KD

What KD does

KD (Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH) operates passenger ship tours, scheduled line cruises, and themed event services on the Rhine, Main, and Moselle rivers in western Germany. Founded in 1826 and celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2026, the company runs a diversified fleet — including the premium hotel ship KD Moment, party vessel MS RheinMagie, anniversary ship MS RheinGalaxie, and historic paddle steamer RMS Goethe — across 76 docking stations with operational hubs in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Mainz, and Koblenz. Its product portfolio spans panorama sightseeing cruises, scheduled line trips with combination tickets, full-day excursions, party cruises, culinary and comedy events, fireworks cruises (including Cologne Lights and Rhein in Flames), multi-day event cruises, and B2B trade fair hotel ship accommodation.

The business operates under a primarily direct-to-consumer model via shop.k-d.com and hotelfriend.k-d.com, supplemented by 76 physical ticket offices and a network of (coach) tour operators, travel agents, and resellers. B2B channels include corporate event packages, KD catering services, hotel ships for nine major trade fairs (Anuga, ProWein, IDS, K-Messe, SPS, MEDICA, A+A, Tube & Wire, Interpack), and an intermodal partnership with Deutsche Bahn offering BahnCard holders 20% off line cruises. Pricing is unit-based per cruise, ranging from approximately €89 for Christmas all-inclusive evening cruises to €249–€289 for premium anniversary events, with subscription products (KD RheinCard annual pass at up to 50% discount on panorama and line cruises) and gift vouchers completing the monetization mix.

The company is structured as a private GmbH operating subsidiary under Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt AG — Germany's oldest continuously listed public limited company — which issues profit participation rights (€1.5 million first tranche at 3.5% p.a., €500 minimum) as a bank-independent mechanism for the estimated €3 million annual seasonal working capital requirement. Customer segments span individual leisure tourists (primary), corporate B2B clients, trade fair attendees, school and youth groups, and special-occasion celebrants. The technology stack is a standard e-commerce booking system with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, proprietary platform architecture, or developer-facing API.

Name

KD

Legal name

Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH

Website

https://k-d.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1826

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

KD (Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH) operates passenger ship tours, scheduled cruises, and themed event services on Germany's Rhine, Main, and Moselle rivers, serving leisure tourists, corporate clients, and trade fair attendees across 76 docking stations from a 200-year-old fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

River Cruise Tourism and Passenger Shipping

NAICS

Inland Water Passenger Transportation (483212), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Theme & Specialty River Cruises (Culinary/Wellness/Music/etc.) (THAEACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Day-Cruise & Excursion Boat Operators (Non-overnight) (THAEAGAG), River Cruise Specialists (THAKAKAF), Leisure Passenger Shipping Charters (Ferry/Excursion Vessels) (THAEAGAH), Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)

Keywords

• River cruise tours
• Passenger shipping services
• Themed event cruises
• Corporate event venues
• Hotel ship accommodation

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Passenger boat tours and cruises: Core revenue from scheduled and chartered boat tours on Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers. Includes panorama cruises, line cruises, day trips, and themed tours.
2. Event cruises and party trips: Specialized cruise products including party cruises, dinner cruises, fireworks cruises, and event packages with catering included.
3. Gastronomy and catering: Onboard food and beverage sales during cruises, including buffets, drinks packages, and specialty dining experiences.
4. Hotel ship services: Accommodation services for trade shows and events, providing ship berths as floating hotel rooms near major exhibition venues.
5. Travel agent commissions and group bookings: Revenue from B2B partnerships with tour operators, travel agents, and resellers who book group trips.
6. Profit participation rights issuance: Company issues profit participation rights as bank-independent financing mechanism for seasonal working capital needs. Minimum investment of 500 euros with 3.5% annual interest rate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KD operates passenger shipping and tourism services on the Rhine, Main, and Moselle rivers, offering scheduled liner trips, panoramic sightseeing cruises, day excursions, themed party and event cruises, multi-day event cruises, fireworks viewing cruises, Christmas/Advent cruises, and B2B services including corporate event charters and hotel ship accommodation for trade fairs. The company runs its own fleet of vessels across 76 docking stations and serves both individual leisure travelers and corporate clients with integrated catering and event management.

