fbpx

Cruising the Rhine, Saar & Moselle Rivers

Program Overview

Discover the winelands along the Rhine, Moselle, and Saar rivers on a unique itinerary that includes a 7-night river cruise and 3 nights in Strasbourg, France. The terraced vineyards that rise up from these romantic rivers produce some of the finest wines in the world—from the Rhine Valley’s Rheingau to France’s Alsace.  Explore 8 historical port cities—Cologne, Boppard, Koblenz, Cochem, Traben-Trarbach, Bernkastel, Trier, and Saarburg—with excursions to vineyards along the way. Extend your journey with The Netherlands Pre-Program and Switzerland Post-Program Options.

Program Details

May 16 to 27, 2024 (Amadeus Brilliant)
From $3,595 plus air View Terms & Conditions
  • Cruise the Lorelei Passage along the eastern banks of the Rhine River to see St. Goarshausen, Loreley Rock, and Pfalzgrafenstein Castle—which appears as a stone ship in the middle of the Rhine.  
  • Enjoy a walking tour through the medieval city of Boppard to see such landmarks as Market Square, the Church of St. Severus, and the Electors Castle. 
  • Cruise the narrow Moselle River Valley, known for its abundance of terraced vineyards clinging to riverbanks. 
  • Admire the Art Nouveau architecture of Traben-Trarbach, formerly one of the world's great wine-trading centers. 
  • Experience a wine-tasting session on a guided tour of Bernkastel-Kues. 
  • Discover the splendor of Luxembourg City with visits to such historical sites as the Old Town with its Palace of the Grand Dukes. 
  • Explore the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Strasbourg, France, capital of the Alsace region. 
  • Walk through the UNESCO World Heritage-designated La Petite France in Strasbourg, where medieval houses line cobblestone lanes and 13th-century bridges span idyllic canals.

Day 1 - Depart home city 

Day 2 - Cologne, Germany/Embark Amadeus Brilliant 

Day 3 - Lorelei Passage/Boppard/Koblenz 

Day 4 - Cochem 

Day 5 - Traben-Trarbach/Bernkastel-Kues 

Day 6 - Trier 

Day 7 - Saarburg 

Day 8 - Grevenmacher/Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 

Day 9 - Grevenmacher/Disembark river boat/Saarbrücken, Germany 

Day 10 - Strasbourg, France 

Day 11 - Strasbourg/Alsace-Colmar 

Day 12 - Strasbourg/Return to home city

Amadeus Brilliant

Exclusively Chartered
Deluxe River Boat 

The elegant and meticulously crafted Amadeus Brilliant, newly renovated in 2020, features all the comforts of a refined and traditional hotel. The English‑speaking, international crew provides warm hospitality. The Amadeus fleet has earned the “Green Globe Certificate” of environmental sustainability. The 76 stylish staterooms and suites are among the most spacious of any European river boat (107 to 236 square feet). Suites include a private balcony, and select staterooms feature a unique floor-to‑ceiling window that lowers to French-balcony height at the touch of a button. Accommodations have two twin beds or one queen bed, individual climate control, sitting area, private bathroom with shower, and a minibar.

View Amadeus Brilliant deckplan
Learn More about Lüftner Cruises

Bern, Nydeggbrucke bridge, Aare river, Switzerland

Switzerland Pre-Program Option  

Enhance your main trip with an extension filled with wine and delicacy tasting opportunities. Stroll through Bern and visit the Baroque building Kornhaus, a former granary first built in the 15th century and now is an inviting restaurant. Enjoy a full-day excursion through the Montreux, Chillon, and Lavaux vineyards and taste delectable wines and local delicatessen at the Domaine Croix Duplex. Visit Chillon Castle, first built as a Roman outpost and was a prison during the Renaissance and Mannerism periods. Explore Gruyeres, known best for its iconic cheese-making and its beautiful medieval town center. Spend three nights at the Hotel Angleterre & Residence in the picturesque town of Lausanne.

Netherlands, Holland, Amsterdam, Canal

The Netherlands Post-Program Option

The historic heart of Amsterdam, laced with tree-shaded canals and stately 16th- and 17th‑century merchant houses, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the perfect introduction to your voyage along the Rhine, Saar, and Moselle rivers. Visit the world‑class Rijksmuseum and cruise the beautiful Amsterdam Canal. Enjoy a full‑day excursion to quaint Edam, world famous for its cheese, and historic Hoorn, one of the great seafaring towns of the Golden Age. Accommodations are for three nights in the Doubletree Centraal Station Amsterdam Hotel.

The Pre- and Post-Program Options are available at an additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation. 

Ready to Begin Your Journey?

We'll contact you. No obligation.

