United States
Europe and Mediterranean: Rhine River Valley Cruise
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Immerse yourself in history as you stroll through beautifully preserved medieval towns and a stunning imperial palace. Sample the fruits of the Rhine's famously excellent wineries and enjoy traditional treats as you follow your local guides through the destinations they call home. And, to fully appreciate the lush environment of this verdant river valley, you'll get several opportunities to get active out in nature — such as a canoe ride through the Mainschleife nature reserve. The Rhine also gives you access to such remarkable destinations as the Alsatian capital of Strasbourg or the multicultural city of Basel in Switzerland.
True All-Inclusive Boutique River Cruising™
All gratuities for onboard services
Unlimited fine wine, beer, spirits and nonalcoholic beverages**
Shore excursions with local experts as your guide
Internet and Wi-Fi
All arrival and departure day transfers
Executive Member Benefit
Executive Members receive an annual 2% Reward, up to $1,000, on qualified Costco Travel purchases
Receive a US $ 50 shipboard credit per person (maximum US $ 100 per stateroom)♦
Digital Costco Shop Card
Member Exclusive: Digital Costco Shop Card with every Uniworld® river cruise†
Sailing Itinerary
Note: Cruise itineraries are subject to change. Please verify ports and times directly with the cruise line.
Day 1
Nuremberg
Overview
Nuremberg is the largest city in Franconia and the natural centre of North Bavaria. In terms of population it is the second largest city in Bavaria and the thirteenth largest in Germany. Together with its neighbours Fürth, Erlangen, Schwabach and the surrounding rural districts, Nuremberg is part of one of Europe’s most important economic areas, where the EU and its Eastern neighbours meet. Nuremberg is surrounded by attractive landscapes: to the East the Franconian hills, to the North "Franconian Switzerland" and to the South-West the Franconian Lakes. Centuries of art and architecture made Nuremberg a treasure. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Nuremberg enjoyed a cultural flowering that made it the center of the German Renaissance, bringing together Italian Renaissance and German Gothic traditions. In the artists' workshops were found such great talents as Veit Stoss, Peter Vischer, Adam Krafft, Michael Wolgemut, and above all, Albrecht Dürer. Koberger set up his printing press here, and Regiomontanus built an astronomical observatory. Here, too, flourished the guilds of the Meistersingers, composed of prosperous artisans; Wagner made their most famous member, Hans Sachs, the hero of his opera Die Meistersinger von Nuremberg. Many of Nuremberg's most important buildings, including some of the finest churches in Germany, have been restored or reconstructed. The old part of the city, the Altstadt, lies mainly within a pedestrian zone. Today's visitors can see the ruins of the ramparts that once surrounded the city as well as more modern sites, such as the Justice Palace, where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. Visitors can also see the Zeppelinfeld arena, the huge amphitheater where, from 1927 to 1935, Hitler staged those dramatic Nazi rallies that were immortalized by Leni Riefenstahl in Triumph des Willens (Triumph of the Will). Hitler's architect, Albert Speer, constructed what has been called a "concrete mecca," whose grounds today have been turned into a park with apartment blocks, a trade fair, and a concert hall. Speer's Congress Hall, larger than the Colosseum in Rome, has become a recording studio and warehouse.
Day 2
Bamberg
Overview
Situated in the heart of Upper Franconia, Bamberg is an historical yet dynamic city. It is a town of tradition and progress, both of which successfully complement each other. In short, Bamberg is a beautiful city which for many reasons is always worth a visit. The locals like to stress that their city spreads across seven hills like Rome, has a network of waterways like Venice, and an old city which is at least as beautiful as Prague and on which the same architects left their unmistakable mark. Those who know Bamberg will agree that these claims are not unjust. A glance at just four of the many sights is enough to understand why. The Old Town Hall, which like the bow of a ship parts the flow of the River Regnitz, can only be reached by two stone bridges; the Romanesque/Gothic Cathedral is endowed with four unique towers of the same height; the picturesque fishermen's houses of "Little Venice" prop each other up on the river bank and the magnificent New Residence boasts a splendid baroque room known as the Emperor's Hall. Bamberg is not just a work of art which happens to be of historical interest but a dynamic, pulsating city with a population of 70,000. Bamberg has all the facilities a city, its inhabitants and visitors need. It is ideal for shopping, working and living, for spending holidays and holding conferences. After just a few hours in Bamberg, every visitor comes away with that special Bamberg feeling. Bamberg offers a wide and interesting range of leisure facilities; it knows how to please the eye, appeal to the ear and surprise the tastebuds. In summer, Bamberg's beer cellars or "Keller" are a special attraction. Here the locals and tourists can appreciate a locally brewed beer and savour a typical Franconian snack. Bamberg is a lovely town for those who also enjoy a stroll. The possibilities are many and include the Hain, an extensive wooded park on the periphery, or the pretty paths along the canals and the River Regnitz. Bamberg has a lot to offer not only for those who have cultural leanings, but also for those who enjoy sports.
