Rhine River Cruise

Rhine River cruise tips & insights
About the Rhine River
It one of the world's most famous and longest rivers (see map above). The river is also one of the most international. It flows 1320 kilometers (820 miles) from the Alps to the North Sea, passing through or kissing Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, and The Netherlands.

The three Rhine regions
They are the Lower (nearest the sea), Middle, and Upper (nearest the source) Rhines. The first and third have flatter and smoother landscapes, making them less stimulating for tourists. The Middle Rhine is by far the visitor's top choice.

Best sightseeing section of the Middle Rhine
It lies between Koblenz and Rudesheim (or Bingen) for a distance of 65 kilometers (40 miles). Here the river narrows as it flows through a steeply inclined valley gorge.

• Medieval castles
  This short section is home to the world's densest concentration of medieval castles. They number several dozens and sit dramatically on steep slopes. Burg Katz, Marksburg, Reichenstein, and Rheinfels are among the best known.
  
• Lorelei
  The famous Lorelei rock soars 130 meters or 430 feet about the water. Legend says a siren sitting on top of the Lorelei rock distracts sailors with a mesmerizing song. This causes shipwrecks because sailors stop paying attention to the dangerous rocks and currents at the foot of the Lorelei.
  
• Medieval villages
  The riverbank's picturesque Medieval villages with half-timbered buildings delight onboard cruisers. So do the manicured, steep-inclined vineyards. You can also explore the villages and enjoy vineyard wine tastings during shore excursions.

Best time to go
July and August are the two most popular months, though it can become quite hot - and small villages can become overcrowded with sightseers. June (especially its first half) is the best period. But smaller crowds, May and September are desirable. April and October can be nippy.

Best direction
Sail downstream. The ride is slightly smoother and travel time is significantly reduced.

Best side of the boat
Book the right side going downstream, the left side cruising upstream. Reason: The hot, glaring afternoon sun will strike the other side of the boat. This means:

Cruise lengths
They typically last from 5 to 10 days. The 14-day variety are Rhine-Danube combos.

More Rhine pointers & tidbits

• The landscape is flatter and less dramatic below and above the Middle Rhine region.
  
• Riverboat cruise ships can sail upstream on the Rhine from the North Sea only as far as Basel, Switzerland. That's about 60% of the river's length.
  
• Most boats carry between 120 to 200 passengers. Numbers and boat sizes are low because water levels and lock widths dictate it.
  
• Most passengers are working professionals or retirees and are in the 45-to-75-age range (though there is a lower-age trend).
  
• Quality cruise lines Amawaterways, Tauck, Trafalgar, Uniworld, and Viking attract a predominantly English-speaking clientele. Among German speakers, it's Peter Deilman.
  
• The Rhine is a major European shipping thoroughfare, so you'll see numerous river cargo boats plying up and down the river. You also see pleasure boats.
  
• The Mosel and Main Rivers are its two most noteworthy tributaries. A canal connects the latter to the Danube, creating the transcontinental Rhine-Danube combo cruise route.