sep 27, 2025
£3,185 pp
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Sep 30, 2025
£3,185 pp
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Oct 14, 2025
£3,282 pp
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Oct 18, 2025
£2,829 pp
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Oct 18, 2025
£2,829 pp
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Oct 21, 2025
£2,829 pp
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Oct 28, 2025
£2,498 pp
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Nov 01, 2025
£2,323 pp
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Nov 04, 2025
£2,323 pp
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Nov 11, 2025
£2,167 pp
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Nov 25, 2025
£3,082 pp
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Dec 09, 2025
£2,798 pp
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Mar 28, 2026
£2,054 pp
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Mar 31, 2026
£2,254 pp
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Apr 11, 2026
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Apr 12, 2026
£2,610 pp
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Apr 14, 2026
£2,810 pp
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Apr 25, 2026
£2,966 pp
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Apr 26, 2026
£2,718 pp
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Apr 28, 2026
£2,966 pp
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May 05, 2026
£3,044 pp
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May 09, 2026
£3,044 pp
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May 12, 2026
£2,922 pp
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May 19, 2026
£2,922 pp
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May 23, 2026
£2,922 pp
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May 26, 2026
£2,922 pp
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Jun 02, 2026
£2,922 pp
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Jun 09, 2026
£2,722 pp
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Jun 16, 2026
£2,722 pp
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Jun 20, 2026
£2,722 pp
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Jun 20, 2026
£2,722 pp
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Jun 23, 2026
£2,522 pp
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Jun 30, 2026
£2,522 pp
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Jul 04, 2026
£2,522 pp
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Jul 07, 2026
£2,318 pp
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Jul 14, 2026
£2,322 pp
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Jul 18, 2026
£2,522 pp
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Jul 21, 2026
£1,700 pp
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Jul 28, 2026
£1,700 pp
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Aug 01, 2026
£2,322 pp
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Aug 04, 2026
£1,700 pp
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Aug 08, 2026
£1,700 pp
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Aug 08, 2026
£1,700 pp
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Aug 11, 2026
£1,700 pp
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Aug 15, 2026
£2,678 pp
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Aug 18, 2026
£2,150 pp
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Aug 18, 2026
£2,150 pp
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Aug 22, 2026
£2,678 pp
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Aug 25, 2026
£2,956 pp
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Aug 29, 2026
£3,156 pp
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Sep 01, 2026
£3,434 pp
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Sep 08, 2026
£3,434 pp
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Sep 15, 2026
£3,434 pp
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Sep 15, 2026
£3,434 pp
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Sep 22, 2026
£3,434 pp
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Sep 26, 2026
£3,434 pp
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Sep 29, 2026
£3,234 pp
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Oct 06, 2026
£3,234 pp
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Oct 10, 2026
£3,156 pp
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Oct 13, 2026
£2,956 pp
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Oct 17, 2026
£2,878 pp
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Oct 17, 2026
£2,952 pp
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Oct 20, 2026
£2,878 pp
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Oct 24, 2026
£2,878 pp
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Oct 27, 2026
£2,522 pp
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Oct 31, 2026
£2,322 pp
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Nov 03, 2026
£1,700 pp
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Nov 07, 2026
£1,700 pp
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Nov 10, 2026
£1,700 pp
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Nov 17, 2026
£1,700 pp
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Nov 24, 2026
£2,000 pp
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Dec 01, 2026
£3,444 pp
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Dec 08, 2026
£3,244 pp
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Dec 15, 2026
£2,844 pp
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More Dates

Romantic Rhine (Southbound) River Cruise Itinerary

This 7-night cruise explores the jewels of the Rhine with stunning scenery, fairytale castles, and iconic European cities, the ultimate fusion of culture, history, and breathtaking river views. Take your pick from a selection of insightful tours and enjoy luxury suites and five-star cuisine, the ideal cruise companions for a memorable river voyage.

Day 1

Amsterdam – Holland

Explore this famous city before you board your cruise ship. In tulip season, there is a guided excursion to the Keukenhof Gardens, where guests can view more than seven million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, a riot of colour and fragrance. Outside of tulip season, there is a guided tour to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and picturesque Dutch houses. Guests are welcome aboard their cruiser from 5 p.m.

