Are you able to embark on a river cruising voyage full of new adventures and exploration? With Avalon Waterways’ Lively & Discovery cruise alongside the Moselle you will have loads of choices for locating hidden gems and taking within the breathtaking views (trace: there’s a lot of castles!) whereas indulging in enjoyable actions for no matter exercise health degree you feel that day.
From strolling by vineyards to visiting historic landmarks to bicycling alongside the boat to the subsequent port, each second is an opportunity to discover a brand new vacation spot and all of the alternatives that river cruising presents.
I took the Lively & Discovery on the Moselle river cruise, beginning in Remich, Luxembourg and ending in Frankfurt, Germany. Right here’s a rundown of my expertise and what you’ll be able to anticipate:
What to Count on on Avalon Waterways Lively & Discovery on the Moselle Cruise
Day 1 & 2: Remich, Luxembourg
We began our Moselle River Cruise within the city of Remich, generally known as the Pearl of the Moselle. Its picturesque location on the Moselle River captivates guests (and me!) with its vineyard-dotted attraction and colourful homes.
Visiting these vineyards is a well-liked day journey from Luxembourg Metropolis, which is underneath an hour by public transport, but in addition a enjoyable factor to do previous to embarkation. Two fashionable ones are Caves St Martin SA and Benoit & Claude Viticulteurs, each gives you a style of the city’s wine-making historical past and tradition.
For historical past lovers, the Parish Church, relationship again to the early nineteenth century, is a must-see, boasting a outstanding Twelfth-century tower. And to seize mesmerizing views of the meandering Moselle River, move by the historic Porte Saint-Nicolas gate and uncover Esplanade Remich Park, house to a fountain devoted to Bacchus, the Roman god of wine.
PORT EXCURSIONS
- Schengen: Historical past-Making in Luxembourg
Our first tour of the river cruise was to Schengen, which was a singular alternative to delve into the historic significance of the Schengen settlement and be taught the impression it has had on European integration and borderless journey of 37 international locations concerned.
- Highlights of Historic Trier
We bought to squeeze in yet another included tour on today, and it was a superb one— an evening tour of the traditional metropolis of Trier. Situated in southwestern Germany close to the borders of Luxembourg and France, Trier has a wealthy historical past that spans over two millennia (16 BC), making it one of many nation’s oldest cities.
The group of us started on the spectacular Porta Nigra, an everlasting Roman metropolis gate. Subsequent was an opportunity to admire the architectural mix of Trier Cathedral and its revered Holy Gown. There have been a handful of stops in between, however the finale was marveling on the grandeur of the Konstantin-Basilika (Roman Imperial Throne Room) with its intricate mosaics.
Day 3: Bernkastel, Germany
Bernkastel, Germany, is an enthralling city within the Moselle Valley that transports guests to a bygone period. Its medieval market buzzes with exercise, that includes cute retailers, conventional half-timbered homes, and native culinary treats.
The St. Nikolaus-Hospital (Cusanusstift), a Fifteenth-century Gothic masterpiece, homes a powerful library (which comprises the one identified copy of Proverbia Grecorum, a set of historic Latin proverbs) and a wine museum. As a testomony to its fortified previous, the Graach Gate stands tall, exuding medieval grandeur and serving as a reminder of Bernkastel’s wealthy historic heritage.
PORT EXCURSIONS
- Strolling and Wines in Bernkastel
This enjoyable tour mixed a leisurely stroll by the historic city of Bernkastel and tasting some scrumptious wines from the area. We strolled by the medieval streets adorned with half-timbered homes, and took within the picturesque great thing about the Moselle River.
A spotlight of this tour was a go to to the famend Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler vineyard, the place we sampled some fantastic wines (largely Rieslings!) whereas studying concerning the area’s winemaking heritage in certainly one of their ‘tasting rooms’ reminiscent of their underground cellar, chapel, and baroque saloon.
Day 4: Cochem, Germany
The small port city of Cochem is located within the western area of Germany and is house to simply underneath 5,000 folks. Although it’s small in measurement, it’s massive in historical past, outdated world attraction and issues to do, like visiting it’s beautiful hilltop citadel—Reichsburg.
In addition to the citadel, a go to to the Pinnerkreuz lookout level is a must-do. Reachable by chairlift, it presents panoramic views of Cochem and its environment. You possibly can delve into Cochem’s intriguing historical past by exploring the Bundesbank Bunker, an underground facility as soon as utilized by the German Federal Financial institution. And don’t miss the Senfmuehle, the historic Mustard Mill, the place you’ll be able to indulge within the flavors of conventional mustard and find out about its manufacturing.
