Rhine Valley in Flames: Oberwesel & the Moselle

Your cruise vacation begins this morning as you arrive at London St. Pancras and meet the Tour Manager, ready to board the Eurostar to Paris. Arriving in the French capital, we switch trains and continue our journey to Strasbourg.

As our train arrives, a coach transfer takes us to the waterfront, where we board our luxurious ship and settle into our home on the river. Our friendly crew greets us with a welcome cocktail as we get ready to immerse ourselves in the wonders of the Rhine.

Take some time to get acquainted with the ship before we gather for our first five-course dinner onboard, savoring the beginning of our cruise. Overnight ship.

• Dinner

After breakfast onboard, you have a choice of two excursions. You might choose an excursion to Colmar, a picturesque Alsatian town with fairytale charm. Stroll through cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered houses and pretty flowers. Explore the historic Old Town's maze of narrow alleys, discover quaint cafes and local markets, and gaze at architectural landmarks like the Maison Pfister.

Alternatively, you might choose to stay in Strasbourg for a guided tour, taking in the blend of French and German culture amidst cobblestone streets and canals. Wandering its medieval alleys, marvel at the architecture of the iconic Notre Dame cathedral and explore the La Petite France district.

After your excursion, we enjoy lunch on the ship, and the afternoon is free to explore Strasbourg at your own pace. Back on board in the evening, we set sail on our first cruise toward the town of Rüdesheim. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today brings one of the tour's highlights: the incredible Rhine in Flames. This breathtaking display of colors, lights and sounds is a highly anticipated annual event, and we bear witness this evening. In the meantime, we enjoy breakfast on our ship before boarding the Winzerexpress, a charming land train that takes us through steeped vineyards to the center of Rüdesheim.

In this picturesque German wine town, you have a choice of excursions. You could learn about the town's origins with a winery tour and a fantastic wine-tasting experience. Alternatively, you could visit Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet and discover Europe's largest collection of finely tuned mechanical instruments. We return to the ship for lunch and enjoy a free afternoon to explore Rüdesheim.

In the evening, we gather for dinner onboard as we cruise toward Oberwesel, where we drop anchor for this evening's Rhine in Flames event. Locals and visitors alike celebrate summer with illuminated boats, fireworks and music along the Rhine. We have a great vantage point from our ship, and we celebrate as the sky lights up and the river shimmers with colors. As the Rhine in Flames comes to an end, we continue to Koblenz, where we dock for the night. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We spend the morning cruising through river scenery. You could enjoy a drink as you step out onto the deck to witness the passing views as our ship continues its journey along the river. Sailing into the port of Cochem, we enjoy lunch before heading into the city on a guided tour.

The Moselle Valley surrounds us with rolling hills, wooden houses and the majestic Reichsburg castle perched on top of a hill. The town itself is a maze of slender alleys adorned with pastel-colored buildings, quaint boutiques and wine cellars. In the Old Town, you'll find well-preserved sections of the ancient town walls and an arts center in a former monastery.

After the tour, we return to our ship for dinner and drinks. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We enjoy the scenery of the Moselle Valley this morning as we continue our cruise. The town of Bernkastel-Kues unfolds as we moor here after lunch. The vineyards of the valley climb up the hillsides, while half-timbered houses with blooming flowers add to the enchanting atmosphere. A sightseeing tour awaits here.

Setting out with our knowledgeable guide, we visit the Old Town where the cobblestone streets are lined with traditional German buildings with half-timbered facades. We also experience the Market Square, a focal point of the town surrounded by colorful buildings. A highlight here is the St. Michael's Fountain, a Renaissance-style fountain adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures. We also enjoy an included wine tasting to sample the local Bernkasteler Doctor specialty.

After our afternoon of exploration, we return to the ship for dinner. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Waking to views of historic Trier, you have a choice between two excursions this morning. The first option is to explore Germany's oldest city with a local guide. The ancient streets are known for their Roman ruins, medieval buildings and Baroque churches, and we delve into this impressive history on our tour. Visit the immense Porta Nigra which guards the entrance to the north of the city, St Peter's Cathedral with its intricate stone carvings and stained glass windows, and the Church of Our Lady, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Alternatively, you could board the coach to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. One of the smallest countries in the world, Luxembourg is easy to explore, and you can immerse yourself in the local history and attractions.

We spend our evening onboard enjoying a spectacular Gala dinner, before we set sail downstream along the meandering Moselle toward Koblenz. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a morning of relaxed cruising, we arrive in Königswinter on the Rhine, and the Drachenfelsbahn awaits. This cog railway rises high into the forests, passing the fairytale Drachenfels castle - whose name translates as "Dragon's Rock," inspiring many of the dragon-related legends still heard today. We experience wonderful views across the Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany as we climb higher.

Back onboard later this afternoon, we continue our cruise toward Cologne. As we approach the striking city, admire the cityscape of bridges that span the river and the imposing Cathedral. You could visit the Old Town after dinner to sample the local hospitality and the famous Kolsch beer.

After our afternoon of exploration, we return to the ship for dinner. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Having sailed to some of the Rhine's most impressive destinations and witnessed the spectacular Rhine in Flames event, our cruise draws to a close this morning with an early breakfast on the ship. Afterward, we say goodbye to our wonderful crew and disembark for the final time in Cologne.

A coach transfer takes us to Cologne's railway station, where we catch our train to Brussels. Here, we switch trains, continuing to London, where our memorable Rhine vacation concludes.

• Breakfast