The Magic of the Moselle

We meet at London St Pancras ahead of our Eurostar journey to Paris. From here, we continue by rail to Trier. Transferring to the waterfront, we board our ship and are welcomed with a cocktail ahead of dinner. Later tonight, our ship casts off and begins sailing to Remich.

• Dinner

From Remich, we board a coach to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, one of the smallest countries in the world. In the capital, Luxembourg City, we enjoy a guided walking tour that introduces us to the local history and attractions. We see Constitution Square, a beautifully maintained public space dedicated to fallen soldiers of WWII, the Grand Duke's Palace, the residency of Luxembourg's Grand Duke to this day, and the Kirchberg Plateau. Located in the city's business district, this elevated area overlooks this historic centre and the scenic Pfaffenthal Valley. Our final stop is the train station, surrounded by an impressive array of stunning Art Deco and Art Nouveau buildings. Returning to the ship for lunch, we cruise to Grevenmacher, on the German-Luxembourg border, where you have free time to look around. You could take a relaxed stroll through this quaint riverside town or head to one of the local Moselle wine makers.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We moor in Piesport and board a coach that returns us to Trier for a tour of Germany's oldest city. Dating back to the Roman period, there's plenty to see as we explore with our local guide. The immense Porta Nigra guards the entrance to the northern part of the city and was built by the Romans around 200 AD. It's now a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, along with St Peter's Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady, which we also see. We continue sailing to Bernkastel-Kues as we enjoy lunch on board, arriving mid-afternoon. We get to know Bernkastel-Kues on a guided tour that includes insights into some of the town's more unique aspects. Sat in the heart of the Moselle Valley, Moselle wines are a particular speciality here and we enjoy a stroll through a nearby vineyard and a special tasting of different vintages, including the world-famous Bernkasteler 'doctor wine'. With a town motto that translates as 'wine and health', we also learn about the supposed restorative properties of this popular drink.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arriving into riverside Zell, you have free time after breakfast to explore. Centred around its wineries, you can do some shopping in the quaint Old Town or make a visit to the 16th-century castle or black cat fountain in the town's market place. You'll see black cats everywhere you look in Zell, as they're the official town mascot. In the afternoon, we continue to Cochem, nestled in the Moselle Valley and surrounded by lush vineyards. The town, in particular its old quarter, is dominated by a Gothic castle, the Reichsburg, which we tour with our local guide. With a fantastic viewpoint from the castle's turrets, take a moment to admire the topography of the Moselle Valley with its dreamy forests, wild meadows and sprawling vineyards. There's also a preserved mustard mill that was built around 1810 and is the only surviving example of its kind in Europe, while the old quarter of Cochem is where you'll find well-preserved sections of the ancient town walls; there's even a fascinating arts centre housed in Cochem's former monastery.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sat at the meeting point of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, Koblenz takes its name from its position at their 'confluence'. The modern town has ancient roots that go all the way back to the Romans, who established a strategic settlement and military stronghold here in 8 BC. We uncover the area's history on a walking tour, wandering the charming streets between the St Castor Basilica and the Liebfrauenkirche (the Church of our Beloved Lady). Next, we take a cable car ride over the Rhine to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress for unforgettable views over the Rhine Valley. After sailing through the Rhine Gorge, our evening is spent in Rüdesheim, where the unique Winzerexpress train takes us from our mooring point to the centre of town. This is the starting point of our walking tour and from here we make our way along the world-renowned Drösselgasse - a street lined with traditional pubs and wine cellars - to the market square, surrounded by noble courtyards and half-timbered buildings from the 16th century. We end with a warming cup of Rüdesheimer coffee, a local specialty featuring the town's own-brand brandy, 'Asbach'.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We enjoy a walking tour of lovely Speyer today, home to a beautiful Old Town. Among the highlights we take in include the city's cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A basilica with four towers and two domes, it was founded by Conrad II in 1030, then remodelled at the end of the 11th century, and is still one of the most important Romanesque monuments from the time of the Holy Roman Empire. It's also been the burial place of German emperors for the last 300 years and its network of arcades, added in the 1200s, was a first in architectural history.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we transfer to Strasbourg for the train to Paris and board the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

• Breakfast