Moselle 3-Countries tour
‘Touching Germany, Luxembourg & France”
October 24 - 31 / 2027
Departure date: 24 october 2027
. Endurance level: easy / Agility level: moderate
Highlights
Bike, Barge & Cruise the charming Moselle, touching three countries. Fall in love with the French countryside and German mountains while cycling along the Moselle River on solid bike paths, and sample nectarean Luxembourg wines while visiting a wine cellar. Explore the ancient French cities of Metz and Thionville, and enjoy a guided tour in the former Roman city of Trier. Your other stops include the famous Bernkastel with its magnificent framework houses, the ‘black cat’ city of Zell and romantic Cochem.
Day-to-day itinerary
Day 1: Nancy/Frouard – Pont-á-mousson
Frouard is a small town (and the nearest port) just outside Nancy.
Afternoon check in. Merlijn will leave the berth and starts cruising. There will be a welcome drink and crew introduction. We’ll also inform you about the tour, the ship and give you a safety briefing. Dinner is enjoyed during the cruise and soon we’ll reach Pont-á-mousson. There will be an opportunity for a stroll in town.
Day 2: Pont-á-mousson - Metz. Bike tour: 30-40 km
After your first breakfast on board, the bike tour for the day will start. A small warm-up ride will take you to the calm and serene town of Pont-à-Mousson. Around the world, pipes and manhole covers carry the stamp of the town’s steel production. But Pont-à-Mousson was also home to a Jesuit university known throughout Europe, which explains the town’s incredible architectural heritage. You’ll cycle through the French countryside, with its riparian landscapes, wheat fields and tiny villages. Today’s destination is Metz, an ancient French city strategically situated on a Roman trading route. Its cathedral is the 3rd largest Gothic church in France. Metz is awash with stunning architecture, flowers, and great cafés. Don’t forget to visit Temple Neuf, as this church is stunning from any angle.
Day 3: Metz – Remich. Bike tour: 30-35 km or extend to 50-55 km
Start the day with a cruising breakfast, afterwards you’ll start cycling. Soon you’ll reach Thionville, once the modern and industrial centre of the steel industry, now merely a historical city. The old centre is home to medieval ramparts, lovely gardens, old streets and the St. Maximin basilica, which houses one of the finest organs in the world (you can also cruise a bit longer and start biking from Thionville). After your visit, you’ll pedal to the fortress of Sierck-les-Bains, one of the palaces inhabited by the powerful Dukes of Lorraine. One more interesting stop before you reach the destination of Remich is a town called Schengen, home to the famous ‘Schengen Agreement”, signed by 5 countries in 1985, and known by everyone in Europe as it led to free passage between borders. From here, you’ll leave France and cycle into Luxembourg. After dinner, prepared by our onboard chef, you can visit a wine cellar to sample the wines of the upper Mosel. The wines here are different to the middle Mosel styles, due to the geology, which lends the wines different characteristics.
Day 4: Remich - Trier. Bike tour: 45-50 km
Cycling along the meandering Moselle river ‘downstream’, you will pass the Luxembourg-Germany border. The last thing you should know about Luxembourg is that, although it‘s a small country, the capital, also named Luxembourg, is an important finance centre for Europe. You will bike on to Trier where Merlijn awaits you. In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of this magnificent city by a local guide. Trier was the Roman capital of the western territory of the Roman Empire, and there are many remnants such as the gigantic city gateway Porta Nigra, and the Roman Baths.
Day 5: Trier – Mehring – Bernkastel – Traben Trarbach. Bike tour: 40-45 km
While enjoying your breakfast, the Merlijn will sail from Trier to the holiday resort Mehring, to start your bike tour. The Romans fell in love with this landscape more than 2000 years ago and built splendid country villas here. After visiting Neumagen-Drohn, you will cycle on to Bernkastel-Kues, where magnificent framework houses line the oldest market place in Europe. After a visit to this charming city, you will board the Merlijn, and together we’ll sail to Traben Trarbach.
At Merlijn, we have a long-standing tradition of experiencing the local cuisine by dining ashore on one evening. At the start of the trip, we will let you know which evening this will be.