Day 3
Wurzburg
Overview
Wurzburg is a city in Germany's Bavaria region. It's known for lavish baroque and rococo architecture, particularly the 18th-century Residenz palace, with ornate rooms, a huge fresco by Venetian artist Tiepolo and an elaborate staircase. Home to numerous wine bars, cellars and wineries, Wurzburg is the center of the Franconian wine country, with its distinctive bocksbeutel (bottles with flattened round shapes).
Day 4
Miltenberg
Overview
Miltenberg has a wonderfully photogenic setting, nestling tightly below wooded hills on a bend of the Main, 45km upstream from Aschaffenburg. Although its population has never numbered more than a few thousand, the Altstadt stretches for over 2.5km, its boundaries marked by two fourteenth-century gateways, the Würzburger Tor to the east and the Mainzer Tor to the west. Much of the area in between consists of a single street, Hauptstrasse, which is lined with the half-timbered buildings so characteristic of central Germany, as well as others of stone. One of the finest examples of the former is the Gasthaus Zum Riesen at no. 97, an inn with an uninterrupted tradition since the fifteenth century which assumed its present aspect at the end of the following century. A little further west, at no. 137, is the Altes Rathaus , a fourteenth-century Gothic sandstone building which was originally the municipal weigh house. About halfway along its length, Hauptstrasse widens out to the south to form the triangular Marktplatz , which has a Renaissance fountain, the Marktbrunnen , and some of the finest houses, notably the Weinhaus , which is distinguished by a beautiful two-storey oriel, and the Alte Amtskellerei directly opposite. The latter now houses the Museum der Stadt Miltenberg (May-Oct Tues-Sun 11am-5pm; Nov-March Wed-Sun 11am-4pm; DM4/?2), which contains a distinguished collection of artefacts from the Roman period, notably an enigmatic five-metre-high monolith, the Toutonenstein . There's also a Jewish section: Miltenberg still preserves its tiny medieval synagogue, but it is marooned in the backyard of the Kalt-Loch brewery and seldom accessible to the public. Just to the north of the square is the Stadtpfarrkirche St Jakobus , a Gothic church whose external appearance was sharply modified by the addition of two Neoclassical sandstone towers in the 1830s. Inside are a fifteenth-century relief of the Adoration of the Magi and a huge sixteenth-century crucifix. On its other side, Marktplatz slopes uphill to the outer defensive system of the Mildenburg (May-Oct Tues-Sun 11am-5.30pm; DM2/?1), the feudal frontier castle of the Mainz archbishops on the hill above. By its courtyard entrance is a late fourteenth-century residential building which was partially remodelled in Renaissance style a couple of hundred years later. Higher up is the keep, which formed part of the original fortress erected around 1200. It can be ascended for a grandstand view over the town and its surroundings.
Day 5
Mainz
Overview
Mainz is a historic cathedral city situated on the banks of the Rhine roughly 40 kilometres west of Frankfurt. It is the state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz). This university town dating back 2000 years is situated on the rivers Rhine and Main. Mainz has a long and rich history, documented by Roman remains and the magnificent buildings bequeathed by the princes elector of the Baroque period. Its French name, also sometimes used in English, is "Mayence". The city is an industrial, commercial, and transportation center. Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, glassware, and musical instruments are produced; the city is also a trade center for Rhine wines. In the 17th century the princes transformed the face of the city, commissioning the best architects and sculptors to build unique royal palaces and new churches. The close interrelationship of church and city history is documented by the imposing cathedral, which dominates the Mainz's striking skyline. In Mainz visitors can find the international museum of printing "The Gutenberg Museum". It was here that Johannes Gutenberg, the developer of the modern print process was born. The museum is home to the famous Gutenberg bible. Other attractions include : the 1000-year-old Cathedral; Electors’ Palace; Roman Jupiter Column (AD 67); ‘Sparkling Hock’ Museum; Citadel with monument to General Nero Claudius Drusus; old half-timbered houses; Mainzer Fassenacht (carnival); and the Wine Market (late August and early September).The city also boasts Roman remains as well as baroque and rococo buildings that blend beautifully with its narrow lanes and half-timbered houses. The sunny slopes of the Rhinegau Hills are centre of one of the world’s most famous wine-producing regions. Located in Mainz, the ZDF( Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen - The second German TV Channel) is the largest TV-station in Europe. The weekly ZDF "TV-garden" is an open-air variety show that is taped each Sunday from the end of May to September. Mainz is a magnet for countless tourists. Attentive observers notice very quickly that the city was heavily destroyed in February 1945 by air attacks. Meanwhile even the rebuilding of the destroyed city is part of history.
