K-D Rhine river cruise
 

Has anyone taking the castle one day river cruise on K-D? Does it make stops along the way to visit any castles?
thanks,
mike

www.k-d.com

In summer regular KD boats ply the river about hourly, stopping near several castles you could easily trek up to and then get another boat.

We boarded the KD boat at Bacharach and cruised to St. Goar to see the castle. A few hours later we returned by KD and felt that this was one of the highlights of our April/May trip to Bavaria.
If you are a senior you can travel for half price on Mondays and Fridays.
The regular fare for this portion of the Rhine is 8.9 euros one way or 10.9 euros return per person.
Again, if you are a senior the cost is only 1/2 this rate on Mon & Fri so it only cost us 10.9 Euro round trip for 2 persons.
The ship makes a number of stops along the way.
You didn't mention where you planned to board or where you want to go.

Thanks for the help.
We plan on going next October. Probably boarding at Mainz onto Bonn. Is that a good plan to see many castles. Only going one way. Plan on going to Berlin after that.
Thanks

I haven't seen the timetable of 2006, but in 2005, it changed after 3 October, the schedules had been much limited- stopped fewer places and less frequently ; but with the combination of taking some trains (regional train run hourly), it was still possible to visit several castles in one day. However, the beautiful fall colours along Rhine Valley in October is one big plus.

I think most well-known castles are beween Bingen and Koblenz.

Just a side note, Mike. We took the K-D river cruise in late September and it was quite chilly. Plan to dress warmly, at least while you are actually on the river.

You simply won't be able to board a KD at Mainz and go all the way to Bonn - at least you won't be able to after the first couple of days in October. Before then there is one departure at 0845 that makes it to Bonn ten hours later. As someone wrote - you could do it using the KD and the trains. I would recommend just using trains and ferrys to hopscotch to Bonn. You might be able to work in a short KD ride on the southern end of the Rhine Gorge but if the weather is in question - I would opt for trains instead... Ben

Best part of Rhine cruise is between Rudesheim/Bingen and Koblenz - other sections fairly uneventful and not many castles - more industrial. But this stretch, thru the Rhine Gorge and by the famous Lorelei Cliff is castle-studded. Though most were decapitated by Napoleon even the ruined ones are romantic. Boats run frequently on this stretch from Apr-Oct - once or twice a day only in winter.

ttt, planning, planning, planning. Thanks.

Thanks for the great help.
mike

Is there much to see between Mainz and Bingen? Sounds like the majority of the sites are between Bingen and Koblenz. If so, we could get an extra hour in Frankfurt before taking the train to Bingen.

Also, if we will not be checked into a hotel in Frankfurt, is it best to leave our luggage in a locker in Frankfurt? I'm thinking that we'll take a 1-way river excursion to Koblenz, take the train back to Frankfurt and rent a car to begin heading south.

I don't find the scenery from Mainz to Bingen interesting,if you have only one day for Rhine Valley, it is good idea to leave luggage at Frankfurt Bahnhof (or airport) locker, take train to Bingen for K-D Cruise (about 10 minutes walk from station). It depends on the season, in off season, some boats only reach Boppard.

Re the weather while on the river; we once took this cruise from Mainz to Koblenz...in August..and it wasn't exactly warm on the river that day. You can easily view the scenery from inside the boat through the large windows and eat while you do it, too. I agree it is better outside than in but better inside than not at all.

If you take the train to Bingen to board a ship as Judy C mentioned, get off the train at Bingen Stadt. It is closer to the landing area than Bingen HBF. I also agree with Judy C that I didn't find the route between Mainz and Bingen very interesting.

Great! Thanks so much for the info. VERY helpful!

If I will be taking the train from Brussels into Germany where is the best spot to catch the river cruise? This will be in mid -October.
thanks

ttt

ICE train leaves Brussels Midi every 2 hours to Cologne, takes about 2 1/2 hours. Frequent train from Cologne to Koblenz takes 1 hour, or to Bingen (1 1/2 hour), depends on the schedule of K-D boat, as in mid-October.

Are there any similar cruises along the Neckar River from Heidelberg? If so, is this a more scenic cruise that the one between Bingen and Koblenz?

1- yes
2- scenic but hard to compare - perhaps the Rhine is more interesting.