Cruise itinerary
12-Night Europe Cruise from Basel
12 nights · Europe · 14 ports of call
12-night Europe cruise aboard Emerald Astra, departing Basel and calling at Breisach, Colmar, Kehl, Strasbourg, Mainz and Rüdesheim and 7 more.
- Free advisor
- No booking fees
- 10,000+ sailings
At a glance
- Ship
- Emerald Astra
- Cruise line
- Emerald Cruises
- Duration
- 12 nights
- Region
- Europe · Western Europe · Rhine · Moselle
- Departs
- Basel
- Returns
- Amsterdam
How NestCruise works:we're advisor-led, not a booking engine. No fares are listed and there are no booking fees — tell an advisor your dates and party and they price your exact Emerald Astra sailing, typically within 24 hours.
Where this voyage takes you
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
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
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
- Day2
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
Colmar
- Day3
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
Strasbourg
The capital of France's Alsace, set on the Rhine close to the German border. Its Grande Île old town centres on a soaring pink-sandstone cathedral and the canal-laced lanes of Petite France, while the modern European Parliament sits across the city.
- Strasbourg Cathedral
- Petite France
- European Parliament
- Day4
Mainz
A city on the Rhine in western Germany, where the river meets the Main. It is the birthplace of Gutenberg and movable-type printing, with a Romanesque red sandstone cathedral and a market square at the heart of the old town.
- Mainz Cathedral
- Gutenberg Museum
- Old town market
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
- Day5
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
- Day6
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
- Day7
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
- Day8
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
Bonn
A city on the Rhine in western Germany and the country's former capital. The birthplace of Beethoven, it keeps a fine old town, riverside promenades and a cluster of museums along the Museumsmeile.
- Beethoven House
- Old town market
- Rhine promenade
- Day9
Nijmegen
One of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, set on the Waal river in Gelderland. A Roman frontier post and later a Hanseatic trading town, it is known for its riverside quays, the Valkhof park ruins and the annual Four Days Marches.
- Valkhof park
- Waalkade quays
- St. Stephen's Church
- Day10
Dordrecht
One of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, set where three rivers meet in the province of South Holland. Its historic centre holds canalside merchant houses, the Grote Kerk and a working harbour, with the windmills of Kinderdijk nearby.
- Grote Kerk
- Historic harbour
- Kinderdijk windmills
Rotterdam
The Netherlands' great port city, rebuilt after wartime destruction into a showcase of bold modern architecture. The Erasmus Bridge spans the Maas, the cube houses tilt over the Oude Haven, and the covered Markthal anchors a skyline unlike anywhere else in the country.
- Erasmus Bridge
- Cube houses
- Markthal
- Day11
Zaandam
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
- Day12
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
- Day13
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
Upcoming departures
- 10 Jun 2026
- 22 Sep 2026
- 22 Sep 2026
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
12-Night Europe Cruise from Basel FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 12-night Europe cruise calls at Basel, Breisach, Colmar, Kehl, Strasbourg, Mainz, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Bonn, Nijmegen, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Zaandam and Amsterdam.
How many days are spent at sea?
This is a port-intensive itinerary with no full days at sea.
Where does this cruise depart from?
It departs from Basel and ends in Amsterdam.
How long is this cruise?
12 nights aboard Emerald Astra.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 10 Jun 2026, 22 Sep 2026 and 22 Sep 2026. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.