Cruise & Walk the River Rhine

7 nights accommodation

Availability Oct 2026

One itinerary available

Full Board

Grades 3 details

Flights included

Non-members From

£2,699

pp

Members From

£2,649

pp

For group booking of 10 or more please click here
Embark on an unforgettable voyage along one of Europe’s most important waterways aboard Amadeus Riva. Steeped in history, the Rhine is lined with charming medieval towns, fairytale-like castles crowning the hillsides, and landscapes that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. Cruise through the romantic Rhine Gorge and on to historic cities like Cologne and Strasbourg, where discovery awaits around every bend. When you’re not relaxing on board, spend time in charming riverside villages such as Speyer and Cochem and enjoy guided walks in countryside rich with volcanic peaks, vast beech forests, and beautiful views over the vineyards and villages of the UNESCO-listed Rhine Valley.

Accommodation

Cabin Facilities

Each cabin features a spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower, luxurious Rituals bath products, and a hairdryer, along with a fixed panoramic window or drop-down panoramic window that fills the space with natural light. Thoughtful touches like a comfortable bed, generously-sized wardrobe, secure in-room safe, flat-screen TV, individual climate control and direct dial telephone ensure a restful and well-equipped stay.

Ship facilities

  • Restaurant

  • Panorama lounge bar

  • Massage room

  • Fitness room

  • Lift between the Haydn and Mozart decks (sun deck not accessible by lift)

  • Shop

  • Amadeus Club with 24 hour tea and coffee station

  • Putting green, chess board, shuffleboard and loungers on sun deck

Ship Technical Details

  • Construction: 2023

  • Flag: Germany

  • Length x Width 135m x 11.4m

  • Draft: 1.5m

  • Decks: 4

  • Cabins/Suites: 67/12

  • Max.passenger: 158

  • Crew members: approx. 46

  • Speed: 25 km/h

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What You’ll Love

  • Smaller ships for a more intimate experience and relaxed feel on board
  • Daily small-group guided walks and sightseeing with expert local leaders, exclusively for HF guests
  • Fully escorted from the UK by an HF Tour Manager
  • Guided walking tours of Amsterdam & Strasbourg
  • Siebensgebirge Mountains and Drachenfels railway
  • Guided walking tour in Cochem including the Reichsburg Castle
  • Sailing through the UNESCO Rhine Gorge
  • A visit of the unique Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum in Rudesheim
  • Excursion to Heidelberg with guided walk and castle visit

What's Included

  • Return flights from the UK with baggage and transfers
  • Fully escorted from the UK by an HF Holiday Tour Manager
  • 7-night river cruise with accommodation in an en-suite river view cabin
  • Full board dining featuring breakfast, multi-course lunch and dinner with menu choices, afternoon tea and late-night snack
  • Wine, beer and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner
  • 24-hour complimentary tea and coffee available in the Amadeus Club
  • Welcome cocktail reception and dinner and gala dinner
  • Guided walking excursions as described in the itinerary
  • Onboard entertainment as described in the itinerary

Reviews


Itinerary

Itinerary

Fly to Amsterdam and on arrival, join your transfer to Amadeus Riva. Enjoy a welcome cocktail followed by a special dinner. Round off the evening with a Shanty Choir performance. The ship remains moored in Amsterdam overnight. 

With over 160 canals, Amsterdam is often called the ‘Venice of the North’. Discover why on a guided walking tour this morning, taking in gabled houses, bridges, and landmarks. Afterwards, travel by coach to Utrecht to rejoin the ship for lunch. Cruise through the Dutch countryside towards Cologne and relax on board. 

Sail into Cologne and admire its twin-spired cathedral before travelling by coach to Königswinter. En route, we’ll stop at Petersberg for stunning Rhine Valley views, then walk or ride the historic Drachenfels Railway to the summit to explore the ruins of Drachenfels Castle and learn the legends about folkloric German hero Siegfried and the slaying of a dragon. Enjoy free time in Cologne before dinner as we cruise onwards. 