Product overview

KD (Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH) operates a comprehensive passenger shipping business on German rivers, offering a diverse portfolio of cruise and event services. The core offering consists of Schiffstouren (boat tours) subdivided into Panoramafahrten (panoramic sightseeing cruises), Linienfahrten (scheduled liner trips), and Tagesfahrten (day excursions). Events include Partyfahrten (party cruises), Shows (entertainment), Kulinarik (culinary events), Feuerwerk (fireworks cruises), and Advent (Christmas cruises). Eventkreuzfahrten provide multi-day cruise experiences. The B2B division offers corporate event services, hotel ships for trade fairs, and tour operator packages. The fleet includes named vessels such as KD Moment (premium hotel ship), MS RheinMagie (party ship), MS RheinGalaxie (anniversary ship), and RMS Goethe (historic paddle steamer). KD operates 76 moorings across the Rhine, Main, and Moselle, and celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KD Moment: Premium-class hotel ship used for event cruises, offering hospitality and gastronomy services.
• MS RheinMagie
• MS RheinGalaxie
• MS RheinDiamond (ex Jules Verne)
• MS Palladium
• MS Godesburg
• KD Eventkreuzfahrten
• KD RheinCard

Products and services

• Panoramafahrten (Panorama Cruises) City sightseeing cruises during day and evening hours on the Rhine, Main, and Moselle rivers, offering scenic views of major German cities including Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Koblenz, Cochem, Mainz, and Wiesbaden. Targeted at individual tourists and leisure travelers seeking short sightseeing experiences.
• Linienfahrten & Kombitickets (Scheduled Trips & Combination Tickets) Regular scheduled liner services along the Rhine, including routes through the UNESCO World Heritage Middle Rhine Valley, combined with other attractions such as cable cars, fortresses, and the Siebengebirge region. Serves individual tourists using zone-based fares.
• Tagesfahrten (Day Trips) Full-day excursion cruises including meals, lunch buffets, and shore leave, with destinations such as Duisburg, Zons, Monheim am Rhein, and round trips combining multiple cities. Targets tourists seeking comprehensive day-long experiences.
• Partyfahrten (Party Cruises) Themed party events on the water including carnival parties, summer beats, All White Party, beach pirates, Mallorca Party, 80s/90s revival parties, and themed celebrations throughout the year. Targeted at adult leisure and party audiences.
• Shows (Entertainment Cruises) Cultural entertainment events featuring comedy shows like Nightwash live, Konrad Beikircher performances, Hollywood Night shows, and murder mystery dinner experiences. Targeted at leisure audiences seeking cultural and entertainment experiences.
• Kulinarik (Culinary Events) Food-focused cruise experiences including KD Food Markets with live cooking, dinner and dance events with multi-course menus, Sunday brunches, and all-inclusive evening cruises with buffets and beverages. Targeted at culinary tourists and special occasion diners.
• Feuerwerk (Fireworks Cruises) Special event cruises to major fireworks displays including Rhein in Flames in Bonn, Sankt Goar, Rüdesheim/Bingen, and Oberwesel, plus Japanese fireworks in Düsseldorf, Cologne Lights, and museumsuferfest Frankfurt. Targeted at large crowds seeking premium fireworks viewing experiences on the water.
• Advent (Christmas Cruises) Holiday-themed cruises during the Advent season including Advent brunches, afternoon trips, Christmas all-inclusive evening cruises, and Christmas party events in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Mainz, and Frankfurt. Targeted at families, couples, and corporate Christmas party groups.
• Eventkreuzfahrten (Event Cruises) Extended multi-day cruise experiences including Magic Moments (adventure trips for special occasions), Legendary Moments (wine festival and castle tours along the UNESCO Middle Rhine and Moselle), and holiday cruises for Christmas and New Year's. Booked via dedicated hotelfriend.k-d.com platform.
• B2B Services (Corporate Events, Hotel Ships, Tour Operator Packages) Corporate services including event packages, KD catering, hotel ship bookings for trade fairs (Anuga, ProWein, IDS, K-Messe, SPS, MEDICA, A+A, Tube & Wire, Interpack), exclusive company events, and packages for tour operators. Targeted at corporate clients and travel resellers.
• Hotel Ships for Trade Fairs Accommodation services providing ship berths as floating hotel rooms near major exhibition venues such as Koelnmesse and Messe Düsseldorf during trade fairs. Targeted at trade fair visitors and exhibitors facing hotel scarcity.
