How much does it cost?

From £5,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $7,158 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

What cruise line operates the Mediterranean leg?

Azamara Journey or Azamara Onward, both five-star ships with all-inclusive dining, house drinks (beer, wine, selected spirits and soft drinks), and complimentary AzAmazing Experiences at each port.

Is the tour escorted?

Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager for the rail portion from the start through embarkation in Rome (Days 1-10). The cruise is run by Azamara crew.

What meals are included?

During the rail tour: Eurostar light meal, breakfast each day, six dinners, and a lunch onboard the Glacier Express. During the cruise: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day with complimentary beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks.

When does this tour depart?

Great Rail Journeys offers departures in May 2027 and July 2027. Itineraries vary slightly by departure date, particularly port sequences on the cruise.

Great Rail Journeys · Rail Tour & Ocean Cruise

Glacier Express Tour & Italy, France, Spain Cruise

Swiss Alps rail classics and Mediterranean cruise, London to Barcelona in 20 days

Great Rail Journeys combines two of Switzerland's legendary scenic trains with a luxury Mediterranean cruise on Azamara in this 20-day escorted journey from London to Barcelona. The first half explores the Swiss Alps by rail: you travel by Eurostar to Strasbourg, then join the panoramic Bernina Express through the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway and the Engadine Valley, with views of the Palü Glacier and the Landwasser Viaduct. From Chur, the Glacier Express carries you in panoramic carriages through the Rhine Gorge (the Swiss Grand Canyon) to Brig, with a two-course lunch served at your seat. Days in Zermatt offer Matterhorn views, while a visit to 10th-century Spiez Castle includes a private aperitif on the terrace and a cruise on Lake Thun. After a night in Florence, you board the Azamara ship in Rome for seven to ten nights sailing the Mediterranean. Port calls include Livorno in Tuscany, Monaco, Marseille and Palamós on Spain's Costa Brava. Throughout the cruise, all meals, house drinks and gratuities are included. The tour suits couples and repeat rail travellers seeking guided comfort with premium four-star accommodation and all-inclusive cruise amenities.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £5,299 every time.

