Philly Cheese School River Cruise 2026: Switzerland & The Rhine

Basel, Switzerland

MT
Mayfair Travel
  • Email address verified
20 reviews
May 8 - 15, 2026
Group size: 1 - 26
Philly Cheese School River Cruise 2026: Switzerland & The Rhine
Basel, Switzerland

Mayfair Travel
  • Email address verified
20 reviews

May 8 - 15, 2026
Group size: 1 - 26

About this trip

Join Philly Cheese School's Julia Fox-Birnbaum on this amazing voyage along the Rhine and explore the regions' finest cheeses. Locally sourced? We're going to the source!

We will explore the cheese shops and farms of the Rhine regions of France, Germany & Switzerland together and sample the areas' finest cheeses and wines.


Your trip includes:


-Exclusive Philly Cheese School excursions & cheese shop visits

-On-board lectures & tastings by PCS owner Julia Fox-Birnbaum


Our Cruise: Gastronomy of the Rhine & Switzerland


We are partnering with Riviera River Cruises for this incredible culinary adventure aboard the luxurious MS Oscar Wilde. Our journey along the Rhine 

RIVER: Rhine

Message from Philly Cheese School

I’m Julia Fox-Birnbaum and I’ve been in the Cheese Industry since 2014.  I’ve worked in cheese education, marketing, social media and more.  Before making Philly Cheese School my full-time gig, I filled in as head  buyer and manager for one of the largest cheese counters on the East  Coast. Over the years I've been lucky enough to visit farms, meet  artisan cheese producers and train under some of the best cheese-mongers  in the field.


For me, cheese is a magical food which connects  flavor to tradition and science and so much more. My favorite thing  about cheese is its ability to tell a story and bring people together.  Philly Cheese School was born out of my love of sharing these stories with my community. My goal with this business is to educate cheese lovers from near and far on this endlessly fascinating and delicious  topic which I’ve dedicated my career to.


I am so excited to be working with Mayfair Travel to offer this dream trip along the Rhine!  I'll be there every step of the way to offer an industry pro's perspective on some iconic food locations, and provide my cheese expertise in order to make your experience even more  memorable. I look forward to connecting with fellow cheese lovers,  whether that means teaching a deeper understanding of cheese-making  techniques, telling stories from my over 10 years of experience in the field,  or simply sharing in the awe of this delicious and fascinating region."


MS Oscar Wilde

After years of painstaking research to create the most perfect  vessels afloat, a new era in river cruising dawns as we introduce our  state of the art, ‘all suite’ ships. Swiss operated and truly  world-class, we are absolutely delighted to present the five-star MS  Oscar Wilde.


It is extremely difficult to convey just how extraordinary this  outstanding ship really is and exactly what distinguishes it from  similar vessels. It would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’ but it’s  much more than that; we have deliberately avoided the current trend for a  minimalist style where you could be anywhere in the world, creating  instead a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and  elegance at the highest level. Immediately striking is just how  exceptionally spacious this new vessel is as you enter a gleaming,  richly colored marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a  stunning atrium above. Moving inside, exceptional creativity from  Europe’s finest design studio has produced a superbly balanced  masterpiece of onboard style, utilising sustainable rich hardwoods,  gleaming brass and polished copper, sparkling glass and intricate  wrought iron. The ship is beautifully illuminated throughout – including  the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour  schemes, all designed to create the serene atmosphere reflective of the  golden age of cruising which time after time you tell us you adore.


The restaurant rivals the finest on shore establishments taking fine  dining to another level complemented by delicate European porcelain,  gleaming glassware and the intuitive service in which the Swiss excel.  This superb vessel carries 44 in-house trained crew members serving just  169 guests (similar size vessels may carry well over 190 passengers)  giving the ratio which our experience proves is concurrent with our  first class service levels.


Furthermore your suite will easily exceed your expectations for not only  will you enjoy the most discerning décor, so too the ship’s dimensions  afford the ultimate in space and comfort - a minimum 17 square metres  (183 square feet), with upgrades available to ‘Superior’ and ‘Deluxe’  accommodation.


