Moselle River Cruise
Short sailings, frequent locks and a wine town at every bend.
Get Free Moselle Cruise QuotesA Moselle river cruise moves at the pace of the valley: short sailings, frequent locks, and a different wine town around almost every bend.
A River Built for Slow Travel
The Moselle rises in the Vosges mountains of France, flows north past Metz, forms the border between Luxembourg and Germany, and then winds through the German Rhineland-Palatinate to meet the Rhine at Koblenz. River ships usually sail the German stretch and the Luxembourg border, where the scenery is at its most dramatic.
After the Moselle Commission was set up under the 1956 Moselle Convention, the river was canalized for large vessels; the stretch from Koblenz to Thionville opened in 1964. Today locks and weirs keep the water deep and calm, which makes for smooth sailing and gives you time to watch the vineyards slide by.
A Day on a Moselle River Cruise
Morning ashore
Guided walk through a town such as Cochem or Bernkastel-Kues, a short stroll from the quay.
Afternoon sailing
Lunch on board as the ship follows the loops, with a lock or two along the way.
Wine hour
A tasting on board or in a local cellar; Riesling is the grape of the valley.
Evening in town
Many ships stay alongside in the evening, so you can walk back into town for a glass of wine.
Cabins with a French balcony or panorama window are especially rewarding on the Moselle, where the banks are close; Riverview Cruises explains cabin types. For an A–Z of lines, see River Cruise Directory.
Christmas on the Moselle
Several lines run December departures on the Rhine and Moselle, timed for the Christmas markets. Trier’s market fills the square in front of the cathedral, Bernkastel-Kues decorates its half-timbered square, and Koblenz spreads stalls through its old town. Days are short and cold, so sightseeing happens in the market towns rather than on deck. For festive and themed sailings on other rivers, see Cool River Cruises.
Moselle River Cruise: Quick Answers
Why are there so many locks on the Moselle?
The river was canalized after a 1956 treaty between France, Germany and Luxembourg so that large vessels could use it. A chain of locks and weirs now holds the water at navigable depth; passing through them is part of the rhythm of a Moselle river cruise.
Are Moselle ships smaller than Rhine ships?
Lines generally use the same kind of long, low river ship on both rivers, sized to fit European locks. The difference is the valley around you, not the ship.
Do I need to be fit for a Moselle cruise?
Not especially. Walking tours in the towns are short and mostly flat, though some streets are cobbled. Castle visits and vineyard hikes involve hills.
Plan a Moselle River Cruise
Want more days on the Moselle, or a stop in Trier? Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will find it and send free quotes.
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