Advantages of a River Cruise in Germany:
- You can get on the cruise ship, see several towns and never have to drive or cart your luggage from one hotel to another.
- Meals are included in the cruise fares so it makes it relatively easy to plan your travel budget.
- If you like to socialize, you will meet a lot of people on board the cruise and have people to go sightseeing or party with.
- The rivers in Germany are beautiful, the Elbe, the Danube and the Rhine all have incredible views that you cannot see from the highway or from the trains.
- Most major German cities and medieval towns are on rivers so you will have a chance to see a lot.
Germany River Cruise Pricing :
Plan on spending at least 200 euros a night for a German river cruise, deluxe cruises can be twice that. The advantage is that meals are included and you don't have to worry about renting a car or taking trains so all in all, the cost is not bad. Most cruises offer three meals a day, with a breakfast buffet, lunch buffet and dinner. You will generally have to pay for your drinks and make sure you tip the stewards but other than that, you can budget easily for your trip if you take a German river cruise.Cruise the Danube River:
You can cruise the Danube from Passau to Vienna or see Nuremburg and other lovely German cities with cruises that last from four days to a few weeks. EuroRiverCruises.com offers some great cruises along the Danube as well as along other rivers in Germany and Europe. You will see some of the loveliest cities in southern Germany and if you go all the way to Budapest, you will experience a lovely tour of Eastern Europe.Cruise the Elbe River:
Elbe River Cruises take you to places including Hamburg, Dresden, Berlin, Potsdam, Prague and Stralsund. The Elbe river winds through Germany, through incredible scenery, impressive vistas, and some of the most beautiful nature areas in the country. I am a bit biased as I love Hamburg and Dresden but cruising the Elbe is delightful - you cannot imagine the incredible scenery until you are going through the Saxony Switzerland on a boat, it is a beautiful juxtaposition of natural scenery with classic cities. While the Danube and Rhine are more popular, the Elbe is majestic - consider it if you want to see Germany.Cruise the Rhine River:
The Rhine river runs through some of the prettiest cities in Germany - going all the way down to Lake Constance. You can take a Rhine cruise and visit Dusseldorf, Cologne and other lovely towns and villages like the wine town of Ruedesheim and the Lorelei.Canal Boats and Barge Hire:
For a more economical and independent holiday, you can hire a canal boat or barge and set your own schedule, many canal boat companies offer crews while others let you cruise on your own. For an independent cruise, try Canal Boat Holidays in Brandenburg and Mecklenburgor you can have a crew or not with Barge and Boat Rentals in Mecklenburg, Germany I highly recommend a barge/bike tour, 4 Winds Spepialty Tours goes from Mainz to Bamberg, for only $1250 for a week, you receive a breakfast buffet, packed lunches, 3 course dinners and bike rentals and tours - a great way to get some exercise and see Germany.Harbor Cruises and Party Cruises:
If you don't want to take a long cruise, you can enjoy harbor cruises or party cruises in most German cities - Dresden, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, Bremen, Kiel, Lake Constance...take a few hour cruise on one of the lakes or through the local harbor, cruises can be as cheap as a few dollars and go up depending on whether it is a dinner or party cruise. In Hamburg, for example, your public transit card for the day lets you cruise the canals and the Alster from spring to fall.Christmas Market Cruises and Tours:
Float down the rivers of Germany and visit the magical Christmas markets of Germany. Late November and through December, German cities and towns host incredible Christmas markets, complete with great food, gifts and entertainment, a Christmas market cruise is a relaxing and easy way to see Christmas in Germany - and for my money, nobody does Christmas better than the Germans. Gluhwein, great foods, everyone standing around outdoor tables bundled up in winter clothes and spontaneously bursting into song occasionally. A German Christmas market cruise may be just the ticket if you want a romantic winter week.River Cruises in Germany - Romance and Relaxation on Germany's Rivers:
Germany's river cruises are gorgeous, you can travel at cheap rates and can budget easily for your trip if you take a German river cruise. You don't have to catch any trains, rent a car, or go from hotel to hotel. You have the chance to get to know your fellow travelers and see the Germany of centuries ago as well as some of the great cities of Germany.Whether you decide to cruise the Rhine, the Danube or the Elbe, you are sure to have a great time. At Christmas time, you can take a Christmas market tour, and throughout the spring, summer and fall, you can float down one of Germany's rivers and enjoy the local wines, the festivals in the towns and cities and have your floating hotel waiting for you in the evening.
Besides seeing things you couldn't otherwise see in terms of scenery, a cruise is easy, you don't have to haul your luggage around and your meals are included in the cruise as well.
There are a few disadvantages, eating all your meals on the ship means you will miss the local cuisine. Staying on the ship means you won't experience different hotels around Germany. I think the advantages of river cruising in Germany far outweigh the disadvantages - it is relaxing, it is fun, you meet lots of people and see lots of places and don't have to do any work on vacation planning - it is a great holiday for lazy travelers.
If you want to be more independent or adventurous you can rent a canal boat or barge or do a barge/bike tour. I highly recommend doing a river cruise and if you don't have the money to do an overnighter, definitely take one of the harbor tours or party cruises that you can find in most German towns that are on the water.
I particularly like doing the German river cruises because you don't get seasick. You are simply floating down the rivers and there are enough stops that you are going to see a lot. No driving is necessary, no thinking really...it's a great way to see some of the most beautiful spots in Germany.