Day 2

Amsterdam – Holland

Explore the legendary waterways of Amsterdam on a guided Canal Cruise, which focuses on this city’s Golden Age of architecture and culture. Guests can choose one of the optional tours available in the afternoon or take some free time to explore the city with its cosmopolitan mix of shops, museums, and galleries.

Day 3

Cologne – Germany

For the adventurous, take a bike ride around Cologne with Avalon’s Adventure Host or enjoy the more sedate pace of a guided walking tour around Cologne’s important Jewish heritage and sites. Another Guided City Walk of Cologne focuses on the main points of cultural interest and history, including the famous twin-steepled Gothic cathedral. Enjoy entertainment on board in the evening provided by local musicians.

Day 4

Rüdesheim

The journey to Rüdesheim cruises through the legendary Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its fairytale castles clinging to the cliffs high above the water. See the infamous Rock of the Lorelei, where a mythical siren lured sailors to their deaths. Rüdesheim is a well-known wine-growing area, so join your Avalon Adventure Host for a picturesque hike through the vineyards or discover something new and different at the incredible Mechanical Music Museum.

Day 5

Mainz and Heidelberg, Germany

Accompany your Adventure Host for a fascinating and inspiring walk in Heidelberg. There is also a guided tour to Heidelberg Castle, a world-renowned Renaissance treasure and home to the world’s largest wine barrel. Guests can also choose to stay in Mainz and explore the city on a guided walk, including visiting the Gutenberg Museum, one of the oldest museums in the world dedicated to printing.

Day 6

Strasbourg, France

Join a sightseeing tour of this fascinating city, including Strasbourg’s Gothic stained-glass cathedral and the truly magical La Petite France District. Those with an appetite for exercise can discover Strasbourg by bike with Avalon’s Adventure Host, or there is an excursion to the historic Maginot Line, fortifications designed to protect France’s eastern border. All guided tours are optional, so guests can explore the city themselves and create their own excursions.

Day 7

Breisach and the Black Forest, Germany

Avalon offers a full-day guided tour of the picturesque Black Forest. Visit the Vogtsbauernohf Open-Air museum, visit a traditional water mill, and watch a butter-making demonstration. There is an alternative excursion to a local winery in Breisach with wine tasting or a guided tour to the quaint village of Colmar with its picturesque half-timbered medieval and Renaissance buildings.

Day 8

Basel, Switzerland

Disembark in Basel.

Day 1

Basel, Switzerland

Disembark in Basel.

Day 2

Breisach and the Black Forest, Germany

Avalon offers a full-day guided tour of the picturesque Black Forest. Visit the Vogtsbauernohf Open-Air museum, visit a traditional water mill, and watch a butter-making demonstration. There is an alternative excursion to a local winery in Breisach with wine tasting or a guided tour to the quaint village of Colmar with its picturesque half-timbered medieval and Renaissance buildings.

Day 3

Strasbourg, France

Join a sightseeing tour of this fascinating city, including Strasbourg’s Gothic stained-glass cathedral and the truly magical La Petite France District. Those with an appetite for exercise can discover Strasbourg by bike with Avalon’s Adventure Host, or there is an excursion to the historic Maginot Line, fortifications designed to protect France’s eastern border. All guided tours are optional, so guests can explore the city themselves and create their own excursions.

Day 4

Mainz and Heidelberg, Germany

Accompany your Adventure Host for a fascinating and inspiring walk in Heidelberg. There is also a guided tour to Heidelberg Castle, a world-renowned Renaissance treasure and home to the world’s largest wine barrel. Guests can also choose to stay in Mainz and explore the city on a guided walk, including visiting the Gutenberg Museum, one of the oldest museums in the world dedicated to printing.

Day 5

Rüdesheim

The journey to Rüdesheim cruises through the legendary Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its fairytale castles clinging to the cliffs high above the water. See the infamous Rock of the Lorelei, where a mythical siren lured sailors to their deaths. Rüdesheim is a well-known wine-growing area, so join your Avalon Adventure Host for a picturesque hike through the vineyards or discover something new and different at the incredible Mechanical Music Museum.

