Rhine River Day Trip Cruise Lines
Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) Riverboats in the Rhein and Loreley Valley
Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) and other riverboat cruise lines operate day trips on the Rhine River in the UNESCO-listed Loreley Valley between Rüdesheim, St Goar, and Koblenz.
Several riverboat companies offer day cruises on the Rhine River (Rhein). Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) has the largest number of sailing but many other lines cruise through the romantic Loreley Valley.
Boats differ in size in and between cruise lines but it is often sensible to simply take the next boat to depart. Most boats have restaurants on board but consuming own food and drink is acceptable on the open decks.
The main season is from end April to early October but regular cruises are generally available from late March to late October. Cruises in winter months are very limited.
- Return trips on most cruise lines are only marginally more expensive than one-way cruises.
Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) – the Largest and Oldest Pleasure Cruise Line on the Rhine
Köln-Düsseldorfer – usually simply abbreviated to KD – has the largest fleet of all day cruise lines operating on the Rhine River. Köln-Düsseldorfer has been in business since 1827 and creditably claims to have invented Rhine River pleasure cruise tourism.
KD has the most departures of all the Rhine pleasure cruise boats – handy for passengers wishing to stop over en route for more sightseeing. During the high season – generally late April to early October, KD has at least four cruises per day from Rüdesheim and Bingen to Koblenz and more boats doing shorter routes.
- During the high season, one KD boat per day departs 8:45 am from Mainz for an eleven-hour cruise all the way to Cologne (Köln).
The SS Goethe is an historic paddle steamer from 1913. It steams daily from Koblenz to Rüdesheim and back. Sailing on the Goethe requires a slight surcharge.
- Smaller lines are generally slightly cheaper than the KD line but the price difference is marginal at best.
- Special Deals on KD Day Cruises
Several money saving deals are available to select travelers on regular KD cruises. Discount can not be combined.
- Birthday Child – no matter the age of the passenger, a birthday child cruise for free.
- Family Day – on Wednesday, up to three children under 13 sail for free per paying adult.
- Children between 4 and 13 pay only €3.50 per day as long as they are accompanied by a full-fare-paying adult (up to 3 children per adult). Children under 4 sail for free.
- School children and students under 27 pay only half price.
- Seniors over 60 pay half price on Monday and Friday.
- On Tuesdays, cyclists sail two for the price of one on one-way trips (two cyclists and two bicycles – or a tandem – required!).
Bingen-Rüdesheimer Rhine Pleasure Boat Line
Bingen-Rüdesheimer is another major pleasure cruise line with up to three daily cruises from Bingen and Rüdesheim through the Loreley Valley to St Goar and St Goarhausen.
Bingen-Rüdesheimer offers the same discounts as KD except no discounts for cyclists or family days. Bingen-Rüdesheimer passengers also cruise for free on wedding anniversaries and children pay only €3.
Rössler Linie Rhine River Boats
Rössler Line is based in Rüdesheim-Assmannshausen. It has mostly shorter cruises in the Rüdesheim vicinity but also the occasional cruise down the Loreley Valley to St Goar / St Goarhausen.
Hebler Linie’s Weisse Flotte (White Fleet)
Hebler Linie operates from Boppard and has cruises all the way to Rüdesheim as well as many to see the Loreley. Hebler also have cruises to Koblenz as well as part of the Moselle River.
Special offers on Hebel include free cruises on birthdays, 50% discount for seniors on Monday and Friday, as well as family days on Monday.
- See Rhine River Day Cruises for more details on timetables and timesaving options when cruising through the Loreley Valley and Rhine Day Cruises from Frankfurt for tips on using the trains from the Hauptbahnhof and Airport to Rhine towns. Luxurious multiple-day cruises on the Rhine are also very popular alternatives.
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