Moselle River Cruises

Moselle River cruises provide a captivating way to explore the enchanting regions of France, Germany, and Luxembourg. Though the Moselle Valley is largely industrial, it's also known for its beautiful scenery and in western Germany the river meanders past castles, vine-covered hillsides, and includes picturesque stops at Trier, Bernkastel, Cochem and Koblenz.

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Search 737 river cruise departures along the Moselle

Popular River Cruises

8 Days Luxembourg to Nuremberg

Operator: AmaWaterways

From 4,088pp
Save 660pp

14 Days Paris to Prague

Operator: Tauck

From 10,790pp

12 Days Prague to Paris

Operator: Viking River Cruises

From 4,299pp

12 Days Paris to Prague

Operator: Viking River Cruises

From 4,299pp

The Moselle River

Map of the Moselle River

Where does the Moselle start & finish?

The Moselle River originates in the Vosges Mountains in northeastern France and flows northwards through Luxembourg and western Germany, where it eventually joins the Rhine River at Koblenz. The river spans approximately 545 km's (339 miles).

Do cruises travel the length of the Moselle?

While it is possible to cruise significant portions of the Moselle, most river cruises do not cover its entire length. They often focus on the most scenic and historically rich sections, particularly the German stretch between Trier and Koblenz.

The Moselle Loop

Near the German town of Bremm, the river takes a dramatic U-turn, known as the Moselle Loop. This is one of the most photographed spots along the river and offers a breathtaking panorama that's a highlight for many travellers.

Wine Country

The Moselle Valley is renowned for its Riesling wines. The steep, sun-drenched slopes along the river create ideal conditions for vineyards. Many cruises offer wine-tasting excursions, allowing you to sample some of the world's finest Rieslings directly from the source.

Trier's Ancient History

The German city of Trier, located along the Moselle, is often called "The Second Rome" due to its well-preserved Roman architecture, including the Porta Nigra, a gate dating back to 180 AD. This makes Trier a must-visit for history enthusiasts.

Castles and Ruins

The Moselle is adorned with medieval castles and ruins, such as Burg Eltz and Reichsburg Cochem. These landmarks add a fairytale quality to the landscape and are popular stops for historical and photographic excursions.

Moselle River Cruise Operators Featured Operators

Viking
A Viking river cruise is the discerning traveller’s dream. Whether you choose to visit Egypt, Asia, Europe or the Mississippi, our itineraries are designed more to immerse you in the history and culture of each destination. With us, you could be exploring a local food market with our head chef one day and experiencing an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of a world-famous museum the next.

Our state-of-the-art ships take you right into the heart of each destination, and you won’t find any kids or ‘nickel and diming’ on board. In fact, our fares include everything you need - from meals, beverages and Wi-Fi to a culturally enriching shore excursion at every port of call. This unique combination of features has become affectionately known as ‘the Viking difference’.

Viking has 70 award-winning river ships sailing all over the world, and we can’t wait to welcome you on board to discover the Viking difference for yourself.
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Budget:Premium
Known For:Scandinavian Design
Fleet Size:99
Avalon
One of our favourite sayings that describes Avalon Waterways is ‘the possibilities are as wide open as the views’. From Europe to the Galapagos and Asia, more you can cruise in relaxed luxury with Avalon Waterways, with choices as unique as you. Avalon offers you a range of choices from excursions, dining options, activities that help you tailor your experience.

Just imagine gliding away down the world’s most spectacular rivers, all while enjoying a unique vantage point from your own private oasis. Our floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in our suites blur the line between where the world ends, and your suite begins; allowing you to experience the world less seen from the comfort of your bed. This is river cruising from a unique point of view.
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Budget:Premium
Known For:Panorama Suites
Fleet Size:16
Emerald Cruises
From culture-rich cities to world-famous wine regions, Emerald Cruises represents a new chapter in the world of river cruising. Our deluxe fleet of revolutionary more Star-Ships promise contemporary comfort and unique on-board innovations, while our generous offering combines affordability with great dining, exceptional service and immersive itineraries across Europe and Asia.

With return flights, transfers, all on-board meals, complimentary drinks, tips and much more included in the price of an Emerald Cruises river cruise, we’ve taken care of everything. Our attentive team of crew, sommeliers and personal butlers are available day and night to ensure every minute on-board the Emerald Cruises fleet is as enriching, enjoyable and relaxing as possible.
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Budget:Premium
Known For:Affordable Luxury
Fleet Size:11

Discover

Must Do Experiences and Highlights
Cochem Cochem
Nestled in a fairytale location, Cochem provides countless photo opportunities. Hike to the 12th century Reichsburg Castle for impressive views, or leisurely browse the pastel shopfronts along the banks of the Moselle.
Trier Trier
One of Germany's oldest cities, Trier is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Explore the Porta Nigra gate, ruins of the Imperial Baths, St Peter's Fountain and Germany's oldest Gothic church - Liebfrauenkirche.
Luxembourg City Luxembourg City
Renowned for its UNESCO-listed fortifications, Luxembourg City is also home to the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, the final resting place of 5,000 American Soldiers from the WWII Battle of the Bulge.
Remich Remich
Wine-making thrives throughout the Moselle Valley with its rolling green hillsides. Why not sample the produce yourself with a local Wine Tasting during your visit to the picturesque town of Remich, the "Pearl of the Moselle".
Bernkastel Bernkastel
Exuding romantic charm, take a stroll down scenic streets in Bernkastel and savor fine Rieslings from local vineyards. Explore the medieval marketplace, visit Graach Gate – history museum turned landmark - or cycle beside the Moselle.

