Is train travel included?

Yes. The package includes Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris in Standard or First Class, rail onward to Strasbourg, all coach transfers, and the Drachenfels cog railway. Return rail to London from Cologne is included on day eight.

Is this an escorted tour?

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

What meals are provided?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served each day of the cruise, including a gala dinner on the final evening. A drinks package is included with dinner each night.

When does this cruise depart?

Great Rail Journeys lists one departure in September 2026 for this itinerary.

What are the shore excursions?

Day 2 offers a choice between a sightseeing trip to Colmar or a tour of Strasbourg. Day 3 includes travel through Rüdesheim vineyards and a choice of wine tasting or Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. Guided tours are included in Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues, and either Trier or Luxembourg. Day 7 features the Drachenfels cog railway.

Great Rail Journeys · River cruise

The Rhine Valley in Flames & Moselle

Rhine and Moselle river cruise from Strasbourg to Cologne with wine tastings

Great Rail Journeys' Rhine Valley in Flames & Moselle is an eight-day escorted river cruise combining rail and waterborne travel from London to Cologne. The journey begins with an Eurostar crossing to Paris, then rail to Strasbourg, where guests board the five-star MS Amadeus Cara for a seven-night cruise. The centrepiece is the Rhine in Flames festival on day three, when illuminated boats and fireworks light the valley and its castles near St Goar. The itinerary then sails the Moselle, visiting the wine regions of Rüdesheim, Cochem, and Bernkastel-Kues (with included tastings), the historic city of Trier, and optionally Luxembourg. Day seven includes a ride on the Drachenfels cog railway with views over the Rhine-Westphalia region. All meals, drinks, guided excursions, and transfers are included. The cruise suits couples, wine enthusiasts, and travellers who prefer guided escorted travel without independent navigation.

Price history

Across 3 checks, this price has fallen £500 since 4 Jul, to £1,799.

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. 1 of 3 point is 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 is listed: September 2026. Confirm availability and book early.
The single supplement is GBP 3,499, compared to GBP 2,299 for a shared cabin, a difference of over 50 percent.
Cabin upgrades to Deluxe Suites or Staterooms are available but charged separately.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara (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 cocktail, settle into the cabins, and enjoy the first dinner onboard.
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 tour of Strasbourg including Cathedral Notre Dame and La Petite France. Free time in the afternoon before setting sail toward Rüdesheim.
Day 3railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara (Koblenz)
Experiencing Rüdesheim and the Rhine in Flames
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. Sail to St Goar for the Rhine in Flames display - a procession of illuminated boats, fireworks and music - then sail on to dock overnight in Koblenz.
Day 4overnight: MS Amadeus Cara (Cochem)
Cochem – the heart of the Moselle wine trade
A morning of cruising the Moselle, then a guided tour of Cochem's Old Town after lunch, with its Reichsburg castle, ancient walls and a former monastery now a cultural centre.
Day 5overnight: MS Amadeus Cara (sailing toward Trier)
A taste of 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. Reboard for an evening cruise toward Trier.
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. The evening is spent sailing downstream toward Koblenz.
Day 7railovernight: MS Amadeus Cara (Cologne)
The Drachenfels and Cologne
Arrive in Königswinter and ride the Drachenfels cog railway up past Schloss Drachenburg to the Drachenfels ruins. Continue cruising toward Cologne, celebrating the final evening with a Gala dinner while admiring the city's bridges and cathedral from the deck.
Day 8rail
Homeward bound
Disembark after breakfast and travel by train back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Day 3: the Rhine in Flames spectacle unfolds with illuminated boats and fireworks lighting the Rhine Valley and its castles.
Day 4Day 4: a guided tour of Cochem reveals the medieval Old Town, ancient walls, and Reichsburg Castle perched above the Moselle.
Day 5Day 5: wine tasting of Bernkasteler Doctor, the local speciality, following a sightseeing tour through cobblestone streets and the Market Square.
Day 7Day 7: the Drachenfels cog railway rises through forests past a fairytale 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 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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?: Yes. The package includes Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris in Standard or First Class, rail onward to Strasbourg, all coach transfers, and the Drachenfels cog railway. Return rail to London from Cologne is included on day eight.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the eight days.
What meals are provided?: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served each day of the cruise, including a gala dinner on the final evening. A drinks package is included with dinner each night.
When does this cruise depart?: Great Rail Journeys lists one departure in September 2026 for this itinerary.
What are the shore excursions?: Day 2 offers a choice between a sightseeing trip to Colmar or a tour of Strasbourg. Day 3 includes travel through Rüdesheim vineyards and a choice of wine tasting or Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet. Guided tours are included in Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues, and either Trier or Luxembourg. Day 7 features the Drachenfels cog railway.