From its origin in the Upper Franconia region of Germany where the White Main and Red Main rivers meet, the Main River (pronounced “mine”) flows in a westerly direction for 330 miles, meandering through the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse; and through the major cities of Frankfurt, Offenbach, Wertheim, and Würzburg. On a Scenic Main river cruise, guests will pass by and through modern German cities such as Mainz—a city that began as a Roman stronghold and later achieved notoriety as the birthplace of the movable-type printing press that was invented by Johannes Gutenberg—and quaint villages in the Bavarian countryside where leather goods and wine are the primary industries.
Often combined with a trip along the Danube, Main River cruises are a fantastic route through some of Germany’s most beautiful cities, before heading south and east to visit Budapest or Vienna along the Danube. Alternatively, it’s not uncommon to pair a Main cruise with an adventure along the river Rhine – or to combine all three rivers in fact, such as in our all-inclusive 15-day cruise, Jewels of Europe.
We’re also one of the few cruise operators that offer itineraries that integrate the Main-Danube Canal, on our Jewels of Europe cruise and Gems of Danube cruises. So read below to find out more about the destinations our itineraries visit along the river Main, and plan your next perfect adventure with us.