This morning, the ship leaves the Rhine for the Moselle, where steep vineyards rise from the valley. After lunch, arrive in Cochem for a guided walk through the old town and up to Reichsburg Castle to explore its Renaissance and Baroque interiors. Return to the ship for dinner as we cruise towards Koblenz. 

Arrive in Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Explore at leisure before sailing through the spectacular Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with castles and vineyards. Later, arrive in Rüdesheim for a guided walk and visit to the unique Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum. Located in a 15th-century residence, this fascinating museum displays over 400 self-playing instruments. In the evening, enjoy a soprano performance inspired by Rhine legends. 

Arrive in Mannheim and travel to Heidelberg by coach for a guided tour of its old town and up to the castle. Walk the Schlangenweg for panoramic views, then descend by cable car. Back aboard, cruise to Speyer for free time exploring its cathedral and riverside charm before continuing along the Rhine during dinner. 

Arrive in Strasbourg for a guided walk through Petite France and the UNESCO-listed Grande Île, with its canals and half-timbered houses. After lunch, relax on board as we cruise towards Switzerland. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner celebrating the highlights of your Rhine adventure. 

Say farewell to the crew and transfer to the airport for the flight home from Basel. 

Daily Walk Options

Grade 3

Medium Walks

Walks follow well-defined paths, though often in hilly or upland areas, or along rugged coastal footpaths. These may be rough or steep in sections and will require reasonable fitness.

Accommodation

Amadeus Riva

Cabin Facilities

Each cabin features a spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower, luxurious Rituals bath products, and a hairdryer, along with a fixed panoramic window or drop-down panoramic window that fills the space with natural light. Thoughtful touches like a comfortable bed, generously-sized wardrobe, secure in-room safe, flat-screen TV, individual climate control and direct dial telephone ensure a restful and well-equipped stay.

Ship facilities

  • Restaurant

  • Panorama lounge bar

  • Massage room

  • Fitness room

  • Lift between the Haydn and Mozart decks (sun deck not accessible by lift)

  • Shop

  • Amadeus Club with 24 hour tea and coffee station

  • Putting green, chess board, shuffleboard and loungers on sun deck

Ship Technical Details

  • Construction: 2023

  • Flag: Germany

  • Length x Width 135m x 11.4m

  • Draft: 1.5m

  • Decks: 4

  • Cabins/Suites: 67/12

  • Max.passenger: 158

  • Crew members: approx. 46

  • Speed: 25 km/h

More Information

Vaccinations & health information

Before booking, you should check with your doctor to see whether any health precautions are needed for your trip. Health advice and requirements can change, so we recommend doing this in good time before travel.

As a general rule, travellers should ensure they are up to date with routine UK vaccinations and boosters, including, for example, MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Some countries may require you to have specific vaccinations such as Malaria, Rabies and Yellow Fever. Please check with your GP if you are unsure.

Please note that the use or possession of some common prescription or over-the-counter medicines is restricted or banned in certain countries. If you will be carrying medication, you should check with the relevant embassy or consulate before travelling. As an extra precaution, we recommend keeping medication in its original packaging, carrying a copy of your prescription, and, where possible, asking your pharmacist to provide the medication name in the language of the country you are visiting.

For further country-specific health advice, visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.traveldoctor.co.uk. If you are travelling from outside the UK, please consult your own doctor and check local entry requirements.

 

Passport & Visa information

This information is for those travelling with a full ‘British Citizen’ passport; for all other nationalities or passport holders, please check with your local consulate for advice.

Passport Requirements

This information applies to travellers holding a full British Citizen passport. Entry requirements vary by destination and can change at short notice. For most EU and worldwide destinations, passports must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. Some countries also require a minimum period of validity remaining on your passport (often up to 6 months beyond your return date), even if you are not staying that long.
We strongly recommend ensuring your passport has at least six months’ validity remaining at the time of travel to avoid any issues.