Day 6: Traben Trarbach - Zell – Cochem. Bike tour: 40-45 km or extend to 65-70 km
When extending todays tour, you’ll start cycling before breakfast and clock-in 25 km before the rest even get’s started! The normal route starts with a cruising breakfast, we’ll head for Zell, famous for its ‘Zeller Schwarze Katz’ vineyard. Here, your bike tour starts, and you’ll cycle along the meandering Moselle and visit many charming villages, such as Alf and Sankt Aldegund: here you can visit a cellar with lots of liqueurs, wines and Mosel-made mustards, before heading to Bremm and finally Beilstein. After exploring this interesting medieval village, that has managed to remain intact, you will bike to Cochem, where the Merlijn will await you.
Day 7: Cochem – Koblenz. Bike tour: 40-45 km + Hike: 3 km
After breakfast, you will start biking from Cochem into the Eltztal. Here you will park your bikes and put your hiking shoes on. After a hike of approx. 40 minutes, you will reach the beautiful castle of Eltz. With its romantic clifftop location, the castle is one of the very few that has remained intact throughout its long history. Although you won’t be the only visitor, it’s worth it. After your visit, you will bike to Koblenz, where the Merlijn will be docked.
Day 8: Koblenz
Later this morning, it is time to say goodbye and continue your European trip or leave for the airport. If you wish to extend your holiday, Koblenz is the city we recommend for those extra days.
Included in your tour:
- 7 nights onboard Merlijn
- Early check-in and late check-out
- Full service of staff, maintaining cabins, manned bar (no self-service)
- Porterage of luggage upon arrival and departure
- Private stateroom of 11 m2 with 2 comfortable beds (80 x 200 cm) that can be pushed together/separated. Individual climate control and private bathroom with shower, toilet, sink, heated and illuminated mirror. Coffee & tea-making facilities from Nespresso, a varied package with coffee cups included.
- Supply of bedding, towels, facial tissues, hand soap, shampoo, sewing kit, vanity kit, bathrobe & slippers.
- Daily loading and unloading of your bicycle to and from the ship
- Use of lightweight state-of-the-art bicycle
- Use of a waterproof bike bag, city backpack, towel, water bottle, helmet with communication system.
- English speaking-tour guide (experienced guide who knows the route like the back of their hand)
- Brochures of the area available on board
- Harbour, lock and canal fees
Included culinary care:
- Welcome drink with bubbles and warm snacks
- All day unlimited coffee & specialty-coffee prepared with fresh milk, variation of tea, hot chocolate and potable ice water (self-service).
- Extensive breakfast buffet daily with at least; 2 warm dishes, freshly baked croissants or similar pastries, various types of bread, toaster, yoghurt, cereals, fresh fruit and various beverages.
- Packed lunch prepared by the staff in a special lunch bag with at least a lavish sandwich, snack and drink.
- 6 three-course dinners
- Dinners are based on ‘plate service’, meals are served in the dining area.
- Meals are perceived by our guests as “luxurious” or even “gourmet style”.
Included beverages during bar opening hours:
- Several sodas served from a small bottle
- Several long drinks
- Wide variety of wines (also non-alcoholic wine)
- Beer on tap (also non-alcoholic beer from a bottle)
Included excursions:
- Ferry costs on the bicycle route
- Wine tasting session
- Guided city tour
- Entrance Burg Eltz
Not included in your tour:
- 1 dinner, the day and location will be announced at the start of the tour
- Excursions, entrance fees and guided tours other than mentioned
- Beverages other than those mentioned (such as spirits and cocktails)
- City maps, bike maps, etc. (we have a lot available however we can’t guarantee every destination)
- Inbound and outbound journeys, such as flights, trains, bus or other type of transfers
- Gratuities (cash only)
- Electronic payments of your onboard expenses (cash only)
- Insurances, we strongly recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance as well as travel insurance.
Not included extra services on board (payable on board):
- Rental of electric bicycles €30,- per piece, per day. Reservations in advance are advisable
- Laundry service, current price available on board