Skip to content
AmaStella on the Rhine near Sankt Goar, 2018, sailing from Basel, Switzerland

Cruises Frog guide

Cruises from Basel, Switzerland

Basel, on the Swiss border, is the starting point for most Rhine cruises north to Amsterdam.

Things to do in Basel, Switzerland

  • The old town and MünsterThe red sandstone cathedral and its terrace over the river.
  • Swim in the RhineA local summer tradition: float downstream with a waterproof bag.
  • Fondation BeyelerModern art in a Renzo Piano building, a tram ride from the centre.
  • Black ForestForest villages and cuckoo clocks, a day trip across the border.

When to go

  1. Jan: low season
  2. Feb: low season
  3. Mar: low season
  4. Apr: shoulder season
  5. May: high season
  6. Jun: high season
  7. Jul: high season
  8. Aug: high season
  9. Sep: high season
  10. Oct: shoulder season
  11. Nov: shoulder season
  12. Dec: low season

The Rhine season runs from April to October, with Christmas markets in December.

Flying in and getting to the ship

Easy transferBasel's Rhine moorings are about 8 km from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, 15 to 20 minutes by taxi or the airport bus to Basel SBB. Zurich Airport is about an hour away by train. River lines usually include or sell a transfer from the airport to the ship; book it with the cruise, since river moorings can change with water levels.

Rental cars: Not needed; the EuroAirport straddles the French-Swiss border, so pick the right exit if you do rent.

The airport for Basel, Switzerland is EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL), with 1 lounge to wait in before you board.

EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL) on Lounge Frog

Ships sailing from Basel, Switzerland

All ports
AmaStella on the Rhine near Sankt Goar, 20184.0 ★AmaWaterwaysAmaStella2016 · 156 guests · Rhine · DanubeAmaStella is a 135-meter AmaWaterways ship from 2016 for 156 guests, with twin balconies on all suites and many staterooms. She has three places to eat, the Main Restaurant, The…S.S. Antoinette on the Rhine near Oberwesel, Germany, 20164.0 ★Uniworld Boutique River CruisesS.S. Antoinette2011 · 152 guests · RhineS.S. Antoinette is a 152-guest river ship, 443 feet (135 m) long, that entered service in 2011 as the first vessel Uniworld branded a Super Ship. The interiors borrow from French…The ship as Crystal Bach in the Kiel Canal, 2017, before it became S.S. Victoria4.0 ★Uniworld Boutique River CruisesS.S. Victoria2017 · 110 guests · RhineS.S. Victoria is a 110-guest river ship, 442.5 feet (135 m) long, built in 2017 as Crystal Bach for Crystal River Cruises. After that line collapsed in 2022 the ship passed to…4.0 ★Viking River CruisesViking Annar2026 · 190 guests · RhineViking Annar, a 190-guest Longship that joined the fleet in 2026, belongs to the large class of sister ships Viking introduced in 2012. Annar, its namesake, is a Norse earth…4.0 ★Viking River CruisesViking Dagur2026 · 190 guests · RhineOne of Viking's near-identical 135-meter Longships, Viking Dagur carries 190 guests and has sailed since 2026. Dagur is the Old Norse word for day, personified in the Poetic Edda…Viking Gersemi on the IJ in Amsterdam, 20223.8 ★Viking River CruisesViking Gersemi2020 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Gersemi is a four-deck Viking Longship for 190 guests that joined the fleet in 2020. Gersemi, its namesake, is a daughter of Freya whose name, like her sister Hnoss's…Viking Hervor in Cologne, 20233.8 ★Viking River CruisesViking Hervor2020 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Hervor is a four-deck Viking Longship for 190 guests that joined the fleet in 2020. Hervor, its namesake, is a Valkyrie who married the smith Volund and left after seven…Viking Alruna in Cologne, 20163.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Alruna2016 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineOne of Viking's near-identical 135-meter Longships, Viking Alruna carries 190 guests and has sailed since 2016. Alruna, its namesake, is a Valkyrie of the sagas who spent seven…Viking Eir in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Eir2015 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Eir is a four-deck Viking Longship for 190 guests that joined the fleet in 2015. Eir, the namesake, is the Norse goddess of healing, whom some accounts also count among…Viking Freya in Budapest, 20143.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Freya2012 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Freya, a 190-guest Longship that joined the fleet in 2012, belongs to the large class of sister ships Viking introduced in 2012. Freya, its namesake, is the Norse goddess…Viking Herja on the Rhine near Sankt Goar, 20183.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Herja2017 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Herja is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2017. Herja, its…3.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Hild2017 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Hild, a 190-guest Longship that joined the fleet in 2017, belongs to the large class of sister ships Viking introduced in 2012. Hild, the namesake, is a Valkyrie who kept…Viking Hlin in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Hlin2014 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Hlin is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2014. Hlin, its…Viking Idun in Cologne, 20123.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Idun2012 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Idun is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2012. Idun, its…Viking Kara in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Kara2014 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Kara is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2014. Kara, the…Viking Mani in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Mani2014 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Mani is a four-deck Viking Longship for 190 guests that joined the fleet in 2014. Mani, the namesake, is the Norse moon god who steers the moon across the sky. Through…Viking Modi in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Modi2015 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Modi is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2015. Modi, the…Viking Rolf on the Seine near Rouen, 20163.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Rolf2016 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Rolf is a 190-guest Viking Longship, one of the 135-meter sister ships that make up most of Viking's European river fleet, and it entered service in 2016. Rolf, its…Viking Sigyn in Cologne, 20233.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Sigyn2019 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Sigyn, a 190-guest Longship that joined the fleet in 2019, belongs to the large class of sister ships Viking introduced in 2012. Sigyn, the namesake, is Loki's faithful…Viking Skirnir in Cologne, 20153.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Skirnir2015 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Skirnir is a four-deck Viking Longship for 190 guests that joined the fleet in 2015. Skirnir, its namesake, is the servant who won the giantess Gerd for the god Freyr and…Viking Tialfi in Cologne, 20163.7 ★Viking River CruisesViking Tialfi2016 · 3,138 GT · 190 guests · RhineViking Tialfi, a 190-guest Longship that joined the fleet in 2016, belongs to the large class of sister ships Viking introduced in 2012. Tialfi, the namesake, is Thor's servant…

