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Mainz River Cruises

About Mainz 

Sitting at the confluence of the Rhine and Main rivers, Mainz is an attractive and pleasant German city with a history dating all the way back to Roman times. It was this key location that led to the Roman settlement in the 1st century with a Roman fort built. It was one of the most northern parts of the Empire at the time, and it is a city with plenty of historical importance in the fields of both religion and industry. For this reason, Mainz is often included on many Rhine river cruise itineraries, along with longer sailings which explore both the Rhine and the Danube via the Main River. 

Exploring Mainz 

Mainz offers a number of landmarks and informative museums, along with plenty of places where you can enjoy a relaxed stroll at your leisure. Probably the most famous attraction in the city of Mainz itself is the Gutenberg Museum, which is dedicated to the work of Johannes Gutenberg, the man who invented the first moveable type printing press and who lived and worked in the city. The museum is home to replicas of the original printing press along with the print shops where Gutenberg worked, spawning successful printers across Europe. It also looks at the works of the Far East at the time in printing, and there are exhibitions on the future of print and electronic books. Another unique museum is the Museum fur Antike Schifffahrt, or Museum of Ancient Sea Travel, which is home to replicas of Roman warships from the fifth century, the construction of which have been based on actual salvaged wrecks. 

It’s not just museums in Mainz of course. There are a number of churches offering interesting architecture, such as the Dom, otherwise known as St Martin Cathedral which has over 1,000 years of history and is home to a number of tombs of the city’s past archbishops. Though smaller, St Stephan’s Church is arguably more beautiful inside, thanks in part to its beautiful stained glass windows, while St Augustine’s Church is a hidden gem offering both a beautiful façade and baroque interior. 

Also, be sure to take a look at the Theodor Heuss Rhine Bridge, an impressive structure built in the 1950s after the original was destroyed during the Second World War. Dating much further back in time, the Roman Aqueduct is but a ruin now but offers a fascinating look at the city’s Roman heritage and dates all the way back to the first century. A little outside the city itself lies another popular historic structure, Burg Sooneck. Once belonging to the Prussian Royal Family, this atmospheric castle is an informative place to explore and also offers some fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. 

Mainz tips 

If you want to sample a local delicacy while in port, then try a little Spundekase; a cream cheese which is whipped with cream and served with a favourite German snack, the pretzel. 

Mainz Itineraries

Lucerne

The Majestic Rhine & Lucerne - Zurich

2 sailing dates June 2024 to July 2024
10 Nights From Frankfurt, to Zurich
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £3299pp
Bernkastel

Charming Castles & Vineyards from Basel

3 sailing dates April 2024 to September 2024
7 Nights From Basel, Switzerland to Germany , Mainz

Book now to take advantage of HUGE savings

Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £2459pp
Frankfurt

Charming Castles & Vineyards from Frankfurt

3 sailing dates May 2024 to October 2024
7 Nights From Frankfurt, to Switzerland , Basel
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £3239pp
Rudesheim

Rhine, Strasbourg & Heidelberg from Cologne

1 sailing date October 2024
7 Nights From Cologne, Germany to Cologne
Riviera Travel logo FROM £2459pp
Bamberg

Cruise the Heart of Europe - Budapest to Cologne

2 sailing dates June 2024 to October 2024
14 Nights From Budapest, Hungary to Germany , Cologne

Free Superior drinks package worth £400pp per week

Riviera Travel logo FROM £3849pp
Bamberg

Europe's Rivers & Castles -Nuremberg to Luxembourg

11 sailing dates August 2024 to October 2025
7 Nights From Nuremberg, Germany to , Luxembourg
AmaWaterways logo FROM £2559pp
Koblenz

Rhine, Strasbourg & Heidelberg

13 sailing dates April 2024 to October 2024
7 Nights From Cologne, Germany to Cologne

Enjoy a free Superior drinks package worth £400pp per week on all 2024 European river cruises

Riviera Travel logo FROM £1699pp
Nuremberg

Medieval Germany from Mainz

5 sailing dates June 2024 to September 2024
7 Nights From Mainz, Germany to Nuremberg
Riviera Travel logo FROM £2049pp
Mainz

Cruise the Heart of Europe - Cologne to Budapest

2 sailing dates April 2024 to September 2024
14 Nights From Cologne, Germany to Hungary , Budapest
Riviera Travel logo FROM £4299pp
Speyer

New Year's Eve Cruise on the Rhine

1 sailing date December 2023
7 Nights From Cologne, Germany to Cologne
Amadeus River Cruises logo CALL
Strasbourg

Christmas Cruise on the Rhine

1 sailing date December 2023
6 Nights From Cologne, Germany to Cologne
Amadeus River Cruises logo CALL
Amsterdam

Romantic Rhine - Amsterdam to Basel

1 sailing date December 2023
7 Nights From Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Switzerland , Basel
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Amsterdam

Vineyards Of The Rhine & Moselle from Amsterdam

14 sailing dates April 2024 to October 2025
7 Nights From Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Luxembourg
AmaWaterways logo FROM £2679pp
Rudesheim

The Majestic Rhine - Basel to Frankfurt

2 sailing dates June 2024 to July 2024
7 Nights From Basel, Switzerland to , Frankfurt

Book now to take advantage of HUGE savings | Includes flights and overseas transfers.

Emerald Cruises logo FROM £1889pp
Heidelberg

Rhine Holiday Markets - Cologne to Basel

6 sailing dates November 2024 to December 2025
7 Nights From Cologne, Germany to Switzerland , Basel
Uniworld River Cruises logo FROM £3299pp
Melk

Jewels of Europe - Budapest to Amsterdam

49 sailing dates March 2024 to November 2025
14 Nights From Budapest, Hungary to , Amsterdam, Netherlands
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £4199pp
Mainz

Medieval Germany from Nuremberg

5 sailing dates May 2024 to September 2024
7 Nights From Nuremberg, Germany to Mainz
Riviera Travel logo FROM £2249pp
Berlin

Zurich to Berlin & The Majestic Rhine

2 sailing dates June 2024 to July 2024
12 Nights From Zurich, to Berlin
Emerald Cruises logo CALL
Mainz

Zurich - Lucerne & The Majestic Rhine

2 sailing dates June 2024 to July 2024
10 Nights From Zurich, to Frankfurt
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £3299pp
Rudesheim

Contrasts Of The Rhine, Main and Moselle from Fran

1 sailing date May 2024
9 Nights From Frankfurt, to Schweich, Germany
Saga River Cruises logo CALL

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