Personenschifffahrt Gebr. Kolb · Cochem
Kolb's one-hour round trip leaves from the yellow pier below the old Moselle bridge and runs upriver past the Reichsburg and the Brauselay cliff to the wine village of Ernst. Pick it over KD because you can step off in Ernst and take a later boat, and because Kolb keeps sailing into November and December.
Kolb runs most of the boats in Cochem, and this is its short one. Kolb's route page has it leaving from the old Moselle bridge, heading a short way downstream toward the leisure centre, then turning upriver past the Reichsburg, the Brauselay rock, Ebernach monastery and the wine villages of Valwig and Ernst. The commentary is in German. The boat is big: the listing says it takes up to 400 people, with a sun deck on top.
Ernst is the point of this listing. You can get off there, walk the village and its vineyard paths, and ride a later Kolb boat back to Cochem, which turns one hour into an easy half day. The upriver views are the better ones anyway. The Ernst stop isn't offered in winter.
Against KD it's close: the same online price (from $16), a similar loop, piers a few minutes apart. KD speaks English; Kolb speaks German and sails longer into the year, daily to 31 October 2026, then weekends in November and a few December dates. Kolb doesn't publish a price list, so you see the fare at the kiosk or when you book. Children aged 4 to 14 pay half and under-4s ride free.
Below the old Moselle bridge, between the car park and the giant chess board, look for the yellow pier with the "Rundfahrten" sign.
The boat heads briefly downriver toward the leisure centre, then turns.
Back past the old town, below the Reichsburg, past the Brauselay rock and Ebernach monastery toward Valwig and Ernst.
Ride straight back, or get off in Ernst and catch a later Kolb boat. Not offered in winter.
Downstream to Cochem with the castle in front of you.
★★★★★This was a fun way to see the valley from a different viewpoint
★★★★★[...] Round-trip boat trip with very nice service.
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Yes, on this listing: you can leave the boat in Ernst and come back on a later Kolb sailing. The stop isn't offered in winter.
No, the commentary is in German. For English, take KD's panorama cruise from the KD pier a few minutes along the promenade.
On a reduced timetable. In 2026 it runs daily to 31 October, then Saturdays and Sundays in November, Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 December and daily from 27 to 31 December.
KD if you want English commentary; Kolb if you want the Ernst stop, a Monday sailing or a boat after mid-October. The views are close to identical.
Ready to book
One hour on the river with Kolb, with the option to step off in the wine village of Ernst and come back later.
KD Panoramic Cruise on the MoselleOne hour past the castle with KD, commentary in German and English, children up to 6 free. The easy first boat.★ 4.4 · 1 hour · from $16
Lock Cruise from Cochem to BeilsteinThrough the Fankel lock to Beilstein and back in about 2.5 hours, with the option to stay and ride a later boat home.★ 4.6 · 2.5 hours · from $28
KD Evening Lounge CruiseTwo hours on KD's boat in the evening with a DJ on deck. A drink on the river, not a guided tour.★ 4.1 · 2 hours · from $30