How much does it cost?

From £2,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,105 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted tour or independent travel?

It is fully escorted. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout, and includes guided excursions in most towns.

What are the accommodation and meals like?

You stay aboard MS Amadeus Cara, a five-star river cruise ship, for seven nights. All breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, plus a drinks package with dinner each night and a Gala Dinner on the final evening.

Which excursions are included?

Great Rail Journeys includes guided or unguided excursions at each port: a choice between Colmar or Strasbourg on Day 2, wine tasting or Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet in Rüdesheim on Day 3, a guided tour in Cochem on Day 4, a sightseeing tour and wine tasting in Bernkastel-Kues on Day 5, a guided tour of Trier or coach trip to Luxembourg on Day 6, and the Drachenfels Cog Railway on Day 7.

When do departures run?

Great Rail Journeys operates four departures: October 2026, August 2027, September 2027, and October 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · River cruise

The Timeless Moselle & Rhine

Eight-day Eurostar and river cruise through Moselle and Rhine valleys in autumn

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day escorted river cruise combining rail travel with seven nights aboard the five-star MS Amadeus Cara. Your journey begins with Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, then continues by TGV to Strasbourg, where the ship awaits. From there, you cruise the Moselle and Rhine valleys during autumn, stopping at wine-producing towns including Rüdesheim, Cochem, and Bernkastel-Kues, as well as historic sites like Trier, a UNESCO World Heritage city, and the picturesque Alsatian town of Colmar. The itinerary is designed around included guided excursions with wine tastings, visits to castles and Renaissance fountains, and a memorable ride on the Drachenfels Cog Railway. All meals, drinks with dinner, and a Master of Wine presentation are included. An experienced Tour Manager escorts the group throughout. This tour appeals to couples and repeat rail travellers seeking luxury, history, and wine experiences in one seamless package.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £400 since 4 Jul, to £2,299.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

6 times.
Many excursions offer a choice between two options on the same day, so you cannot experience both; confirm which appeal to you before booking.
Luggage service covers one case per cabin from home to ship and return; oversized luggage or additional bags may incur extra charges.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara (moored in Strasbourg)
To Strasbourg where we board our ship
Meet at London St Pancras for the Eurostar to Paris, then continue by rail to Strasbourg. Board the ship and are greeted with a refreshing cocktail. The ship stays moored overnight in Strasbourg, followed by dinner.
Day 2overnight: MS Amadeus Cara (sailing toward Rüdesheim)
Alsatian charm in Colmar and Strasbourg
Choice of an excursion to Colmar, a picturesque Alsatian town with half-timbered houses, or a guided tour of Strasbourg including Notre Dame cathedral and La Petite France. Free afternoon in Strasbourg before setting sail toward Rüdesheim.
Day 3railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara (Koblenz, Moselle promenade)
From Rüdesheim through the Rhine Gorge to Koblenz
Sail into Rüdesheim and travel through vineyards by land train, with a choice of wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, plus free time in the Drosselgasse. In the afternoon, sail through the Rhine Gorge past the Lorelei Rock, docking in Koblenz for the evening.
Day 4overnight: MS Amadeus Cara
Cochem - the heart of the Moselle wine trade
A morning of cruising through Moselle river scenery, then a guided tour of Cochem after lunch, with its Reichsburg castle, alleys of pastel-coloured buildings and old town walls.
Day 5overnight: MS Amadeus Cara
A tour and wine tasting in Bernkastel-Kues
Continue cruising the Moselle Valley, mooring at Bernkastel-Kues for a sightseeing tour of the Old Town and Market Square with its St Michael's Fountain, plus an included wine tasting of the local Bernkasteler Doctor.
Day 6overnight: MS Amadeus Cara (sailing toward Koblenz)
The ancient city of Trier or fairytale Luxembourg
Choice of a guided tour of Trier, Germany's oldest city, visiting the Porta Nigra, St Peter's Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady (all UNESCO World Heritage sites), or a coach excursion to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. A Gala dinner is served onboard as the ship sails downstream toward Koblenz.
Day 7railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara (Cologne)
The Drachenfelsbahn and cultural Cologne
Arrive in Königswinter and ride the Drachenfels cog railway up past Schloss Drachenburg to the Drachenfels ruins. Continue cruising toward Cologne in the afternoon, admiring the cityscape and Cathedral, with time to visit the old town after dinner.
Day 8rail
Homeward bound
Disembark after breakfast and travel by train back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, then TGV to Strasbourg, where you board MS Amadeus Cara and are greeted by crew with a welcome cocktail.
Day 2Choice of excursion to Colmar with cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses, or guided tour of Strasbourg's historic sites.
Day 3Sail into Rüdesheim through vineyards, travel by land train to the town centre, and choose between a local Riesling wine tasting or Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet.
Day 4Guided tour of Cochem in the Moselle Valley, passing the Reichsburg castle perched on a hilltop above the town.
Day 7Ride the Drachenfels Cog Railway through forests to the summit, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle with panoramic views across the Rhine-Westphalia region.

Included

Escorted throughout your tour by an experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Five-star service onboard
Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
First & Standard Class rail options available; Eurostar Plus on First Class departures
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner each day of your cruise including a spectacular Gala Dinner
Drinks package with dinner every night of your cruise
Complimentary luggage service from your home to the ship and back (one case per cabin)
A superb choice of excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour
Tips/gratuities (discretionary, not added to the bill)

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Vacations By Railfrom $2,499

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,105 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted tour or independent travel?: It is fully escorted. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout, and includes guided excursions in most towns.
What are the accommodation and meals like?: You stay aboard MS Amadeus Cara, a five-star river cruise ship, for seven nights. All breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, plus a drinks package with dinner each night and a Gala Dinner on the final evening.
Which excursions are included?: Great Rail Journeys includes guided or unguided excursions at each port: a choice between Colmar or Strasbourg on Day 2, wine tasting or Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet in Rüdesheim on Day 3, a guided tour in Cochem on Day 4, a sightseeing tour and wine tasting in Bernkastel-Kues on Day 5, a guided tour of Trier or coach trip to Luxembourg on Day 6, and the Drachenfels Cog Railway on Day 7.
When do departures run?: Great Rail Journeys operates four departures: October 2026, August 2027, September 2027, and October 2027.