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Read the latest information on Rhine and Danube water levels.

Picturesque bend of the river Rhine near the town Filsen, Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate

River Cruises in Germany

With sixteen very different states - known locally as “Länder” - Germany is a country of dramatic variations.

From towering Alpine peaks and glaciers to dense forests, lush vineyards, national parks and majestic rivers such as the RhineDanube and Elbe, its shifting landscapes are endlessly beautiful and fascinating. Today, with more than eighty million inhabitants, Germany has the highest population in the European Union. The world's fourth largest economy and its second largest exporter, it’s once again the major economic and political power on the European scene.

But Germany is also a historic leader in many cultural, artistic and technical fields. The home of countless influential philosophers, composers, painters, scientists and inventors, it’s often been referred to as “Das Land der Dichter und Denker” (the land of poets and thinkers) thanks to the huge contribution that its famous sons and daughters have made to Western thought and culture. For most of the 20th century, Germany had more Nobel Prize winners than those of any other country, especially in the sciences and medicine: Albert Einstein, Hans Geiger, Gottlieb Daimler, Rudolf Diesel and Karl Benz for starters. Where would our musical heritage be without Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Wagner and Strauss? How much duller would generations of children’s bedtime stories have been without the Brothers Grimm and where would our best libraries be without Goethe, Schiller and Thomas Mann? From philosophy and poetry to physics and painting, Germany’s mark on the world is huge and undeniable, and you can explore it all on one of our river cruises.

Unbeatable value

which always includes

  • Direct flights & transfers
  • Five-star ships with impeccable on-board service
  • Itinerary curated by Riviera experts
  • Insightful excursions & visits every day with local guides
  • Expert Riviera Cruise Director & Cruise Host looking after you throughout
  • Evening entertainment from quizzes to impressive performers
  • Onboard restaurant, bar & lounge, spa & wellness facilities, plus free Wi-Fi
  • Delicious full board dining, plus Chef's Dinner
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • 20kg+ checked luggage
  • 24/7 support from our UK-based team
  • All-inclusive drinks package

Find your perfect river cruise in Germany

We've found you 16 River Cruises in Germany

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Explore River Cruises

Our brochure is packed with itineraries and inspiration. Delivered to your doorstep or view it online - the choice is yours.

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River Cruises
Duration
Ships
  • Germany
  • 5* ships
  • Flights included
  • Rail included
  • Full board dining & Chef's dinner
  • Free all-inclusive drinks package
  • 5 included experiences
Save on select December 2026 departures | Limited availability
Save on select December 2026 departures | Limited availability
Pretty bridge across a waterways of Strasbourg, capital city of the Alsace region, France
Feldberg Mountain, Germany, with views of distant Hills and Forests under a blue cloudy sky
Famous Chapel Bridge in the historic city center of Lucerne, the city's symbol and one of Switzerland's main tourist attractions and views on a sunny day in summer, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland
Church, houses and vineyards with the Rhein river in Assmanshausen, Germany

River Cruise

Rhine Cruise to Switzerland

  • France, Germany, Switzerland
  • 5* ships
  • Flights included
  • Rail included
  • Full board (except one lunch if choosing the full day excursion)
  • Free all-inclusive drinks package
  • 10 included experiences
Save up to £750pp on selected 2027 departures | Limited availability
Save up to £750pp on selected 2027 departures | Limited availability

Explore River Cruises

Our brochure is packed with itineraries and inspiration. Delivered to your doorstep or view it online - the choice is yours.

Canal and illuminated buildings during a Christmas market in Strasbourg, France
Christmas market lights in front of Speyer Cathedral at night, Germany
St. Michael church covered in snow at night in Cologne, Germany
Christmas market and Catholic cathedral at night in the city of Cologne, Germany

River Cruise

Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise

  • France, Germany
  • 5* ships
  • Flights included
  • Rail included
  • Full board with Christmas Gala dinner
  • Free all-inclusive drinks package
  • 10 included experiences
  • Onboard Christmas Concert
Save on select December 2026 departures | Limited availability
Save on select December 2026 departures | Limited availability
Koblenz City overlooking the Moselle River before sunset in Germany

River Cruise

New Year on the Rhine River Cruise

  • Germany
  • 5* ships
  • Flights included
  • Rail included
  • Full board including New Year's Eve Gala dinner and New Year’s Brunch
  • 7 included experiences plus New Year’s Eve celebrations on board
Save on select December 2026 departures | Limited availability
Save on select December 2026 departures | Limited availability
The old bridge in Heidelberg city and colourful evening sky in Germany
View of Rüdesheim am Rhein through vineyards. Rhine Valley, Germany
  • France, Germany
  • 5* ships
  • Flights included
  • Rail included
  • Full board dining
  • Free all-inclusive drinks package
  • 10 included experiences
Save up to £750pp on selected 2027 departures | Limited availability
Save up to £750pp on selected 2027 departures | Limited availability
Church, houses and vineyards with the Rhein river in Assmanshausen, Germany
Rheinstein Castle partially concealed by the surrounding forests, on a valley leading down to River Rhine

River Cruise

Rhine Gorge & Cologne Discovery River Cruise

  • Germany
  • 5* ships
  • Flights included
  • Rail included
  • Full board dining
  • Free all-inclusive drinks package
  • 4 Included experiences
Save up to £750pp on selected 2027 departures | Limited availability
Save up to £750pp on selected 2027 departures | Limited availability

Cruise Director Anette on cruising with Riviera Travel

Annette tells us about her favourite destinations to cruise in Europe, and what makes a Riviera Travel River cruise holiday so special.

 

River Cruises in Germany on the Riviera Travel blog

Cologne Cathedral and Hohenzollern bridge illuminated in Cologne, Germany

Rhine River Cruise Guide

An increasingly popular river cruise choice, the Rhine’s striking scenery has long enthralled writers, composers, artists, and travellers.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING
Colorful half-timbered houses in Miltenberg historical medieval Old Town, Bavaria, Germany

A Guide to the Main River

Europe’s Main river flows through the heart of quintessential medieval Germany and while less well-known than the Danube or Rhine, it’s a major tributary of the latter.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING

A Guide to Moselle River Cruises

Discover the scenic charms of the Moselle River as it meanders past picturesque medieval towns, rolling hills, and sloping vineyards.

Read more