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New Year on the Rhine River Cruise (Germany), a cruise by Riviera Travel

Cruise · 5 nights · with Riviera Travel

New Year on the Rhine River Cruise

Five days cruising the Rhine from Cologne aboard Riviera Travel's MS Riviera Resplendence, calling at the Rhine Gorge, Rüdesheim, Mainz and Koblenz with New Year’s Eve aboard.

Duration
5 nights
Departs
28 Dec 2026
Sails from
Cologne
Ends in Cologne on New Year’s Day
Ship
MS Riviera Resplendence
From
£1,669
per person, sharing

Highlights

What makes this one worth it

  1. Scenic cruise through the Rhine GorgeWith castle ruins

  2. Tour of Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet in Rüdesheim

  3. Guided tours of Mainz and Koblenz

  4. New Year’s Eve gala dinner and classical recital onboard

  5. Guided city tour of CologneIncluding the cathedral

About the trip

This five-night cruise begins and ends in Cologne, a city whose skyline is dominated by a cathedral whose twin spires pierce the sky. The itinerary follows the Rhine upstream to the winding Rhine Gorge, moving through steep vineyards, ruins of castles and the Loreley Rock, where local legend tells of sirens luring sailors to their doom.

Stops include Rüdesheim, a typical Rhine wine village with crooked houses and a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, followed by a folklore show onboard. Mainz offers a guided tour of its old town including Saint Stephen’s Church, known for Chagall’s blue stained-glass windows. Koblenz, at the junction of the Rhine and Moselle, provides a tour of its historic streets before guests enjoy a New Year’s Eve gala dinner and classical recital.

MS Riviera Resplendence, operated by Riviera Travel, serves as a comfortable base with ample space to relax and watch the landscape slide by. The cruise finishes back in Cologne on New Year’s Day with a guided city tour including its painstakingly restored old town and cathedral. The pace allows time to appreciate the Rhine’s wintry beauty rather than rushing through the highlights.

50°N51°N
The route in outline: places are joined in the order visited, not by the roads or sea lanes taken.
  1. 1 Cologne
  2. 2 Mainz
  3. 3 Koblenz
  4. 4 Rüdesheim am Rhein

Itinerary

The route, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Cologne

  2. Day 2

    Rhine Gorge

  3. Day 3

    Rüdesheim

  4. Day 4

    Mainz

  5. Day 5

    Koblenz on New Year’s Eve

  6. Day 6

    Cologne on New Year’s Day

When to go

Departures and prices

Lowest price each month, per person.

Riviera Travel confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.

Need to know

Before you book

Price based on
Two people sharing a cabinThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
Travelling alone
Check with Riviera Travel
Flights
Not needed if you join at Cologne
What’s included
Check with Riviera Travel
Accessibility
Check with Riviera Travel

For full details of what’s included, check with Riviera Travel. See the full details on their site

Questions people ask

How long is New Year on the Rhine River Cruise?
New Year on the Rhine River Cruise is a 5 nights cruise holiday.
Where does New Year on the Rhine River Cruise depart from?
New Year on the Rhine River Cruise departs from Cologne and returns to Cologne on New Year’s Day.
Who operates New Year on the Rhine River Cruise?
New Year on the Rhine River Cruise is operated by Riviera Travel aboard MS Riviera Resplendence.
How much does New Year on the Rhine River Cruise cost?
Prices for New Year on the Rhine River Cruise start from £1,669, subject to availability.

The operator

Riviera Travel

River cruises and escorted tours

A British operator that began in 1984 with a handful of tents in the south of France. Its tours and river cruises travel with a Riviera tour manager or cruise director looking after the group.

You book with Riviera Travel directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.

New to Germany? Our Germany guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

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