Cruising local rivers past vineyards, castles

  • Published
  • By Iris Reiff
  • 52nd FIghter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  With the present weather, base members may consider taking a cruise on the Mosel River from Trier or Bernkastel.

Simple to modern passenger ships offer a view of castles, cathedrals, vineyards and wine communities, which dot the Mittelmosel route.

The closest starting point from the base is Trier, and it offers various Mosel River excursions throughout October. Ships leave daily at 9 a.m. from the Trier-Zurlauben passenger dock for a round trip to Bernkastel. Round trips from Trier to various other towns along the Mosel are also available throughout the day. For details, call the Trier Boat Information Office at 0651-26666.

Other one-hour-long boat excursions can be arranged upon request. Evening excursions with live music and dancing onboard are available every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. from Zurlaubener Ufer. The boat returns at about 10 p.m. Reservations are necessary and can be made by calling 0651-26666. Special event excursions are also possible and can be booked.

The cheapest Mosel cruise leaving from Trier is 8 Euro. The boat cruises up or down the Mosel River for about five kilometers. This is a shorter excursion and allows Sabers to take photographs of Trier and the Mosel shore.

Another excursion is from Trier to Saarburg, where people can shop or visit the Saarburg castle ruins. This stretch is about 25 kilometers long. The ship cruises both on the Mosel and Saar rivers and leads through several locks. The boat leaves Trier at noon Wednesday and Sunday, and the cost is 18 Euro.

There are also trips from Bernkastel to the Mosel town of Traben-Trarbach. Boats depart from Bernkastel at 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m. 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. One-hour tours are available from the Bernkastel dock every half hour now throughout October. The Bernkastel-Kues, Moselperle, Bernkastel, Kroever Reich and Stadt Trier boats run daily from Bernkastel to Traben-Trarbach, going past many Mosel towns. These excursions last about two hours, and the boats will return to Bernkastel.

For those who would like to enjoy an adventurous boat ride through the locks, Bernkastel also offers this experience several times daily.

Boat cruises to Koenigsbach, Niederlahnstein, Stolzenfels, Ober¬lahnstein, Rhens, Brey and Braubach are available from Koblenz. One-hour-long round trips are also offered, as well as excursions to Cochem with its castle. For more information on cruises leaving from Bernkastel, call the Bernkastel Boat Information Office at 06531-4719.

Some tours can be combined with a sightseeing tour of a castle or stops at other attractions. Evening cruises can be enjoyed with family or friends. Mosel dance-party cruises are available Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The party cruiser will depart the Cochem dock early in the evening and return before midnight.

The Luxembourg passenger ship MS Marie-Astrid is on route now through September.
It cruises from Trier to Remisch and from Remisch to Grevenmacher on the Luxembourg side of the Mosel. From there, a bus will take the passengers back to Trier.

Some people prefer one-way cruises in lieu of the round-trip journeys offered by most cruise lines. One of many possibilities is to enjoy part or the journey by boat and then return by train. Most lines offer price reductions for groups, school students and other organizations. Group reservations have to be made in advance.

Prices typically range from 12 Euro for short trips and up to 300 Euro for longer excursions.

Times and prices for cruises are subject to changing.