Is train travel included?

Yes. The price includes Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, TGV from Strasbourg to Paris, and the Drachenfelsbahn cog railway. Rail and coach transfers throughout are also included.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the eight days.

What is the ship like?

The Amadeus Cara is a five-star river cruise ship offering complimentary Wi-Fi, first and standard class rail options, all meals including a gala captain's dinner, and a drinks package with dinner each night.

What meals and drinks are included?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included every day of the cruise, plus a drinks package with dinner each night.

When does this tour run?

September 2026 is the only published departure date.

What excursions are available?

Great Rail Journeys includes a choice of wine-tasting or Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet in Rüdesheim, Heidelberg Castle or Speyer on Day 5, and Black Forest or Strasbourg city tour on Day 7. A Cologne city tour with beer tasting is also included.

Great Rail Journeys · River cruise

The Rhine Valley in Flames

Eight-day river cruise from London to Paris via Rhine, Eurostar and TGV

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day escorted river cruise, combining rail travel from London and Paris with a seven-night voyage on the luxury Amadeus Cara. You depart London St Pancras aboard Eurostar, cross through Brussels, and join your ship in Cologne, where the Gothic cathedral dominates the skyline. The voyage then carries you upstream along the Rhine, passing through Germany's wine country and medieval towns. On Day 3, you witness the Rhine in Flames, an annual fireworks spectacle illuminating the river near Oberwesel. Day 4 takes you through the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge, where you hear the legend of Lorelei Rock before docking in wine-producing Rüdesheim, where you can choose between a winery tour or a visit to a mechanical music museum. Day 5 offers a guided tour of Heidelberg's red sandstone castle or a sail to Speyer. Throughout, breakfast, lunch and dinner are served onboard, along with evening drinks. On your final excursion day, you can explore the Black Forest or tour Strasbourg's old town and cathedral. The journey concludes with a coach transfer to Strasbourg station and TGV rail back to Paris and London. All rail, coach, meals and excursions are included in the price.

Price history

Across 4 checks, this price has risen £100 since 4 Jul, to £2,399.

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. 2 of 4 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

Single supplements are substantial: GBP 3,499 from a GBP 2,299 starting price, roughly 52% above half the double rate
Day 5 offers a choice between Heidelberg or Speyer; final hotel destination and excursion depend on your selection
Only one departure listed: September 2026; confirm availability and dates with the operator before committing

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Aboard ship, Cologne
To Cologne where we board our luxurious ship
We meet the Tour Manager and travel group at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar towards Brussels, switching trains to continue to Cologne. A coach transfer takes us to the waterfront to board our Amadeus ship, followed by a welcome cocktail and our first five-course dinner on board.
Day 2railovernight: Aboard ship, sailing from Königswinter
Exploring Cologne and riding the Drachenfelsbahn
A guided tour of Cologne including its Gothic cathedral and a local beer tasting, then we sail upstream past Bonn to Königswinter for a journey on the Drachenfelsbahn cog railway past Drachenfels castle, before an overnight sailing.
Day 3overnight: Aboard ship, Boppard
Historic Koblenz and the Rhine in Flames
We arrive in Koblenz with free time to explore Deutsches Eck and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, then continue to Boppard before dropping anchor at Oberwesel for dinner and the Rhine in Flames fireworks display, viewed from the ship before returning to dock overnight in Boppard.
Day 4overnight: Aboard ship, Rüdesheim
The enchanting Rhine Gorge and the wine town of Rüdesheim
We sail through the romantic Rhine Gorge, passing the Lorelei Rock, before docking in Rüdesheim for a choice of a winery tour and wine tasting or a visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet, with free time to explore.
Day 5overnight: Aboard ship, Speyer
Heidelberg and its red sandstone castle and the city of Speyer
We arrive in Mannheim and continue by coach to Heidelberg for a guided tour including the ruined red sandstone castle, or remain on board as the ship sails to Speyer, reuniting for the evening.
Day 6overnight: Aboard ship, Strasbourg
A scenic day sailing to Strasbourg
A full day cruising the Rhine to Strasbourg, arriving early evening with free time after dinner to explore the old town's timber-framed houses and cathedral.
Day 7overnight: Aboard ship, Strasbourg
The enchanting Black Forest or touring Strasbourg
A choice of excursion: a trip into the Black Forest nature park, or a city tour of Strasbourg taking in the cathedral and La Petite France district. The afternoon is free before the gala dinner on board.
Day 8rail
Homeward bound
After an early breakfast we disembark in Strasbourg and transfer by coach to the railway station, taking the train to Paris and switching trains to continue to London.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Ride the Drachenfelsbahn cog railway from Königswinter to the summit for panoramic views of the Rhine Valley
Day 3Witness the Rhine in Flames spectacle: fireworks and illuminated boats lighting the river at Oberwesel
Day 4Sail through the romantic Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with castles and vineyards, and hear the legend of Lorelei Rock
Day 5Choose between a guided tour of Heidelberg's red sandstone castle and historic Altstadt, or remain onboard for Speyer
Day 7Select a Black Forest excursion into rolling hills and picturesque villages, or explore Strasbourg's timber-framed old town and La Petite France

Included

Tour Manager/Cruise Director team escorted throughout
7-night cruise on board the 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

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

Is train travel included?: Yes. The price includes Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, TGV from Strasbourg to Paris, and the Drachenfelsbahn cog railway. Rail and coach transfers throughout are also included.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the eight days.
What is the ship like?: The Amadeus Cara is a five-star river cruise ship offering complimentary Wi-Fi, first and standard class rail options, all meals including a gala captain's dinner, and a drinks package with dinner each night.
What meals and drinks are included?: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included every day of the cruise, plus a drinks package with dinner each night.
When does this tour run?: September 2026 is the only published departure date.
What excursions are available?: Great Rail Journeys includes a choice of wine-tasting or Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet in Rüdesheim, Heidelberg Castle or Speyer on Day 5, and Black Forest or Strasbourg city tour on Day 7. A Cologne city tour with beer tasting is also included.