How much does it cost?

From £2,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,105 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the nine days.

What meals and drinks are included?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included each day of the cruise, plus a drinks package with dinner every evening including a Captain's Gala Dinner. Dinner is included on Day 1 at the Frankfurt hotel.

Are the excursions and guided tours included?

Yes. All excursions, including guided city walks in Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wertheim, Miltenberg and Mainz, plus the visit to Weltenburg Abbey and wine-tasting at Würzburg Residence are included.

The Amadeus Cara, a five-star river cruise vessel offering all-inclusive service, complimentary Wi-Fi and complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back.

When does this trip run?

Great Rail Journeys has scheduled departures in August 2027 and September 2026.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour & river cruise

A Tale of Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine

Nine-day river cruise from London through Germany on the Danube, Main and Rhine

Great Rail Journeys operates a nine-day escorted river cruise that departs London St Pancras and travels via Eurostar and rail to Frankfurt, where guests spend their first night in a four-star hotel. On Day 2, the journey continues by rail to Passau where the luxurious Amadeus Cara awaits, beginning a seven-night cruise down the Danube and through the Main and Rhine rivers. Each day offers guided walks through medieval cities and visits to historic sites: Day 3 includes a tour of Regensburg and the Weltenburg Abbey, a Baroque monastery set in the Danube Gorge; Day 4 showcases Nuremberg's imperial Kaiserburg castle; Day 5 explores Bamberg's half-timbered riverside district; Day 6 features a drive along Bavaria's Romantic Road to Rothenburg ob der Tauber followed by wine-tasting at the grand Würzburg Residence; Days 7 and 8 visit Wertheim, Miltenberg and Mainz. All meals, drinks with dinner, excursions and transfers are included. The cruise returns to London on Day 9 via Eurostar from Cologne. This package suits luxury-seekers, history enthusiasts, food-and-wine travellers and couples who prefer guided comfort with premium accommodation.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £100 since 4 Jul, to £2,299.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

50 per person); confirm this surcharge with Great Rail Journeys before booking
Optional London hotel stays before or after the tour are available but not included in the base price
The river cruise vessel is shared with other guests; cabin type and final location depend on your chosen tier

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Frankfurt
London to Frankfurt by rail
Board the Eurostar to Brussels, then continue by rail to Frankfurt for an overnight stop and the first group dinner. (The 28th August departure operates in reverse, boarding the ship in Cologne.)
Day 2railovernight: Onboard Amadeus Cara
Boarding our luxurious ship in Passau
Continue by rail through southwestern Germany to Passau, board the ship with a welcome cocktail, and set sail on the Danube after the first five-course dinner onboard.
Day 3overnight: Onboard Amadeus Cara
Visiting Regensburg and Weltenburg Abbey
A guided walk of UNESCO-listed Regensburg's Old Town and St Peter's cathedral, then a visit to Weltenburg Abbey, the world's oldest monastic brewery, on the Danube Gorge.
Day 4overnight: Onboard Amadeus Cara
A guided tour of Nuremberg
Sail towards Nuremberg, then a guided tour of the Kaiserburg Castle, Weißgerbergasse's half-timbered buildings and the Gothic St Lorenz Church.
Day 5overnight: Onboard Amadeus Cara
Uncovering the charming streets of Bamberg
A guided tour of UNESCO-listed Bamberg, including the Altes Rathaus and the 13th-century Bamberg Cathedral, then sail on the Main River to Ochsenfurt.
Day 6overnight: Onboard Amadeus Cara
Rothenburg ob der Tauber and wine-tasting
Drive Bavaria's Romantic Road to the walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a guided tour, then rejoin the ship in Würzburg to visit the Baroque Würzburg Residenz and enjoy a wine-tasting.
Day 7overnight: Onboard Amadeus Cara
The history of Wertheim and Miltenberg
A guided tour of Wertheim's castle and Glass Museum, then Miltenberg's 12th-century hilltop castle, before an overnight cruise.
Day 8overnight: Onboard Amadeus Cara
Mainz & the Rhine Gorge
A guided tour of Mainz, including the Romanesque Mainzer Dom cathedral, then sail through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge on the final night aboard.
Day 9rail
Homeward bound
Dock in Cologne, disembark, and travel by rail to Brussels to board the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Boarding the luxurious Amadeus Cara in Passau to begin seven nights sailing on the Danube, Main and Rhine with a welcome cocktail in the lounge
Day 3Guided walk through Regensburg's historic streets and visit to Weltenburg Abbey, Bavaria's oldest Benedictine monastery set on a scenic bend of the Danube Gorge
Day 4Guided tour of Nuremberg including the Kaiserburg castle overlooking the Altstadt marketplace, once the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire
Day 5Exploring Bamberg's 'Little Venice' district on the River Main where half-timbered houses line the riverside
Day 6Coach drive along Bavaria's Romantic Road to the walled medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, followed by wine-tasting at the baroque Würzburg Residence

Included

Escorted throughout your tour by an experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
1 night 4-star hotel accommodation
7-night cruise onboard the Amadeus Cara with five-star service and complimentary Wi-Fi
First & Standard Class rail options available; Eurostar Plus on First Class departures; all rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day including a gala dinner
Drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise
Complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
Superb excursions included

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour
Tips are not included in the price of the cruise, nor added as a daily gratuity; tipping is at the guest's discretion, with an envelope left in the cabin on the final evening

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Vacations By Railfrom $3,199

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,105 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the nine days.
What meals and drinks are included?: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included each day of the cruise, plus a drinks package with dinner every evening including a Captain's Gala Dinner. Dinner is included on Day 1 at the Frankfurt hotel.
Are the excursions and guided tours included?: Yes. All excursions, including guided city walks in Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Wertheim, Miltenberg and Mainz, plus the visit to Weltenburg Abbey and wine-tasting at Würzburg Residence are included.
What ship is used?: The Amadeus Cara, a five-star river cruise vessel offering all-inclusive service, complimentary Wi-Fi and complimentary luggage service from home to the ship and back.
When does this trip run?: Great Rail Journeys has scheduled departures in August 2027 and September 2026.