Rhine and Moselle River Cruise Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Cologne, Germany
Welcome to Cologne, one of Germany’s oldest cities!
Day 2 – Cochem, Germany
This morning, you’ll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the scenery. You’re cruising some of Europe’s most dramatic and romantic waterways – the mighty River Rhine and its tributary the Moselle – so there are endless beautiful views to enjoy, as picture-postcard villages with slanting timber-framed houses pass by. After a delicious lunch onboard, we glide into our moorings at Cochem, where we’ll have an afternoon guided tour. This is the traditional centre of the Moselle wine trade, so dominating the scene is a multi-turreted castle crowning a vineyard covered hillside, but Cochem’s real charm is its jumble of narrow streets lined with pastel-coloured buildings and peppered with quirky shops and wine cellars.
Day 3 – Trier, Germany
After lunch on board, we stop to disembark and climb onboard the coaches for the drive to Trier, where we’ll enjoy a guided tour. This is Germany’s oldest city, and ergo one of its most fascinating. Your local guide will take you on a tour around the city to explain its intriguing history. Founded by the Romans, it was the capital of much of their empire, encompassing present-day Spain, France, Britain and parts of Germany. Many of its Roman monuments, including the amphitheatre, baths and bridge, have survived surprisingly intact, but most impressive is the Porta Nigra, a fortified gate made of huge stone blocks that towers above the surrounding medieval buildings.
Day 4 – Bernkastel, Germany
It’s time for a guided tour of Bernkastel with an expert local guide. Bernkastel is often a favourite destination amongst our guests, as its cobbled streets and half-timbered houses create a quaint, romantic atmosphere. Learn about the history of this interesting town as you visit the market square, the winding streets, and the Pointed House, a jewel of the rustic middle-class building tradition from the Middle Ages and a classic example of a Moselle vintner’s dwelling. You might spot the famous Graacher Tor too, built in 1300, the last remaining gate and now home to a museum of local history.
Day 5 – Koblenz & Boppard, Germany
This 2,000-year-old city is a joy to wander through, pausing to window shop while trying to resist the aromas of fresh coffee and cakes drifting from the numerous traditional cafés. Explore with a knowledgeable local guide, who will show you its principal monuments and intriguing centre, taking in historic squares, highlighting painstakingly restored house frontages and revealing hidden aspects of the city that only locals know. We’ll return to our ship for lunch, during which we’ll sail to Boppard, also known as the ‘Pearl of the Rhine’. Explore this famously picturesque town located on a long, looping bend of the river. The black and white spires of the Church of Saint Severus can be seen from a distance, but as we draw closer its bustling quayside comes into view.
Day 6 – Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim, Germany
Find a comfy spot, sit back, and enjoy the natural beauty all around for the next couple of hours. At every dramatic turn of the river you’ll see towering valley slopes, crowned by the precarious ruins of castles, and by this point you’ll have lost count of the number of vineyards you pass.
It’s time for lunch. Soon we’ll arrive in Rüdesheim for a guided tour with our local expert.
This is perhaps the best known of all the wine towns, and it’s a favourite with our guests.Meander through the Market Place, Brömserburg Castle and the charming Klunkhardshof, a monumental half-timbered building dating back to the first half of the 16th-century.
Day 7 – Cologne, Germany
Today we arrive back at historic Cologne, spotting the magnificent dual-spired Gothic cathedral for which the city is so famous. It’s a truly monumental building, taking over 600 years to build and featuring myriad religious and art treasures and perhaps the most intricate stained-glass windows in Europe. After lunch onboard, we join a local guide for an informative tour of the old town, with time to explore its tree-lined squares and perhaps visit one of its traditional bars, many of which still brew their own beer.
Day 8 – Return Home