If you hold a different type of British passport or a passport issued by another country, you must check the requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate, or official government website.

Visa Requirements

Visa rules depend on your nationality, destination, length of stay, and purpose of travel, and they can change frequently. It is your responsibility to check whether you require a visa before travelling.
British passport holders should check the latest entry, passport validity and visa requirements for their destination on the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

 

 

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore, if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so before you travel.

For more information about healthcare and its costs, please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/

Drinking Water

Drinking Water

Standards for drinking water vary widely around the world. In many destinations, tap water may not be safe to drink, brush your teeth with, or use for making ice. Where advised, you should drink only bottled or treated water and ensure that bottle seals are intact before use. If bottled water is unavailable, water should be boiled or filtered.

Staying well hydrated is particularly important in hot climates and during active holidays. Carry water with you and drink regularly. 

If you are unsure about local water safety, check official country-specific health advice before travel, or ask your accommodation or local guides for guidance once you arrive.

Useful information

Luggage

To facilitate the transportation of your luggage to/from the ship, we ask you to affix a clearly visible luggage label on the outside.

Wi-Fi

Complimentary wireless internet access is available on board the ship.   Please note that the connection during your cruise may be weaker within certain sections of the route and does not meet the standard of a land-based internet connection. In addition, downtimes may occur on board, as international borders are often crossed during the cruise.

Laundry

Washing and pressing services are available onboard at a nominal fee and are handled through your cabin staff.  Self-service laundry facilities, iron and ironing boards and dry-cleaning services are not available.

On board currency and payments

The currency on board is the EURO. You can pay on board with cash, debit card and credit card (Visa, Master Card, Diners Club and American Express). There are no ATMs on board and often only a limited number in the smaller towns along the rivers.

Useful information

Dress Code On Board Ship

There is a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere on board. Smart casual clothing is acceptable for all meal times; jackets and ties are not required for meals. The Captain‘s Dinner is an opportunity to dress up should you wish.

Optional Excursions On Board

A small-group guided excursion is included every day exclusively for HF Holidays guests. In addition the ship offers a range of optional excursions which can be booked and paid for onboard. Details will be provided by your Cruise Director.

Tipping

Gratuities for the Amadeus onboard crew are included in the price of your holiday. You are not required to pay any additional tips for onboard services. Gratuities for local guides and drivers are not included in the price of your holiday. Should you wish to tip them for excellent service, it is customary to tip local guides between €2 and €5 per person and drivers €1 to €2 per person for a 1/2 day tour.

Carbon Footprint

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

Learn more

Reviews

Code: RHC07-LBL09

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Dates & availability

Cruise & Walk the River Rhine

Members save an additional £50 on this booking and get a range of other exclusive benefits. You can join during booking process. Read more about membership

2026

5 Oct - 12 Oct 2026

7 nights. Trip notes

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Trusted British co-operative

We are proud to be Britain’s only walking holiday co-operative. Led by almost 40,000 members, offering hundreds of holidays across the UK and overseas, with all surplus being reinvested back into our Society.

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Flexible choice of guided walks

Experienced volunteer HF Leaders guide every walk at our UK country houses, offering up to three daily options. Making it easy to find a holiday to suit your ability, and with the flexibility to switch grades each walking day.

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Book early with confidence

Become an HF Member to benefit from our Price Pledge. Secure your first choice of holiday early, and if the cost drops after you book, we will automatically refund the difference (exc. travel agent & group bookings).

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Book with confidence

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

If we cancel your holiday, we honour all refund requests 

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Travel with confidence

We know that peace of mind is priceless, so we’ll always go above and beyond to meet – and exceed – expectations

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

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HF Holidays

A British heritage brand with 111 years of experience

Offering a choice of over 260 itineraries in nearly 40 countries

Run as a co-operative with 40,000-plus members

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