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

The itinerary varies slightly by departure date: the 21 October 2027 departure travels on regional trains without lunch on the Glacier Express day and docks at Nice instead of Marseille; the 8 July 2027 departure has a different port sequence.
Some offshore excursions from the cruise ship ports (such as Florence and Pisa from Livorno) are payable onboard and not included in the package price.
The rail and hotel portion includes a GRJ Tour Manager only through to the ship in Rome (day 10); the cruise portion is managed by Azamara crew.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Strasbourg
London to Strasbourg overnight
Meeting the GRJ Tour Manager at London St Pancras, we board the Eurostar to Paris in Plus Class, enjoying a light meal at our seats. From Paris, we continue east to Strasbourg for an overnight stop, checking in to our central four-star hotel before dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Eurostar light meal, Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Chur
A warm alpine welcome in historic Chur
With a free morning to explore Strasbourg, we then travel by First Class rail to Switzerland via Basel, joining the Swiss rail network in Standard Class. Arriving in Chur, Switzerland's oldest town, we check in to our central hotel and enjoy dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Chur
A superb journey on the Bernina Express
A journey on the panoramic Bernina Express, the UNESCO-listed route twisting south through the Engadine Valley, across the Landwasser Viaduct and climbing the Albula Line, reaching a summit above 7,300 feet past Lago Bianco and the Palü Glacier, down to Poschiavo. On the return journey we stop briefly in St Moritz before arriving back in Chur for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Chur
A free day in Chur, Switzerland's oldest town
A free day to explore Chur's colourful Old Town, Martinsplatz and the 800-year-old cathedral, or use the Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% discounts on rail journeys further afield to Arosa, Davos or Klosters.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5railovernight: Brig
An epic journey on the Glacier Express
We board the Glacier Express to Brig, delving into the Rhine Gorge with a two-course lunch served in our panoramic carriage seats, climbing to Andermatt and emerging from the Furka Tunnel to follow the Rhône to Brig, where we check in to a family-run hotel near the station. Note: on the 21st October departure, the route is travelled on regional trains, without lunch included.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6railovernight: Brig
Soaking up Matterhorn views from Zermatt
A dramatic local train journey through the Matter Valley to car-free Zermatt, welcomed by the Air Zermatt crew for a behind-the-scenes tour of their mountain rescue work. Free time to explore Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, with the option of the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, before returning to Brig for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7railovernight: Brig
Uncovering Brig or venturing further afield
A day at leisure in Brig, home to the 17th-century Stockalper Palace, or use the Swiss Half Fare Card to reach the Swiss Riviera resorts of Montreux and Vevey on Lake Geneva, or the Italian town of Domodossola through the former Simplon-Orient Express tunnel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8railovernight: Brig
Spiez Castle and a cruise on Lake Thun
Travelling through the 21.5-mile Lötschberg Base Tunnel to Spiez, we visit 10th-century Spiez Castle beside Lake Thun, including museum entrance and a private aperitif on the terrace, before cruising along Lake Thun to Thun and returning by train to Brig for our final dinner in Switzerland.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9railovernight: Florence
By rail to Florence
Leaving Switzerland by rail through the Simplon Tunnel into Italy, via Milan to Florence, with the rest of the day at leisure to explore the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and the city's Renaissance heritage.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10overnight: Onboard Azamara ship
Boarding your cruise ship in Rome
Returning to Florence station, we travel on to Rome, where we transfer to our Azamara ship, say farewell to the Tour Manager, and are welcomed onboard. Dinner is served as we set sail into the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11overnight: Livorno (onboard)
Exploring Tuscany
The ship docks overnight in Livorno, the 'gateway to central Italy', with access to Florence and Pisa's Leaning Tower. Optional excursions are available at each port (payable onboard). Note: the 8th July 2027 departure docks in Elba today instead.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12overnight: Onboard (departing Livorno)
Departing Livorno
A full day in Tuscany before an evening departure, with time to use the ship's facilities or explore Livorno's New Venice district. Note: the 8th July 2027 departure visits Livorno today.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13overnight: Onboard (Monte Carlo)
A day in Monte Carlo
Arriving in the principality of Monaco, with time to explore Monte Carlo's Casino, Port Hercule and Monaco-Ville. Note: the 8th July 2027 departure visits Porto Venere today.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14overnight: Onboard (Marseille)
Uncovering Provence from Marseille
A day in Marseille's Vieux Port district, with the option to visit Notre-Dame de la Garde or Le Panier. Note: the 21st October 2027 departure docks at Nice instead; the 8th July 2027 departure visits Portofino today.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15overnight: Onboard (sailing to Spain)
Sanary-sur-Mer on the French Riviera
A call at the Côte d'Azur port of Sanary-sur-Mer, including the Musée Frédéric-Dumas, before sailing overnight towards Spain. Note: the 21st October 2027 departure docks at Marseille instead; the 8th July 2027 departure visits Monte Carlo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 16overnight: Onboard (Palamós)
Uncovering Catalonia from Palamós
Arriving at the Costa Brava port of Palamós, exploring its historic carrers and Fishing Museum, before a final evening onboard. Note: the 8th July 2027 departure visits Marseille today.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17
Homeward bound
Arriving in Barcelona this morning, we disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for the flight to London Heathrow or a regional airport. Note: the 8th July 2027 (20-day) departure visits Sète, docks in Palamós on Day 18, and arrives in Barcelona on Day 20.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Journey on the panoramic Bernina Express along the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway through the Engadine Valley, crossing the Landwasser Viaduct and viewing the Palü Glacier.
Day 5Board the Glacier Express in panoramic carriages to Brig, descending through the Rhine Gorge (called the Swiss Grand Canyon) with a two-course lunch served at seats.
Day 6Travel by local train through the Matter Valley to the car-free alpine resort of Zermatt for Matterhorn views and a behind-the-scenes tour with Air Zermatt.
Day 8Visit 10th-century Spiez Castle with museum entrance included and a private aperitif on the terrace, then cruise Lake Thun by boat to Thun.
Day 10Transfer to the Azamara ship in Rome and sail into the Tyrrhenian Sea with all meals and house drinks included for the Mediterranean leg.

Included

Expertise of a GRJ UK Tour Manager
9 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
7/10-night cruise onboard Azamara Journey/Onward
Five-star service onboard Azamara Journey/Onward
Eurostar Plus First & Standard Class rail travel
All rail, boat and coach travel throughout your tour
Flight from Barcelona to London Heathrow (regional departures available)
Eurostar Light Meals
Breakfast each day of your escorted tour, 6 dinners
Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of your cruise
Complimentary beer, wine, selected standard spirits and soft drinks throughout your cruise
Group luggage transfers between Chur and your ship
Swiss Half Fare Card, permitting 50% discounted fares on free days for rail, boat and most mountain railway journeys
A superb choice of excursions during your guided tour
Onboard entertainment each evening on Azamara Onward
Complimentary AzAmazing experiences
Tips & gratuities included onboard Azamara Journey/Onward

Not included

Offshore excursions payable onboard Azamara Journey/Onward

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £5,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $7,158 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
What cruise line operates the Mediterranean leg?: Azamara Journey or Azamara Onward, both five-star ships with all-inclusive dining, house drinks (beer, wine, selected spirits and soft drinks), and complimentary AzAmazing Experiences at each port.
Is the tour escorted?: Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager for the rail portion from the start through embarkation in Rome (Days 1-10). The cruise is run by Azamara crew.
What meals are included?: During the rail tour: Eurostar light meal, breakfast each day, six dinners, and a lunch onboard the Glacier Express. During the cruise: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day with complimentary beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks.
When does this tour depart?: Great Rail Journeys offers departures in May 2027 and July 2027. Itineraries vary slightly by departure date, particularly port sequences on the cruise.