My wife and I plan to board a K-D Rhine boat at Koblenz(Germany)after taking the train from Detmold. I understand that the boat ride is "free" as part of your Rail Europe pass. I'm getting mixed info about whether you need to book early because these boats fill up fast. How can I book or make a reservation when I am using a Eurail pass to board? Do I even need to do this? We expect to arrive at Koblenz approximately 12:15 and catch the 2pm boat ride down to Bacharach. Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19275 posts
You can't just use the boat for free, but as long as your rail pass is "signed off" for that day, you can ride the boats with it. If you use your rail pass for the train from Detmold to Koblenz that day, you can use it for the boat, as well. I know of no way to reserve the boat in advance, and I understand all the seats on the boats rarely fill up, and if they do, you can stand. The schedule is on their website at www.k-d.de. During the main season I only see boats UP the Rhein to Bacharach at 9:00, 11:00, and 14:00. The trip takes 4½ hrs up the river against the currenct, to Bacharach. If you are planning to come back to Koblenz by train, you might consider going by train to Bacharach and coming back down the river by boat. That direction, with the current, only takes about 3 hours.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
258 posts
George, that's exactly what I did; picked up boat in Koblenz and took it to Bacharach, where I spent the night (I had also gotten off in St Goar, which I suggest, if you have the time, to tour Rhinefells Castle, from which you can take in beautiful Rhine views). However, I did this in early fall, not the summer, so didn't book ahead of time (not that it was dead when I did it; the boat WAS fairly full, but nowhere close to capacity). For the summer, the height of the tourist season, I would see if I could book in advance; I'm not sure that's possible, though. One tip, if it helps; I had my bag with me (traveled w/ a back-pack on that trip), but, of course, didn't want to drag it w/ me while I was in St Goar. The tourist ofice there, which is very close to where you get off, will store your bag for you. That's what I did, and it made it much easier. Then you just have to retrieve it before boarding again for the remainder of the trip to Bacharach. The KD line is great and the Rhine is beautiful; you're sure to love it. Cheers.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19275 posts
Word of warning, during the summer, the tourist office closes at 12:30 for an hour for lunch. I'm sure you can leave your luggage there over that time, but don't expect to retrieve it until 1:30 PM.
Posted by
OP
Prince George, B.C., Canada
5 posts
Excellent information from both of you! We are moving on from Bacharach the next morning to spend 3 nights in Lucerne. Guess we can't do everything. You confirm my idea that we can't book in advance but we shouldn't have a problem getting on board.