Can anyone provide any information about transportation on the Rhine other than the overnight cruises that we have heard about. Are there water taxis between towns? Are they hydro-foils or slower boats? Do you need a reservation? <BR> <BR>Thanks for any help!

I can't speak for the entire length of the Rhine but last year we visited about 4/5 small towns along the river starting in Koblenz and stopping for an hour or two in each town.The water taxis we took were conventional powered boats seating 150/200? people.Reservations were not needed it was like catching a bus.I did'nt see any hydro-foils in that area of the river.By the way that is a very senic stretch of the river through hillsides with numerous vineyards and wonderful castles.ENJOY !!!!

I can't speak for the entire length of the Rhine but last year we visited about 4/5 small towns along the river starting in Koblenz and stopping for an hour or two in each town.The water taxis we took were conventional powered boats seating 150/200? people.Reservations were not needed it was like catching a bus.I did'nt see any hydro-foils in that area of the river.By the way that is a very senic stretch of the river through hillsides with numerous vineyards and wonderful castles.ENJOY !!!!

We took a tour/cruise of about 2 hrs by boarding at Rudesheim and cruising downriver (heading North) to Assmanshausen. We caught the next train heading south which returned us to our car in Rudesheim. We saw the highlights of the Rhine this way, including the German tourists all bursting into song as we passed the Loreley rocks. We also did some sightseeing and wine tasting in Rudesheim. All this was accomplished in a few hours.

Hello! I am in the middle of my trip to Germany. I just got back to my temporary base of operations from a trip to the Rhine. We stayed 2 days in Bacharach at a hotel called the Krananturn. It was very quaint, we stayed in a very old tower. The trains run right next to it every 10 minutes or so. The are loud but not like in the US, they are electric here I think. <BR> <BR>We drove up to Koln on one day and the next day we went up the Rhine on one of the boats to St. Goar. There is a dock in almost every village and you can buy a ticket for as far up (or down) as you want to go. You can even make it round trip. <BR> <BR>We are using Rick Steves' guidebook & he said that the best part of the Rhine was from Bacharach to St. Goar. After driving from Bacharach back to Kaiserslatern along the Rhine I can see why he said that. That is the prettiest part because factorys & commercialism is abundant on the Rhine in the other villages. <BR> <BR>The Bacarach - St. Goar ride also has includes the Pfalst castle. <BR> <BR>One thing, check for German holidays! We are staying at our temp. base today because it is a German holiday & nothing is open. Tomorrow we go to Trier! <BR> <BR>Hope this helped! <BR> <BR>

Captain Farties rhine river party was a pretty good cruise

Captain Farties rhine river party was a pretty good cruise

We did the same trip that Doug describes. We used our Eurailpasses for both the boat and train back. Hearing the Germans breaking into song at the Lorelei gave me chills.

Getting from one shore to another: <BR> <BR>I noticed that there seems to be boats that cross Rhine between Rudesheim and Bingen with Bus or train to get back to the Bingen main station. Can someone who has done this describe this crossing? <BR> <BR>Where else can you cross the Rhine by boat between Mainz and Koblenz? <BR>

Ann & Todd: The "water taxis" are the ferries that will run you (and your car) across the river at select areas. The tour boats will take you on trips, but not just for crossings. They stop, however, at different towns according to their schedule. I have never seen a hydro-foil on the Rhine. Too much traffic for faster boats, I think. <BR> <BR>Greg: You can cross at Rudesheim to Bingen and you can catch a bus to the train station, but if I remember, you could walk it instead. There are many places where you can cross on the middle Rhine. We were there in May and crossed from Lorch to Niederheimbach and it only cost DM 11.00 for one station wagon with five adults. Not bad. <BR> <BR>Have a good trip! <BR>

Drive the Rhine and take the small boat trips to get on the river when you want to. Another great area that we really enjoy as much is the Moselle. It is very close to the Rhine area and the towns are as nice....Cochem, Zell, Bernkastel, etc. Check on a map and you will see what I mean. If you have the time, check out this drive also. I think I like it a little better than the Rhine area. Good hotel for the Rhine is at Assmannhausen...the Krone, right on the river and the boat stop to take a tour. Have fun.