Rhine River cruise - 1st timer questions

[LettyLou2]

Hi everyone! We will be taking our first ever river cruise on the Rhine June 2025! It will be 4 adults and we are so excited!! Being new to river cruising we have a few questions for those who recently have been on this cruise.

1) what time does the boat leave Basel (I know they say we have to be there by 2 pm but if we arrive early in the morning and check in/leave my luggage on the boat, do we have time to go see Basel before the ship leaves?)
2) if we choose the Alsace Canoe Trip do we get to visit the Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre Dame or is that only for the canal tour group?
3) is there any free time after all the tours to go shopping in port?
4) we can’t decide between the Black Forest, Toboggan Run and Visit to Woodworking Museum or the Excursion to Riquewihr? Any feedback on these would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Donalyn]

Went on the trip last year, so here are my thoughts:

1) what time does the boat leave Basel (I know they say we have to be there by 2 pm but if we arrive early in the morning and check in/leave my luggage on the boat, do we have time to go see Basel before the ship leaves?) Likely a little bit, but not much. Sort of depends on what is on your list and how early you arrive. We went out and about that day, and then went back to the hotel to wait to take the bus to the ship. We arrived two days early, spent the time exploring the city. (Which we liked.)
2) if we choose the Alsace Canoe Trip do we get to visit the Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre Dame or is that only for the canal tour group? Not sure - we did the other excursion.
3) is there any free time after all the tours to go shopping in port? Yes, for certain ports. Any place in particular you are wondering about?
4) we can’t decide between the Black Forest, Toboggan Run and Visit to Woodworking Museum or the Excursion to Riquewihr? Any feedback on these would be greatly appreciated. We did Riquewihr - we thought it was cute. Had a great meal, had fun shopping and exploring.

Good luck with your planning.

 

[LettyLou2]

Went on the trip last year, so here are my thoughts:

1) what time does the boat leave Basel (I know they say we have to be there by 2 pm but if we arrive early in the morning and check in/leave my luggage on the boat, do we have time to go see Basel before the ship leaves?) Likely a little bit, but not much. Sort of depends on what is on your list and how early you arrive. We went out and about that day, and then went back to the hotel to wait to take the bus to the ship. We arrived two days early, spent the time exploring the city. (Which we liked.)
2) if we choose the Alsace Canoe Trip do we get to visit the Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre Dame or is that only for the canal tour group? Not sure - we did the other excursion.
3) is there any free time after all the tours to go shopping in port? Yes, for certain ports. Any place in particular you are wondering about?
4) we can’t decide between the Black Forest, Toboggan Run and Visit to Woodworking Museum or the Excursion to Riquewihr? Any feedback on these would be greatly appreciated. We did Riquewihr - we thought it was cute. Had a great meal, had fun shopping and exploring.

Good luck with your planning.

Thank you so much for the info! We are expected to arrive around 10 am so I just wanted to know if we would have time to go see the cathedral and marketplaz. As far as shopping in the ports. Any one will do. Just wanted time to pick up a few souvenirs.

 

[Eastridge]

1) what time does the boat leave Basel (I know they say we have to be there by 2 pm but if we arrive early in the morning and check in/leave my luggage on the boat, do we have time to go see Basel before the ship leaves?)
2) if we choose the Alsace Canoe Trip do we get to visit the Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre Dame or is that only for the canal tour group?
3) is there any free time after all the tours to go shopping in port?
4) we can’t decide between the Black Forest, Toboggan Run and Visit to Woodworking Museum or the Excursion to Riquewihr? Any feedback on these would be greatly appreciated.

I went in 2018 so it may have changed since then.

In Basel, I vaguely recall boarding after lunch, and I think the boat left mid or late afternoon. A Vacationista might have more accurate times.

I did the canoe trip and I also have pictures of us around the cathedral. So I think there was time on our own to see the cathedral.

There are only certain locations where the boat docks at a town with shopping in easily walkable range. The main opportunity I remember was in Rudesheim.

We did the Black Forest itinerary. I didn't do Riquewhir, but I think Riquewhir is more scenic while the Black Forest choice has more activities. The toboggan run is fun -- individual cars on a small rollercoaster track where you brake your own car and hope the car behind you doesn't run into you. At the woodworking event you make a small pipe. The historic area has old houses you can tour and we made butter, which was very good.

 

[Donalyn]

Time to shop in Rudesheim, Heidelburg, Cologne, Riquewhir, for sure.

(We bought plenty of things...)

 

[LettyLou2]

I went in 2018 so it may have changed since then.

In Basel, I vaguely recall boarding after lunch, and I think the boat left mid or late afternoon. A Vacationista might have more accurate times.

I did the canoe trip and I also have pictures of us around the cathedral. So I think there was time on our own to see the cathedral.

There are only certain locations where the boat docks at a town with shopping in easily walkable range. The main opportunity I remember was in Rudesheim.

We did the Black Forest itinerary. I didn't do Riquewhir, but I think Riquewhir is more scenic while the Black Forest choice has more activities. The toboggan run is fun -- individual cars on a small rollercoaster track where you brake your own car and hope the car behind you doesn't run into you. At the woodworking event you make a small pipe. The historic area has old houses you can tour and we made butter, which was very good.

Thank you!

 

[LettyLou2]

Time to shop in Rudesheim, Heidelburg, Cologne, Riquewhir, for sure.

(We bought plenty of things...)

Awesome! Good to know! Thanks!

 

[ngl]

We just got off this trip last week. It was great! I saved all the daily itineraries and can scan them and send to you. DM me if you are interested! Also happy to answer any questions. This was our first river cruise and 2nd ABD so happy to provide any information.

 

[LettyLou2]

Oh my gosh! That would be awesome! I’ll dm you me email soon.

 

[LettyLou2]

We just got off this trip last week. It was great! I saved all the daily itineraries and can scan them and send to you. DM me if you are interested! Also happy to answer any questions. This was our first river cruise and 2nd ABD so happy to provide any information.

Oh my gosh! That would be awesome! I’ll dm you me email soon.

 

[LettyLou2]

We just got off this trip last week. It was great! I saved all the daily itineraries and can scan them and send to you. DM me if you are interested! Also happy to answer any questions. This was our first river cruise and 2nd ABD so happy to provide any information.

I tried to DM you but I don't think I did it right. Can you either DM me or send me instructions? Thanks!

 

[sayhello]

I tried to DM you but I don't think I did it right. Can you either DM me or send me instructions? Thanks!

You have to have at least 10 posts to be able to DM here.

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[LettyLou2]

You have to have at least 10 posts to be able to DM here.

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Oh! Didn’t realize. Thank you for that information.

 

[sayhello]

Oh! Didn’t realize. Thank you for that information.

You're welcome. They do it to try and discourage spammers from DMing people.

Sayhello

 

[wtcenergizer]

We just got off this trip last week. It was great! I saved all the daily itineraries and can scan them and send to you. DM me if you are interested! Also happy to answer any questions. This was our first river cruise and 2nd ABD so happy to provide any information.

We just got off this trip last week. It was great! I saved all the daily itineraries and can scan them and send to you. DM me if you are interested! Also happy to answer any questions. This was our first river cruise and 2nd ABD so happy to provide any information.

Hi, I’m interested in the Rhine cruise. Do you still have the daily itineraries, and would you share? Thanks!