PORT EXCURSION
- Cochem with Reichsburg Fortress Go to
The banks of the Moselle River are lined with picturesque castles (cruising alongside it with Avalon Waterways confirmed this!), however probably none extra spectacular than Reichburg Fortress which is perched on a hilltop in Cochem.
With Avalon Waterways Lively & Discovery river cruises there are excursions for all ranges of adventurers at each port. And although I may have biked or hiked in Cochem, there was no means I used to be gonna miss their traditional tour of the citadel (which is an included possibility if you e book this cruise).
It began with a fast tour of the town winding by the cobbled streets and seeing the cool half-timbered homes. Then we took shuttles to this fairytale-like fortress that gives breathtaking panoramas of the Moselle Valley.
Although the valley views are wonderful, the inside of Reichsburg isn’t too shabby both! The hour or so lengthy tour took us contained in the grand halls and well-preserved chambers.
There was loads of port time after the tour to benefit from the metropolis. I like to recommend going to this wine bar and German restaurant:
- Alte Gutsschänke Wine Bar: It’s a tiny underground wine bar with nice German wine. Plus, we solely paid 7 euros for 2 glasses of crimson (that’s laborious to do in California!).
- Zom Stüffje: A brilliant busy and conventional German restaurant. Order the Flammkuchen (it’s like a thin-crust pizza) and a few of their well-known Wiener Schnitzel. Each have been scrumptious.
Day 5: Koblenz, Germany
Koblenz is an enthralling metropolis nestled the place the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet in Germany, and holds a big place within the UNESCO World Heritage website of the Higher Center Rhine Valley. With its picturesque landscapes and engaging historical past, it presents an amazing mixture of actions for each traveler—even with out an tour, there’s loads to do within the metropolis!
You possibly can discover the historic coronary heart on the Deutsches Eck, and take within the breathtaking views from the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, accessible by a scenic cable automotive experience. Or wander by the cobbled streets of the Outdated City, adorned with charming squares and colourful buildings, and immerse your self within the wealthy heritage of the town.
Historical past buffs shall be thrilled to go to the spectacular Stolzenfels Fortress, a shocking instance of Romantic Rhine structure. The Electoral Palace, one other architectural gem, showcases the town’s royal previous and is a deal with for the eyes.
PORT EXCURSION
I really like overview excursions of a metropolis, particularly if I’m solely there for a short while—it’s an effective way to see quite a bit and decide if you wish to return sooner or later. That’s why I signed up for the Highlights of Koblenz tour when Avalon Waterways ported for a number of hours within the German metropolis on the Rhine river. It was brief, however candy and lined A LOT of floor.
Listed here are a number of of my favourite stops:
- The Cable Automobile: This aerial tramway seamlessly connects the banks of the Rhine River to the elevated hill plateau the place the historic Ehrenbreitstein Fortress stands. To start your cable automotive journey, you should buy tickets on the valley station positioned close to the riverside, simply accessible from the center of Koblenz. We suggest the mixture ticket as it’s going to additionally offer you entry to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress when you get to the highest.
- Kaiser Wilhelm Monument: Sitting alongside the German Nook (Deutsches Eck), this commanding equestrian statue (it’s over 46 ft tall!) commemorates Kaiser Wilhelm I, the inaugural German Emperor who performed a pivotal function within the unification of Germany.
- Berlin Wall: After the autumn of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, totally different establishments around the globe (certainly one of which is Koblenz) acquired sections of the wall. You possibly can see three items of it on everlasting show subsequent to the Kaiser Wilhelm Monument as a memorial to Germany’s division.
- Thumb Sculpture: The 6-foot Thumb on the Ludwig Museum is a selfie should. Seemingly poised in an ‘okay’ place in direction of the sky, this artfully enlarged mould from its late creator’s thumb (Cesar Baldaccini) embodies human willpower, innovation, and a visible ode to limitless prospects.
- Basilica of St. Castor: The Basilica of St. Castor, with its origins relationship again to the ninth century, proudly holds the excellence of being the oldest church in Koblenz. Its venerable historical past is interwoven with the annals of the town, because it stands on the positioning of an earlier Roman fort.
- Schangel Fountain: The fountain statue is a prankster who spits at vacationers each couple minutes.
Day 6: Rüdesheim–Eltville, Germany
Rüdesheim am Rhein is an enthralling city famend for its winemaking heritage, significantly its scrumptious Riesling wines. The center of the city, Drosselgasse, is the cutest lane adorned with an array of retailers, taverns, and eating places. Only a stone’s throw away, the Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cupboard homes an enchanting assortment of automated musical devices, whereas the medieval Brömserburg Fortress proudly hosts the Rheingau Wine Museum, showcasing a various array of wine-related artifacts spanning from historic occasions to the current.
