Everything you need to know about private transfers from Basel cruise ports and Huningue — booking, pick-up, luggage, vehicles, payments and more.
We pick up at all four Basel cruise terminals:
Your driver waits dockside as you disembark and will help coordinate with the cruise staff for a smooth handover, then assists with all luggage to the vehicle.
This depends on your cruise line and the specific sailing:
Docking allocations can change. Please provide your ship name at booking — we monitor docking locations and will confirm your exact terminal closer to arrival. See our port guides for full details.
Yes. Your driver waits dockside as you disembark with a name sign and assists with all luggage directly to the vehicle. You do not need to find a taxi or walk to a pick-up point.
Your cabin number allows our driver to coordinate with the ship's crew for a smooth dockside handover — particularly useful on busy disembarkation mornings when multiple groups are leaving simultaneously. You can provide your cabin number at any time before arrival. It does not need to be given at the time of booking.
Different ships dock at different terminals on the same day. Knowing your ship name allows us to monitor the exact docking location and ensure your driver is at the correct port. You can update us with your ship name at any time.
No. We serve Huningue with no surcharge. The price is based on the route to your destination, not the pick-up location. Huningue is the primary dock for Viking River Cruises and we serve it regularly.
Docking allocations occasionally change at short notice. This is why we ask for your ship name — we monitor terminal assignments and will contact you if your dock changes. If you become aware of a change, please let us know as early as possible via email or WhatsApp.
We recommend booking 2 to 3 months in advance. May, June, September and October are the busiest months on the Rhine cruise calendar — on peak dates multiple ships arrive simultaneously in Basel and private vehicles fill up quickly. Early booking guarantees your preferred vehicle category and confirms your driver for your specific dock and time.
Short-notice bookings are possible subject to availability. During peak season (April to October) availability may be limited. We recommend booking as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
This depends on your destination and flight time (if applicable). General guidelines:
If you are unsure, contact us with your flight details and we will advise the best pick-up time.
Yes — we are happy to accommodate changes up to 48 hours before pick-up, subject to availability. Changes to pick-up time, destination or vehicle category may result in a fare difference. For last-minute changes within 48 hours, contact us directly and we will do our best to accommodate.
Your booking is confirmed at the time of payment. We will contact you closer to your arrival date to confirm the pick-up details, your ship name and cabin number. You do not need to re-confirm, but we appreciate any updates on docking location or timing if your ship's schedule changes.
All payments are made securely online by credit card via Stripe at the time of booking. We do not accept cash on arrival or bank transfers. Your price is fixed and confirmed at booking — no surprises on the day.
Yes. Payments are processed via Stripe — one of the world's leading payment providers, used by millions of businesses globally. Your card details are never stored on our servers. The transaction is encrypted and fully secure.
For point-to-point private transfers:
See our full Terms & Conditions for details.
If your cruise is cancelled by the cruise line, please contact us as early as possible. We will do our best to accommodate rescheduling or cancellation. For circumstances outside our standard policy, please reach out directly via email or WhatsApp and we will handle it on a case-by-case basis.
Prices are fixed and confirmed at the time of booking. There are no hidden extras, no fuel surcharges, and no additional fees on the day — unless you request an en route stop or a vehicle upgrade after booking, in which case we will quote the difference in advance.
A quick guide:
Not sure? Contact us — we will advise the right vehicle for your group.
The Standard Van fits up to 7 passengers with a maximum of 7 large suitcases plus 5 carry-ons, plus a laptop bag or handbag on your lap. This is the absolute maximum — if you are close to this limit, please let us know at booking so we can ensure the right vehicle is assigned.
The Premium Van (Mercedes V-Class) carries up to 6 passengers with a maximum of 4 large suitcases plus a handbag, small backpack or laptop bag on lap. It is a comfort upgrade — individual captain's seats and a premium cabin — but has less luggage capacity than the Standard Van. If you have a lot of luggage, the Standard Van or VIP Sprinter is the better choice.
Yes — child seats are available at no additional charge. Please specify the age and weight of the child at booking so we can arrange the correct seat type.
Yes. All vehicles are air-conditioned — important for summer transfers during the peak Rhine cruise season from April through October.
Foldable wheelchairs and walking frames can generally be arranged for vans and larger vehicles. Standard Car and Premium Car may not be suitable due to limited boot space. If in doubt, please contact us before booking so we can confirm the right vehicle for your needs.
Bicycles, ski bags, golf bags and other oversized items are not guaranteed to be carried and must be discussed with us before booking. Please contact us first with the details of your equipment and we will confirm whether it can be accommodated and in which vehicle.
