How much does it cost?

From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is rail travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, TGV rail from Paris to Strasbourg, the Drachenfelsbahn cogwheel railway, and return train travel via Brussels to London St Pancras.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. A Tour Manager and Cruise Director escort you throughout the eight days, and all excursions in port towns are guided.

What meals and drinks are included?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily onboard the MS Amadeus Cara, plus a drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise.

What accommodation is provided?

You stay seven nights aboard the MS Amadeus Cara, a five-star river cruise ship, in one of four cabin types ranging from Classic Staterooms (16 sqm, lower deck) to Deluxe Suites (26.4 sqm, upper deck with walk-out balcony).

When does this trip depart?

One departure is published: August 2027.

What is the highlight of this trip?

The Rhine in Flames celebration in Koblenz, where you watch fireworks and illuminated boats from the ship on Day 3. The itinerary also includes wine tastings in Bernkastel-Kues and Rüdesheim, and a journey on Germany's oldest cogwheel railway.

Great Rail Journeys · River cruise

Rhine Valley in Flames: Koblenz & the Moselle

Eight-day escorted river cruise from London through Rhine and Moselle valleys

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day escorted river cruise that combines rail travel from London with seven nights aboard the MS Amadeus Cara, a five-star vessel cruising the Rhine and Moselle valleys. You depart London St Pancras on Eurostar, transfer to the TGV toward Strasbourg, and board the ship for an all-inclusive cruise experience. The journey moves downriver through vineyard-lined valleys and half-timbered towns, with the centerpiece on Day 3: the Rhine in Flames festival in Koblenz, where fireworks and illuminated boats surround the ship after dark. Along the way, Great Rail Journeys includes guided excursions to Cochem's Reichsburg Castle, Bernkastel-Kues' cobblestone Old Town with Moselle wine tasting, and a choice between ancient Trier (with three UNESCO World Heritage sites) or Luxembourg's dramatically positioned capital. On Day 7, you ride the Drachenfelsbahn, a cogwheel railway in operation since 1883, to the Drachenfels plateau. All daily meals, evening drinks, and return rail travel to London are included. The pace is unhurried: days blend onboard relaxation with guided shore excursions and wine experiences. This trip suits luxury-seeking couples and repeat rail travellers who appreciate guided comfort, wine, and European river scenery.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £200 since 4 Jul, to £2,499.

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

Only one departure date is published: August 2027.
Day 2 and Day 6 offer choice of excursions; your final allocation depends on booking timing and demand.
The single supplement (GBP 3,899) exceeds half the double price, adding GBP 1,200 to the base fare.
Rail travel uses a mix of Eurostar and French TGV services in Standard or First Class depending on availability; the exact class assigned may vary.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Aboard MS Amadeus Cara, Strasbourg
To Strasbourg, where we board our luxurious ship
We meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris, switching trains to continue to Strasbourg to board the MS Amadeus Cara. After a welcome cocktail and time to settle into our cabin, we enjoy our first dinner and drinks package on board.
Day 2overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Cara, Strasbourg
Picturesque Strasbourg or charming Colmar
A choice of excursion: a city tour of Strasbourg including La Petite France and Notre Dame Cathedral, or a guided visit to the fairytale city of Colmar. Lunch is served back on board with the afternoon free.
Day 3railovernight: Aboard MS Amadeus Cara, Koblenz
Rüdesheim and the magical Rhine in Flames
A land train takes us into Rüdesheim for a choice of wine-tasting or Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, with free time on the Drosselgasse. We cruise to Koblenz for free time at Deutsches Eck, then reboard for dinner and the Rhine in Flames fireworks display.
Day 4overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Cara, Cochem
A storybook day in Cochem
A leisurely morning cruising to Cochem, then a guided tour of the town beneath Reichsburg Castle, including a wine tasting in the Moselle wine region.
Day 5overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Cara, Bernkastel-Kues
A tour and wine-tasting in Bernkastel-Kues
We continue along the Moselle to Bernkastel-Kues for a guided tour of the Old Town and market square, including St Michael's Fountain, finishing with a tasting of the local Bernkasteler Doctor wine.
Day 6overnight: Aboard MS Amadeus Cara, sailing downstream along the Moselle
The ancient city of Trier or Luxembourg
A choice of excursion: a guided tour of Trier taking in the Porta Nigra, St Peter's Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady, or a coach trip to Luxembourg's UNESCO-listed Old Town and the Grand Ducal Palace. We sail downstream along the Moselle afterwards.
Day 7railovernight: Aboard MS Amadeus Cara, Cologne
A historic journey on the Drachenfelsbahn
We arrive in Königswinter for a journey on the historic Drachenfelsbahn cogwheel railway past Schloss Drachenburg to the Drachenfels summit, then continue cruising to Cologne, admiring the cathedral and bridges.
Day 8rail
Homeward bound
After breakfast we disembark and make our way to the railway station, catching the train to Brussels and switching trains to continue to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Day 3: the Rhine in Flames fireworks and illuminated boats viewed from the ship in Koblenz, with the MS Amadeus Cara decorated as part of the festival.
Day 4Day 4: guided tour of Cochem's Reichsburg Castle, half-timbered houses, and wine cellars, followed by Moselle wine tasting onboard.
Day 5Day 5: guided tour of Bernkastel-Kues Old Town and tasting of the renowned Bernkasteler Doctor wine.
Day 7Day 7: scenic journey aboard the Drachenfelsbahn, Germany's oldest cogwheel railway operating since 1883, to the Drachenfels plateau.

Included

Tour Manager/Cruise Director team escorted throughout
7-night cruise onboard MS Amadeus Cara
Five-star service onboard
Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
First & Standard Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day 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)
Superb excursions included

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

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Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is rail travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, TGV rail from Paris to Strasbourg, the Drachenfelsbahn cogwheel railway, and return train travel via Brussels to London St Pancras.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. A Tour Manager and Cruise Director escort you throughout the eight days, and all excursions in port towns are guided.
What meals and drinks are included?: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily onboard the MS Amadeus Cara, plus a drinks package with dinner every night of the cruise.
What accommodation is provided?: You stay seven nights aboard the MS Amadeus Cara, a five-star river cruise ship, in one of four cabin types ranging from Classic Staterooms (16 sqm, lower deck) to Deluxe Suites (26.4 sqm, upper deck with walk-out balcony).
When does this trip depart?: One departure is published: August 2027.
What is the highlight of this trip?: The Rhine in Flames celebration in Koblenz, where you watch fireworks and illuminated boats from the ship on Day 3. The itinerary also includes wine tastings in Bernkastel-Kues and Rüdesheim, and a journey on Germany's oldest cogwheel railway.