Features:

  • Thoroughly air conditioned public areas and individual heating controls in the cabins
  • Stunning restaurant on the Main Deck serving buffet breakfast, buffet lunch and four-course dinner
  • Lounge and bar to enjoy cocktails and the early risers' breakfast
  • Elevator between Emerald, Ruby and Diamond decks
  • Laundry Service
  • Spa and wellness area featuring Nail Salon and Hairdressing Service
  • Boutique gift shop for your vacation souvenirs
  • Reception area open 24hrs
  • Small splash pool and putting green on the Sun Deck
  • 24hr self service station for complimentary tea & coffee

More details about the beautiful MS Oscar Wilde here:

https://www.rivierarivercruises.com/ms-oscar-wilde

Superior Drinks Package Included

Over lunch & dinner in our restaurants:  unlimited drinks from a choice of:


    -Red, white, rosé, and sparkling house wine, including non-alcoholic

    -Draught beer, including non-alcoholic

   -Selection of soft drinks & juices


From 6PM to midnight in our bar & restaurants: enjoy all the above, plus unlimited drinks from a choice of:


  -Our cocktail & mocktail of the day

  -House spirits & mixers (gin, vodka, rum & whisky)

  -A recommendation of wine during dinner

  -Martini & sherry pre-dinner

  -Port & Brandy after dinner

What’s included

  • 7 Night River Cruise
    Luxurious accommodations on Riviera River Cruise's MS Oscar Wilde
  • Exclusive PCS Program
    Exclusive excursions & on-board activities hosted by Philly Cheese School's Julia Fox-Birnbaum
  • Shore Excursions
    Touring is included in every port
  • Exceptional Dining
    3 meals daily at 2 restaurants including breakfast buffet, superb lunches and delicious 4-course fine-dining dinners plus daily afternoon tea in the lounge
  • Superior Drinks Package
    Wine & beer at lunch & dinner; unlimited drinks 6PM -12A, see specifics above
  • Captain's Gala Dinner
  • Refillable Water Bottle
    Complimentary refillable water bottle & constant supply of drinking water
  • Wifi
  • Entertainment
    Daily entertainment including cultural performances
  • Port charges

What’s not included

  • Air
  • Airport transfers
  • Gratuities
  • Insurance

Available Packages

Emerald Deck Standard Stateroom
Deposit: $600
Available until July 26, 20259 left

Price for cruise package for one person sharing a stateroom with one other.


Suites on the Emerald Deck are slightly smaller, measuring approximately 16 square metres (172 square feet) and have smaller fixed windows.

$4,399
Deposit: $600
Ruby Deck Standard Stateroom
Deposit: $600
Available until July 26, 20258 left

Price for cruise package for one person sharing a stateroom with one other. 


A gleaming wood door opens  revealing your exceptionally appointed suite. At 17 square meters (183 square feet), its generous dimensions are amongst the largest you will find on a cruiser gracing any European river. Imaginatively designed and  appointed to the highest specification, with all the luxury you would  expect to find in a smart ‘boutique style’ hotel, your comfort  definitely won’t be compromised on any level!


The gleaming marble bathroom features a powerful fully glazed shower  with a large ‘rainshower’ head, superbly refreshing after a hard day’s  sightseeing. Clever design allows for ample space, and contemporary  lighting, complimentary cosmetics by ‘Crabtree and Evelyn’ and fluffy  towels, makes preparing for the day ahead an absolute pleasure.


The chic styling of a talented designer’s eye extends to the entire  suite with generous use of hand-crafted tropical hardwoods blended with  premium fittings, discreet thoughtful lighting and a color scheme of calming neutral tones, creating an ambience to put you in the most relaxed frame of mind from the very first minute! A full size bed assures a good night’s rest in crisp cotton linen of the finest quality and turndown service each evening adds the finishing touch. Please note all suites have two twin beds with individual bedding which can be moved together or separated accordingly.


You will enjoy a particularly generous seating area with two chairs and a table, enabling you to unwind in comfort in the privacy of your  own suite whilst a bow camera conveys live images of the ship’s progress  to your flat screen TV, ensuring you won’t miss a thing. Careful consideration has been given to the tiniest details with individually  controlled air-conditioning so you set the temperature that you desire, a  hairdryer, safe, minibar, telephone and the convenience of tea (our  meticulous planning even extends to familiar teabags!) and coffee making  facilities ensure a familiar home from home experience. 


Suites on the Diamond (upper) and Ruby (middle) Decks have ‘French Balconies’ –  panoramic floor to ceiling sliding glass doors bringing riverside life  just that little closer! 

$5,199
Deposit: $600
Diamond Deck Standard Stateroom
Deposit: $600
Available until July 26, 20258 left

Price for cruise package for one person sharing a stateroom with one other.