Day 6
Strasbourg
Overview
Situated provocatively on the Franco-German border, over the centuries, Strasbourg has been passed back and forward like a ping-pong ball between these two countries. Annexed to France in 1681, after centuries of self-rule, Strasbourg was subject to German control from 1871 until the end of World War I and again between 1940 and 1944. The result is a city and people with a strong and distinctive local identity, combining the reputed efficiency and work ethic of the Germans with the lightness and sophistication of the French. The name Strasbourg comes from Strateburgum, ‘the city of the roads’, because of its strategic geographical position on the west bank of the Rhine. Today, it could be called ‘the city of the trams’, due to an excellent and recently expanded network. The city was already a thriving commercial centre in the Middle Ages, when building began on the impressive Cathedrale Notre-Dame. Its intellectual and artistic heights were reached during the Renaissance. In 1566, the university was founded and leading figures of the Reformation settled in Strasbourg. Religious strife during the 16th and 17th centuries caused considerable upheaval, although the 1681 annexation of the city by France brought stability and enabled Strasbourg to reassert its economic strength. Its symbolic significance as a major European city was confirmed when it was chosen as the seat of the Council of Europe in 1949, the European Court of Human Rights in 1994 and the European Parliament, whose position was finally guaranteed in 1992. After Paris, Strasbourg is now France’s most important diplomatic town. Strasbourg is far enough away from the capital to be truly independent on a cultural level, with its own opera, France’s only national theatre outside Paris, two international music festivals and Europe’s only bi-national TV station, Arte. Its international student population, of some 50,000, keeps the city vibrant and intellectually alive. Strasbourg is host to the permanent campus of the International Space University (ISU) and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA), the prestigious French Grandes Ecoles that relocated to Strasbourg in 1992. The Grande Ile (Big Island) is the heart of the city, encircled by the Ill River and Fossé du Faux-Rempart canal. The dominant landmark in Strasbourg is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in the Vieille Ville (Old Town). It has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. Around the cathedral, an impressive collection of museums is clustered. The central square is place Kléber – named after the brilliant Strasbourg-born military officer, Jean-Baptiste Kléber (1753-1800), who was singled out by Napoleon Bonaparte for high office in Egypt. Close by, is place Gutenberg – named after Johannes Gutenberg, who resided in Strasbourg between 1434 and 44, perfecting his famed printing press with moveable metal type. The main streets – rue des grandes Arcades and the parallel rue des Francs Bourgeois – are remarkably small and pedestrian friendly. The Petite France area in the Grande Ile’s southwestern corner, crossed by canals, is Strasbourg’s medieval quarter and classed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its half-timbered houses and narrow streets could not be more different from the ultra-modern City of Europe to the northeast of the city. Strasbourg enjoys the semi-continental climate of the Alsace region, with sunny, warm and dry conditions. Nevertheless, because of the traditional Christmas market – the peak tourist season extends from May right through to the end of December.
Day 7
Breisach am Rhein
Overview
The Cathedral of St Stephanus, the town`s most prominent landmark, is visible from far and wide. It stands perched high above the Rhine on the Münsterberg (Cathedrakl Hill), which has been the site of human settlements for over 4,000 years. Breisach lies in one of the warmest parts of Germany, directly next to Alsace and the famous wine-growing region of Kaiserstuhl.
Day 8
Basel
Overview
These multiple facets influence the artistic and cultural life of the place. Apart from its contrasting architectural styles, it has over 30 museums and galleries as well as many small theatres - besides the City Theatre with its repertoire of operas, operettas and plays - and the first Musical Theatre in Switzerland, all waiting to be visited. The new art and cultural scene is nothing like the traditional version. For example, many industrial buildings have been converted and now serve as the setting for concerts and club evenings. The possibilities of Basel are unlimited and its borders are always open for a quick trip into neighbouring France or Germany. Nestled in the Three Countries of Germany, France and Switzerland, Basel is a city full of surprises. The city canton with roughly 190,000 inhabitants and a 2000-year history is located on the bend of the Rhine on the borders with France and Germany. The city offers a unique range of culture and art, and possesses one of Europe's most attractive and best-preserved Old Towns.
Onboard the River Princess
River Princess
Costco Member Reviews
Year Built: 2001
Year Refurbished: 2010
Double Occupancy Capacity: 132
River Princess features all river-view staterooms; a cozy library that provides the perfect haven for inviting conversation, game playing or simply a place for deep contemplation; a fitness center where you can unwind from a day of sightseeing; and a lounge with a full-service bar where you can gather with friends for cocktails while the evening's entertainment provides a soothing backdrop.
