“We Are KD

People Make the Difference

For 200 years, Köln-Düsseldorfer has shaped shipping on the Rhine like no other company. KD for two centuries of corporate history, technical innovations, and economic and social change. Its ships connect cities, regions, and, above all, people.

After all, it’s always the people who make the difference. Much of KDwe accomplish can only be achieved by working together as a team. “We are KD” is the confident slogan adopted by the employees of this long-established company in its anniversary year.

Meeting Point: The “GOETHE” Paddlewheel Boat

Guests encounter most KD employees on board the ships. The fleet is in a class of its own, consisting of seven event ships and eight heritage ships. The paddlewheel steamer “GOETHE” holds a special place. The steamer was launched in 1913 to replace the decommissioned “Ernst Moritz Arndt.” It was the last new vessel built for combined freight and passenger transport by the Prussian-Rhenish Steamship Company, one of the two predecessors of KD. On October 5, 2008, the era of steam shipping on the German section of the Rhine came to an end. Köln-Düsseldorfer had the paddle steamer “GOETHE” converted to diesel propulsion. Since then, its distinctive paddle wheels have been driven by hydraulic motors. The paddle steamer, restored with meticulous attention to detail, operates on the nostalgic route through the entire Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour starts in Koblenz and goes to Rüdesheim and back. Along the way, it passes through picturesque Rhine towns such as Braubach, St. Goarshausen, St. Goar, Bacharach, Assmannshausen, and Bingen.

A Textbook Career in Customer Service

Manuela Labs has been the ship manager on the “GOETHE” for three years. The 62-year-old has been working for the Cologne-Düsseldorf-based company for 35 years. “I started in 1990 as a waitress on the Asbach; later, I became the restaurant manager,” says the Berlin native. She finds her work on the “GOETHE” particularly special. “In addition to tourists from all over the world, we get to welcome many guests from the region. Often older people who live along the Rhine and come on board more or less regularly. I know many of these regulars by name, so there’s always an opportunity for a little chat. These personal connections are really nice.”

Time for a little “chat” in between

The cruise on the “GOETHE” along the Nostalgia Route is also very popular with groups. “Our dining service is perfectly geared toward this. For these guests, we offer a set menu that can be ordered in advance upon request. Among passengers who choose à la carte, the currywurst and the Stullen are the top sellers,” explains the ship’s manager. These Stullen are a fairly new addition to the menu. You can choose from a Mediterranean (with grilled vegetables), a hearty (with schnitzel and a fried egg), or a healthy (with salad, spinach, and a poached egg) topping on a thick slice of Swiss rye bread. Every variation deserves the label “extremely tasty.”

Experiencing the “GOETHE” While It’s Still Under Steam

For many years, the “GOETHE” was the last remaining steamboat on the Rhine. After the 1989 season ended, she was initially taken out of service and laid up at Niehl Harbor in Cologne. Six years later, the ship underwent an extensive, faithful restoration and a complete overhaul. At the end of August 1996, the “GOETHE” was presented to the public in Cologne during a festive ceremony and put back into service. One of the last crew members on board who experienced the “GOETHE” under steam is Gerd Grassl. The “GOETHE”’s engineer initially worked for Köln-Düsseldorfer from 1986 to 1996. He rejoined the team in 2018. He speaks almost affectionately of “his GOETHE.” “It’s a ship with a lot of flair that has a special charm. The guests sense this, too. Many are very interested in learning more about the ship and its old and new propulsion systems,” says the 65-year-old engineer.

The “Old Lady” needs a lot of attention

“I absolutely love sailing on the GOETHE. I’m always excited when the season starts up again in the spring. That’s when important maintenance work is due. Above all, the engines and the hydraulics need to be overhauled.” In general, the “old lady” needs a lot of attention, but the main thing is that her heart keeps beating. “Back when she was still a steamship, it was really backbreaking work. I spent a lot of time in the engine room. The temperatures in there used to be very high,” recalls Gerd Grassl. These days, his workplace is the comfortable, air-conditioned control room.

Floating landmark

Even after more than 100 years, whether under steam or not, the “GOETHE” is a fixture on the Middle Rhine. It is a floating landmark that announces its arrival from afar with the distinctive blast of its steam whistle. There is no set schedule for when and where this whistle sounds. “We sound the whistle at traditional locations or on special occasions. The people on the shore love it,” says Captain Niko Braune. He has only been the captain of the “GOETHE” since this season. The 43-year-old is the successor to Andreas Warz, who has retired. Niko Braune began his career with KD August 1, 2000, as a deckhand on the MS Berlin. He shares the position of captain of the “GOETHE” with Gunnar Grosser. Every three weeks, the two switch places in the wheelhouse. “I really appreciate that I now get to captain this prestigious ship. In general, I’m fascinated by paddlewheelers.”

KD
Until October 4, 2026
Daily except Mondays
Koblenz – Rüdesheim – Koblenz
Information and tickets: www.k-d.com/produkt/nostalgie-route

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