Magic of the Moselle Valley

Magic of the Moselle Valley

This intimate, unhurried cruise along the picturesque Moselle, renowned for its scenic beauty and picture-postcard towns and villages, takes in visits packed with charm and character. From the heart of Germany’s wine producing country to the charming market square of Bernkastel, this cruise through the magical Moselle valley leaves behind the hustle and bustle of the big cities to ensure you stay as calm as the waters beneath you.

8 & 10 days from only £999

Holiday highlights
• Discover wonderful wines at Alken, Cochem and Zell
• Panoramic and romantic scenery as you cruise
• Pretty working town of Zell
• Bernkastel’s charming market square

Optional excursions
• Boppard
• Reichsburg Castle at Cochem
• Trier & Luxembourg city tour
• Cologne city tour

Why not pre-book your excursion package? Price includes excursions noted above for just £69 per person.

Holiday Itinerary by Coach
Day 1 UK to Northern France - Across to Calais, and onwards to Northern France to our overnight hotel.
Day 2 Northern France to Cologne - Joining our cruise vessel in Cologne, you’ll be given time to enjoy the facilities or visit vibrant Cologne.
Day 3 Cologne to Koblenz - We start our cruise along the Rhine as we head to Koblenz, which marks the northern end of the Rhine Gorge World Heritage Site. The town has a lot to see including gothic churches and the medieval Moselle Bridge. There will be time to explore the town as we moor overnight.
Day 4 Koblenz to Cochem -This morning we cruise to Cochem, a town surrounded by vineyards and known as the ‘Pearl of the Moselle’, with its promenade decorated with abundant flowers. The town is also home to the famous Reichsberg Castle, an iconic landmark standing guard above the banks of the Moselle.
Day 5 Cochem to Bernkastel - Our cruise to Bernkastel offers the chance to visit its medieval market square, containing 400 year-old half-timbered houses, the 17th century Renaissance town hall and the Spitzhauschen, or ‘pointed house’.
Day 6 Bernkastel - We remain moored in Bernkastel today. Take time to further explore the town or you may choose to join the optional excursion to Trier & Luxembourg. History abounds in Trier, the oldest city in Germany and Luxembourg, a city landlocked by Belgium, France and Germany.
Day 7 Bernkastel to Zell to Alken - Our first port of call today is the genuine pretty working wine town of Zell, unspoilt by mass tourism with a lovely promenade beside the calm waters of the Moselle. Here you’ll find black cats everywhere – on houses, signposts, souvenirs and car stickers, but especially on the wine bottles. The Schwartze Katz, or ‘black cat’, is the emblem of Zell’s renowned Riesling wine. The final stop today is Alken, one of the oldest places in Moselle country and surrounded by forests, valleys and vineyards.
Day 8 Alken to Cologne - We retrace our journey, rejoin the Rhine and sail north to Cologne. Arriving this afternoon there is time for last minute shopping or time to further explore the city. Cologne is the fourth biggest city in Germany with shops, bars, an historic old town and the gothic cathedral.
Day 9 Cologne – Northern France - Continuing north we make our way back to our cruise’s start point. We say a fond farewell to the MPS Rotterdam and continue our journey by coach to our overnight hotel.
Day 10 Northern France to UK - Calais, Dover, and then home.

Holiday Itinerary by Rail
Day 1 London St Pancras to Cologne - We meet at St Pancras station and join the Eurostar service to Brussels. At Brussels we change trains and join the Thalys service onwards to Cologne. We then make the short transfer to join our ship the MPS Rotterdam. You can relax on board or explore Cologne.
Days 2 to 7 Cruising - As per Holiday itinerary by Coach days 3 to 8.
Day 8 Cologne to London St Pancras - Time to say goodbye and take the short transfer to Cologne station to join the Thalys service to Brussels. At Brussels we change on to the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

Travel by Rail is based on standard class travel. Upgrades to leisure select on Eurostar and onwards in First Class on the Thalys, upgrade from £90 per person one way.

Holiday Itinerary by Air
Day 1 UK to Cologne/Dusseldorf - Fly to Cologne or Dusseldorf where you will be met by a representative and transferred to the MPS Rotterdam. You can relax on board or explore Cologne.
Days 2 to 7 Cruising - As per Holiday itinerary by Coach days 3 to 8.
Day 8 Cologne/Dusseldorf to UK - Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

Flight departures. Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, East Midlands, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds, Southampton

By coach - whats included
• 2 nights hotel, dinner, bed & breakfast on/post route
•7 nights full board cruise
• Grand Tourer coach travel
• Shearings cruise representative

By rail - whats included
• 7 nights full board cruise
• Return Eurostar standard ticket London-Brussels & onwards Thalys standard ticket to Cologne
• Shearings cruise & rail representative

By air - whats included
• 7 nights full board cruise
• Return flights & resort transfers
• Shearings cruise representative