Glacier Express & Moselle Cruise

10 Days

Combine one of the most iconic rail journeys with scenic alpine destinations, historic cities, and five-star river cruise for an epic rail and cruise adventure.

  • Priced from $4495 per person
  • Departure date August 12, 2023

Overview

Drink in the romance of the Moselle wine region. Soak up the grandeur that can only accompany the Swiss Alps. Find yourself lost in the beauty of Central Europe on this memorable rail and cruise vacation. The trip begins on the water, taking to the Moselle River in Trier, Germany, after traveling from London by Eurostar. Your chariot for adventure is an opulent Amadeus cruise ship, a five-star river vessel that brings all the amenities and inclusions one would expect from a high-end hotel to the water. Enjoy wonderful sights and incredible meals as the ship proceeds along both the Moselle and the Rhine Rivers. Each port of call offers a new perspective on the region’s colorful past and a fresh layer of history to unfurl. We stop in Remich, Germany, and embark on a day trip to Luxembourg. Further, we explore Trier and Bernkastel, Cochem with its famous castle, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, and Speyer. After our time in Speyer, the second helping of adventure is quick to come, as we embark on a series of train rides from Strasbourg, France, to the resort town of Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. With this car-free destination as our base, we ride the Gornergrat Railway and look out over the mighty Matterhorn as the train climbs to the summit. We also enjoy a guided walking tour of Zermatt before boarding another renowned rail line, the Glacier Express, for a train ride through twists, tunnels, alpine forests and beautiful mountain towns to Chur. Stays in luxury hotels, including the amazing 360-year-old Romantik Hotel Stern, only add to the dreamy appeal of this journey.

Highlights

  • 6-night Moselle River cruise on a five-star Amadeus cruise ship
  • An epic journey aboard the Glacier Express between Zermatt and Chur
  • Explore Germany’s storybook towns and historic cities, including its oldest city, Trier, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Sample the wines of the Moselle on a tour through Bernkastel’s vineyards

Itinerary

As you arrive at London St. Pancras, venture to our dedicated Departure Office to meet your Tour Manager and fellow travelers. Together, board the Eurostar train bound for Brussels, Belgium. We switch trains in Brussels and continue by rail to Luxembourg and then on to Trier, Germany, set in the beautiful and historic Moselle wine region. A motorcoach awaits our arrival in Trier and transfers us to the harbor, where we board our luxurious Amadeus river cruise ship. Take some time to settle into your well-appointed cabin and freshen up from the day's travel, then meet your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail. Toasts to good fortune and the wonders to come proceed an elegant five-course dinner in the ship's restaurant. The ship begins winding down the Moselle River as you sleep tonight, leaving Trier behind and approaching new, inspiring destinations. Overnight ship.

Includes:
• Dinner

Day 2 :
Luxembourg

The ship docks in Remich, Luxembourg this morning. Our excursion takes us to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and introduces us to this tiny, landlocked country. The only remaining Grand Duchy in the world, Luxembourg offers impressive diversity, breathtaking landscapes and plenty of ancient castles. Our tour of the capital, Luxembourg City, presents both the historic and modern sides of Luxembourg. Marvel at sights like Constitution Square and the central business district, Kirchberg Plateau, which houses various EU Institutions. We also pass the Grand Duke's Palace and venture into the railway station district. Here, intricate 19th-century buildings mingle with Art Deco and Art Nouveau structures from the early 20th century to weave the framework of a highly walkable and rightly enticing portion of the city. We return to the ship for lunch and cruise to Grevenmacher, situated on the German-Luxembourg border. You have some free time to wander around Grevenmacher ahead of dinner this evening. Overnight ship.

Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

We moor in Piesport, Germany, this morning and board a coach to Trier for the first adventure of the day, a walking tour through Germany's oldest city. Boasting over 1,700 years' worth of history, Trier is a treasure trove of Roman artifacts and well-preserved architecture spanning the ages, from the Romans to the medieval period and beyond. Our expedition through the city presents some of the most enticing points of interest, including Porta Nigra, one of the city's four original gates and the largest ancient city gate globally. We discover several other Roman sights, such as the baths and the amphitheater, and venture to places like the 13th-century Epiphany House, constructed in an early Gothic style; St. Peter's Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Germany; Church of Our Lady, a 13th-century Gothic church; and the well-preserved Medieval Market.

Lunch and an afternoon of leisure await as the ship continues along the Moselle River to the medieval gem of Bernkastel. Here, our afternoon is filled with centuries-old buildings, a great dose of history and, of course, fantastic wine varietals as we venture through Old Town on a walking tour. Lovely half-timbered houses frame the narrow streets of this charming destination. We are treated to entertaining anecdotes about the city, its culture and the surrounding topography as we wander between significant sites. A highlight of our time here is an excursion into the vineyards that surround the city for a tasting of two of the region's most notable wines. One of the two is called Doctorwein and is promoted with the motto "Wine & Health." It is said to have health-boosting qualities. Overnight ship.

Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Arriving in riverside Zell this morning, there is time after breakfast to explore the town on your own. You may wish to do some shopping in the Old Town or see its 16th-century castle. Our cruise continues along the Moselle River, arriving this afternoon in Cochem, where we set out on a guided walking tour of the city. Vistas of the Moselle River Valley, traditional half-timbered houses, lush vineyards, quaint villages and narrow streets paint a fantastic scene in this medieval town. On our walking tour, we experience the bustle of Market Square, venture past cute cafes and boutique shops, and find ourselves surrounded by history. All of these sights work to build anticipation as we near the pinnacle of our tour, Reichsburg Castle. This hilltop fortress boasts over 1,000 years of history and overlooks the city and the Moselle Valley from high above. As we tour the castle, notice the beautiful period furnishings, stained glass windows and intricate wall coverings. Suits of armor and ancient artifacts add further detail to the immaculate rooms. From grandiose dining halls to more intimate recreational spaces, each turn in the castle brings an even better look at years past. Overnight ship.

Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, Koblenz is shrouded in natural beauty - ranging from riverside scenes to vineyards and distant wooded mountains - and is a window into 2,000 years of colorful history in the region. Each new inhabitant left its mark, from the Romans who founded the city to the Prussians and then the Europeans who landed here after their river voyages. We uncover the city's history on a walking tour, wandering the charming streets. We encounter well-known sights like the Four Towers, the Guard House, and the city's most recognizable landmark, the Schängel fountain in the Town Hall's courtyard. Churches built like works of art, including St. Castor Basilica and the Church of Our Beloved Lady, further add to the pretty surroundings. After exploring Old Town, we take the Koblenz Cable Car high above the Rhine's calm waters to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, perched on a cliff nearly 390 feet above the river. The fortress is the second-largest preserved castle of its kind in Europe and has been imposing over the Upper Rhine Valley for over 1,000 years.

We return to the ship in time for lunch and have the afternoon to relax as our ship proceeds toward Rüdesheim. On arrival this evening, the Winzerexpress greets us at the docks and offers a charming introduction to the sights of Rüdesheim. Look upon the town, the Rhine Valley and rolling vineyards basked in the warm glow of evening light as we approach the city center. From this point, we set out on a walking tour of Rüdesheim's Old Town. Look upon the old city walls, a 16th-century half-timbered building, inviting garden taverns, lovely wine houses, and quaint cafes. Medieval buildings surround the cobbled streets, all of which are ideal for uncovering on foot. Our walk through this incredible town concludes with a taste of a traditional Rüdesheim coffee, a drink that combines coffee with German Asbach brandy and sugar cubes to warm the soul and the body. Overnight ship.

Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Situated on the left bank of the River Rhine, Speyer, Germany, is our port of call today. Speyer also ranks as one of the oldest cities in Germany and offers an intriguing mixture of history and culture that leaves visitors enchanted. We uncover layers of history on our walking tour, beginning with the Romans and spanning through the Middle Ages. We walk past places like the Old Gate, which remains as a reminder of the 68 towers and gates that once surrounded the city, and the Judenhof, a small medieval Jewish community that includes a synagogue and 12th-century bathhouse. Another highlight comes as we reach the Church of the Holy Spirit, dating to 1700. The town's most notable attraction, the UNESCO Speyer Cathedral, is the pinnacle of the experience. This Romanesque imperial cathedral is constructed with four towers, two domes and endless appeal. We look upon this 11th-century masterpiece from the street before entering and looking upon the grandeur within. Look upon intricate statues and stunning stained-glass windows. Let your eye wander up the soaring stone columns to the arched ceilings. One of the cathedral's most interesting areas is its four-room crypt, in which many Roman emperors and German kings have been laid to rest. The remainder of the day is yours to explore Speyer at leisure. Overnight ship.

Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

We disembark the ship after breakfast and travel by rail to Zermatt, Switzerland. The car-free resort town of Zermatt, with the Matterhorn as its striking backdrop, is brimming with Swiss charm. On arrival, we walk to our hotel from the train station and have time to settle into our accommodations before dinner at the hotel this evening. Overnight Zermatt.

Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

This morning we board the Gornergrat Railway for the first heritage rail journey of on our itinerary. The world's fully electric cog railway, this train offers pristine views of the Matterhorn and wonderful panoramas over Zermatt below. High alpine meadows and lush forests further enhance the scenery. It takes just over 30 minutes to reach the top. You have some time at leisure to explore the offerings of Gornergrat, including its hotel, restaurant and viewing platform, from which you can look over multiple mountain peaks, glaciers and the lovely towns of the Swiss Alps. The train ride down the mountain is just as scenic. Back at the station, a tour guide greets us for a walking tour of Zermatt. Watch as sites both modern and historic unfold as you stroll through the car-free streets. Gaze upon ancient wooden chalets and old Walser houses, and discover intriguing places like the Monte Rosa Hotel, Zermatt's first hotel. Following the tour, take the rest of the day at leisure to soak in the unique ambiance of this destination. Overnight Zermatt.

Includes:
• Breakfast

We depart Zermatt this morning aboard the Glacier Express. This journey is one of extremes and presents some of the most wondrous vistas in Switzerland. As the train departs Zermatt, look upon some of the highest peaks in the Swiss Alps. We continue through the Matter Valley to Visp and shortly after to Brig. From Brig, marvel at the Upper Rhone Valley's beauty before proceeding through tunnels and narrow passes en route to Andermatt; past the incredibly scenic Oberalp Pass to Chur. The "World's Slowest Express Train," the Glacier Express offers an experience to remember. As the train stations in Chur, Switzerland's oldest town, we walk to our hotel, the historic Romantik Hotel Stern, which boasts over 360 years of history. Overnight Chur.

Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

After breakfast this morning, make your way to Chur's train station to begin the journey back to London St. Pancras. The trip is made via a series of trains, switching lines in Basel and Paris. On arrival in London, this amazing experience of Europe's grand waterways and stunning mountains concludes.

Includes:
• Breakfast

Inclusions

What's Included

  • Return, escorted rail travel from London St Pancras
  • 4 nights hotel accommodation
  • Luggage transfers between Zermatt and Chur
  • 6-night cruise aboard your Amadeus cruise ship
  • Services of a professional tour escort until embarkation and from disembarkation of your ship and the services of your on-board Cruise Manager
  • All tour excursions
  • 7 meals including 4 breakfasts and 3 dinners
  • 5-Star dining with breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of your cruise
  • Dinner drinks each evening of your cruise

What's not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights and Airport transfers

Tour Map

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Glacier Express & Moselle Cruise
From $4,495
/ Adult