Swiss Lake Constance shipping

What Swiss Lake Constance shipping does

Swiss Lake Constance Shipping (legal name: Schweizerische Bodensee-Schifffahrt AG, operating as SBS AG / Bodensee Schiffe) is a privately held Swiss Aktiengesellschaft headquartered in Romanshorn, Thurgau, that operates scheduled passenger ships and car ferries on Lake Constance. Founded in 1854 as NOB-Schifffahrt, nationalized under the Swiss Federal Railways in 1902 and re-privatized in 1996 as SBS AG, the company today runs a fleet of seven passenger ships (including the flagship MS St. Gallen, MS Thurgau, MS Zürich, MS Säntis, MS Rhyspitz and MS Rhynegg) plus two car ferries (MF Romanshorn and MF Euregia) serving routes from Rheineck to Unteruhldingen across Swiss, German and Austrian shores. Beyond transport, SBS AG operates the largest shipyard on Lake Constance (expanded 17 meters into the lake in 2014), two waterfront restaurants (Restaurant HAFEN with regional cuisine and Ristorante PORTO with Italian cuisine), the Kornhaus event venue (capacity up to 400 guests) in Romanshorn, and the Robins Horn adventure playground opened in 2024.

The company's commercial offering spans four pillars: (1) core transport via scheduled cruise routes and the Romanshorn-Friedrichshafen car ferry (CHF 12.80 per single ferry crossing); (2) over 150 themed experience cruises per season across 20 topics (Sunday brunch CHF 89, Schützengarten burger ship CHF 75, Kreuzlingen Lake Night Festival CHF 42-136, Krimidinner CHF 132.80), driving premium per-passenger yields; (3) private and corporate charter services plus seminars (MS Zürich at CHF 3,600 / 2 hours, MS Rhynegg at CHF 2,500); and (4) ancillary revenue from the VSU Saison Card, gift cards, professional radar patent training (CHF 2,400 per person), Kornhaus venue rental and catering, shipyard maintenance, and the Robins Horn playground. Tickets are distributed through the ticket.sbsag.ch online shop, ship counters, on-board sales and integrated rail ticketing via SBB, Thurbo and Appenzeller Bahnen.

The customer base is dominated by tourists and day-trippers in the Lake Constance tri-border region, supplemented by corporate event clients, private celebrations (weddings, birthdays) and cross-border commuters/cyclists using the car ferry. The company is managed by a Verwungsrat chaired by Benno Gmür (also serving as Interim CEO), with executive heads leading Nautics, Shipyard, Gastronomy, Finance, Events, Sales & Marketing and Communications & Design. In 2025 the company launched a new corporate identity and repositioned itself as a full-service events partner on Lake Constance, while continuing to operate as an independent, family/governance-led AG with no disclosed institutional ownership.

Name

Swiss Lake Constance shipping

Legal name

Schweizerische Bodensee-Schifffahrt AG

Website

https://bodensee-schiffe.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1854

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Schweizerische Bodensee-Schifffahrt AG operates scheduled passenger ships, car ferries, themed cruises, charters, restaurants, a shipyard and event venues on Lake Constance across Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Founded 1854 and re-privatized in 1996, it serves tourists, corporate clients and private celebrants from its Romanshorn headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lake Passenger Ferry and Cruise Services

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Water Transportation (483)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness) (THAJAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tourist & Scenic Passenger Ferries (Non-Cruise) (THAIAJAH), Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (THAEABAF), Theme & Specialty River Cruises (Culinary/Wellness/Music/etc.) (THAEACAL), River Cruise + Land Tour Packages (Cruisetours) (THAEACAK)

Keywords

• Lake passenger ferries
• Scheduled cruise services
• Themed experience cruises
• Vessel charter services
• Shipyard repair operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Romanshorn

