I'm co-leading a trip of 10 college students to Germany between May 7th to May 21st. We were hoping to do a day excursion on the Rhine River while staying in Bonn. I know the best stretch is between Koblenz and Bingen. So I think we might take a train to Koblenz, catch the cruise, then go back from Bingen. However, does anyone know of a cheap boat tour we could take? Or even suggest another plan?
Thanks for any suggestions---
Another plan...
K-D is the biggest cruise line. The 2024 K-D schedule isn't out yet. It will likely be similar to 2023's.
https://www.k-d.com/fileadmin/KD_Fahrplaene/KD_Fahrplan_intern_2023_final.pdf
https://www.k-d.com/en/
The best-of-the-best cruise segment is a one-way cruise between these two points...
1) Bingen (or Rüdesheim) and
2) St. Goar (or St. Goarshausen)
(Choices depend on which side of the river you choose to end the cruise on.)
If you have a full day I would recommend more than just the cruise. Try this plan, which includes a tour of Marksburg Castle.
The train portion of your round trip can be accomplished using "Rheinland-Pfalz ticket" day passes (each is valid for up to 5 persons at €52, €10:40 each in this case.) Buy ticket that morning in Bonn.
https://www.vrminfo.de/en/tickets/tickets/leisure-tickets/rheinland-pfalz-ticket/
Cruise tickets: €25 each (2023 price), subtract 20% p.p. discount which KD offers to anyone using a train ticket to reach the KD dock - just show the R-P ticket at the boat dock when you buy your tickets.
I would advise you to contact the Marksburg Castle administration in advance to communicate your interest in an English-language tour at a pre-scheduled hour. Most visitors and tours are German.
Middle Rhine Boattrip described by Russ s the best option but if you like to go on river Rhine directly from Bonn this might be an good option as well
Check the Two in one ticket
Unless you really love spending time on boats, I would not recommend that you go up the river, against the current from, say, St Goarshausen to Rüdesheim. When I was on the middle Rhein for the first time, it was kind of a spur of the moment decision, and I didn't research it thoroughly. I went to St Goar to see the castle, then decided to take the boat to Bacharach. Going up the river, against the current, the boat can only average about 7 mph. The approx. eight mile trip with two stops took 70 minutes vs 40 minutes from Bacharach to St Goar. It was so slow I wanted to get off and swim to Bacharach.
Going from St Goarshausen to Rüdesheim takes about an hour more than going the other way.
However, if you do want to stop to visit the Marksburg in Braubach, and take the only English tour of the day at 13:00, you can't get to Rüdesheim or Bingen in time to catch the last boat back to St Goarshausen at 14:15, so you will have to take the slower boat upstream.
Of course Lee's statement that it's faster downstream - and that downstream is preferrable - is correct... generally speaking. But if the group visits Marksburg (the east bank's most significant sight, and time-consuming) and also wants a little time in Rüdesheim, then there's a lot to consider... the specifics of the cruise boat schedule, the castle hours, what time of day is best for the uphill trek to Marksburg, the permissible travel hours on the Rheinland-Pfalz ticket, etc... Perhaps I missed something with my plan, but for me, the plan with the upstream cruise came out on top, all things considered.
For comparison's sake, and for the OP's benefit, it would help to see your plans with all the train/boat specifics, Lee.
The OP only asked about the river cruise, presumably between Rüdesheim and St Goar or St Goarshausen.
It was you, Russ, who added a stop in Braubach to see the Marksburg. However, I actually agree that that is a worthwhile place to visit, as long as you are going past it anyways.
But stopping at Braubach doesn't limit your trip between St Goarshausen and Rüdesheim to the trip against the current. After visiting Braubach, board the 15:06 train, as you suggested, but don't get off in St. Goarshausen, but instead go all the way to Rüdesheim, arriving at 15:52. That gives the OP over an hour to look around Rüdesheim before boarding the paddlewheel ship Goethe at 16:15 for the trip down the river (with the current) to St Goar (17:55) or St Goarshausen (18:05). Eat dinner there if you desire dinner (I would prefer St Goar), then board a train back to Bonn.
...instead go all the way to Rüdesheim, arriving at 15:52. That gives
the OP over an hour to look around Rüdesheim before boarding the
paddlewheel ship Goethe at 16:15
They'll have no time in Rüdesheim. That's 23 minutes from train to boat. And that's only if the train arrives on time. If not, they may have all the time they want in R'heim... but they will not be doing what the trip was all about in the first place because they may not even have time to make that walk and catch the last boat of the day.
If this excursion can happen on Sat or Sun, when no regard for the 9-am R-P ticket rule is required, then they can depart Bonn prior to 9 am and push up the whole Marksburg business - and thus have time in R'heim AND the cruise at 16:15.
