Top Germany Budget River Cruises &amp; Packages In 2025/2026

none

4.7/5 Excellent

River Cruise

Why we love them

They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Very Easy

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Bamberg, Basel, Boppard, Budapest, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg, Passau, Rudesheim, Salzburg, Strasbourg, Vienna, Zurich

Highlights

Onboard welcome reception
Scenic sailing, pass through Bratislava; free time in Vienna in the evening
Choice of guided sightseeing, or Künsthistorisches Museum visit, or bike with your Adventure Host
In Dürnstein choice of guided tour or hike up to its hilltop castle ruin; scenic cruise through the Wachau Valley or biking with your Adventure Host; choice of guided tour of the Benedictine Abbey in Melk; onboard wine tasting
Guided walk

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lovely with great views."

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$10,836

16 days From$8,298

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European Masterpiece: the Rhine, Seine and Rhône Revealed with 2 Nights in French Riviera

none

4.7/5 Excellent

River Cruise

Why we love them

They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Very Easy

Visits

Amsterdam, Arles, Avignon, Basel, Dijon, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Lyon, Nice, Normandy, Paris, Rouen, Rudesheim, Strasbourg

Highlights

Onboard welcome reception
Choice of excursion to Black Forest, or sightseeing of Freiburg or bike with your Adventure Host
Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host
Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or walk Philosophers’ Way with your Adventure Host, or visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz
Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim or hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host; cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the leg-endary Rock of the Lorelei; free time in Koblenz

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lovely with great views."

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24 days From$13,226

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German Grandeur with 2 Nights in Munich (Eastbound)

none

4.7/5 Excellent

River Cruise

Why we love them

They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Very Easy

Visits

Bamberg, Basel, Boppard, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg, Rudesheim, Strasbourg

Highlights

Onboard welcome reception
Choice of excursion to Black Forest or Freiburg guided tour or bike with your Adventure Host
Choice of guided tour, visit to La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or visit to Freiburg or bike with your Adventure Host
Choice of visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, cable-car ride to the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim, or a hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host; scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge; time at leisure in Boppard
In Frankfurt choice of guided tour or bike with your Adventure Host or guided tour in Seligenstadt

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lovely with great views."

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$6,410

11 days From$5,248

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Design custom trip

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Active & Discovery on the Danube with 2 Nights in Prague (Westbound)

none

4.7/5 Excellent

River Cruise

Why we love them

They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Very Easy

Visits

Budapest, Linz, Prague, Vienna

Highlights

Welcome to Hungary; onboard welcome reception; scenic sailing
Choice of medieval knights tournament, or guided hike in the Danube-Ipoly National Park, or canoe tour
Choice of bike tour, or Insider’s tour of Vienna, or guided tour, visit to Belvedere Palace
Choice of early risers walking tour with breakfast at a Viennese café, or guided tour, see Habsburg private art collection and the Italian or Dutch masters works
In Krems choice of canoe tour, or bike tour from Krems to Spitz, or Wine World Experience with tasting, or local encounter showcasing regional products; visit Clam castle in Grein and meet the Count

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lovely with great views."

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$6,099

10 days From$4,528

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Reflections on the Rhine with 2 Nights in Lucerne (Southbound)

none

4.7/5 Excellent

River Cruise

Why we love them

They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Very Easy

Visits

Amsterdam, Basel, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Lucerne, Strasbourg

Highlights

Onboard welcome reception
Choice of canal cruise or off-the-beaten path walking tour
Choice of biking tour in the Ooijpolder Nature Reserve, or guided walk in Nijmegen, or guided tour of Freedom Museum; guided tour in Arnhem
Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour, or guided walking tour through the Belgian Quarter, or visit and tasting at the chocolate museum
Cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum or take a cable-car ride to the Niederwald Monument in Rüdesheim or hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lovely with great views."

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12 days From$5,756

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The Blue Danube Discovery with 2 Nights in Budapest

none

4.7/5 Excellent

River Cruise

Why we love them

They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Very Easy

Visits

Budapest, Nuremberg, Passau, Salzburg, Vienna

Highlights

Welcome to Budapest!
Guided tour, see Heroes' Square
Onboard welcome reception
Scenic sailing, pass through Bratislava, free time in Vienna in the evening
Choice of guided sightseeing, or Künsthistorisches Museum visit, or bike with your Adventure Host

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lovely with great views."

Save this trip to your favorites or other list

$5,397

10 days From$4,398

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The Danube from Romania to Germany with 1 Night in Bucharest

none

4.7/5 Excellent

River Cruise

Why we love them

They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Very Easy

Visits

Belgrade, Belogradchik, Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Croatia, Linz, Passau, Romania, Salzburg, Vienna

Highlights

Welcome to Bucharest
Guided sightseeing in Bucharest; onboard welcome reception
Choice of full-day excursion, visit to Tsarevet's Fortress in Veliko Târnovo and to the Ethnographic Museum and the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi, or a guided sightseeing in Rousse, or bike with your Adventure Host
Guided sightseeing to Baba Vida fortress and see the rock formations in Belogradchik or walk with your Adventure Host
Cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge; choice of visit Lepenski Vir archaeological site or bike with your Adventure Host; visit to Golubač fortress

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lovely with great views."

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$11,954

17 days From$8,597

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The Danube from Germany to Romania with 2 Nights in Prague and 1 Night in Bucharest

none

4.7/5 Excellent

River Cruise

Why we love them

They combine the assurance of working with a large cruise operator with the warmth and personal service of a boutique provider.

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Very Easy

Visits

Belgrade, Belogradchik, Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Croatia, Linz, Passau, Prague, Romania, Vienna

Highlights

Welcome to Prague
Guided sightseeing, see the Astronomical Clock and visit Hradcany Castle grounds
Travel by motorcoach to Regensburg, guided sightseeing; transfer to Vilshofen; onboard welcome reception
Choice of guided walk or hike with your Adventure Host; Schlögen Oxbow scenic cruising
Guided sightseeing, see Hauptplatz and the Trinity Column

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"The Avalon was so wonderful and all staff were very helpful in many ways, we couldn't fault the ship or staff. Would recommend Avalon river cruises. The rooms are lovely with great views."