The Magic of the Moselle and Rhine

Our holiday begins as we meet at London St Pancras for our Eurostar journey to Paris, then continue by rail to Strasbourg. Here, we board our ship where we're welcomed with a cocktail and enjoy dinner as we start our overnight cruise.

We sail into the captivating town of Rüdesheim, famous for its delicious white wine, especially the dry Riesling variety. There's time to wander its cobbled streets and see the charming half-timbered houses, quaint shops, and enticing wine bars in the Drosselgasse alley. Next, we enjoy a highlight of our cruising experience - sailing through the romantic Rhine Gorge.

This section of the Rhine is renowned for its spectacular views. The riverbanks plunge deeper here, and we wind around bends surrounded by endless miles of lush green vineyards, ancient castles, and picturesque riverside towns. It's also one of the narrowest points of the river with one of the strongest currents.

As we sail, we hear the fascinating story of the legendary Lorelei Rock which soars almost 500 feet out of the water. This monument has been the inspiration for countless myths and legends, and we hear of them as we sail by.

After this relaxing cruise, we arrive in Koblenz, where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet . From the Deutsches Eck, there are amazing views of surrounding beauty with the Rhine on one side and the Moselle on the other. On a guided tour we wander the charming streets where the air is filled with scents of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods as we pass by and admire lovely shop window displays. We see the St Castor Basilica and the Liebfrauenkirche, also known as the Church of Our Beloved Lady. As we enjoy dinner onboard, we set sail for Bernkastel-Kues.

We moor in the heart of the Moselle Valley for lunch as the charming town of Bernkastel-Kues unfolds. The picturesque vineyards of the Valley climb up the hillsides, while half-timbered houses with blooming flowers add to the enchanting atmosphere.

You then have two fantastic excursion options, firstly you could discover Bernkastel-Kues and its renowned Moselle wines as we stroll through a nearby vineyard, tasting different vintages, including the world-famous Bernkasteler 'doctor wine'.

Alternatively, you could enjoy a coach and walking tour of the charming Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, one of the smallest countries in the world, where we're introduced to the local history and attractions.

During dinner onboard this evening, we continue cruising to Trier where we moor for the night.

After breakfast onboard this morning, we explore Germany's oldest city, Trier, with a local guide. The ancient streets are known for their Roman ruins, medieval buildings, and Baroque churches and we delve into this impressive history on our tour.

We visit the immense Porta Nigra which guards the entrance to the north of the city, St Peter's Cathedral with its intricate stone carvings and stained glass windows, and the Church of Our Lady, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. After a relaxing afternoon at leisure, we set sail downstream as we enjoy dinner onboard.

As our ship pulls into the port of Cochem, the stunning Moselle Valley surrounds us with rolling hills, half-timbered houses and the majestic castle (the Reichsburg) perched on top of a hill. The town itself is a maze of slender alleys adorned with pastel-coloured buildings, quaint boutiques and wine cellars.

Our guided tour includes a visit to the Reichsburg in the Old Town. With a fantastic viewpoint from the castle's turrets, we admire the Moselle Valley's landscape of dreamy forests, wild meadows, and sprawling vineyards. In the old quarter of Cochem, you'll find well-preserved sections of the ancient town walls and a fascinating arts centre in a former monastery.

After lunch onboard, we enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Moselle Valley this afternoon, as we continue our cruise past Winningen and towards Koblenz, where we rejoin the Rhine.

As we step into the beautiful Old Town of Speyer this afternoon, we enjoy a guided tour. Among the highlights, we see the city's cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest Romanesque churches in the world. Its impressive four-roomed crypt serves as the final resting place for many Holy Roman emperors and German kings. This evening, we enjoy our final dinner onboard as we cruise towards Strasbourg overnight.

Our cruise comes to an end today. After saying goodbye to our wonderful crew, we head to Strasbourg station for the train to Paris, where we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. Here, we bid farewell to new friends and fellow travellers.