Strasbourg, the Rhine and the Canals of France
Alsace on a Rhine cruise, a short stretch of the Moselle, and the slow world of the canals.
Get Free France River Cruise QuotesAlsace on a Rhine Cruise
The Rhine forms the border between France and Germany in Alsace, so many Rhine cruises between Basel and Amsterdam touch French soil. Ships typically dock near Strasbourg for the cathedral, Petite France and the European institutions, and at Breisach on the German bank for excursions across to Colmar and the Alsace wine route. It is a good way to sample Alsace as part of a wider trip through Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands; our sister site Rhine Riverboat Cruises covers those itineraries.
The French Moselle
The Moselle rises in the Vosges and flows through Lorraine before forming the border with Luxembourg and entering Germany. Most Moselle river cruising happens on the German stretch, between Koblenz and Trier, so French towns appear on relatively few itineraries. our Moselle site covers the Moselle in full.
The Canals
France has thousands of kilometres of canals, built mostly between the 17th and 19th centuries. They are too small for river ships but perfect for hotel barges carrying a handful of guests — in Burgundy, on the Canal du Midi, in Champagne and Alsace-Lorraine. Barge Cruises in France explains barging region by region; Discount Barge Cruises looks at getting value from a barge week.
Which to Choose?
| If you want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Alsace plus Germany, Switzerland or the Netherlands | A Rhine cruise calling at Strasbourg and Breisach |
| A whole week in one French region | A Seine, Rhône or Bordeaux river cruise |
| Tiny groups and slow travel | A hotel barge on a French canal |
| Something unusual | The Loire paddle-wheeler |
Adding Alsace on Land
A Rhine cruise usually gives you a day or less in Alsace. If the region is a priority, add a few nights on land before or after. Strasbourg is a short train ride from Paris and an easy base; Colmar, with its canal quarter known as Little Venice, sits on the Alsace wine route among villages such as Riquewihr and Eguisheim. From Basel, where many Rhine cruises begin or end, Colmar and Strasbourg are close by train.
- Strasbourg: the cathedral, Petite France, boat tours on the Ill.
- Colmar: half-timbered streets and the Unterlinden Museum.
- The wine route: tasting rooms and vineyard walks between villages.
- Christmas season: the Advent markets of Strasbourg and Colmar draw large crowds in December.
Our cruise advisors can book the cruise and the land nights together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Rhine river cruises stop in France?
Many do. Ships on the Upper Rhine commonly call near Strasbourg, and stop at Breisach on the German bank for excursions to Colmar and the Alsace wine route.
Can a river ship sail French canals?
No. French canals are built to a small lock size that only barges fit, so canal cruising in France is done on hotel barges or hired boats.
Plan Alsace, the Rhine or a Canal Trip
Tell us what you have in mind. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will suggest the right boat and route.
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