Reserve My Spot

Program Itinerary

Day 1 & 2 Depart home city/Frankfurt, Germany/ Cologne/Embark

Arrive in Frankfurt after an overnight flight departing your home city and transfer to Cologne. Embark on the Amadeus Brilliant and enjoy lunch on board before exploring Cologne’s Old Town and seeing the UNESCO World Heritage‑designated Kölner Dom. Return to the ship for the Captain’s Welcome Reception and dinner onboard.

Day 3 Lorelei Passage/Boppard/Koblenz

Admire the splendid Rhine River while cruising the Lorelei Passage and see the quaint villages and castle-dotted hilltops. Stop in UNESCO-inscribed Boppard and see its ancient Roman remains at the Archaeological Park. Stroll through the town and see its storied past and modern‑day present come together with its medieval Bingen Gate and current cozy cafés and shopping. See the Ritter Schwalbach Haus, one of the oldest houses in Boppard, and walk the narrow lanes and the Bingergasse formerly occupied by wine merchants. Later, take a stroll within Koblenz, positioned at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, and see its impressive Romanesque architecture. Join your fellow passengers for the Captain’s Welcome Dinner onboard the ship.

Day 4 Cochem

Cruise the romantic Moselle River, the largest tributary of the Rhine River and known for its abundance of vineyards clinging to the steep sides. Enjoy a walking tour of charming Cochem with a visit to the Imperial Reichsburg castle. From the castle, take in the impressive view of its surrounding dreamy forests and vineyards before returning to the ship for lunch and dinner.

Day 5 Traben-Trarbach/Bernkastel-Kues

Lovers of Art Nouveau architecture will rejoice as they take in the beauty of Traben-Trarbach through a walking tour of the town. See splendid mansions once belonging to wealthy wine merchants before returning for lunch onboard the ship. Later, stroll through charming Bernkastel-Kues, known for its medieval marketplace and gabled houses including the Spitzhäuschen (Pointed House). Enjoy a wine tasting in one of the town’s many wine cellars before returning to the ship for dinner.

Day 6 Trier

Saunter through the UNESCO‑inscribed Roman sights of Trier, the oldest city in Germany. Admire sights like the Porta Nigra (Black Gate), dating back to the second century, and the Basilica of Roman Emperor Constantine—the largest single‑room structure to survive from Roman times. See the 16th-century St. Peter’s Fountain, the ornate Rococo Prince Bishop’s Palace, and the Imperial Baths before enjoying lunch and dinner onboard.

Day 7 Saarburg

Explore Saarburg—an idyllic town surrounded by forests and Saar Valley wine vineyards that remained after the Saar Castle above it fell to ruin from the Thirty Years’ War. See the town’s waterfall in the center of its “Little Venice” and stroll through this picturesque burgh before returning to the ship for dinner onboard.

Day 8 Grevenmacher/Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Today you will travel to Luxembourg City for a walking tour. Take in its many stunning views on the Corniche—otherwise known as the “most beautiful balcony of Europe”—and at Constitution Square. Among the many amazing sights of this city tour include the Place d’Armes and the Neumünster Abbey.

After lunch with the group you will visit Vianden Castle. Built between the 11th and 14th centuries, it is one of the largest and most astounding feudal residences of the Roman and Gothic periods—once occupied by the ancestors of the current Dutch and Luxembourg royal families. Join the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner onboard.

Day 9 Grevenmacher/Saarbrücken, Germany

Disembark the ship at Grevenmacher and transfer via coach to Saarbrücken. Explore the city and its landmarks, including the Baroque Ludwig’s Church, along with the restored Saarbrücken Castle’s mélange of Baroque, Classicist, and modern architectural styles. After lunch, transfer to Strasbourg, France, and check into the Sofitel Strasbourg Hotel before enjoying dinner on your own.

Day 10 Strasbourg, France

Explore Alsace’s capital city Strasbourg, situated right on the Franco-German border. See Strasbourg’s jaw-dropping Notre‑Dame Cathedral, which survived the French Revolution, the Franco-Prussian War, and both World Wars. Walk through the UNESCO-designated La Petite France, where medieval houses line cobblestone lanes and 13th‑century bridges span serene canals. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure and lunch and dinner on your own.

Day 11 Strasbourg/Alsace-Colmar

Spend the first half of the day exploring the Alsatian wine route and immerse yourself in the region’s renowned vineyards. Visit a local winery where grapes are only handpicked and feet-crushed. Following lunch and an Alsacian wine tasting, venture into Colmar to follow the steps of “Statue of Liberty” creator Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and discover the city’s hidden wonders. Join your fellow travelers later for a farewell reception at the hotel before enjoying dinner on your own.

Day 12 Strasbourg/Return to home city

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Frankfurt Airport and board your overnight return flight to your home city.