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Passenger and Ferry Tickets: Sale of course and experience cruise tickets as well as car ferry tickets on the Romanshorn–Friedrichshafen route. Tickets are sold online, at the counter, and on board. Revenue is per ticket/per passenger/per vehicle.
2. Themed Experience Cruises: Specialty cruises including Sunday brunch (CHF 89), 1 August celebrations, Lindau by Night, Kreuzlingen Lake Night Festival, crime dinners, burger ships, Fajita evenings, and more. These command premium pricing.
3. Gastronomy: Onboard dining on MS St. Gallen, MS Thurgau, and MS Zürich with full kitchen; restaurant HAFEN and Ristorante PORTO at the Romanshorn harbor. Food and beverage sales are a significant revenue stream.
4. Charter Services: Private charter, corporate event charters, weddings, seminars, and meetings. Ships such as MS Säntis (up to 180 persons), MS St. Gallen, MS Zürich (CHF 3,600/2h charter), and MS Rhynegg (CHF 2,500) are available for charter.
5. Shipyard Services: The company operates the largest shipyard on Lake Constance (opened 2014), offering maintenance, repair, and modernization services for its own fleet and potentially external vessels.
6. Event Venue Rental: The Kornhaus Romanshorn event venue (capacity up to 400 guests) is managed by SBS AG since 2023, offering catering and venue rental for events including crime dinners.
7. Radar Patent Training: Professional radar patent training courses priced at CHF 2,400 per person, including theoretical and practical training, materials, exam fees, meals, and certificate.
8. Gift Cards and Vouchers: Gift cards valid across all course ships, the car ferry, experience cruises, Restaurant HAFEN, Ristorante PORTO, and the Robins Horn adventure playground.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Schweizerische Bodensee-Schifffahrt AG operates scheduled ferry and passenger cruise services across Lake Constance, connecting Swiss, German, and Austrian shores. The company also offers themed experience cruises, private and corporate charters, onboard dining, two harbor restaurants (Restaurant HAFEN, Ristorante PORTO), event venue rental (Kornhaus), professional radar training, and shipyard maintenance services.

Product overview

The Schweizerische Bodensee-Schifffahrt AG operates a diversified leisure and transport service portfolio centered on Lake Constance. Core offerings include scheduled ferry service between Romanshorn and Friedrichshafen, and scheduled cruise routes serving 24 ports from Rheineck to Unteruhldingen. Experience offerings include themed cruise experiences (Sunday brunch, fondue ships, burger cruises, murder mystery dinners, Kreuzlingen Lake Night Festival), combined ship-and-train excursions, and charter services for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations. The company operates two restaurants (Restaurant HAFEN with regional cuisine, Ristorante PORTO with Italian cuisine) and event spaces in the Kornhaus (up to 400 guests). Supporting services include an adventure playground ('Robins Horn'), professional radar patent training, and shipyard/maintenance services at the largest facility on Lake Constance. An online shop enables ticket sales for all services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Restaurant HAFEN: Restaurant directly on the lake in Romanshorn with regional cuisine and maritime atmosphere.
• Ristorante PORTO
• Robins Horn