Day 6

Cologne – Germany

For the adventurous, take a bike ride around Cologne with Avalon’s Adventure Host or enjoy the more sedate pace of a guided walking tour around Cologne’s important Jewish heritage and sites. Another Guided City Walk of Cologne focuses on the main points of cultural interest and history, including the famous twin-steepled Gothic cathedral. Enjoy entertainment on board in the evening provided by local musicians.

Day 7

Amsterdam – Holland

Explore the legendary waterways of Amsterdam on a guided Canal Cruise, which focuses on this city’s Golden Age of architecture and culture. Guests can choose one of the optional tours available in the afternoon or take some free time to explore the city with its cosmopolitan mix of shops, museums, and galleries.

Day 8

Amsterdam – Holland

Explore this famous city before you board your cruise ship. In tulip season, there is a guided excursion to the Keukenhof Gardens, where guests can view more than seven million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, a riot of colour and fragrance. Outside of tulip season, there is a guided tour to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and picturesque Dutch houses. Guests are welcome aboard their cruiser from 5 p.m.

ROMANTIC RHINE (SOUTHBOUND) CRUISE SHIPS

Trustpilot Reviews

ROMANTIC RHINE (SOUTHBOUND) RIVER CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Discover Europe’s best kept secrets

Amsterdam

Cologne

Rüdesheim

Heidelberg

Strasbourg

Basel

Romantic Rhine (Southbound) River Cruise Deals

Discover Europe’s best kept secrets with Crui.se

Avalon Waterways
Departure: Apr to Dec
VISITING: Amsterdam – Holland Cologne – Germany Rüdesheim Mainz and Heidelberg, Germany Strasbourg, France Breisach and the Black Forest, Germany Basel, Switzerland
AVG PER PERSON* £ 1,460
Avalon Waterways
Departure: May to Jul
VISITING: Amsterdam (EMBARK) Amsterdam Cologne Rhine Gorge / Rüdesheim Miltenberg Würzburg Volkach Bamberg Roth (excursion to Nuremberg) Regensburg Passau / Linz Melk / Wachau Valley / Vienna Vienna Budapest Vukovar / Ilok Novi Sad Belgrade Golubac / Donji Milanovac (excursion to Lepenski Vir) Vidin Rousse (excursion to Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi) Oltenita (DISEMBARK)
AVG PER PERSON* £ 7,597
Avalon Waterways
Departure: January
VISITING: Frankfurt (EMBARK) Rhine Gorge (Scenic Sailing) Strasbourg Breisach, excursion to Black Forest Basel (DISEMBARK)
AVG PER PERSON* £ 1,899

Romantic Rhine (Southbound) Cruise Review

“This is definitely the best Rhine cruise we have been on – it showcases the finest cities, fantastic points of interest like the Black Forest, and, of course, the unforgettable Rhine Gorge. Avalon ships are certainly a cut above the rest in terms of luxury and amenities, but the choice of guided excursions really marked out this cruise. We took full advantage of the dedicated Avalon Adventure Centre and Host, adding a whole new level to our previous cruise experiences. We highly recommend Avalon and have already booked another trip.”

Simon and Beth Sinderby, Rotherham

Romantic Rhine (Southbound) FAQ

I suffer from allergies, so I need a restricted diet. How does this work?

Our gourmet chefs offer fresh daily selections, which include vegan, vegetarian, and healthy options. Because Avalon already provides tailored menu selections, we can easily accommodate guests on a restricted diet. Discuss your requirements with our friendly booking team when you make your reservation.

Do I need an up-to-date Covid vaccination before I embark on the ship?

When you make your reservation, we can advise of the latest vaccination protocols for all diseases. Avalon follows regional and local guidance in the countries we sail through and also the advice given by the World Health Organisation (WHO). All on-board staff are fully vaccinated.

Do I need visas required for the Romantic Rhine Cruise?

All guests require visas before they travel, and passengers are responsible for arranging this in their own country before they join the cruise. Our friendly booking team can help you with the basics and outline the application process. Always allow enough time if you are travelling during the height of the holiday season, as visas can take longer during busy periods.

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