When travelers think about Germany, the Moselle Valley probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. However, this unique area of the country is home to endless vineyards, historic sites, and 125 different wine towns! After taking many beautiful cruises in Europe, we’re certain you won’t want to miss out on the Moselle. Here’s how to pick the best Moselle River cruise in Germany.
What’s So Special About the Moselle Valley?
There are so many special places to visit in Germany, but this area is completely unique. With the steep mountains that run along the river, there is no shortage of amazing views in the Moselle!
Also, the small and magical towns the fill the region look straight out of a fairytale. The natural environment mixed with towns and vineyards make it the perfect place to go on a boat trip.
Our first visit here was actually on a Moselle River cruise we’ll talk more about later. We loved it so much, we ended up staying in the small village of Reil Germany for an entire month.
Using Reil as our home base allowed us to see so many gorgeous wine towns of the Moselle Valley. Some of our favorites were Zell, Bernkastel-Kues, and Traben-Trarbach.
The Moselle River is one of the most beautiful areas to cruise. Yet, it actually isn’t very long compared to the Rhine and Danube. Even so, its 544km of water crosses through Germany, Luxembourg and even France.
Planning Your Moselle River Cruise
Many of the best Moselle River cruises start in cities of Düsseldorf, Trier Germany, Cochem, or Metz France. We highly recommend waiting to book your international travel until you pick your Moselle Valley river cruise.
One thing to know is that several companies offer one-way sailings. For example, our first cruise went from Metz France to Cochem Germany. We often prefer the one way routes while cruising, as it gives you extra time to explore two different cities at the start and end of your visit.
Below we showcase three Moselle River Cruise companies that we have recently traveled with. You’ll see what makes each of them the perfect option depending on own personal travel style.
Want to learn more about why we fell in love with this area? Be sure to read all about our 8 favorite small towns on the Moselle River in Germany.
3 Amazing Moselle River Cruises
1. Boat Bike Tours
Active Adventure Holiday
If a cycling tour in Europe isn’t already on your radar, then it absolutely should be! Now how about combining it with a Moselle Valley river cruise??
This is the perfect adventure for those looking for an active holiday. The cruise ship actually follows along, acting as your very own floating hotel. Each day you depart the boat and ride through the countryside past vineyards and dreamy villages.
One of our favorite parts about Boat Bike Tours is they offer both guided and self-guided experiences. That means you can take on the cycling paths with a group or solo using the assistance of a GPS.
The meals on the ship were always delicious and we even had a packed lunch each day to take cycling. And don’t worry! They have something for every skill level. Our Moselle River Cruise made for very relaxing and easy days of cycling.
You’ll get to see the small towns along the river up-close in a way that you may miss out on taking a traditional cruise. You can also pick between standard and electric bikes if you need some extra power along the way.
Last summer, we did this Boat Bike Tour through Germany, Luxembourg and France (Metz to Cochem). Most of the ride was along a pristine bike path that followed the river.
After fun days of cycling, we would still come back to the comforts of our Moselle River cruise ship. The barge sailed while we were riding to meet us in a completely new town each night.
We had such a great time, that we even took a Boat Bike Tour in the Netherlands later that summer!
2. VIVA Cruises
Fun & Relaxing Holiday
Looking for a more traditional Germany river cruise that won’t break the bank on your European holiday? Then VIVA Cruises is the perfect option!
We sailed on the VIVA One round trip from Dusseldorf. Our schedule gave us 1 day in Dusseldorf Germany to enjoy before our cruise. The elegant room was on the Diamond deck of this Moselle River cruise ship.
We loved relaxing with the door open since it was summertime, while we watched the scenery pass by. Every day we stopped in a different small town and got off the ship to explore.
Two of our favorite places were Cochem Germany and our one day in Rudesheim stop. We did several small hikes to viewpoints overlooking the towns, and even picked up some local honey and jam at a small market!
Our favorite part about VVIA is their all-inclusive style. That’s right! The price you pay includes all meals, drinks, wifi, taxes, and gratuities.
This means you can sip on a chilled cocktail or local German beer at the rooftop pool as you sail through the vineyards. It allows you to completely enjoy your trip with no surprises on the bill at the end.
Even though it was the middle of summer, the towns weren’t very crowded in this area of Germany. Here’s a few things we loved about sailing with VIVA Cruises. Also, be sure to check out all their Moselle River offers.
If you’re visiting Germany in the winter, know that they have a Christmas Markets River Cruise available as well!
3. Riverside Luxury Cruise
Ultra High-End
Riverside is a new brand that is all about high-end luxury. Whether you’re going on your honeymoon, romantic holiday, or just looking for five-star service, then this company to use!
We first sailed with Riverside Luxury Cruises on the Danube River from Budapest Hungary to Vienna Austria. They’re especially known for their fine dining, extensive wine menu, and unique small group excursions.
The Riverside Mozart cruise ship truly felt like we were on a floating resort. Sitting on the top of a luxury ship as it floats down the river is a completely surreal experience!
Our itinerary took us through Germany, Slovakia, and Austria. Although we didn’t do a Moselle River cruise with Riverside, we did see their ship one morning parked in Cochem.
Honestly, it’s such a great company, we can definitely vouch for them without doing this specific route. If you want to know more, make sure to view their amazing Moselle routes here.
Now you know that not all ships are created equal! Each company offers something different for your own personal travel style. We highly recommend all three of these companies after having personally used them. Really, it just comes down to what type of Moselle Valley river cruise you want to take!
Have any questions about a Germany river cruise or want to share your own favorite Moselle River Cruises? Let us know in the comments below.
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