Onboard Activities
Activities & Services (included in cruise)
Fitness Center
- Card Room
- Movies
- Beauty Salon
- Fitness Center
- Sauna/Steam Room
- Bars/Lounges
- Concierge Desk
- Duty-Free Shops/Boutiques
- Elevators
- Safe Deposit Boxes
Activities & Services (available for an extra fee)
Full-Service Spa
- Full-Service Spa
- Self-Service Laundromat
Costco Travel makes every effort to verify the accuracy of all information provided. Additional fees for amenities or services may be charged by the cruise line. Amenities or services may be discontinued or revised by the cruise line without notice. Staterooms designated as wheelchair-accessible do not necessarily meet ADA requirements. Costco Travel is not responsible for inaccuracies or provider modifications.
Dining
Main Dining Room
Main Dining
Main Dining Room (open seating): This seating option allows you to choose when and with whom you dine. Menus are a blend of classic cuisine with a touch of contemporary elegance, and are created using only the finest and freshest ingredients often brought onboard from local ports of call. You'll be surrounded by the beauty of passing riverbank towns and villages.
Times, costs and other specifics are outside the control of Costco Travel. All information is at the sole discretion of the cruise line and is subject to change without notice. Dining time and table size preferences are submitted to the cruise line on a first-come, first-served request basis and are confirmed aboard ship. Questions, concerns and/or special needs regarding dining arrangements must be addressed with the maitre d' hotel aboard ship. Every effort is made to accommodate travelers' preferences; however, Costco Travel cannot guarantee dining arrangements. In specialty restaurants, space is limited and reservations are recommended. A cover charge and dress code may apply.
Staterooms
Classic Stateroom with Small Window (Category: CL)
Classic Stateroom with Small Window (Category: CL)
Category: CL
Deluxe Stateroom with Window (Category: DE)
Deluxe Stateroom with Window (Category: DE)
Category: DE
Stateroom with French Balcony (Category: FB)
Stateroom with French Balcony (Category: FB)
Category: FB
Suite with French Balcony (Category: S)
Suite with French Balcony (Category: S)
Category: S
Deck Plan
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Ship Facts
- Ship Name: River Princess
- Year Built: 2001
- Year Refurbished: 2010
- Year Entered Present Fleet: 2001
- Maximum Capacity: 132
- Number of Passenger Decks: 3
- Number of Crew: 36
- Officers' Nationality: European
- Ocean-View without Balcony: 44
- Ocean-View with Balcony: 18
- Capacity Based on Double Occupancy: 132
- Country of Registry: Switzerland
- Total Staterooms: 66
- Suites with Balcony: 4
- Crew/Hotel Staff Nationality: International
Costco Travel makes every effort to verify the accuracy of all information provided. Additional fees for amenities or services may be charged by
the hotel, resort or cruise line. Amenities or services may be discontinued or revised by the provider without notice. Hotels, resorts, ships or accommodations
designated as wheelchair-accessible do not necessarily meet ADA requirements. Costco Travel is not responsible for inaccuracies or provider modifications.
Available Dates & Prices
Terms & Conditions
*Price shown is per person based on double occupancy and is valid for select stateroom categories only. Click on the Terms & Conditions link below for details.
**Unlimited beverages include premium wine and premium spirits. Diamond List of wine and spirits is available at an additional cost.
♦Executive Members receive a US $ 50 shipboard credit per person, maximum US $ 100 per stateroom. Executive Member benefit is valid for primary cardholder only. Shipboard credit is per stateroom based on double occupancy. Shipboard credit will be applied to your onboard account. Any unused portion of the credit is nontransferable, nonrefundable and not redeemable for cash.
†One Digital Costco Shop Card per room/stateroom, per stay. The exact amount of the Digital Costco Shop Card will be calculated during the booking process. The Digital Costco Shop Card promotion is nontransferable and may not be combined with any other promotion. A Digital Costco Shop Card will arrive by email approximately 10 days after the start of your cruise. Click on the Terms & Conditions link below for additional information.
Ship's registry: Switzerland
Package ID: UNIPRIEUR20240605
Digital Costco Shop Card
This booking includes a Digital Costco Shop Card which will arrive by email one to two weeks after you return from your vacation. The Digital Costco Shop Card is a convenient payment option in our warehouses and on Costco.ca.
Ship Rating
An outstanding luxury cruise experience with an exceptional level of attention to detail. Expect superb service from all levels of officers and staff.
A very good quality all-around cruise experience aboard a ship that offers a range of facilities and services.
A decent, unpretentious cruise experience, with a moderate amount of space and quality in furnishing and fittings.
A modest quality cruise experience with less attention to detail and service.
Expect a very basic cruise experience with minimal attention to service, hospitality and finesse.
Offers some, but not all, of the amenities and services associated with the next highest star rating.