Whereas there you may also do issues like dive into the darkish and intriguing previous at Rudesheim’s Mittelalterliches Foltermuseum, the “Medieval Torture Museum,” the place guests can discover the unsettling practices of the previous by a set of over 120 historic torture artifacts. On a a lot lighter notice, a stroll by Eltville’s Burgstrasse is a pleasant expertise, with its enchanting timber-frame homes that line the slim streets.
PORT EXCURSION
- Holy Wines in Rüdesheim: Go to to Hildegard Abbey
This Rüdesheim tour supplied an ideal mix of spirituality and wine tradition, leaving you with an appreciation for Rüdesheim’s holy wines and the traditions they embody. Throughout this tour we have been immersed within the serene ambiance of this historic Hildegard Abbey, named after the famend mystic Hildegard of Bingen.
That is the second abbey based by St. Hildegard through the early Twelfth century, and all through its existence, it has endured durations of adversity, together with the Thirty Years Struggle and World Struggle II. Immediately, it’s a part of the Rhine Gorge World Heritage Web site.
We realized concerning the fascinating custom of winemaking and the religious significance of the vineyards surrounding the abbey. 12 months-round, guided by the grasp winemaker, the nuns and volunteers on the Abbey of St. Hildegard nurture grapevines with devotion. From planting to delicate pruning, they have a tendency to every vine, harvest at peak ripeness, and create beautiful wines utilizing each custom and fashionable experience within the historic cellars, reflecting the abbey’s deep connection to nature and craftsmanship.
We have been fortunate sufficient to have the ability to style a few of this wine on the small wine part at the back of the abbey’s retail store—and it was really poured by a resident nun!
Afterwards, we walked again into city by the vineyards and tasted three totally different Adolf Storzel wines alongside the way in which.
Day 7: Frankfurt, Germany
Final however not least on this Avalon River Cruise was Frankfurt, a bustling metropolis within the coronary heart of Europe that seamlessly blends wealthy historical past with modernity.
After all, you’ll be able to spend days exploring the town, however don’t miss the enduring Romer, a set of 9 homes forming the Frankfurt metropolis corridor (Rathaus). It stands as an emblem of the town’s medieval heritage. The Outdated Opera Home (Alte Oper) is a Frankfurt spotlight with its grand structure and world-class performances, reminiscent of a fascinating orchestral rendition of traditional items by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. For a glimpse into the town’s latest previous, the New Frankfurt Outdated City presents a meticulously reconstructed quarter, capturing the essence of pre-war Frankfurt.
PORT EXCURSIONS
- Elvis Tour in Unhealthy Nauheim
Probably the most surprising tour on our journey was the Elvis Tour in Unhealthy Nauheim, a metropolis about 45-minutes from Frankfurt. Whereas the city’s famend therapeutic salt springs stay its spotlight, it gained extra fame as the placement the place Elvis Presley resided all through his two-year army service (though he was stationed at Ray Barracks close to the neighboring city of Friedberg.)
We explored a large number of iconic places related to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, like Villa Grunewald, the place Elvis rented your entire second flooring throughout a household go to, together with the famend Elvis Room No. 10.
Proper subsequent to the villa, you’ll uncover the hanging Elvis Stele, a monument paying tribute to the music legend. Stroll alongside the charming streets to the Fortress Gate, a a lot sought-after photograph spot that served because the backdrop for the document cowl of “A Huge Hunk O’ Love.” As you proceed your tour, you’ll encounter many extra important websites, reminiscent of Goethestrasse 14, the place Elvis resided till the tip of his service.
One among my favourite issues was the Elvis stoplight, the place the crimson mild had him in a dance transfer and the inexperienced one was holding a guitar.
About Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways is a number one river cruise firm that gives unparalleled journey experiences alongside the world’s most scenic waterways. A few of these embody the Danube River, which winds by the center of Europe, and the huge Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The most recent addition to their river portfolio, the Douro in Portugal, presents a contemporary alternative to discover this vacation spot in Avalon model.
With a deal with luxurious, consolation, and immersive exploration, Avalon’s cruises present vacationers with unforgettable journeys full of cultural discoveries and breathtaking landscapes.
Lively & Discovery River Cruises
Setting themselves other than conventional cruises, Avalon’s Lively & Discovery river cruises provide a extra participating and personalised European journey. Whether or not you’re in search of one thing adventurous like visiting the Lava Domes of Mendig to a quiet cruise alongside the picturesque Moselle River, these cruises transcend the everyday vacationer locations, permitting friends to actively take part in varied actions and excursions that showcase the genuine essence of every location.