Ships that call at Basel, Switzerland

Ships based elsewhere whose Rhine sailings regularly stop here. Calls vary by sailing, so check the itinerary.

And 52 more.

Quick answers

Which cruise ships sail from Basel, Switzerland?

On Cruises Frog, 21 ships sail from Basel, Switzerland: AmaStella (AmaWaterways), S.S. Antoinette (Uniworld Boutique River Cruises), S.S. Victoria (Uniworld Boutique River Cruises), Viking Annar (Viking River Cruises), Viking Dagur (Viking River Cruises), Viking Gersemi (Viking River Cruises), Viking Hervor (Viking River Cruises), Viking Alruna (Viking River Cruises), Viking Eir (Viking River Cruises), Viking Freya (Viking River Cruises) and 11 more.

Which cruise lines sail from Basel, Switzerland?

AmaWaterways, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Viking River Cruises sail from Basel, Switzerland.

What is the best-rated ship sailing from Basel, Switzerland?

AmaStella (AmaWaterways), at 4.0 out of 5 in Cruises Frog's editorial ratings.

Which airport do you fly into for a cruise from Basel, Switzerland?

EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL). Lounge Frog lists 1 open lounge there for the wait before boarding.

Related news about Basel, Switzerland

All cruise news

Nothing about Basel, Switzerland yet. The latest cruise news:

  1. We aged every ship at 10 big cruise lines. Holland America and Carnival have the oldest fleets

    Cruise Frog's ship data shows how old each big line's fleet really is. Virgin's ships average about three years. Holland America's average 18.

    Cruise lines

  2. Seabourn is going back to Egypt after more than five years, with a night in Alexandria for the pyramids

    Seabourn's 2029 summer program has 166 sailings. It returns to Egypt, adds a new Gulf of Bothnia trip and brings Seabourn Encore back to Alaska.

    Itineraries

  3. Carnival's new FunPacks run $25 to $99 a day, and drink and Wi-Fi prices go dynamic Dec. 1

    Carnival bundled drinks, Wi-Fi, dining and shore trips into four FunPacks, on sale until Oct. 30. From Dec. 1, drink and Wi-Fi prices change by sailing.

    Cruise lines

  4. Queen Mary 2's 500th crossing will leave from Liverpool, a first for Cunard since 2015

    Cunard opened 93 voyages for October 2028 to May 2029. The headline act is Queen Mary 2's 500th Transatlantic Crossing, with a rare Liverpool departure.

    Itineraries