Rhine cruise

They're BIG boats, except maybe the old time steamer.

Its a regular ferry, not like you have reserved seats.

Bacharach is a small charming town, with not much to see - just enjoy the ambience. Have lunch, stroll, shop, climb the hill to the castle (nothing to see inside), buy some wine, in other words, the usual.

This is a really short cruise only going from St. Goar to Bacharach. Have you considered taking the train farther on the Rhine and then taking the ship back? Otherwise, you are missing so many of the beautiful castles. Beginning in Bingen is a good spot.

"Hello, we are travelling to St Goar and want to take a cruise to Bacharach."

Rick Steves does this very cruise in one of his travel skills videos, but unless you want to miss the other half of the most scenic part, do as Jo suggests - train to Bingen first, then cruise back. This cruise takes 1.5 hrs. Here's a map of this area from one of the cruise companies.

To visit Bacharach, you can step off the train from St. Goar after 10 minutes. Another southbound train to Bingen will come along every hour. Oberwesel (5 minutes south of St. Goar) is also very worthwhile and a good place for a walk or a hike.

Oberwesel town wall walk
Hike from towns through vineyard to the Guenderodehaus terrace for a glass of cheer.

The St. Goar - Bingen train ticket costs EUR 6.50; buy it from a St. Goar station ticket machine on the platform. it's OK to stop over in Bacharach and/or Oberwesel on this ticket. Sow the train ticket at the KD cruise kiosk in Bingen to get a cruise discount of EUR 4.00.

Thank you for the great suggestions. If we want to travel on after the cruise (possibly to Rothenburg), is the train station in Bingen easily accessible? Is luggage allowed aboard the KD ships? The website states that large luggage is not allowed, "max. hand baggage size" is allowed, what size does this refer to? Thank you

The train station you want, Bingen Stadt, one of two in Bingen, is easily accessible. It's about a 10 min walk from the K-D dock.

Any restaurant suggestions for lunch in Bingen?

On Bingen's Rhine promenade, the popular Zollamt is one of several dining options. It's just behind the Bingen Rhein Stadt train station.