Suites on the Diamond Deck measure approximately 15 square metres (161 square feet)and have a French Balcony.


At 15 square metres (161 square feet), your luxuriously appointed  cabin is amongst the largest, most comfortable and best appointed on any  European river cruise vessel - with all the high quality facilities you  would expect from a top hotel, and more.


Indulge in the luxury of Riviera Plus when you stay in an  upper deck cabin or suite. In your well-appointed cabin, you’ll find a  range of extras to make your experience extra special.

$5,499
Deposit: $600
Diamond Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite
Deposit: $750
Available until July 26, 2026Only 2 left

If you’re looking to really spoil yourself, at a staggering 269 square feet, the world-class Diamond (upper) Deck Deluxe Balcony Suites are for you. Larger than standard suites, they allow for  an even more generous living area for the ultimate in space and comfort. 


In addition you will enjoy a private exterior balcony complete with  table and chairs - perfect for an ‘al fresco’ breakfast should you wish or just a quiet morning coffee or a pre-dinner ‘sundowner’ whilst  watching the world drift by. 


With the same fittings as standard suites,  exquisitely and lavishly appointed to the very highest standard, plus  complimentary soft cotton bathrobes and slippers adding the final little  touch, this really is the epitome of river cruise luxury!

$6,699
Deposit: $750

Available Add-Ons

Single Supplement - Emerald Deck
$3,399
Deposit: $0

Supplement for a solo traveler rooming by themselves and not sharing their room with anyone else.

Single Supplement - Ruby Deck
$4,299
Deposit: $0

Supplement for a solo traveler rooming by themselves and not sharing their room with anyone else.

Single Supplement - Diamond Deck
$4,599
Sold Out
Deposit: $0

Supplement for a solo traveler rooming by themselves and not sharing their room with anyone else.



Itinerary

May 8
EMBARK BASEL, SWITZERLAND

Welcome Aboard! The dedicated English-speaking crew will welcome you on board and help you to your cabin. After settling in to your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there’s time to familiarize yourself with this five-star floating hotel.


Meet your fellow cheese-cruisers at the Bon Voyage cocktail reception this evening.

Your Organizer


MT
Mayfair Travel
20 reviews
Office Phone 215.331.8880 / Hours M-F 10A-5P EST & by appointment We are a full service travel agency specializing in group travel and vacations all over the world. We have a staff of experts in many different areas of the world. We will match you with the travel advisor with the expertise in the type of trip you would like to do.

Reviews

This was an amazing time with pastors who were each so unique and awesome in their own way. Johanna and Amy did an amazing job organizing this trip. They made it seamless and easy for the pastors who shared the sites in Israwl.
By George C for Pastors' Israel Tour 2025 on Jan 26, 2025
It as a great trip. We learned a lot and had an amazing adventure.
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PL
This was my first trip to Israel and I pray it will NOT be my last. It has been a life long dream to visit Israel. When I heard about this Pastors Familiarization Trip I was in. Then the horrific terrorist attack on 10/7 threatened to end that reality. Praise the Lord for Johanna and the rest of the team who watched the situation in Israel and ultimately decided to go anyway! I am SOOO glad we got to go when we did (Jan., 2024). I will be encouraging some of my pastor friends to go next year! Thank you so much for doing everything and making this one of the best experiences of my life and ministry.
By Pastor Loren D for Pastors' Israel Tour 2024 on Feb 08, 2024
We had a fantastic trip! The guide, the bus driver, the hotel accommodations, the food was superior. Stephen Gate Travel and Johanna did a wonderful job putting this solidarity tour together.
By Jeff C for Pastors' Israel Tour 2024 on Feb 05, 2024
Awesome and safe trip. Best yet. Great to have been able to add some solidarity/ministry/support of Israel to the trip. Glad to have gone. Would encourage others to go, even under the current circumstances.
By Edmund S for Pastors' Israel Tour 2024 on Feb 05, 2024
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References

Michele from Mayfair travel booked our honeymoon to Greece and we couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Michele was so easy to work with and flexible with all of our accommodations in planning. She had been to Greece herself and was able to give us tips/recommendations. She’s the absolute best. Couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with!
By Zac F on 23 Sep, 2023
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By Mary M on 11 Dec, 2022
I really enjoy traveling with Johanna and Mayfair Travel me and my husband have went on several trips and we have loved ❤️ every on
By DeHaven G on 14 Feb, 2022