The Meals/Eating Choices
Avalon takes satisfaction in providing distinctive eating experiences onboard, with a deal with contemporary, locally-sourced elements and regional dishes that mirror the locations visited alongside the river route.
Breakfast was buffet-style with quite a lot of choices, together with cold and hot dishes, contemporary fruits, pastries, and drinks. Plus, a handful of menu gadgets you may order from the kitchen. My go-to was Greek yogurt with granola, marinated apricots, granola and chia. Although for a few days I splurged on a strawberry waffle and yummy charcuterie.
Lunch usually options a mixture of buffet and à la carte choices, with mild and satisfying choices obtainable. A favourite of mine was the day they featured the meals of Germany. With issues like Kartoffelstampf (German crushed potatoes) and Apfelstrudel (German apple strudel) it was laborious to manage myself, and I put certainly one of all the pieces on my plate!
Dinnertime is a spotlight of the day, and Avalon Waterways goals to supply a fantastic eating expertise. It began with a cheerful hour (the place there’s a menu of included wines, beer and cocktails), adopted by the port speak. Afterwards, friends can get pleasure from multi-course meals ready by expert cooks, providing a mix of worldwide and regional delicacies. The menus could also be influenced by the native specialties of the areas the cruise passes by, or simply specialities of the chef.
One among my favourite dinner dishes was the Pan-fried filet of trout with cherry tomato salsa, sauteed cucumbers and steamed parsley-potatoes. However, there have been so many different yummy issues.
It’s value mentioning {that a} 24-hour espresso machine caters to caffeine lovers, and my husband took full benefit of the cappuccinos it made. I used to be extra impressed with the BeWell water machine that made me flavored glowing water on the drop of a hat.
The Onboard Actions
Even if you’re not on an tour, there’s by no means a uninteresting second aboard Avalon Waterways as they provide a various vary of actions to maintain everybody engaged and entertained. Whether or not you’re up for pleasant big chess matches on the skydeck, rejuvenating morning yoga classes, fun-filled corn gap video games, or thrilling board and card video games, there’s one thing for each curiosity.
Should you desire a quieter expertise, you’ll be able to go for actions like getting misplaced in a e book at their Membership Lounge Library or indulging in a comfortable film night time together with your important different. The ship caters to totally different preferences, offering the proper steadiness between thrilling social interactions and peaceable moments of rest.
The Suites/Cabins
Avalon Waterways presents a spread of luxurious lodging to go well with varied preferences. The Avalon Deluxe Stateroom gives a snug and chic retreat with fashionable facilities, making certain a calming keep onboard.
The Panorama Suites are a spotlight of Avalon’s choices, that includes beds going through floor-to-ceiling home windows for panoramic views. The open-air balcony provides an additional contact of luxurious and permits friends to immerse themselves within the pure magnificence exterior.
For these in search of the last word indulgence, the Royal Suites present an expansive and opulent residing house with a separate seating space and enhanced facilities, promising an unforgettable journey in utmost consolation.
Panorama Suite (My Cabin)
My cabin, the Panorama Suite, was an expensive retreat with a dreamy mattress completely positioned to benefit from the ever-changing landscapes exterior the wall-to-wall window. The open-air balcony was a private haven for quiet reflection, and the adjustable desk was versatile, serving as a breakfast nook and a snug workspace through the journey. Plus, it may very well be lowered for these occasions the place I simply needed to absorb the view!
The suite itself is kind of spacious, with loads of storage cupboards for my issues, and geared up with fashionable conveniences like a flat-screen TV and WiFi. There’s additionally a mini bar stocked with a collection of refreshing drinks, permitting you to quench your thirst at any time of the day or night time. And did I point out the non-public ensuite lavatory with a spacious bathe, premium bathtub merchandise, and all the required facilities for a refreshing and rejuvenating expertise?
Embarking on the Avalon Waterways Lively & Discovery River Cruise on the Moselle River is an adventure-packed voyage that may depart you with unforgettable reminiscences. From enjoyable excursions that take you biking by charming cities to savoring the best native wines throughout a winery tour, there’s by no means a uninteresting second.
Life onboard is an absolute blast, with luxurious lodging, tasty delicacies, and interesting actions that cater to all pursuits. Get able to discover hidden gems, meet new pals and see some killer landscapes! So, seize your hat, your sense of wanderlust, and your dancing sneakers – it’s time to set sail and create the bucket record journey of a lifetime!