28 nights · Zurich, Switzerland · River cruise · Departs Basel (Switzerland) · Visiting Breisach am Rhein, Kehl-Strasbourg, Mannheim, Rudesheim am Rhein, Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues, Koblenz, Dusseldorf, Nijmegen, Antwerp, Veere, Dordrecht, Amsterdam, Cologne, Bonn, Rhine Gorge, Miltenberg, Wertheim am Main, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Durnstein, Krems an der Donau, Vienna, Budapest · Aboard Scenic Cruises on the Scenic Jasper
Image courtesy of Scenic Cruises ©
This river cruise sails the Rhine, Moselle, Scheldt, Main, Rhine-Main-Danube Canal and Danube, departing Basel.
| Cruise line | Scenic Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Scenic Jasper |
| Duration | 28 nights |
| Port calls | 28 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $14,430 per person |
| Year built | 2015 |
| Guests | 169 |
| Cabins | 85 |
| Crew | 53 |
| Length | 135 m |
| Beam | 11 m |
| Cruising speed | 12.0 kn |
Basel sits where Switzerland meets France and Germany, with the Rhine running through its centre. A short walk from the river leads to the red-sandstone Rathaus and Münster, whose terraces open across the rooftops. The city rewards unhurried exploring, from medieval lanes in the Old Town to galleries and renowned art collections. Cross the river by ferry, or use Basel’s efficient trams to reach museums, cafés and the lively Marktplatz.
Breisach rewards a short walk uphill: its old town gathers around St. Stephen’s Minster, above the Rhine. Inside, the minster’s carved altar and medieval murals offer a close encounter with Upper Rhine art. Across the river lies Alsace; inland, the Kaiserstuhl’s volcanic slopes are known for vineyards and distinctive wines. Allow time for the compact center and its river views; Breisach makes a rewarding pause between Freiburg and Colmar.
Strasbourg rewards visitors with a rare blend of French elegance and German character. Its historic center, the Grande Île, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, threaded with canals and half-timbered houses. At its heart, Strasbourg Cathedral rises above the old streets, its pink sandstone façade a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Take time for a table of Alsatian cooking, where French technique meets hearty regional tradition. Then follow the riverfront lanes and discover a city shaped by centuries on Europe’s border.
Mannheim sits where the Rhine and Neckar meet, a strategic crossroads in southwestern Germany. Its orderly grid of streets gives the city an unusual character. The vast Baroque palace recalls Mannheim’s former role as a seat of the Palatinate court. See the landmark Water Tower and lively squares, then consider an excursion to Heidelberg, about 20 kilometres away. A day ashore can pair urban history with one of Germany’s best-known historic towns.
Rüdesheim is a rewarding first stop on the Rhine, with vineyards climbing steep slopes above the water. It stands at the southern gateway to the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley, famed for castles and dramatic river scenery. Explore the old lanes and Drosselgasse, then take the cable car through the vines to the Niederwald Monument. From its hilltop setting, the Rhine spreads below in a view worth lingering over.
Cochem makes a strong first impression: Reichsburg Castle crowns a vineyard-clad hill above the Moselle. Below, half-timbered houses line narrow lanes and the riverfront. The town is small enough to explore on foot, yet its setting invites a slower pace. Taste the region’s Riesling, take a boat along the river, or visit the castle for broad views over the valley. Here, the Moselle’s pleasures are close at hand.
Bernkastel-Kues sits among steep Moselle vineyards, where Riesling has shaped the landscape and local life for centuries. In Bernkastel, the medieval market square gathers timber-framed houses around its 17th-century fountain, with the famously narrow Spitzhäuschen close by. Cross the river to quieter Kues, birthplace of 15th-century scholar and cardinal Nicholas of Cusa. Come ashore for a riverside stroll, a glass of crisp Moselle wine, and a town best explored on foot.
Koblenz stands where the Rhine and Moselle meet, beneath the watchful gaze of the Deutsches Eck. From here, river valleys, vineyard slopes and hilltop castles make an easy day’s exploration. Ride the cable car across the Rhine to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, whose ramparts command sweeping views. The compact old town is readily explored on foot, with cafés and riverside promenades within easy reach.
