"Ship Ahoy" at the Weserstein - Hann. Münden experiences on the Fulda and Weser rivers

And once again it's "Ship Ahoy" for me at the Weserstein in Hann. Münden.

This year I decided to celebrate my birthday on the MS Weserstein. Great for my guests because they get a free boat tour with their meal and great for me because I don't have to work at all and can enjoy the three-hour trip. We end up being a nice little group of 10 adults, 4 children and 2 dogs.

Nadine and Mike Förster from Weserstein Touristik GmbH brought the excursion ship to Hann. Münden last year, renovated it, modernised it and thus created a great new location on the water. For the first time, a ship is being used as a floating beer garden, waiting for hungry and thirsty guests at the Weserstein at the end of the last trip, and they are very happy to take advantage of the offer.

Mike tells us that the seats in the beer garden are almost always fully booked at the weekends.

Early bird tour instead of breakfast tour

Since the tours are in great demand in the summer, it was not so easy to find a date. In the summer, longer tours take place on Sundays and breakfast and morning pint tours are offered in alternation.

For my little party, there were only enough places for the morning pint. So the fun is pre-programmed! On Sunday morning the time has come - I have asked that we meet at the pier shortly after nine. I know that the departure time was set "a little" too early for some of my family, but I'm glad that everyone did come.

There are always enough free parking spaces directly at the jetty and so everyone gets on board on time.

The Weserstein - a place steeped in history

Our boat tour on the Fulda starts at the Weserstein, the place where the rivers Werra and Fulda meet to form the Weser. I love this historic place with its imposing chestnut tree, which at over 125 years old must be at least as old as the Weserstein!

Since I was allowed to spend my entire childhood in this pretty half-timbered and three-river town, I naturally also have many fond memories of the Weserstein with its river kiss.

A wonderful tour on the Fulda - pure idyll

Our trip begins right away with a special highlight - the lock bridge at the Hann. Münden campsite. The boat is "raised" to the water level of the Fulda in the lock. I have absolute respect for the captain who drives the big ship so safely and skilfully into the lock. To the left and right, there is only a few centimetres of space to the lock wall - I would probably get a good adrenaline rush every time!

Now we leave Hann. Münden behind us and head upstream on the MS Weserstein through the idyllic Fulda valley towards Bonaforth, where the next lock already awaits us! Our journey continues to Speele, where the ship then turns around and sails back to Hann. Münden with a tailwind in the direction of the flow.

Swan family, grey heron & kingfisher - nature experiences without end

On our tour we are lucky enough to spot impressive herons and even the colourful kingfisher - Mike tells us straight away that he has even been able to observe a beaver on the bank! From the water, nature is just wonderfully peaceful and relaxing.

For the children and me, however, the swan family was a touching eye-catcher. The animals are almost tame and have been coming to the ship several times a day with their offspring for the second summer.

My conclusion!

A round trip on the rivers - and it doesn't matter which river it is - is always nice and great for big and small two- and four-legged friends ! Mike and Nadine go to so much trouble to make the stay a special experience and even conjure up lots of great delicacies for the guests in the small galley.

Cast off!

Information on the various round trips and the departure times can be found at hann.muenden-erlebnisregion.de/entdecken/schiffsrundfahrten. There you also have the opportunity to secure tickets for the next boat tour!