Latest Reviews

What our clients are saying about their journeys along the Moselle
An Xmas markets trip Rhine and Moselle Christmas Markets with Lucerne and Zurich , WA, Australia, Nov 2025
Thanks Hannah for yet another well organised river cruise. Looking forward to August. Our second Travelmarvel cruise, both have been good but we have to say that after eight with Avalon they are still number one with us. Travelmarvel was comfortable and food was OK but little extras that Avalon do like happy hour in the lounge are no longer on Travelmarvel. read more They have a pub at the other end of the boat which not very many people bothered to walk to. Also all cruise companies have cut out plastic water bottles but Avalon last time we used them in August did leave two glass bottles for cabin use. Travelmarvel tell you to bring your own. So simple little things that make travel a happy thing are missing.
Christmas memories for a lifetime Rhine and Moselle Christmas Markets with Lucerne and Zurich , QLD, Australia, Nov 2025
From the first point of contact through to the end, we were communicated with clearly and very promptly. Tracey forwarded information from the service provider as soon as she received it and followed up our queries in a very timely fashion. She was very professional and efficient but also friendly and approachable. The Christmas market cruise including read more flights and land stays in Lucerne and Zurich, which was made even more special knowing we were in capable hands. We had nothing to worry about.
Bella on the Rhine! Rhine & Moselle Delights , France, Aug 2025
My Godmother, invited me onto an AmaWaterways River cruise from Amsterdam to Basel with her. As I’m currently living and working in France it was very easy to say yes to! She was concerned as I’m 23 that I might be a little bored. Nothing could be further from the truth. I loved it. Every day seemed to be better than the one before. There was so much read more to see and do. We did several of the free exercise classes on the ship, which was an unexpected part of the trip. And made us laugh at our bad coordination!

It was the first time we had spent so much time alone together, so it was a brilliant way to get to know each other more, without the rest of my family around. I loved getting to know my GodMama as a friend and not just my Mother’s friend. We did most of the shore excursions together, but there was one day where I decided to stay on the ship. It was a perfect way to have the pool to myself (we went in August 2025), whilst the ship sailed down the Rhine on the way to picking up everyone else after they finished their shore excursions. I play the piano, but since moving to France haven’t played at all, so I also spent an hour practicing whilst the staff were more than happy to listen to my rusty playing.

One thing that surprised me – the people on the ship know how to have a good time! The Music Trivia night was a highlight. We all laughed, danced and I surprised myself how much of the trivia I knew. The questions were from all decades, which made it very inclusive. I haven’t even mentioned the food! Delicious! And the service from the staff, was something this Au Pair won’t forget in a long time! I would highly recommend AmaWaterways to any age group. I have asked my GodMama to think of me next time she wants to cruise!
Great river cruise. Rhine Castles & Moselle Vineyards , NSW, Australia, Jun 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our Emerald river cruise. Ship was lovely, crew were great, included excursions were adequate, and good food. I’d happily do another Emerald cruise.
Wonderful Tour of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. The Rhine & Moselle (Southbound) , NSW, Australia, Oct 2024
A great cruise from Amsterdam to Basel. The Avalon experience is perfect for a relaxing time or being adventurous with the local tours on offer every day. October weather is a little cooler but perfect as there are fewer crowds and not too hot. We did encounter high water levels on the Moselle which required a ship transfer by bus from Koblenz up read more to Trier with a stop at Cochem on the way. Avalon made it easy and the rest of the tour went as expected. We spent 2 extra days in Basel which is well worth seeing. Booking was easy as usual through Global Journeys.
Picturesque Moselle and Rhine Charming Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle , South Australia, Australia, Oct 2024
We've done quite a few river cruises and this was probably the most picturesque. Unlike many river cruises which travel between destinations at night, this cruise does quite a lot of daytime cruising to enjoy the scenery of the Moselle and Rhine rivers. The cruise was well run and the ship was very comfortable and in good condition. The service was read more very good but the dinner service was a bit slow, particularly the drinks service which led us to wonder if they were understaffed. The food was OK but nothing exceptional. We feel this is an area where Scenic has cut back especially in comparison with other river cruise lines we have travelled with. If you are looking for a short river cruise (8 days) which takes in some of the best scenery on the European rivers and some very nice destinations, this is the cruise for you.