River Cruises from the River Rhine via the Main-Danube Canal to the River Danube
Cruise the waterway connecting the Rhine to the Danube - an obsession of King Ludwig of Bavaria in the mid-19 century
We offer cruises from the River Rhine through the Main-Danube Canal to the River Danube and further, as well as cruises along the Canal to or from the Danube River.
The Main River flows from the River Rhine at Mainz through Frankfurt twisting and turning through vineyards, wine villages and ancient towns rich in medieval architecture. From Miltenberg with its ancient market place the Main reaches Wurzburg. Here the Prince-Bishop’s Residenz, a UNESCO World Monument, features the largest ceiling fresco in the world.
Bamberg on the Main is an architectural gem, its Old Town Hall decorated with lavish frescos. This is the start of the Main-Danube Canal, winding 106 miles through rural Bavaria linking the Main with the River Danube at Kelheim. Only completed in 1992, the Canal includes 16 locks that rise to a height of 1330 feet near Nuremberg, the highest point of any commercial waterway in Europe.
Nuremberg’s 13th century city walls are complete with moats, watchtowers and gateways. From Nuremberg the Canal continues to meet the River Danube at Kelheim and on to Passau and eventually the Black Sea.
Check out our Rhine-Main-Danube cruises from the selection below
See also
River Rhine and Moselle
River Danube to Budapest cruises;
River Danube to Black Sea cruises
River Map of Europe
Follow the Rhine, Main, and Main-Danube Canal to the Danube
on our zoomable map
- right-click to zoom.





Elevations of the Main-Danube Canal
River
Rhine via Main-Danube Canal |
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| See also River Rhine and Moselle cruises; River Danube to Budapest cruises; River Danube to Black Sea cruises | |||||||
PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE |
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| Cruise | River | Nts | Description | Ship | Grade | 2010 | 2011 |
|
No single supp on select dates |
Rhine, Main, Danube | 7 | Between Trier and Nuremberg | Various | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| Rhine, Main, Danube | 14 | Between Amsterdam and Budapest | Various | 5* |
Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! | |
| Magnificent Europe (Westbound) | Rhine, Main, Danube | 14 | Between Budapest and Amsterdam | Various | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| Ultimate River Cruise | Rhine, Main, Danube | 14 | Between Budepest and Trier | Various | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE |
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| Cruise | River | Nts | Description | Ship | Grade | 2010 | 2011 |
| Castles and Wine | Moselle, Rhine, Main | 7 | Between Trier and Nuremberg | Viking Fontane | 4* | ||
| Grand European Tour | Rhine, Main, Danube | 14 | Between Amsterdam and Budapest | Viking Pride, Europe | 4* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| Grand European Tour | Rhine, Main, Danube | 14 | Between Amsterdam and Budapest | Viking Legend | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | |
PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE |
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| Cruise | River | Nts | Description | Ship | Grade | 2010 | |
| Rhine and Main Discovery | Rhine, Main | 7 | Between Nuremberg and Basel | River Countess | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| Treasures of Prague, Rhine and Main | Rhine, Main, Danube | 9 | Between Prague and Cologne | River Ambassador | 4* | New for 2011 | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| European River Romance | Rhine, Main, Danube | 9 | Between Paris and Nuremberg | River Priness | 5* | NEW for 2011 | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| European Serenade | Rhine, Main, Danube | 12 | Between Vienna and Amsterdam | River Countess, Duchess | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| European Discovery | Rhine, Main, Danube | 14 | Between Basel and Vienna | River Countess | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | |
| European Jewels | Rhine, Main, Danube | 14 | Between Budapest and Amsterdam | River Queen, River Empress | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE |
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| Cruise | River | Nts | Description | Ship | Grade | 2010 | 2011 |
| Central European Experience | Moselle, Rhine, Main | 11 | Paris, with cruise between Trier and Nuremberg plus Prague | Tranquility | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| Upper Rhine to City of Music | Rhine, Main, Danube | 12 | Between Basel and Vienna | Affinity | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| European Splendour | Rhine, Main, Danube | 12 | Between Amsterdam and Vienna | Artistry | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| Magnificent Europe | Rhine, Main, Danube | 14 | Between Amsterdam and Budapest | Tranquility, Tapestry, Artistry, Poetry | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | Save on 2011 cruise! |
| Jewels of Central Europe | Moselle, Rhine, Main, Danube | 16 | Paris, with cruise between Trier and Budapest | Tranquility | 5* | Save on 2010 cruise! | |
| See also River Rhine and Moselle cruises; River Danube to Budapest cruises; River Danube to Black Sea cruises | |||||||

APT
Cruises
Viking
River Cruises
Uniworld River Cruises
Avalon Waterways