Düsseldorf pairs a handsome Rhine setting with a modern, distinctly German edge. From the riverfront, the Altstadt’s narrow lanes lead to historic churches, intimate squares and traditional breweries serving Altbier. Nearby, Königsallee offers elegant boutiques beneath a canopy of trees, while the city’s acclaimed art museums reward a slower afternoon. Come ashore ready to walk: Düsseldorf’s highlights sit close together, and the Rhine is never far from view.
Nijmegen is often called the Netherlands’ oldest city, with roots in a Roman settlement on the Waal. The river gives the historic centre an open feel, while cafés and independent shops keep it lively. Visit Valkhof Park for Roman remains and river views; nearby, the medieval Stevenskerk anchors the old town. Nijmegen’s bridges figured in Operation Market Garden in 1944, a defining episode of the Second World War. Come ashore to discover a compact city shaped by history and river.
Antwerp pairs a major working port with a rewarding historic center. At the Cathedral of Our Lady, Rubens’s paintings share space with centuries of Gothic stonework. Nearby, the Grote Markt frames guild houses and the ornate City Hall, with cafés offering an easy pause between visits. The Museum aan de Stroom explores Antwerp’s history and its enduring relationship with the river. Make time for a meal; Antwerp’s food culture is as compelling as its maritime heritage.
Veere is a small Zeeland harbor town with a history larger than its streets suggest. Scottish merchants made it a thriving wool port in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Their legacy survives in the Scottish Houses lining the old harbor. Explore the cobbled lanes, the Gothic Grote Kerk and the ornate town hall. Then watch sailboats cross the Veerse Meer, the sheltered lake created by the Delta Works.
Dordrecht’s historic centre sits on an island where the Oude Maas, Noord and Beneden Merwede meet. The city received its charter in 1220 and grew rich on trade, leaving handsome merchant houses along its harbours. Walk past the leaning Grote Kerk, explore the Dordrechts Museum, then pause beside the water as working ships pass. For a change of scene, National Park De Biesbosch lies just beyond town, its waterways best explored by boat.
Amsterdam pairs world-class museums with the everyday pleasure of canal-side life. Its Golden Age houses, narrow waterways and lively markets make the city rewarding well beyond its famous sights. Visit the Rijksmuseum for Dutch masters, then explore the canal belt on foot or by boat. Leave time for a neighbourhood café: in Amsterdam, the best discoveries often come between the landmarks.
Cologne announces itself from the Rhine with the soaring twin spires of its Gothic cathedral. Step ashore to explore a compact old town, Roman remains, and museums holding major works of art. The cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, anchors the city centre. Enjoy Kölsch in a traditional brewery, then cross the river for a view of the skyline.
Bonn pairs the quiet confidence of a former capital with the easy pleasures of a Rhine-side city. Beethoven was born here in 1770, and his house in the old town is now a museum. The Museum Mile brings together major cultural institutions, including the Haus der Geschichte and Bundeskunsthalle. Stroll the riverbank between visits. In the market square, cafés and the Rococo Old Town Hall frame the historic centre.
Koblenz stands where the Rhine and Moselle meet, beneath the watchful gaze of the Deutsches Eck. From here, river valleys, vineyard slopes and hilltop castles make an easy day’s exploration. Ride the cable car across the Rhine to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, whose ramparts command sweeping views. The compact old town is readily explored on foot, with cafés and riverside promenades within easy reach.
Between Bingen and Koblenz, the Rhine cuts through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. From the deck, steep vineyard slopes, medieval castles and slate-roofed villages unfold around each bend. Watch for the Lorelei rock, tied to Rhine legend, and Marksburg, one of the region’s best-preserved castles. Roman routes, trading towns and wine still shape this river landscape.
Miltenberg sits between the Main River and wooded hills, with a compact old town made for exploring on foot. Half-timbered houses line market lanes leading to Schnatterloch, the handsome square beneath Mildenburg Castle. Climb to the castle for views across the rooftops and river valley, then linger over Franconian food or wine. This small town offers a vivid pause between larger German cities.
