Germany · BOAT TOURS IN THE MOSELLE VALLEY
German operators publish their start times and their prices, so a shortlist can be straight about both. Here are 7 boat tours in the Moselle Valley worth the money, with the one thing to know before you commit to each.
Spend one hour on the Moselle with KD Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH, passing vineyards, timber-framed houses, and Reichsburg Cochem. Audio commentary in German and English points out local sights and town history. You can buy wine, drinks, snacks, and desserts onboard, making this an easy break from sightseeing on foot.
“very nice woman that worked there and was our waitress”
Spend seven hours aboard the MS Goldstück on a roundtrip Moselle cruise from Alken to Cochem. You’ll pass vineyards, villages, castles, and the Müden lock, with German commentary and occasional Dutch or English. In Cochem, you get 2.5 hours to see the market square, shop, visit Reichsburg, or stop for wine.
“Gezellig en leerzaam (informatie over de dorpen aan de Moezel en hun geschiedenis)”
Start with a guided visit to Reichsburg Cochem, then cruise the Moselle from the town promenade aboard the white fleet. Finish in a wine and sparkling-wine cellar with a tray of four wines to taste yourself, plus one bottle per person to take home. The day mixes history, river views, and local wine, but you must manage some transfers yourself.
“Ahnung für sich gut. Hätte eine Präsenz eines Reiseführer erwünscht erwünscht Preisleistungsverhältnis schlecht”
Spend two hours on the MS Moselprinz, cruising from Cochem’s old town past Reichsburg Castle, Imperial Castles, vineyards, the Moselle promenade, and the Pinneberg chair lift. Buy wine and other drinks onboard, then settle on the open deck for views and DJ lounge music when weather allows. The boat returns after an evening loop.
“The cruise was ok. City lights ceased quite soon and it was pretty dark. The music was lousy. DJ played weird and non-dancable songs.”
Start at Cochem’s KD Ticket Office, collect a rental bike and picnic basket, then ride 10 kilometers along the Moselle to Beilstein. A 23-kilometer route is also possible via the Senheimer Bridge. Return by boat, sample three local wines, take home a bottle, and explore Cochem at your own pace.
“If you want to do a tour at your own pace and it's your first time in the Mosel valley, it can be a good option. Due to the lack of transparency and value for money vs what you get, I only gave 2 stars. To be more specific, on the website Get your Gide is presented as a bicycle tour, with the possibility to choose English as an option. Which misleads you that you will purchase a guided tour in English. In reality it is a tour on your own, where you receive documents in English with a map of the route and the other services included in the…”
From Alken, you’ll take a 1.5-hour round-trip cruise with Personenschifffahrt MS Goldstück along the Moselle. The route passes Burg Thurant, Löf, Brodenbach, Hatzenport, and Burg Bischofstein near Burgen, with steep Riesling vineyards and old villages along the banks. Drinks are available, but bring cash because cards are not accepted.
You board the MS Goldstück near Alken, Löf, or Brodenbach for a six-hour evening cruise to Cochem. The boat passes through the Müden lock, pauses for the wine festival fireworks beside Reichsburg Castle, then returns through the Moselle Valley with castles glowing after dark. Food and drink rules should be confirmed before boarding.
A city, a river, a castle ridge, a brewery.
