Cruise from Braubach to Mainz

The Cologne-Braubach train ride takes at least 1.5 hours. The Braubach-Mainz cruise takes 7.5 hours. That doesn't sound like a good plan to me. Are you trying to end up in Mainz for the night? Let's say you are. To me, it makes infinitely more sense to use the train for this trip, to use the time you save to visit a village or two, and to add on a short river cruise. Try this. 1.) Take the train from Cologne to BINGEN (the south end of the scenic part of the river) which takes about 1.75 hours. Use the Bingen Hbf station. Put your bags in lockers there. 2.) Backtrack along the Rhine by boat. Get on a boat to St. Goar to cruise the best part (1.5 hours.) 3.) Visit Rheinfels castle in St. Goar, then catch a train south to Bacharach (10 minutes) for a visit there. 4.) Catch another southbound train to Bingen (20 min.) for your bags, then a train to Mainz (20-30 min.) You will probably use the same train to reach Mainz since the local train (MRB) that stops in Bingen stops there for 10 minutes, plenty of time for you to fetch your bags. KD SCHEDULE TRAIN SCHEDULES

Hi Russ Your info was really useful. We'll be arriving at Cologne on 3 june n leaving Munich on 6june 5pm to Prague. I'm trying to figure the besspots to visit. So im looking at a few hours cruise on the Rhine river on 4june, stop at the best spot to overnight n then visit the Black Forest and/or Neuweinstein castle in Fussen on 5june n heading to munich for the night. Could you advise on the best itinerary starting fr Cologne ending at Munich, routes n means for transportation? Or should we do Cologne then Berlin n finish at Munich? But this seems like many hours travelling on trains.
Is it good to buy the special day pass for regional travel or the day pass that allows travel throughout Germany on www.bahn.de? Thanks a lot :)