Products and services

• Bodensee Fähre (Car Ferry Service) Car ferry service operating between Romanshorn (Switzerland) and Friedrichshafen (Germany), providing passenger, bicycle, and vehicle transport across Lake Constance. Single ferry fare CHF 12.80 with no GA/Half-Tax discounts.
• Kursschifffahrt (Scheduled Cruise Service) Scheduled cruise service connecting multiple ports around Lake Constance from Rheineck to Unteruhldingen, with cross-traffic to Lindau, Hagnau/Immenstaad, and Langenargen. Valid with SBS Day Ticket, GA, and Half-Tax travel cards.
• Sonntagsbrunch (Sunday Brunch Cruise) Weekly Sunday brunch cruise departing from Romanshorn, Rorschach, or Kreuzlingen, featuring a brunch buffet with regional and seasonal dishes. Adults CHF 89, children 12-15 CHF 39, children 6-11 CHF 25, under 6 free.
• Krimidinner im Kornhaus (Murder Mystery Dinner) Murder mystery dinner theater experience in the Kornhaus event venue, combining a 3-course menu with theatrical performances. Adults CHF 132.80. Tickets sold via ticketcorner.ch.
• Kreuzlinger Seenachtfest (Lake Night Festival Cruise) Evening cruise to the Kreuzlingen Lake Night Festival featuring fireworks. MS St. Gallen with Gala menu CHF 136 adults, MS Thurgau with buffet CHF 125 adults, MS Zürich without dining CHF 42-48.
• Erlebnisrundfahrt Ostschweiz (Eastern Switzerland Experience Round Trip) Combined ship and train excursion featuring Möhl's Apfelsaft Express, including boat and train transport, lunch, dessert, and coffee. Adults CHF 99, children 12-15 CHF 59, children 6-11 CHF 30, under 6 free.
• Schützengarten Burgerschiff (Burger Ship Cruise) Evening cruise featuring unlimited burger buffet à discrétion with Schützengarten brewery beer served separately. Adults CHF 75, children 12-15 CHF 45, children 6-11 CHF 23.
• Charterfahrten (Charter Cruises) Private and corporate charter services for events including weddings (e.g., on MS Rhyspitz), company celebrations (e.g., MS Alte Rhy), seminars, and private trips with catering. Ships include MS Säntis (up to 180 persons), MS St. Gallen, MS Zürich (CHF 3,600/2h), and MS Rhynegg (CHF 2,500).
• Kornhaus Events Venue Rental Event venue rental in the historic Kornhaus building in Romanshorn, accommodating up to 400 guests for various occasions including weddings, corporate events, conferences, and murder mystery dinners.
• Restaurant HAFEN Waterfront restaurant in Romanshorn offering regional cuisine with maritime atmosphere, located directly on the new harbor platform with views of arriving and departing ships.
• Ristorante PORTO Italian restaurant with 160 indoor and 80 outdoor seats, located directly on the lakeside in Romanshorn, featuring Cucina Italiana cuisine.
• Robins Horn Abenteuerspielplatz (Adventure Playground) Adventure playground in Romanshorn featuring observation towers with panoramic Lake Constance views, suitable for families and combinable with ship trips or dining at Ristorante Porto.
• Radarpatent Ausbildung (Radar Patent Training) Professional 4-day radar patent (Radarpatent) training program with intensive practical exercises on the MS Rhyspitz, taught by professional skippers. CHF 2,400 per person, including theory, practice, materials, exam fees, meals, and certificate. Maximum 6 participants.
• Werft (Shipyard Maintenance and Repair Services) Ship maintenance, repair, and modernization services at the largest and most modern shipyard on Lake Constance, with facilities including cranes and a Helingwagen (synchro-lift) following the 2014 expansion.
• VSU Saison Card Season card offering unlimited travel on all SBS scheduled ships, valid for the Lake Constance navigation season, available through the VSU association of united shipping companies.
• Gift Cards and Vouchers Gift cards valid across all course ships, the car ferry, experience cruises, Restaurant HAFEN, Ristorante PORTO, and the Robins Horn adventure playground.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Sonntagsbrunch cruise has a 5-star rating from 131 reviews.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ThurbocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThurbo is a key transport partner, providing reliable passenger connections to and from SBS ships. Thurbo is also a strong partner in organizing the traditional Hafenfest (harbor festival).
• Thurgau Bodensee TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBS has been the official Tourist Information in Romanshorn since Thurgau Tourism moved its office there. The partnership involves close collaboration and regular exchange.
• Appenzellerland TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Erlebnisrundfahrt (experience round trip) combines SBS shipping with Appenzellerland attractions including the Witzwanderweg, rack railways, and the Alter Rhein nature reserve.
• St.Gallen-Bodensee TourismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a partner of SBS AG, St.Gallen-Bodensee promotes the region including lake shipping, cycling, and stand-up paddling activities.
• SchützengartenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 20 years of close collaboration. Schützengarten is the regional beer brand featured on the Burger Ship experience cruise and throughout SBS operations.
• Selection Schwander (Wine Papst)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWine expert Philipp Schwander has been in the wine trade for over 25 years and curates wine selections for SBS ships and restaurants.
• Mineralquelle Gontenbad (Goba)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoba mineral water products are found in all areas of SBS operations. The product range was expanded with Goba Cola.
• Appenzeller BahnencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShared 'Witzerlebnis' product and important transport partner bringing guests to the harbor at Rorschach and from there into Appenzellerland.
• Kornhaus Romanshorn AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKornhaus Romanshorn AG is the partner landlord for SBS event spaces in the Kornhaus venue. The holiday apartments and boarding houses complement SBS services.
• autobau ErlebnisweltminorOthersListed as an additional partner.
• VSU – Vereinigte Schiffffahrtsunternehmen für den Bodensee und RheincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBS is a member of VSU, the association of united shipping companies for Lake Constance and the Rhine, which coordinates lake-wide operations and the VSU Saison Card.
• VSSU – Verband Schweizerischer SchifffahrtsunternehmenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBS is a member of VSSU, the association of Swiss shipping companies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves18 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vorarlberg Lines (Bodenseeschifffahrt): Austrian shipping company operating scheduled and event cruises out of Bregenz on Lake Constance. Directly comparable in business model (scheduled routes, themed events, charters) and competes with SBS for cross-border passengers on the eastern lake shore.
• Untersee- und Rheinschifffahrt (URh): Swiss operator of passenger services on Lake Constance's Untersee arm and the High Rhine, founded in 1864. Operates in the same Swiss regulatory and labor environment with similar small-ship passenger and excursion services, making it the most structurally similar Swiss peer.
• Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe GmbH (BSB): German operator of the Konstanz–Meersburg car ferry and other Lake Constance services, the direct counterpart to SBS on the German shore. Operates on the same lake with overlapping passenger and ferry routes, making it the closest head-to-head competitor.

