We arrive at FRA the day before the GAS tour starts. Rick suggests that a good pre-tour activity in Trier is a cruise on the Mosel. If it's a pretty day (early September), I thought this might be a non-stressful way to get some fresh air and sunlight while we recover from the previous day's flight from Seattle. In looking at the Kolb Bros. website, however, I can't quite make out where the one- or two-hour roundtrip cruises go (I'm assuming not very far) and what's involved. I'm hoping for a relaxing ride with some pretty scenery, a choice of indoor or outdoor seating, and maybe a snack bar. Has anyone taken one of Kolb's short cruises? Is it worth €10-15?
Posted by
Bremerton, Washington, USA
198 posts
Teresa;
Have you planned how to get to the Mosel starting location from FRA? It's about 3 hours by car. We've driven that way a couple of times in the past. You may want to plan a Rhein River tour from Mainz instead. It's easy to get to Mainz from FRA on the S-Bahn. I'm sorry I haven't answered your question about Kolb tours. We haven't taken one of those so can't answer.
Posted by
OP
Seattle
922 posts
We'll be taking the train from FRA to Trier the day before the tour starts.
Posted by
Paradise
7070 posts
Kolb main page: http://www.kolb-mosel.de/en/index.php
Click on "Tours", then "half-day excursions" and you'll see some options, including Cochem-Beilstein, about 1 hour each way. It's a nice stretch of river to cruise, and Beilstein is cute: http://www.kolb-mosel.de/en/halfdaytrip_cbc.php
Posted by
OP
Seattle
922 posts
Thanks, Russ. I did see those half-day excursions when I reviewed the website before, but I really think that would be too much for us on our first day. I'm interested in what I now see are called Panorama Round-Trip Excursions (the titles are at the bottom rather than at the top): http://www.kolb-mosel.de/en/panorama_roundtrips.php. They can be booked for 1 or 2 hours and depart from Trier. However, apart from length and departure times, I can find no other description. I was hoping someone here had taken one of these short trips and could tell me something about it.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7887 posts
Teresa, the sentiments you express in your OP about arrival day make good sense. Although we did not take a Mosel boat, we did walk along the river-farther out-near Mulheim, where we stayed. The Mosel is green and pretty, but it is not "scenic" in the way that the Rhine is one tourist sight after another. (I don't mean that in a snooty way-we enjoyed our KD cruise with Rick's book guidance.) I don't think a Mosel cruise "accomplishes much". But maybe that's just what you want! Here's another idea: Check into your Trier hotel, and take a cab to a nearby town (I don't know the immediate area) with a winery (appointment!) or other attraction that you've researched. (Start with Google "search nearby") Relax and dine there until the cab comes back to pick you up. Maybe the same cost as the boat, and no motor noise? Trier is very urban, but there's lots to see, and there are quieter sections of town. For example, if your formal cruise isn't touring Trier the first day, or if it doesn't go to the Roman Amphitheater, that is a green and quiet place to visit. I think the Roman Baths also are a lot quieter than the Porta Nigra and its excellent museum. Final note: I'd wanted to go to Trier for years, but I was just a little bit disappointed.