The pretty towns and vineyards on the banks of the Moselle offer plenty of satisfaction for repeat river cruisers
The facts: The Moselle is the second-largest tributary of the Rhine, yet it is an unfamiliar and uncharted waterway as far as many river cruisers are concerned. Joining the Rhine at Koblenz, it is a quieter and narrower river that meanders through spectacular countryside in the heart of one of Germany’s most famous wine regions.
A growing number of Rhine itineraries branch off to take in the Moselle, and it’s well worth recommending a sailing on the Rhine’s ‘little sister’.
New cruises: Travelmarvel, sister brand of APT, is running a new seven-night Rhine and Moselle Christmas Markets cruise with wine tastings in this year’s winter season, and in 2025, CroisiEurope’s modern paddle river boat, Elbe Princesse II, will sail round-trip from Strasbourg on a new seven-night, four-rivers cruise that visits the Moselle. A-Rosa also has a new week-long Main and Moselle cruise sailing round-trip from Cologne.
Amadeus River Cruises is launching Amadeus Taste shore tours, including a visit to a winery in Cochem for a tour and tasting.
Looking ahead to 2026, Tui River Cruises’ newly refurbished 190-passenger Tui Ria, the line’s highest-capacity vessel, joins the fleet to sail on the Rhine and Moselle. In the same year, Emerald Cruises’ new Emerald Astra will also sail on the Moselle.
The highlights: Cochem is one of the prettiest towns on the Moselle. The charming old town is filled with half-timbered black-and-white houses, along with an imposing castle – the highest on the river– perched on a 90m hilltop. Quirky attractions in the castle include a giant suit of armour and a mermaid lamp said to bring good luck when you touch it.
In the twin town of Bernkastel-Kues, situated on both banks of the Moselle and connected by a bridge, the Pointed House is a striking example of a 15th-century wine merchant’s home.
Top tips: Unlike on ocean ships, river cruise lines are usually happy for passengers to bring back wine to enjoy on board. This makes the Moselle an ideal choice for wine aficionados, who can sample crisp, fruity whites, mainly produced from the Riesling grape, in one of Germany’s oldest and largest wine regions.
Target repeat clients: Even for river cruisers who have sailed the Rhine previously, adding the Moselle makes for a very different experience and a good alternative to other European rivers such as the Danube, Douro and Seine. The wide choice of itineraries also makes it easy to source a cruise with Rhine destinations they might not have visited before.
PICTURES: Shutterstock/ Kadagan, travelview
