Has anyone here done one of these?

I'm doing some research into what I would like to do for a honeymoon trip late next year and this seems like a good way to take in a lot of things, especially wine related. We are big wine dorks and would love to drink our way down the Rhine.

Does anyone have recommendations? Better to start in Amsterdam or Basel? Preferred cruise companies? When do the Christmas markets start up? Is it pretty in October/November, or is December the best time to go?

We would probably tack on a few days on either end to explore the areas, and honestly might go back to Alsace.

Thanks in advance!

Recommend AMA. Email on profile if you'd like to discuss.

If you need assistance I would love to help you. I took an Avalon River cruise last year. We started near Frankfurt and ended in Amsterdam. There are a lot of great river cruise lines - I agree with AMA listed above. It's consistently rated higher than the others. I will say a river cruise is very different than an ocean cruise. I'm not sure of your ages, but they generally draw an older crowd. There was one younger Honeymoon couple on our cruise, and a bunch of travel agents (us), and most everyone else was 60+.

I still had a great time and you don't spend a ton of time on the boat.

Christmas markets generally start around Thanksgiving, maybe a week earlier.

Inlaws just got back last week. They both got covid towards the end, but otherwise had a good time.

That's when I got covid too! Right after I got home.

I agree with JMac03's comments above except I would put Viking at the top of the list of river cruise lines, but just based on my past experience. The average age of river cruise passengers is older than the cruise lines, but it actually seems to be a more active environment; the ship seemed to be for eating and sleeping (and drinking!) while a big part of your time is actually spent off the ship sightseeing, walking, etc. It seems all the river cruise lines have Christmas market theme cruises, so you should really contact the Aggie travel agent who commented above and go with his recommendations/service. Also you may want to contact several lines and get their free literature, and then go on YouTube and look at some of the videos that folks have posted. My wife and I and traveling buddies are going on a Viking Danube Christmas river tour, but not until next year. Have to manage our budget you know, but regardless, it will be a fun experience we are looking forward to. So go on that Rhine River cruise, whichever cruise line you decide!

We are doing the Danube Viking river cruise next month. Really looking forward to it. Assuming you're a younger person and this will be your honeymoon trip, You're probably gonna be the youngest people on the boat. It's generally for elderly retired people like myself.

Christmas markets don't open here until the last weekend of Nov/Dec 1st. The weather will be nice in October (think temps similar to fall in the northern US) but it can start getting ugly in November.

Tauck also has excellent boats and organized tours in Europe. Their boats typically have fewer passengers - 120 vs 160 so that can be a consideration.

Write down the Aalsmeer Flower market outside Amsterdam. Something like 1/3 of the world's flowers are bought and sold there via Dutch auction. Unbelievable place to visit. Worth the effort.

My parents do them all the time and they absolutely love Viking.

That being said (I don't know your age) it will be primarily older folks on the cruise. Like 90% 60+.

We did the Avalon Rhine Cruise (Basel to Amsterdam) in April 2022. One of the things I liked about Avalon was every stop had multiple options for shore excursions. Avalon had a shore option of a tour of a French fortress on the Maginot line, which was awesome. Also their food was excellent and tailored to the country you were in. We chose Avalon based on the advice of some friends of friends that do river cruises a lot. Nothing but good things to say about Avalon from us. Have heard good things about AMA too.

Also, if you have the option look at going in April during the Tulip festival in Amsterdam. It is a optional shore excursion during that time and only cost a few dollars a person. My wife and mother in law are both big flower people and it was the highlight of the trip for them.

Good luck and hope you have a great trip.

We did a Rhine cruise with Avalon and just got back from a Danube cruise with Viking. Our Rhine cruise was pre-Covid, so long enough ago I don't remember the details about how Avalon did, but it was a really good trip. On this latest trip, we did a Prague add-on at the front end and three days in Budapest on the back end, both as Viking add-on's. They did a great job all the way around. Very smooth trip, and would definitely use them again.

Have done both the Rhine and Danube with Viking. We found the Danube more scenic than the Rhine. The Viking does attract a more senior group than some of the other cruise lines. We did do an extended days in Amsterdam and glad we did. Do your research to find a cruise line that meets your style.

My neighbors in their low 60s went on a Viking River cruise. It made them feel young again as most were older than that. He spent most of his time pushing around a guy he met in a wheelchair.

Who are you calling elderly?

We loved our river cruise. We are older than the OP. But not "elderly".

Just got off of Viking Sky Venice to Istanbul. Before leaving the ship we booked Viking River cruise Amsterdam to Basel. Viking has an excellent operation, basically door to door. Expensive but still thought is was very good value.