Top Germany Small Ship Cruise Trips & Packages In 2025/2026

Our 267 most popular Germany Small Ship Cruise Trips & Packages trips. Compare tour itineraries from 25 tour companies. 6 reviews.

267 Trips match your criteria (45 - 66 shown)

European Masterpiece: the Rhine, Seine and Rhône Revealed
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
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, 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 legendary Rock of the Lorelei; free time in Koblenz
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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."

Trip dates & details
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The Rhine & Moselle with 2 Nights in Lucerne (Northbound)
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
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, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Lucerne, Luxembourg, Rudesheim, Strasbourg, Trier

Highlights

  • Welcome to Switzerland
  • Guided walking tour, with the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge
  • Excursion to Mount Pilatus or Mount Stanserhorn per seasonal accessibility (in case of bad weather, visit the Swiss Transport Museum instead); transfer to Basel to join your ship; onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of excursion to Black Forest, or bike with your Adventure Host or guided tour of Freiburg
  • Choice of guided tour, visit La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host
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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."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
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Christmastime from Nuremberg to Basel with 2 Nights in Prague
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
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, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Nuremberg, Prague, Rudesheim, Strasbourg

Highlights

  • Arrival day at leisure
  • Guided tour, see the Astronomical Clock and visit to Hradcany Castle; Christmas market
  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of Nuremberg guided tour or Nuremberg Rally Grounds tour; Christmas market
  • Guided tour, see the Old Town Hall; onboard Christmas Traditions lecture
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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."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
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Christmastime from Basel to Budapest
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
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, Budapest, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Linz, Munich, Nuremberg, Passau, Rudesheim, Strasbourg, Vienna

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of visit to Freiburg or excursion to Black Forest; Christmas market
  • Guided tour, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral; Christmas market
  • Guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat; free time for Christmas market
  • Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; enjoy a special treat
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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."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Danube Symphony with 1 Night in Budapest (Eastbound)
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
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

Bratislava, Budapest, Linz, Passau, Vienna

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of Linz sightseeing or visit to St. Florian Monastery or hike to Mount Postlingberg
  • Choice of guided tour in Ybbs with Artstetten Castle visit or bike with your Adventure Host; scenic cruising through the Wachau Valley; choice of guided tour in Krems or Wine World Experience with tasting or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of guided sightseeing, or Künsthistorisches Museum visit, or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of a guided sightseeing, visit St. Martin's Cathedral or a hike to Bratislava Castle with your Adventure Host
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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."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Rhine & Rhône Revealed with 2 Nights in French Riviera (Southbound)
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
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
Flexible schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Arles, Avignon, Basel, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Lyon, Rudesheim, Strasbourg

Highlights

  • Onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of canal cruise or off-the-beaten path walking tour
  • Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host
  • 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 in Rüdesheim or hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of guided walk in Mainz with a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, or a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or walk the Philosophers’ Way with your Adventure Host
Show more

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."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
From Romania to the North Sea with 1 Night in Bucharest
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
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, Bamberg, Belgrade, Belogradchik, Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Croatia, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Nuremberg, Passau, Romania, Salzburg, Vienna

Highlights

  • Welcome to Bucharest
  • Guided sightseeing in Bucharest; transfer to ship; onboard welcome reception
  • Choice of full-day excursion, visit to Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Târnovo and to the Ethnographical Museum and Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi, or guided sightseeing in Rousse, or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Choice of guided sightseeing to Baba Vida fortress, see the rock formations in Belogradchik or bike with your Adventure Host
  • Scenic cruise through the Iron Gates gorge; Guided visit of Lepenski Vir archaeological site and Golubač fortress
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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."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Enchanted Europe (Westbound)
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
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
Show more

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."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More

Germany Small Ship Cruise Trips & Packages Reviews

W

Wayne H

Jan 2017

Written on

The most amazing river trip in Europe

Traveling from Belgium through 6 countries to Switzerland is one of the most amazing travel experiences in Europe, especially if traveling with Grand Circle Travel. ...

R

Rick & Fran

Aug 2015

We enjoyed the entire experience

We enjoyed the entire experience; Normandy and Omaha Beach were especially moving. The food and service deserve praise too. This is our third Viking cruise and we'll...

L

Larry

Oct 2018

Misleading and often just plain dishonest.

We paid for a 3 week luxury river cruise but received a large group bus trip across Europe with many days of packing and unpacking. I called our Viking representativ...

C

Charles

Oct 2022

Good and no so goog

Recently returned from a Viking Rhine trip on 10/14. The good: Rhine water levels were good, no issues. Service on the vessel was A+, excluding one attendant with...

T

Tonya

Aug 2015

Incredible experience

Incredible experience sailing on the Grand European tour from Amsterdam to Budapest! Just wonderful! The tours were interesting, and most allowed for adequate free t...

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