I really appreciate the many informative posts as to visiting the scenic portions of the Rhine. Using that info, I pieced together a one-day plan for us in late May; we'll be based in Mainz for 3 nights and can choose a Wed or Thurs depending on weather.
We’d like to cruise up in the morning and train back, stopping along the way in the afternoon. We are not trying to visit castles, and mainly plan on a relaxing day to enjoy the river scenery, stroll a few of the towns, enjoy casual cafes.
I’m thinking it’s best to take an early train to Bingen, and start the K-D cruise from there with Boppard as our final cruise destination. I’ve included specific train departures, but expect to rely on them only as a rough guide and modify during the day as we wish. I know that the St. Goar-Boppard cruise is less scenic than Blingen-St. Goar, but I have a curiosity about Boppard. Plus, the river cruise sounds relaxing.
I'd be grateful for any corrections and suggestions on the plan below!
-- Also, when we purchase the train day-pass(es) from the ticket machine, what exactly is it called? We have US credit cards with chips but not PIN; if that’s problematic could we use a debit card? Am I correct that we should buy one pass that covers both of us (seniors)? Do they cover only one-way travel?
-- Are we better off with a different type of train ticket if we plan to visit Frankford on our other day and travel there again in order to leave the region? (Train tickets from Strasbourg to Mainz, and afterwards Frankfurt to Amsterdam, are already purchased.)
7:32 Train from Mainz to Bingen. Will need to buy a one-way ticket for this leg for each of us.
In Bingen:
-- Buy the all-day train pass (for two people) needed for the afternoon; these work like HOHO but only after 9am? We will only need one-way but want to hop off/on.
-- Walk to the K-D cruise port and buy 20% discounted fare (or perhaps a better senior fare)
-- Light breakfast in Bingen
9:15 Depart on K-D to Boppard. Arrive St. Goar at 10:55; depart again 11:30 (change vessels?; do we need our KD tickets stamped in some way?)
12:30 Arrive Boppard: Sightsee and lunch in Boppard
15:44 Train to Oberwesel: Sightsee
17:26 Train to Bacharach: Sightsee and dinner
20:06 Train to Mainz