Romantic Rhine

During peak months, as many as five Köln-Düsseldorfer ships cruise this section of the Rhine daily, and numerous smaller companies offer additional options.

And you can certainly blend in train transport, either to fill in gaps or accelerate travel. For example, if you've finished with Lahnstein and want to explore neighboring Braubach (with the Marksburg, the Romantic Rhine's only hilltop fortress that was never destroyed), don't wait for the next boat; more frequent trains will get you there in six minutes.

And then continue on to Boppard from Braubach. Local trains run hourly or more frequently on both sides of the river. Just remember, there are no bridges across the Rhine between Koblenz and Mainz; so you'll have to depend on ships or ferries to get from one side to the other.

As far as dealing with luggage during the day, most train stations have storage facilities. A € 2 locker will hold two large suitcases for as long as 36 hours. If you've selected a restaurant for lunch, you can also ask to leave luggage there for a few hours before or after you dine. Most will agree - and decline any offer of money.

Finally, tourist offices are eager to help in any way they can. These are not large towns, and you'll find steamship stops, train stations and tourist offices generally within close proximity of each other.