Friday is party time on the KD

Don’t worry: the “Strandpiraten” (Beach Pirates) with their “Meuterei auf dem Rhein” (Mutiny on the Rhine) are coming with the best of intentions. On four Sundays, they will be boarding the MS RheinGalaxie in Düsseldorf and conquering the partying crowd with the coolest house and techno beats. The “Strandpiraten” are DJs Oliver van Lin, Starskie, Kinsky and Diskomat as well as others. They serve up the best electronic music, which is accompanied by cool drinks and snacks for hungry dancers. They will be taking command for the first time on 30th April for “Dance into May”, not on the bridge, but at the mixing desk of the ultra-modern MS RheinGalaxie.

Get your groove on with DJ Tom Merkens

When the music really gets going at the parties, it’s often Tom Merkens who’s behind it. The DJ is in action at various Köln-Düsseldorfer party events. The dedicated DJ is itching to get going again in the new season. “Like everyone, I can’t wait for things to get back to normal.
We’ve had some extremely difficult months and we haven’t been able to make any plans with certainty. But KD was a reliable partner during this time. We’ve stuck together in the crisis. So I’m really motivated looking ahead,” says Tom Merkens in an interview with “Rhein- Zeit”. He also tells us what’s special about the parties on the water. “At the Sion-Kölsch disco  in Cologne, for example, people party to the latest dance and chart hits on the open deck when the weather’s good. When the ship sails past Cologne’s old town with a view of the lit- up cathedral, it gives me goose bumps. Every time! And I know that the guests feel the same way,” says Tom Merkens enthusiastically. With a twinkle in his eye, he adds: “Maybe it also has a little something to do with the fact thatI play the songs ‘Dat es Heimat’ (That’s Home) by the band Paveier and ‘Stääne’ (Stars) by Klüngelköpp at that very moment. Then, it’s not just the guests from Cologne who get emotionally swept away.”

A chilled-out end to the day

In Cologne and Düsseldorf, the two-hour evening cruises with refreshing drinks, barbecue station and chilled-out lounge music played by a live DJ are still part of the programme. KD launched these events to replace the party cruises cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the restrictions. The combination of a boat cruise and a chilled-out atmosphere on the open deck has been so well received by KD’s passengers that the evening cruises in the Rhine metropolises will carry on every Thursday to Saturday.

Passengers can also enjoy an all-inclusive dining  experience on the evening cruises in Koblenz Mainz, Düsseldorf and Cologne this season. On the three-hour cruise, the boats glide along the city skylines into the sunset. A varied starter plate is served up. There is a buffet for the main courses and desserts. Drinks are served at the table – from red, white and rosé wine to beer and soft drinks, everything is included in the price. The first all-inclusive evening cruise will cast off on Easter Saturday. From May to October, KD offers a sumptuous brunch on every 1st and 3rd Sunday in Cologne and Düsseldorf. The special combination of brunch, sightseeing and boat cruise is extremely popular among friends or family. If you haven’t made any plans for Easter Sunday yet, you’re very welcome on board, because the first brunchcruise launches on 17th April.

Festival with electronic music

One brand new and spectacular addition to the programme is the collaboration between Köln-Düsseldorfer and Bootshaus Cologne. Bootshaus at Mülheim harbour in Cologne is one of the top 5 trendiest clubs in the world. The club plays electronic music like techno, electro-house, trap and dubstep. “The completely new format offers a unique festival on Sunday with the best electronic music. The two partners KD and Bootshaus are a perfect match. Top-class DJs from the electronic music scene will be performing on board the KD. Electronic music at sunset against the backdrop of Cologne’s Rhine skyline – that’s something unique in Germany,” says an excited Michael Baumann, Senior Project Manager Event.