Best time to cruise · No regular sailings
Rhine River cruises in January
No regular sailings; river ships are in winter maintenance. Cologne’s and Mainz’s carnival societies hold costume balls and comic sessions, warming up for February’s street parades. Weather along the river is cold and damp, with highs around 40°F (4–5°C) and short days.
- No regular sailings
- Avg high 43°F
- 8 hrs daylight
Photo: Jörg Braukmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rhine River in January: No regular sailings
No regular sailings; river ships are in winter maintenance. Cologne’s and Mainz’s carnival societies hold costume balls and comic sessions, warming up for February’s street parades. Weather along the river is cold and damp, with highs around 40°F (4–5°C) and short days.
Across Rhine River cruise ports, January brings average highs around 43°F (6°C) and lows near 36°F, with about 3.2 inches of rain over the month and roughly 8 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- No regular sailings
- Season
- Late March to December; tulip cruises in spring, Christmas markets from late November
- Average high / low
- 43°F / 36°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 3.2 in
- Daylight
- About 8 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7 nights Amsterdam–Basel; 9–12 nights with the Moselle or the Main
How January compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: No regular sailings
- Feb: No regular sailings
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Good time to go
- May: Best time to go
- Jun: Best time to go
- Jul: Good time to go
- Aug: Good time to go
- Sep: Best time to go
- Oct: Good time to go
- Nov: Good time to go
- Dec: Best time to go
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Rhine River weather in January
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 436 | 457 | 499 | 5412 | 6217 | 6820 | 7021 | 7222 | 6719 | 5915 | 5010 | 457 |
| Low °F (°C) | 362 | 362 | 383 | 426 | 4910 | 5613 | 5915 | 6015 | 5513 | 4910 | 426 | 394 |
| Rain in (mm) | 3.281 | 2.871 | 2.359 | 1.949 | 2.358 | 2.768 | 2.768 | 2.872 | 3.075 | 3.282 | 3.487 | 3.179 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 8 |
January weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 43°F | 36°F | 3.2 in | 8 h |
Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.
Other great cruise destinations in January
- Caribbean in January
- Eastern Caribbean in January
- Western Caribbean in January
- Southern Caribbean in January
- Hawaii in January
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in January
- Panama Canal & Central America in January
- South America in January
- Galápagos Islands in January
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in January
See every destination for January, with a port weather map →
Rhine River in January: FAQs
Is January a good time to cruise Rhine River?
Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. No regular sailings; river ships are in winter maintenance. Cologne’s and Mainz’s carnival societies hold costume balls and comic sessions, warming up for February’s street parades. Weather along the river is cold and damp, with highs around 40°F (4–5°C) and short days.
What is the weather like on a Rhine River cruise in January?
Across Rhine River cruise ports, January brings average highs around 43°F (6°C) and lows near 36°F, with about 3.2 inches of rain over the month and roughly 8 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
When is the best time to cruise Rhine River?
Late March to December; tulip cruises in spring, Christmas markets from late November. The best months are usually May, June, September, December.
Where else can I cruise in January?
January is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Hawaii.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.