Reviews

This was the second Boat/Bike tour I have been on and I was very satisfied with most everything that I experienced. The cycling tour was great – the difficulty level was as advertised and the route took us through very beautiful countryside. The maps and directions were very easy to follow. I would have liked more specific information about some of the possible sites to explore in the different towns. While they were mentioned as possible stops, we didn’t really get directions on how to access them. The food on board the boat was wonderful – breakfasts included a good variety of options and the dinner meals were delicious! The staff were very friendly and always willing to help out and answer questions. All in all, a great experience I would definitely recommend!

I am not a biker but I wanted to see the whole river, and particularly the locks, in daylight which is not possible on most river cruises. Everything met my hopes and expectations. The only downside was that we were not able to moor near the town centre at two places which made on-shore excursions somewhat less convenient. The crew were efficient and friendly and the food was excellent, particularly at lunch-time when I was often the only passenger on board. They all took a lot of trouble to look after their only English guest.

The tour on the MS Olympia was all we had hoped for. The crew accommodations, and food exceeded our expectations. We enjoyed our daily biking and the optional excursions. It’s such a beautiful ride through the Mosel River. Our only complaint would have been to have extra pillows and to discard broken chairs in the lounge but these were minor inconveniences compared to the wonderful experience we had! We can’t wait to plan our next trip.

We just completed back to back 7 day cruises on the Patria — first from Bad Wimpfen on the Neckar River to Koblenz on the Rhine, then from Koblenz up the Mosel River, then to Saarburg on the Saar River. We previously had been on 5 bike cruises on rivers (plus many other cruises), and our time on the Patria was the best experience we have had in terms of the crew, all of whom went out of their way to provide a great experience. Every crew member, from the captain to the housekeeper, were friendly and responsive to passenger needs. The ship, the Patria, had excellent food, and the public spaces were very nice. We enjoyed spending time on the sun deck, and could always find seats under the shaded area. The lounge was nice. The cabins were small but were well appointed and comfortable. Our tour guides were great, and we especially appreciated the enthusiasm of Dagmar, who helped us anticipate any challenges on the routes. Though paths were flooded in a few places, the routes each day were excellent.

Moselle River on the Patria. The scenery was breathtaking and the riding flat and easy. The towns where we stayed overnight were wonderful. Accommodations were pretty good for the limited space. The food – especially the dinners – were exceptional. The only improvements I would suggest is to have drinking water available without having to pay 3.50 euros for a bottle, and to include the cost of bike insurance in the bike rental price. Would definitely recommend this Boat Bike Tour.

Saar to Koblenz on board Patria. The lower floor rooms were not ventilated properly. The chef was amazing. The Captain was a real commander. The stuff was very polite and helpful. The ship is out of date concerning the decor and internal design. We enjoyed every moment.

Perfect holidays One is active and one gets good service on board . Nice crew.

My man and I thought this Mosel Boat-Bike tour was a fabulous experience. The Valley is just beautiful, with the vineyards, the trees, the birds and the river wending its way through the beautiful countryside. There were many small and charming villages to admire from both an historical perspective and because the buildings, castles and churches were unique. There was plenty of time to sample the Rieslings that the Mosel is famous for. We were provided with excellent maps and commentaries, even though we lost one of our party within the first 10 minutes!! The great thing was our bikes were good quality and we could enjoy cycling and have time to enjoy the tour. The Patria is a grand old Dame with lots of character. Her cabins are tiny with two comfortable single beds and only just enough room for two people, The lounge and dining areas were very comfortable and the places to socialise. The staff were welcoming, friendly, fun and very helpful. Dagmar, our guide, treated us like family – she ensured we all knew what was happening each day and recommended places for us to stop and sample the local offerings! The wait staff in the dining room were particularly well organised and efficient with everyone at our table being served at the same time. The chef produced some excellent meals that we looked forward to at the end of each day! The only issue which was rather annoying was the unpleasant smell of sewage at certain times of the day. Overall would we do this trip again? Yes! Our thanks go to the crew who work long hours to make our trip a success!!

This was my first bike/barge trip and it met my expectations. It was well run, the food was excellent and the cycling directions easy to follow.

Food, crew, bikes, route, check-in, check-out, etc all very good. Boat needs some work. Diesel and sewage smell was an issue. Dining room dark and with curtains closed. Would be nicer to have the dining room upstairs where its lighter and windows are larger.