Rhine River

Originating in the Swiss Alps and zigzagging through (or next to) five countries on its way to the North Sea, the Rhine is one of Europe's major rivers. Some itineraries include excursions along other waterways in the Netherlands and Belgium, visiting the Dutch ports of Edam, Dordrecht and Hoorn, which are especially picturesque during tulip season. Some cruises continue to the Danube River and sail to ports like Vienna and Budapest or all the way to the Black Sea. Vienna is one of Europe's cultural capitals, with a rich ancestry of classical music composers, fine artists and a powerful aristocracy. Budapest boasts beautiful architecture, historic bathhouses and is often called the "Paris of Eastern Europe." Other itineraries follow the Rhine's southerly course and cruise to ports like Strasbourg, France, and Basel, Switzerland. Basel is a historic, culturally rich city located at the elbow of the river on the borders of France and Germany and is home to Switzerland's oldest university, first music theater and many museums. The Moselle River extends through France and Luxembourg and meets the Rhine in Germany at Koblenz; several cruises tour port cities along both rivers.

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