• KD RheinCard Annual Pass Annual travel pass offering up to 50% discount on unlimited KD panorama and liner trips for 12 months, valid at all KD moorings along the Rhine, Main, and Moselle. Targeted at frequent leisure travelers and local residents.
• KD Wertgutschein (Gift Vouchers) Gift vouchers valid for all KD offerings, redeemable at KD ticket agencies and on board ships for both travel services and onboard gastronomy. Targeted at gift purchasers and tourism consumers.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Müller TouristikminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMüller Touristik is featured as a partner for KD events including Oktoberfest-Bootparty and Schlager-Bootparty party cruises, co-presenting themed boat events.
• PartyReisen24minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartyReisen24 co-presents Peter Wackel's Karnevals-Partyboot (Carnival Party Boat) events on KD ships.
• Weingut Tobias RickesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWinery partnership for Wein Beats Cruise event, presented by Tobias Rickes winery featuring wine tastings during the cruise.
• Kölner Stadt-AnzeigerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for the 150th anniversary celebration combined with KD's 200th anniversary at Cologne Lights 2026 fireworks event.
• Bootshaus (Cologne club)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with legendary Cologne techno club Bootshaus for Bootshaus on a Ship day party event featuring the club's brand and DJs.
• Nightwash (Comedy brand)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCult German comedy brand Nightwash appears live on KD ships, bringing comedy entertainment to the water.
• Deutsche BahncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering Deutsche Bahn customers 20% discount on KD line cruise fares when presenting valid rail tickets, BahnCard, or BahnPass. Promotes intermodal travel.
• Ergo ReiseversicherungminorOthersInsurance partner providing ticket insurance options to customers after booking through KD's online store.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 1AVista Reisen: Cologne-based tour operator specializing in river cruises across European waterways including the Rhine; comparable mid-sized German competitor with overlapping route portfolio and customer demographics.
• Phoenix Reisen: Bonn-based cruise line operating both ocean and river cruises, including Rhine and Moselle itineraries; comparable German operator with overlapping German leisure customer base and similar multi-day river cruise products.
• nicko cruises (Scylla AG): German river and ocean cruise operator running its own and chartered vessels on Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle; competes directly with KD on themed river itineraries and German-language distribution.
• Plantours Kreuzfahrten: Bremen-based cruise line with a portfolio spanning river and smaller ocean vessels; competes with KD on European river routes and on multi-day themed cruises for the German market.
• A-ROSA Flusskreuzfahrten: German-headquartered river cruise operator offering Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle cruises with its own fleet; directly competes with KD on German inland waterways and targets a similar German-speaking leisure audience.
• Viking River Cruises: Global leader in river cruising with a significant presence on the Rhine and Moselle; competes with KD for international and German leisure tourists on the same inland waterways, often via chartered vessels.
• Amadeus Flusskreuzfahrten (Lüftner Cruises): Austrian/German river cruise brand operating premium vessels on Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle; directly comparable to KD on itinerary geography and German-speaking leisure customers.

Broad incumbents

• TUI Cruises: Germany's largest cruise brand (joint venture with Royal Caribbean) offering ocean cruises to German-speaking customers; broader incumbent in the German leisure cruise market with overlapping customer demographics and brand-driven distribution.

Regional players

• Stern und Kreisschiffahrt: Berlin-based operator running sightseeing and event cruises on the Havel and Spree; similar sightseeing/event cruise model to KD's Rhine operations but serving Berlin/Brandenburg rather than Rhine/Main/Moselle markets.
• Primus-Linie: Berlin-based operator of day cruises and event/sightseeing vessels on German inland waterways; comparable business model around short-duration sightseeing and event cruises, though primarily serving a different city/region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kddeutscherheinschiffahrtg2574
• Facebookfacebook.com/KDSchiffstouren
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/koeln-duesseldorfer-deutsche-rheinschiffahrt-gmbh?originalSubdomain=de
• Instagraminstagram.com/kd.rheinschiffahrt
• Xx.com/k_d_com

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KD