12 Nights Rhine and Moselle Wine Rivers Cruise
This superb value over-50s Rhine and Moselle river cruise starts with an exploration of Amsterdam, sailing to the cultural hub which is Cologne. When you sail along the Moselle, you will visit the famous wine villages of Traben and Trarbach, with their art nouveau buildings.
See the highlights of Amsterdam from the Royal palace on Dam Square to the 19th-century Rijksmuseum during an included tour and canal cruise or perhaps explore on foot and sample local delicacies including cheese and croquettes along the way. Then relax on board Spirit of the Rhine as she takes you along the Rhine and Moselle to enjoy an exclusive riverside wine tasting event and visit a host of historic cities and vineyard-clad towns with a reputation for producing world-class wine. Admire Cologne’s UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral, which took over 600 years to build, follow in the footsteps of Beethoven with a visit to his hometown of Bonn and take a cable car up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on an optional excursion in Koblenz.
Visit Rüdesheim, in the north-west corner of Germany’s Rheingau wine-producing region, before arriving at the classic Rhineland wine town of Boppard whose historic towers provide an atmospheric setting for an optional wine tasting session. Explore Cochem, overlooked by Reichsburg Castle, and enjoy an included vineyard visit and wine tasting in Traben-Trarbach. A two-night mooring in Germany’s oldest city, Trier, founded in 16BC by Emperor Augustus gives you time to see the Porta Nigra, one of the best-preserved Roman city gates in the world and perhaps pay a visit to the wine cellar of the renowned producer Bischoefliche Weingueter, which is located under the pedestrianised area of the city centre.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
Included travel insurance
Return coach travel via Eurotunnel or ferry
ACCOMMODATION
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Amsterdam city tour and canal cruise OR Amsterdam culinary walking tour
Rüdesheim wine tasting
Traben-Trarbach wine tasting
Trier walking tour
FOOD & DRINK
35 meals: 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 12 dinners
Free bar open 15 hours a day
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 UK - Amsterdam
Travel to Amsterdam (a journey from Calais of approximately four and a half hours) and embark Spirit of the Rhine.
Enjoy a welcome drink reception and dinner on board as your ship remains moored here overnight.
Day 2 Amsterdam
The Dutch capital is rightly popular for its friendly welcome, picturesque canals, world-class museums and galleries, and laid-back cafes and bars.
This morning perhaps enjoy the local food and culture on an included culinary walking tour with a guide. You’ll take a tram to Central Station from where you’ll begin a walking tour of the Dutch capital while tasting local delicacies including herring, cheese and croquettes along the way. Alternatively, you could join an included tour of Amsterdam by coach and see the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the floating flower market, the Central Railway Station, which is built on thousands of wooden piles, and the grand 19th-century Rijksmuseum. Afterwards, enjoy a canal cruise to see the city centre with its historic bridges and gabled houses and view such treasures as the famous Skinny Bridge, the Montelbaanstoren tower and the Jewish Quarter.
Spirit of the Rhine sets sail at lunchtime to spend the rest of the day and night cruising towards Cologne.
Day 3 Cologne
Arrive at lunchtime in Cologne, Germany's cultural capital.
Enjoy an afternoon of exploring during an optional city tour or by using our state-of-the-art interactive map – don't miss the vast Gothic cathedral, started in 1248 to house the relics of the three Magi but not finally completed until 1880! You can see the shrine to Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar – now among the patron saints of Cologne – behind the high altar.
Depart later this evening and cruise overnight towards Bonn.
Day 4 Bonn - Koblenz
This morning you’ll wake up in Bonn, having arrived in the early hours.
Join an optional walking tour to see sights such as the Electoral Palace, the baroque City Hall, and Beethoven's former home, now a museum dedicated to his life and work.
This afternoon Spirit of the Rhine will cruise to Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle, arriving early this evening.
Day 5 Koblenz - Rüdesheim
Discover the riverside promenade and several historic churches, all set beneath the Festung Ehrenbreitstein citadel on top of the hill, which you may choose to visit on an optional excursion this morning. Early this afternoon your cruise continues through the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine to the wine town of Rüdesheim, passing the fabled Lorelei Rock en route.
This evening, enjoy an included wine tasting.
Day 6 Rüdesheim - Boppard
This morning an optional excursion visits Siegfried’s Museum of Mechanical Music where over 350 self-playing instruments are displayed. Set sail over lunch, arriving in Boppard this afternoon. A choice of optional excursions include a wine tasting in one of Boppard’s historic towers or a guided tour of Rheinfels Castle.
Your ship remains moored here overnight.
Day 7 Boppard - Cochem
Depart early this morning to arrive in Cochem this afternoon.
With the romantic backdrop of neo-Gothic Reichsburg Castle, which sits atop a hill cloaked entirely in vines, Cochem is understandably one of the most visited places on the Moselle River. This afternoon an optional excursion visits the castle, which has maintained the original 11th-century keep. The excursion will also visit a local vineyard for a wine tasting. Another optional tour explores the town by land train.
Your ship remains moored here overnight.
Day 8 Cochem - Traben-Trarbach
Set off early and cruise through the morning to the twin villages of Traben-Trarbach which straddle the Moselle. Known as the 'capitals' of the wine region, they are home to many art nouveau buildings. Enjoy an included wine tasting this afternoon.
Spirit of the Rhine remains here overnight.
Day 9 Traben-Trarbach - Bernkastel-Kues
Cruise this morning to Bernkastel-Kues where this afternoon you’ll have the opportunity to embark on an optional journey aboard the panorama train, which passes St Nikolaus Hospital, the parish church of St Michael and the historic market square.
Day 10 Bernkastel-Kues - Piesport
Spirit of the Rhine sets sail for the historic village of Piesport this morning, where she will arrive shortly before lunch.
Day 11 Piesport - Trier
Cruise through the morning to arrive this afternoon in Germany’s oldest city, Trier, founded in 16BC by Emperor Augustus.
Trier lies in the heart of Germany’s oldest wine region, the Moselle, which is home to many fine white wines and its location close to the steep banks of the Moselle River was the location the Romans first chose to plant their vines. Trier retains many relics of its illustrious past, such as the Porta Nigra, one of the best-preserved Roman city gates in the world. The old winery, Vereinigte Hospitien, still features one of the original Roman walls, while the wine cellar of the renowned producer Bischoefliche Weingueter is located under the pedestrianised area of the city centre.
Day 12 Trier
Enjoy an included morning tour to see the Roman city gateway, Porta Nigra, and the cathedral, the oldest Bishop’s church in Germany which still serves its original purpose as a place of worship.
Day 13 Trier - UK
Disembark Spirit of the Rhine after breakfast for your return journey to the UK.
