Riviera Travel Grand Cruise of the Moselle, Rhine, Luxembourg & Switzerland

• Soak up views of the Black Forest as you visit Titisee and journey through the Bernese Oberland
• Immerse yourself in the history of Heidelberg or Schwetzingen Palace on a guided tour
• Explore some of Europe’s most interesting cities including Strasbourg, Cologne, Trier and Luxembourg City
• Enjoy a wine tasting in Bernkastel
• Sail through the magnificent Rhine Gorge

• Return flights and transfers
• 17nts on board a 5* ship
• Full Board dining
• 18 visits and tours
• Services of an expert cruise director

Day 1: Arrival in Basel
Travel to Basel where you’ll board your river cruise ship. Spend the rest of the day settling into your cabin and familiarising yourself with the ship.

Day 2: Lucerne and Bernese Oberland
Start off your grand cruise with a visit to the city of Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s most beautiful. Spend some time taking in the lake views before heading into the Bernese Oberland, home to impressive mountain landscapes, which you can take in as you ascend by railway. Return back down the mountain and return to ship.

Day 3: Breisach and the Black Forest
Enjoy a relaxing morning onboard before arriving in Breisach. From here, you’ll drive through the stunning Black Forest to the lake-side village of Titisee. After some free time, return to the ship for dinner and a live violin performance.

Day 4: Strasbourg
Having sailed into France overnight, you’ll awake in the charming town of Strasbourg. On a guided tour, you’ll explore its narrow-streets of timber-framed houses and canals. During lunch, the ship will begin its afternoon of cruising, which means you’ll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the ship’s facilities. The ship will arrive in Speyer later on, where it will be moored overnight.

Day 5: Speyer
After breakfast, head out on a guided tour of Speyer, one of Germany’s oldest cities. See some of its medieval landmarks before lunch when the ship will continue its cruise. This evening, enjoy a special ‘Captain’s Dinner’ which showcases some of the region’s specialities. The ship will arrive in Rüdesheim during dinner, so you may head ashore afterwards if you wish.

Day 6: Rüdesheim, Rhine Gorge & Koblenz
Explore Rüdesheim this morning on a guided tour, stopping to admire the formidable Bromserberg Castle. This afternoon, see one of the highlights of the cruise, the majestic Rhine Gorge. Keep an eye out for the ruins of historic castles and the famous Loreley Rock before passing Marksburg Castle and arriving in Koblenz. On arrival, you’ll take a guided tour of the town before dinner and a Rhenish folk music performance

Day 7: Cologne
The morning is spent sailing through the Rhineland to Cologne, where you’ll be arriving during lunch. The afternoon is free for you to spend as you which, whether you want to explore the city or relax onboard the ship.

Day 8: Cologne
Today, you have the whole day to yourself to explore more Cologne at your own pace.

Day 9: Andernach & Koblenz
Awake in the medieval town of Andernach, where you’ll have a guided tour of its streets and marvel at its defensive walls, gates and towers. Visit the castle with its well-preserved keep and the majestic cathedral. Over lunch, the ship sets sail to Koblenz. After arriving in Koblenz, the afternoon is free for you to wander through the city at your own pace.

Day 10: Bernkastel
Enjoy a leisurely morning onboard the ship before arriving in Bernkastel after lunch. Explore this medieval town before visiting a local cellar to learn about the ancient production of Rieslings that the region is known for, followed by a tasting. Return to the ship for dinner as the ship sails overnight to Trier

Day 11: Trier and Luxembourg
This morning, drive from Trier to Luxembourg. Arriving in the capital, you’ll meet a local guide to learn more about the city, discovering the old town, and the extraordinary Bock Casemates, a defensive subterranean tunnel network. After the tour, there is some free time to explore independently before returning to the ship around lunchtime. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of Trier itself, discovering its Roman heritage.

Day 12: Cochem
Spend the morning sailing further along the Moselle to Cochem. Enjoy a guided tour of the town before having some free time to explore.

Day 13: Rhine Gorge & Rüdesheim
Today, you’ll get another chance to take in the magnificent Rhine Gorge before arriving in Rüdesheim. From here, you’ll board the Winzerexpress road train for a tour of the sights and the vineyards. Later, you can join an optional visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum or explore the town independently.

Day 14: Worms & Speyer
After breakfast, you’ll explore the ancient city of Worms in the company of a local guide. You’ll visit the beautiful 12^th Century cathedral and see the old town. While enjoying lunch onboard, the ship will sail on to Mannheim. Upon arrival, you’ll have the choice to join a visit to Speyer or stay in Mannheim.

Day 15:  Heidelberg or Schwetzingen & Rhine Gorge
Today, you’ll have a choice between two experiences. You can explore the impeccably preserved city of Heidelberg, renowned for its untouched beauty and historic charm. Highlights include its majestic castle overlooking the old town, a stroll across the magical stone bridge, and time to wander at your leisure. Alternatively, immerse yourself in horticultural wonders at Schwetzingen Palace. Built in the 18th century, its exquisite gardens feature baroque sculptures, whimsical buildings like the Temple of Apollo, and an English-style park surrounding a serene lake.

Enjoy lunch onboard before a relaxing afternoon of sailing.

Day 16: Neiderlahnstein
Following breakfast, visit the Marksburg Castle, where you’ll learn about life here through history, see the impressive Gothic hall and take in views over river. Return to the ship for another afternoon of cruising before a splendid Gala dinner

Day 17: Bonn
Visit the city of Bonn this morning, with time to explore the old town and its museums, including one dedicated to Beethoven. Over lunch, the ship with sail to Cologne, where an expert guide will show you the highlight of the city and old town. After some free time, return to the ship for the final dinner of the cruise.

Day 18: Return home
Transfer to the airport for your journey home.

MS Oscar Wilde

MS Geoffrey Chaucer

Fact File

• Currency: Euro, Swiss Franc
• Flight Time: Approx. 1 hr 20 mins to 2 hrs
• Language: German, French
• Time Zone: GMT+1
• Country: Germany, France, Switzerland

*All transfer times listed here are approximate and dependent on traffic