Historic Towns of the Rhine & Moselle by rail

Day 1: UK/Cologne
Your cruise begins in vibrant Cologne, where the MS Serenade 1 is moored. Choose between flying to Düsseldorf, or take the Eurostar from St. Pancras to Brussels, with an onward transfer to Cologne.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Cochem
The afternoon is spent in picturesque Cochem; perhaps enjoy a gentle stroll amongst the half-timbered houses or along the riverside promenade. High above the town is the mighty Reichsburg castle, one of the most famous on the Moselle, and offering stunning views across the surrounding countryside and down to the river below. Avoid the climb up the steep hill by joining an optional tour.

You sail overnight to Bernkastel.

Day 3: Bernkastel & Zell
You are at leisure to explore Bernkastel, an attractive wine town, this morning – the charming old town is full of colour-washed houses topped by steep gabled roofs. Alternatively, why not make the most of your time by joining an optional excursion to the ancient Roman town of Trier. Here you can see the many legacies of Trier’s history as the region’s Roman capital, including the fortified gates of Porta Nigra, the cathedral and the amphitheatre, now an atmospheric ruin.

MS Serenade 1 sets sails for Zell this afternoon, pausing briefly in this lovely wine town before continuing towards Rüdesheim.

Day 4: Rüdesheim
Experience one of the scenic highlights of your cruise, as you pass through the magnificent Rhine Gorge, past vine-clad slopes and the striking castles of the former medieval robber barons. You arrive in Rüdesheim early this afternoon and will have the opportunity to discover this lively town, set in one of the finest winemaking regions in Germany. Be sure to take a unique optional opportunity to step back to the early days of recorded sound at the entertaining Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum.

Day 5: Mainz & Boppard
The historic university town of Mainz is your destination this morning. You’ll really get to know the town, birthplace of Johann Gutenberg, on an optional walking tour. The inventor of the printing press, Gutenberg is celebrated in the eponymous museum here, which houses the prized Gutenberg Bible.

Your cruise continues towards Boppard at lunchtime, arriving in the late afternoon. This appealing town sits right in the heart of the Rhine Gorge, nestled on the banks of one of the river’s largest loops. You’ll be able to go ashore and explore this evening.

Day 6: Boppard & Koblenz
Enjoy a free morning in Boppard to explore further, or join our optional walking tour. After lunch we set sail for Koblenz, one of Germany’s oldest cities. The ancient walls, castle towers, palaces and patrician houses are vivid illustrations of the city’s turbulent past. The beautifully restored old town centre, the Altstadt, is renowned for its pretty, winding streets, romantic little squares, noble mansions and ancient churches. Above the city is the vast Ehrenbreitstein Castle, one of the largest in the world.

Day 7: Cologne
You arrive in Cologne at breakfast time. An optional walking tour will reveal the city’s charms and highlights, including a visit to the magnificent cathedral that dominates the cityscape. We also offer an optional panoramic tour of the city. Alternatively, you can make your own discoveries.

Day 8: Cologne/UK
Your journey along the Rhine reaches its conclusion this morning with a coach transfer to either Düsseldorf or Brussels for your return journey home to the UK.
Meals: Breakfast

Please note

Chartered exclusively for Travelsphere, MS Serenade 1 offers a relaxing river cruise experience amid luxurious, elegant surroundings

The stylish and extremely comfortable MS Serenade 1 is a 4-star floating hotel that has been exclusively chartered for Travelsphere customers.

The cabins are amongst the largest of any river cruiser, at 16m2, and so you feel right at home, we’ve included plenty of storage space and individually controlled air conditioning to keep the temperature just how you like it.

The twin beds are hotel standard and there is a seating area for relaxation. All cabins have satellite TV, telephone, fridge, tea and coffee-making facilities, safe and a hairdryer, while en suite bathrooms have a WC as well as a separate shower and bath, which is unusual for a river cruiser.

All cabins are non-smoking but you may smoke on deck. There is a sauna on board, along with a small range of fitness equipment. On the upper two decks all cabins have floor-to ceiling sliding French windows for a great view or cooling breeze and the lower deck cabins feature a smaller fixed window

You can spend your time watching the stunning views unfold from the panoramic windows of the lounge, savour delicious cuisine in the elegant dining room or sit back and relax with a range of low-key evening entertainment.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Optional excursions

Reichsburg Castle
Walking tour of Bernkastel
Trier
Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum
Walking tour of Mainz
Walking tour of Boppard
Walking tour of Koblenz
Cologne city highlights
Panoramic sightseeing tour of Cologne

Your holiday includes

The services of two experienced Travelsphere Cruise Representatives and the cruise staff
Full board commences with dinner on day of arrival and finishes with breakfast on day of departure, including morning coffee and afternoon tea plus Captain’s Gala Dinner
All transfers
Scheduled Eurostar from St. Pancras
Luggage transfer on Eurostar
Evening entertainment on board
Porterage on board

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”