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Destinations › River Cruises

River cruises - comfort and culture on calm waters

River cruises take place on the world’s major rivers and offer the opportunity to experience impressive cities and picturesque landscapes up close.

A river cruise combines the comfort of a hotel with the opportunity to explore different destinations without having to constantly change accommodation. Many providers offer all-inclusive packages that include meals, excursions and sometimes even drinks. This makes planning particularly straightforward.

Travel through the most beautiful landscapes

A river cruise allows you to experience nature and culture up close. Unlike ocean cruises, where often only the open sea can be seen, river cruise ships glide through picturesque landscapes, past vineyards, historic towns and idyllic villages. The views are constantly changing and the proximity to the shore ensures that there is always something to discover.

Manageable ships and a family atmosphere

River cruise ships are significantly smaller than ocean-going vessels. There are only a few passenger decks and a limited number of cabins, which contributes to the personal atmosphere. The service is therefore more individual and guests can interact with each other more easily.

Access to cultural highlights

As rivers often flow through historic cities and regions, river cruises offer the opportunity to easily reach numerous sights. Whether the romantic castles along the Rhine, the historic towns on the Danube or the impressive castles of the Loire – river cruises are a journey through the history of Europe.

Deceleration and enjoyment

River cruises stand for a relaxed way of traveling. There are no long transfers or hectic schedules. Instead, guests can enjoy the passing landscapes on board while being spoiled with culinary delights. Many ships place great emphasis on regional cuisine, making the journey a culinary experience too.

Flusskreuzfahrten

Popular river cruises

The choice of river cruises is huge. Many shipping companies offer a variety of tours and often also special themed trips. The most popular trips are on the following rivers:

Rhine
The Rhine is one of the classic routes for river cruises in Europe. It leads through picturesque landscapes such as the Middle Rhine Valley with its castles and vineyards, as well as through cities such as Cologne, Mainz and Basel.

Danube
The Danube is one of the longest and most popular rivers for cruises. It connects impressive cities such as Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava and leads all the way to the Danube Delta on the Black Sea.

Seine
A cruise on the Seine offers romantic views of Paris and takes you through Normandy, past historic places such as Rouen and Giverny.

Douro
The Douro in Portugal is known for its spectacular wine regions and leads through the heart of port wine country to Porto.

Rhône
The Rhône in France offers a mix of nature and culture, with stops in cities such as Lyon and Avignon as well as picturesque Provence.

Nile
The Nile in Egypt is one of the oldest and most culturally rich cruise routes. It leads to ancient sites such as Luxor, Aswan and the temples of Abu Simbel.

Amazonas
The Amazon in South America offers an exotic cruise through the rainforest, with unique flora and fauna.

Yangtze River
In China, the Yangtze River is a popular route that leads through impressive gorges and cultural highlights such as the Three Gorges Dam.

Experience river cruises

Donau bei der Burg Devín
River cruises on the Danube

River cruises on the Danube are enjoying great popularity—and for good reason. Offering a perfect combination of comfort, majestic landscapes, and countless indescribable cultural highlights, a river cruise on the Danube provides an ideal way to leave everyday life behind while discovering historic metropolises and natural wonders.

River cruises on the Danube   →
river cruises on the Rhine
River cruises on the Rhine

River cruises are very popular - and the Rhine is one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe to experience such a journey. With a perfect combination of comfort, breathtaking scenery and cultural highlights, a river cruise on the Rhine offers an ideal opportunity to leave everyday life behind and discover fascinating places at the…

River cruises on the Rhine   →

All our experiences in River Cruises

A view through a stone archway reveals the cobblestone courtyard and ornate Baroque facade of the Weltenburg Kloster main entrance, with a small group of people gathered near the church doors.

Weltenburg Abbey: where Baroque meets beer culture and the forces of nature

Numb fingers, a gray sky, and really just the desire for a warm room. My excursion to Weltenburg Abbey started with dampened expectations and the desire for a hot coffee.

Continue Reading about Weltenburg Abbey: where Baroque meets beer culture and the forces of nature

A high-angle view of the Belvedere atrium shows a circular opening with a glass-and-wood skylight above a metal railing decorated with green holiday garland. The word "BELVEDERE" is spelled out in large black letters on the curved wall behind the railing.

A Christmas river cruise with the BELVEDERE – “Visit to the Christ Child”

Spending the pre-Christmas season on board a river cruise ship – why not? Visiting Christmas markets in various cities and spending the next night in a floating hotel – a great experience for us. We took a Christmas river cruise on the BELVEDERE by nicko cruises.

Continue Reading about A Christmas river cruise with the BELVEDERE – “Visit to the Christ Child”

A wide-angle shot of the nicko cruises' river cruise ship, Belvedere, docked along a riverbank under a dramatic, cloudy sky. The white and red vessel features large panoramic windows and two circular portholes near the bow, reflecting its design for scenic river travel.

Portrait of nicko cruises’ Belvedere: river cruise with panoramic views

The selection of river cruise ships is vast. We traveled aboard the MS Belvedere by nicko cruises to take a closer look at what she has to offer. With her glass front and a wellness area located directly in the bow, the ship offers features that are hard to find on other vessels.

Continue Reading about Portrait of nicko cruises’ Belvedere: river cruise with panoramic views

Flusskreuzfahrt Holland

River cruise “A sea of tulips for the senses” with the RHEIN MELODIE from Cologne

A river cruise to Holland during the tulip blossom season is an unforgettable experience. The gentle journey on the Rhine reveals a picturesque landscape and stops at exciting cities. The world-famous Keukenhof is the heart of the tulip blossom in the Netherlands and of course the highlight of the trip.

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Keukenhof

To the Keukenhof to see the tulips in bloom


Who hasn’t heard the song “Tulips from Amsterdam…”. Close to the metropolis is the Keukenhof, certainly the most famous place in the country to experience the tulip blossom.

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Rhein Melodie

Rhein Melodie – a ship of nicko cruises

The Rhein Melodie is part of the fleet of the renowned shipping company nicko cruises. It offers travelers the opportunity to enjoy the fascinating landscape of the Rhine. The river cruise ship combines modern comfort with a relaxed and stylish atmosphere that appeals to both experienced cruise guests and newcomers alike.

Continue Reading about Rhein Melodie – a ship of nicko cruises

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