Others

• Thurbo AG: SBB subsidiary operating regional rail in Thurgau and St. Gallen, integrated with SBS for combined ticketing and harbor festivals. Not a competitor, but a key distribution and partnership channel whose relationship materially affects SBS demand.
• Bodensee Touristik GmbH: Regional tourism marketing organization for the international Lake Constance region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein). Acts as a demand-generation partner for SBS rather than a competitor, but a key counterparty shaping regional visitor flows.

Emerging players

• SBS Schifffahrt Aare Bern: Operator of themed and event cruises on the Aare river in Bern, Switzerland, offering similar small-ship brunch and themed experiences. Comparable in event/themed cruise programming but on a different Swiss waterway.
• CGN (Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le Léman): Swiss operator of passenger and gastronomy cruises on Lake Geneva with a comparable business model of scheduled service combined with themed dining and event cruises. The closest Swiss peer outside Lake Constance in both geography and operating approach.

Broad incumbents

• Viking Cruises: Global leader in river and small-ship cruises, with significant European river cruise operations including themed culinary and cultural itineraries. Relevant as a large-scale reference point for themed/experience cruise economics, even though it does not compete on Lake Constance.
• Stena Line: One of the world's largest ferry operators with European routes, comparable in car ferry and passenger operations. Operates at vastly larger scale and on coastal routes, but represents the broader ferry/RoPax category benchmark.
• KD (Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschifffahrt): Germany's largest Rhine river cruise line, operating a large fleet of day and event ships on the Rhine. Comparable in offering scheduled passenger service, themed event cruises, and event charters, but at much larger scale and on a different waterway.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/schweizerischebodenseeschifffahrt
• Instagraminstagram.com/bodenseeschiffe/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schweizerische-bodensee-schiffahrtsgesellschaft-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

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 Swiss Lake Constance shipping