What could be better than sniffing, swirling and sipping Europe’s best wine for a week? Not much, unless it’s doing so on a river cruise in Germany, according to Avalon Waterways, which has ventured to list seven all-encompassing reasons why travellers ought to, to borrow another rhyme, pine for the Rhine in 2021 (pandemic pending).

“Cruising along the timeless rivers of the world has understandably become one of the most desirable ways to travel (in the post pandemic world)” says Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways. “Yet with so many alluring waterways, it can be difficult to choose… Do you choose by country? By sights? By unique experiences?

“When travellers choose the Rhine River,” she replies to her own questions, “they choose all of the above.”

Hoffee observes that the 1,300-km river winds through several of Europe’s “bucket list” countries and capitals, while also dotted with off-the-beaten-path small villages “that look as if they’ve been pulled from the pages of fairytales.”

Here are seven reasons, according to Hoffee and colleagues, why travellers should consider choosing a river cruise on the Rhine when travel resumes:

• High Five: Cruising down the multinational waterway of the Rhine, travellers can traverse five countries – Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Austria – exploring picture-perfect places like Basel, Strasbourg, Cologne, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Amsterdam and Rotterdam along the way.

• Connect Four: The Rhine River is a ribbon that ties together fascinating countries, cultures, and history. It also flows into other legendary waterways, presenting the opportunity to combine a Rhine itinerary with three other renowned rivers – the Moselle, the Main, and the Danube – for a more robust river cruise.

• Castles in the Air: Between Rudesheim and Koblenz, more castles take centre stage than anywhere else on the planet. The fairytale fantasy, known as the Upper Middle Rhine or Rhine Gorge, has earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status and the well-earned nickname, “The Romantic Rhine.”

• A Pop of Colour: Surrounded by brilliant-coloured tulips, the waterways of the Netherlands feed into the Rhine River, presenting unrivalled springtime scenery.

• More to Pour Over: While many people think of Germany for its beer scene, the vineyard-lined Rhine River Valley paints a sweeter story with “grape” days that range from Rieslings and delicate Silvaners to full-bodied Spätburgunders.

• Unique UNESCO: A dizzying number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be found throughout the Rhine River Valley, including the Rhine Gorge, the Cologne Cathedral, the Speyer Cathedral, the Town of Bamberg, and the Old Town of Regensburg.

• Merry Memories: There’s no better way to unwrap the magic of the Old World than with a journey through the tradition-rich, German Christmas markets with their mulled wines, handmade sweets, and hardy holiday décor on a festive wintry river cruise.

Avalon Waterways offers nearly two dozen itineraries on the Rhine including “Short and Suite” five- and six-day getaways. Pre- and post-options can be added through Avalon sister companies Globus, Cosmos and Monograms.