Rhine KD Line
 

We will be in this area for 4 days this September. We will be coming from Heidelberg to Boppard for two days, then down to Oberwesel for a couple of days. In order to see most of the Rhine I was wondering if anyone knows how long the boat takes from say Bingen to Boppard? We thought of leaving Heidelberg by train to Bingen or somewhere near in the am, and then catch the boat up to Boppard. Any suggestions? Also, earlier we will be visiting a German family, and will be sending them a box ahead of goodies for their children, and the adults. I've got the children taken care of--any ideas for the adults? Many thanks.

The KD website, www.k-d.de, indicates that the trip from Bingen to Boppard takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. Although it is a Germany website there is a english translation available.

There is a K-D timetable at http://www.k-d.com/schiffstouren/fahrplan-rhein.html

I suggest boarding not in Bingen, but in Rudesheim, just across the Rhine. Many boats start at Rudesheim then flaot across the river to Bingen. But Rudesheim is tour-bus central and a big tourist town - many people board the boat here, taking up prime seats along the boat's edge - i've been on several KD cruises and often quite crowded before getting to Bingen. Also traditionally railroad tickets are also valid on KD boats - thus railpasses are valid - so i think you may be able to save some euros by buying a train ticket Heidelberg-Boppard and then using it to take the train to Bingen, then the boat to Boppard on the same ticket - i think this may save you money because in Germany the second person usually pays only 50% of the what the first person pays - and i think this is not the policy with boat fares - and i think the boat fares are significantly higher than rail fares. Caveat emptor! The policy of being able to use rail tickets on these boats i've read many times but of course could have changed - but by buying a ticket to Boppard rather than Bingen would cost only a few extra euros - well worth the risk of losing for the significant potential savings! If refused, just buy boat tickets - you're out only a few euros. Maybe someone will have personal experience with this. Any hope to save you some euro. Actually if doing the train fare scheme i've outlined you should write the train ticket to some station on the east bank of the Rhine - the same side as Rudesheim as to write a Heidelberg-Bingen ticket would be on a route not going thru Rudesheim - so write a ticket on the line along the east bank of the Rhine, further down from Bingen. Or from Bingen, take the small ferries that constantly ply the Rhine between Bingen and Rudesheim for a few euro.

Thanks for everyone's help. It's the little tips that can really save time, money, and frustration!

Can somebody please let me know the cost of a one-way Rhine boat ticket from Rudesheim to Koblenz? The boat schedule? Form of payments? cash/credit card? thank you in advance

Igor: www.k-d.com is the official site of KD rhine boats - should give price and schedules but these boats are not terribly expensive.