Wertheim stands where the Tauber meets the Main, on Baden-Württemberg’s northern edge. The compact old town rewards a slow walk among timber-framed houses and narrow lanes. Its market square recalls centuries of trade. Above it, the ruins of Wertheim Castle command broad river views. The Glass Museum traces the craft that carried Wertheim’s name beyond the valley.
Step ashore in Würzburg, where Franconian wine, Baroque splendour and the Main River shape a memorable day. The Würzburg Residence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rewards a visit for its grand staircase and Tiepolo frescoes. Cross the Old Main Bridge for views of Marienberg Fortress and vineyards climbing the surrounding slopes. Then explore the compact old town, where cafés and wine taverns offer a pause between landmarks.
Bamberg rewards a few hours on foot, with one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval town centres. On the Regnitz River, its UNESCO-listed Old Town brings together a Romanesque cathedral, baroque façades and half-timbered lanes. See the Old Town Hall, poised on an island, and the riverside houses known as Little Venice. Finish with Rauchbier, Bamberg’s distinctive smoked beer, in a traditional brewery tavern. Seven hills surround the city, while its compact centre keeps the main sights within easy reach.
Nuremberg is a city of striking contrasts, where medieval streets meet the history of twentieth-century Germany. Within its old walls, the Imperial Castle rises above timbered houses, churches and the Hauptmarkt. Visit St. Sebaldus Church, then explore the Documentation Center and former Nazi Party Rally Grounds for essential context. Allow time for local gingerbread and a walk across the Pegnitz, which divides the historic centre.
Regensburg rewards a day on foot, with a remarkably intact medieval centre set beside the Danube. Cross the 12th-century Stone Bridge, then follow narrow lanes to the Gothic cathedral and the Old Town Hall. Roman foundations, merchant houses and riverside cafés reveal a city shaped by two millennia of trade. The UNESCO-listed centre feels lived in, not staged, and its compact scale leaves time for a Bavarian lunch.
Passau sits where the Danube, Inn and Ilz meet, their contrasting waters framing one of Bavaria’s most handsome old towns. Walk its baroque lanes to St Stephen’s Cathedral, famed for its historic organ. From the fortress of Veste Oberhaus, rooftops and rivers unfold in a memorable view. Passau rewards a leisurely call: explore on foot, pause beside the water, and watch three waterways shape the city’s character.
Dürnstein is a small Wachau village with an outsized place in Austrian history. Its blue-and-white abbey tower rises above the Danube, while lanes of pastel houses lead to riverside cafés and apricot shops. Climb to the castle ruins where Richard the Lionheart was held from 1192 to 1194 for broad valley views. Beyond the village, vineyards and orchards define this UNESCO-listed stretch of the Wachau.
Krems sits at the eastern end of Austria’s Wachau Valley, where the Danube passes vineyards, medieval lanes and abbeys. Explore the old town’s medieval lanes, then follow the wine trail into a landscape shaped by centuries of viticulture. At nearby Dürnstein, the blue tower of the abbey recalls Richard the Lionheart’s imprisonment. Allow time for a glass of Grüner Veltliner; the region’s terraces are among Austria’s most distinctive.
Arrive in Vienna by river and give the city more than a passing glance. Its imperial centre rewards a slow walk, from St Stephen’s Cathedral to the grand Ringstrasse boulevards. Set aside time for Schönbrunn Palace, once the Habsburgs’ summer residence, or choose the Kunsthistorisches Museum for its remarkable collections. Then take a seat in a traditional coffeehouse; in Vienna, coffee and cake are part of the city’s daily ritual.
Budapest makes a memorable arrival, with the Danube dividing hilly Buda from lively, level Pest. From the river, the Hungarian Parliament’s Gothic Revival façade commands attention, especially after dark. Cross the Chain Bridge to explore Castle Hill, or stay in Pest for cafés, markets, and celebrated thermal baths. Allow time to linger: Budapest’s pleasures are best discovered on foot, over a long lunch, and beside the water.
Published August 8, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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