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 tour escorted?

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

What trains and heritage railways are included?

The tour includes Eurostar (London to Paris outbound, Brussels to London return), the Drachenfels Cog Railway (Königswinter to Drachenfels summit), and the Medemblik Steam Train in the Netherlands heritage railway.

The seven-night cruise is aboard MS Amadeus Amara, a five-star vessel.

When does this tour depart?

Great Rail Journeys offers three departures: May 2027, June 2027, and July 2027.

What meals and drinks are included?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided each day, plus a drinks package with dinner every night. A gala dinner with the Dutch Sea Shanty Choir is included on the final evening aboard ship.

Great Rail Journeys · River cruise, escorted tour

The Majestic Rhine: Basel to Amsterdam

Rhine river cruise from Basel to Amsterdam on a five-star ship

Great Rail Journeys operates The Majestic Rhine, an eight-day escorted river cruise that begins with Eurostar travel from London St Pancras through Paris to Basel, Switzerland. From there, you board the five-star MS Amadeus Amara for a seven-night journey downstream through four countries to Amsterdam. The itinerary blends leisurely days aboard ship with guided shore excursions: a tour of Cologne's Gothic Cathedral on Day 6, an ascent of the Drachenfels Cog Railway on Day 5 with views across the Rhine-Westphalia region, optional wine tastings in Rüdesheim, and a choice between the Black Forest and Strasbourg's UNESCO-listed La Petite France quarter on Day 2. All meals, evening drinks, and most excursions are included. The ship spends each night anchored at a different river town, so you wake to new scenery without unpacking. A gala dinner with the Dutch Sea Shanty Choir marks the final evening before your return to London via Brussels.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £200 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

5 times half the double-occupancy price, reflecting high demand on premium river cruises.
Many excursions are optional; some days offer alternative choices (Black Forest or Strasbourg city, Heidelberg or Speyer), so your final experience depends on which you select.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Basel, aboard ship
Boarding our luxurious ship in Basel
Your holiday begins this morning as we meet at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. From the French capital, we continue by rail to Basel. On arrival, we board our luxury cruise ship and are welcomed by our wonderful crew. This evening, we enjoy a welcome cocktail before dinner in the panoramic restaurant and set sail on an overnight cruise on the Rhine.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2overnight: Strasbourg, aboard ship
Arrival in Strasbourg with optional Black Forest excursion
Sailing into the historic Alsace city of Strasbourg after breakfast, there's a choice of two wonderful excursions: a trip into the magical Black Forest, Germany's largest nature park, or a tour of Strasbourg's striking cathedral and the quaint La Petite France district, a UNESCO World Heritage site. There's a free afternoon to explore Strasbourg independently before we return to our ship this evening and enjoy drinks with dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3overnight: Rüdesheim, aboard ship
Exploring Speyer or Heidelberg
Waking to views of charming Speyer, you can choose to enjoy a guided tour of Heidelberg, including a visit to the ruined red sandstone castle, or stay in Speyer to discover its UNESCO World Heritage cathedral at your own pace. Returning to our ship for lunch, we enjoy a scenic afternoon cruise past Mainz and Wiesbaden before arriving in Rüdesheim early this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Koblenz, aboard ship
Through the magical Rhine Gorge from Rüdesheim
This morning, we travel through Rüdesheim aboard a land train, with a choice of a wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. We begin sailing this afternoon through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, past vineyards, hilltop castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock, arriving in Koblenz where you have time to explore, including the Deutsches Eck.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5railovernight: Cologne, aboard ship
Riding the scenic Drachenfelsbahn
Enjoy a morning of relaxed sailing as we leave Koblenz and continue north, passing the world's highest cold-water geyser near Andernach. After lunch, we dock in Königswinter for a trip on the Drachenfels Cog Railway, passing Drachenburg Castle to the summit for views across the Rhine-Westphalia region. Back onboard, we continue towards Cologne, where we gather for dinner and stay overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Aboard ship, cruising to the Netherlands
Exploring Cologne and onwards to the Netherlands
Awaking in Cologne, we embark on a guided tour introducing its squares, Romanesque townhouses and its UNESCO-listed cathedral, the largest in northern Europe. Returning to our ship, we enjoy lunch as we set sail towards the Netherlands, savouring dinner and drinks on an overnight cruise to our fourth and final country.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Amsterdam, aboard ship
Amsterdam or uncovering Volendam
Arriving in Amsterdam early this afternoon, we take a canal sightseeing cruise of the city, or choose the optional excursion to Volendam and Edam to uncover their cheese heritage. Back on board this evening, we gather for a gala dinner accompanied by the songs of the Dutch sea shanty choir.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8rail
Homeward bound
After breakfast, it's time to disembark and say goodbye to our crew. We make our way to the railway station and head towards Brussels where we catch the Eurostar to London St Pancras. Arriving in London this evening, your Rhine cruise comes to an end.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 4Afternoon sailing through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge with views of hilltop castles, vineyards, and the Lorelei Rock legend.
Day 5Riding the Drachenfels Cog Railway past Drachenburg Castle to the summit for panoramic views across the Rhine-Westphalia region.
Day 6Guided tour of Cologne Cathedral, the largest in northern Europe, with twin spires rising more than 515 feet.
Day 7Gala dinner onboard accompanied by the Dutch Sea Shanty Choir on the final evening in Amsterdam.

Included

Tour Manager: Escorted throughout your tour by our experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
Cruise: 7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Amara
Five-star service onboard
Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
Transportation: First & Standard Class rail options available; Eurostar Plus on First Class departures; all rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Food & Drink: Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day including a spectacular gala dinner
Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
Luggage: Complimentary luggage service from your home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
Excursions & Entertainment: Superb excursions included; onboard Dutch Sea Shanty Choir performance

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance
Gratuities/tips (discretionary; not included in the price, no daily charge added)

Also sold by

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

Vacations By Railfrom $1,995

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 tour escorted?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the eight days.
What trains and heritage railways are included?: The tour includes Eurostar (London to Paris outbound, Brussels to London return), the Drachenfels Cog Railway (Königswinter to Drachenfels summit), and the Medemblik Steam Train in the Netherlands heritage railway.
What ship is used?: The seven-night cruise is aboard MS Amadeus Amara, a five-star vessel.
When does this tour depart?: Great Rail Journeys offers three departures: May 2027, June 2027, and July 2027.
What meals and drinks are included?: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided each day, plus a drinks package with dinner every night. A gala dinner with the Dutch Sea Shanty Choir is included on the final evening aboard ship.