We serve all major destinations in Switzerland, plus Alsace (France) and the Black Forest (Germany). Key routes include:
Don't see your destination? We drive you anywhere reachable by road — contact us for a custom quote. See our full destinations page.
Yes — en route stops are available as an add-on at an additional charge. Our standard rate covers direct point-to-point transfers only. Common requests include stopping at Rhine Falls on the way to Zurich Airport, or Montreux on the way to Geneva Airport. Contact us when booking to request a stop and we will provide a quote.
Yes — we offer door-to-door hotel drop-off at any address. Simply provide the full address at booking.
Yes — with an important note. These villages are car-free, so our transfer covers the drive to the gateway village only:
Train and cable car tickets are not included in the transfer price.
Yes. We regularly serve Strasbourg, Colmar and the Alsace wine villages in France, and Freiburg im Breisgau, Triberg and the Black Forest region in Germany. There is no surcharge for cross-border transfers. Border crossings are routine and handled by your driver.
Approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes under normal traffic. We recommend a pick-up at least 4 hours before your scheduled flight departure to allow comfortable buffer for check-in and security.
Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours. We recommend a pick-up at least 5.5 hours before your scheduled flight departure.
Basel EuroAirport (BSL/MLH/EAP) is just 10 km from the cruise docks — about 20 to 30 minutes — and is best for European connections. We recommend a pick-up at least 2.5 hours before your flight departure. Zurich Airport (ZRH) is approximately 88 km away (1 hour 15 minutes) and is the correct choice for direct transatlantic flights to North America. Most US and Canadian cruise passengers use ZRH.
We build buffer time into every pick-up and monitor docking times. For minor delays we adjust the pick-up time within reason. For significant delays, please contact us as early as possible via WhatsApp or email so we can plan accordingly.
Your driver will be waiting dockside as you disembark. You will also receive your driver's contact details before your transfer day so you can reach them directly if needed.
You will have your driver's direct contact number before the transfer day. If you cannot locate them, call or WhatsApp the number provided. You can also reach our support team via the contact page.
Your driver aims to be at the dock ahead of your agreed pick-up time — typically 10 to 15 minutes early. On busy disembarkation days with multiple ships, we track docking times and adjust accordingly.
Sealed bottles of water are welcome. We ask that hot food and strongly scented items are avoided out of consideration for the vehicle and other passengers.
No — all vehicles are strictly non-smoking, including e-cigarettes.
Small pets may be welcome — please contact us before booking to confirm. We cannot guarantee pet-friendly vehicles without prior arrangement, so it is important to reach out first.
Yes. All drivers communicate in English and are experienced with international cruise guests from North America, the UK and Australia.
No. BaselCruiseTransfers is fully independent — not affiliated with Viking, AmaWaterways, Avalon, Uniworld, Scenic, Tauck, Emerald, Riviera, Crystal or any other cruise operator. All contracts are directly between you and BaselCruiseTransfers. Names of cruise lines are referenced only to describe pick-up locations.
Yes. BaselCruiseTransfers operates as part of the RideSwiss Network — an established private transport provider based in Central Switzerland. This gives us access to professional fleet management, vehicle maintenance standards and driver training across the region.
No — every transfer is private. Your vehicle is reserved exclusively for your group. There are no shared coaches, no fixed group departure times and no detours to drop off other passengers.
The best way to reach us is via our contact page — you will find our WhatsApp number and contact form there. For general enquiries, email us at [email protected]. On the day of travel, you will have your driver's direct contact details.
Please contact us before booking so we can advise the right vehicle. As a general guide:
Yes — we offer pre-dawn pick-ups from all Basel cruise terminals including Huningue. Early morning departures for flights are common and we plan for them routinely. Please specify your required pick-up time at booking.
Yes. We have vehicles for groups from 2 to 50 passengers — from private vans to full-size coaches. For groups of 12 or more, please contact us directly for availability and a quote. We can also coordinate multiple vehicles for very large parties.
Yes — we regularly transfer cruise guests to Chur or Andermatt for Glacier Express departures, and to Chur for Bernina Express departures. We drop you directly at the station so you can board with your luggage without any platform changes. See our Glacier Express transfer page for details.
A receipt is generated automatically via Stripe at the time of payment. If you require a formal invoice for business purposes, please contact us after booking and we will arrange one.
We are happy to help. Reach us via WhatsApp, email or our contact form — we usually respond within a few hours.