From the gangway to your next stop by minibus
Rhine river cruises start and finish in Basel, and many guests add a few days in the mountains before flying home. A minibus with a driver collects your party and its suitcases at the landing stage and heads for Lucerne, the airport or wherever comes next.
Basel: three landing stages
Rhine cruise ships in Basel use three places: the St. Johann terminal on the Grossbasel bank, about ten minutes' walk from the centre, and Klybeckquai and Dreiländereck on the Kleinbasel side. Check your cruise documents for the right one and pass it on with the booking. Nothing official says where a coach may wait at the stages, which is why the operator settles your vehicle's waiting spot in advance.
The stages are about 9 to 10 km from EuroAirport, which lies in France; Swiss-bound groups use its Swiss sector. Zurich Airport is about 92 km away.
Lake boats in Lucerne and Geneva
On Lake Lucerne, boats leave from piers 1 to 6 on the Bahnhofquai, opposite the station. The nearest stop for a larger vehicle is the Inseliquai beside the KKL, where setting down and picking up are allowed but parking is not. Geneva's boats use four piers, among them Mont-Blanc, roughly a kilometre's walk from the main station, Cornavin; the operator confirms which stop suits your pier.
Worth knowing before the day
- The Rhine cruise landing stages in Basel are about 9-10 km from EuroAirport and about 92 km from Zürich Airport
- The Lake Geneva boats in Genève leave from the Mont-Blanc, Pâquis, Jardin Anglais and Eaux-Vives piers; Genève-Cornavin station is about 1 km from the Mont-Blanc pier
Suitcases and who drives
Cruise luggage is the usual surprise. Cases for two weeks fill a minibus's rear space long before the seats run out, so count the cases as carefully as the guests.
If your group came to Switzerland by coach from abroad, note the cabotage rule: an operator based in an EU state may not carry passengers between two places in Switzerland. A transfer from a Basel landing stage to Lucerne therefore needs a vehicle from an operator established in Switzerland.
Questions travellers ask
What if the ship arrives late?
Give the ship's name and its scheduled docking time when you book, plus a mobile number for your group contact, so the pickup can move if the ship does.
Can we stop somewhere on the way to the airport?
Yes, if the flight time allows. A morning in Basel's old town before the short run to EuroAirport is a gentle last day.
Is the transfer suitable for guests with reduced mobility?
The Basel landing stages are barrier-free, and St. Johann has a lift and an escalator. For wheelchair users, ask for an accessible minibus that has a lift or ramp.
More places for your group
Other vehicles with a driver
- Full-size coach (Reisecar) — Seats: 45-57
- Midi-coach (Midibus / Midicar) — Seats: 25-35
- Minibus (Kleinbus) — Seats: 9-16 passengers plus the driver
- Executive Sprinter-style minibus — Seats: 8-16 passengers plus the driver
- Executive car with driver (limousine service) — Seats: 1-3 (up to 8 passengers in a van-type car)
- Wheelchair-accessible minibus — Seats: Varies by layout; wheelchair positions replace seats
Arrange your cruise transfer
Send the ship, the landing stage, the date and time, the number of guests and suitcases, and where you are heading next. A licensed partner operator handles the transfer.
Request a quote or call 35227647770