7-Night Europe Cruise from Basel

• History & Culture

1. Day

   1
   • 

     Basel

     A Swiss city on the Rhine where Switzerland, France and Germany meet, and a common starting point for Rhine cruises. Its old town climbs from the river to a red sandstone cathedral and a medieval market square ringed by guild houses.

     • Basel Münster
     • Old town
     • Rhine starting point
2. Day

   2
   • 

     Breisach

     A small town on the Rhine at the edge of Germany's Kaiserstuhl wine country, just across the river from France's Alsace. It is crowned by the St. Stephan minster on its hilltop and serves as the river gateway to Freiburg and the southern Black Forest.

     • St. Stephan minster
     • Kaiserstuhl vineyards
     • Black Forest gateway
3. Day

   3
   • 

     Kehl

     A German town on the right bank of the Rhine, directly across the river from Strasbourg in France. A bridge and garden link the two banks, and the riverside park makes it a crossing point for cruises between Germany and Alsace.

     • Two Banks Garden
     • Rhine bridge
     • Strasbourg nearby
4. Day

   4
   • 

     Ludwigshafen

     An industrial city on the Rhine in southwest Germany, facing Mannheim across the river. It is chiefly a river-cruise and rail gateway, within easy reach of Heidelberg, Speyer's cathedral, and the vineyards of the Palatinate wine country.

     • Heidelberg gateway
     • Speyer Cathedral
     • Palatinate wines
5. Day

   5
   • 

     Rüdesheim

     A small wine town on the Rhine, set where the river enters its dramatic gorge. River ships call here for the half-timbered lanes of the Drosselgasse, the vineyards of the Rheingau and the cable car up to the Niederwald monument above.

     • Drosselgasse
     • Rheingau vineyards
     • Niederwald monument
   • R

     Rhine Gorge, Germany

     A scenic stretch of the Rhine in western Germany, where the river cuts a steep gorge between vine-clad slopes. Castle after castle crowns the heights above the water, including the legendary Lorelei rock on a sharp bend.

     • Clifftop castles
     • Lorelei rock
     • Riverside vineyards
   • 

     Koblenz

     A German city at the meeting of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, the point known as the Deutsches Eck or 'German Corner'. A cable car climbs from the headland to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress, and the town marks the northern end of the Rhine Gorge.

     • Deutsches Eck
     • Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
     • Rhine cable car
6. Day

   6
   • 

     Cologne

     A Rhineland city dominated by its twin-spired Gothic cathedral, the tallest in Germany when built. River cruises call beside the old town, where the cathedral, riverside promenade and 12 Romanesque churches sit within easy walking distance.

     • Cologne Cathedral
     • Old town
     • Rhine promenade
7. Day

   7
   • 

     Amsterdam

     The Dutch capital, laced with concentric canals and gabled merchant houses from its 17th-century golden age. Most river sailings depart from here, leaving time for the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House or a stroll through the Jordaan before lines cast off.

     • Rijksmuseum
     • Anne Frank House
     • Jordaan canals
8. Day

   8
   • 

     Amsterdam

     The Dutch capital, laced with concentric canals and gabled merchant houses from its 17th-century golden age. Most river sailings depart from here, leaving time for the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House or a stroll through the Jordaan before lines cast off.

     • Rijksmuseum
     • Anne Frank House
     • Jordaan canals

• 4 Apr 2027
• 2 May 2027

Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.