GENUSSSCHIFF AG

What GENUSSSCHIFF AG does

GENUSSSCHIFF AG is a Swiss Aktiengesellschaft founded in February 2021 in Zürich to acquire and operate the MS UFENAU, a 27.10-meter heritage passenger ship built in 1976/77 and homeported in Rapperswil on Lake Zurich. The company charters the vessel for private events (weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate entertainment, business meetings) and operates a small calendar of public ticketed events such as the Seenachtsfest (Lake Night Festival) and themed dining evenings including the Meeresfrüchte & Austern Soirée. It also maintains a recurring partnership with the Smoke on the Water association, for which MS UFENAU serves as the club venue for roughly 25 trips per year.

The core product offering combines the vessel (53 indoor seats across Bug- and Heck-Lounges plus two outdoor deck areas, an onboard humidor, and a fully equipped catering kitchen) with customizable culinary packages ranging from apéro cruises to multi-course dinners and cigar pairings. Pricing is quote-based for private charters (approximately CHF 150 per person for a 3-hour apéro to CHF 250+ per person for a 4-course dinner) and unit-priced for public events (CHF 155 for Seenachtsfest, CHF 235 for the seafood Soirée). The vessel completed an extensive three-month renovation at JMS Schmerikon between December 2025 and April 2026, with renewed interiors and redesigned outdoor lounges.

The business operates on three revenue streams: private charter rentals (one-time/transactional), public event ticket sales (transactional via the Eventfrog platform), and recurring club/association bookings (subscription-like). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via website contact forms, email, and phone, supplemented by organic social media (LinkedIn, Instagram), earned regional press, and public events that serve as showcase experiences to drive future private bookings. The company has no disclosed external institutional investors; ownership rests with an enthusiast group of co-owners overseen by a 5-person board and led by Geschäftsführer & Chef-Kapitän Stephan Rick.

Name

GENUSSSCHIFF AG

Legal name

Genussschiff AG

Website

https://genussschiff.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GENUSSSCHIFF AG is a Zürich-based hospitality company that charters the heritage passenger ship MS UFENAU on Lake Zurich for private events, corporate entertainment, recurring club bookings, and ticketed public experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter Cruise Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Cruise Ship Charters (Full-Vessel) (THAEAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Event Cruise Charters (MICE/Buyouts) (THAEAEAE), Boutique Small-Ship River Cruises (THAEACAC), Theme & Specialty River Cruises (Culinary/Wellness/Music/etc.) (THAEACAL)

Keywords

• Luxury boat charters
• Event cruise services
• Lake zurich dining
• Passenger ship charter
• Private yacht charters

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Private Charter Rentals: The company charters the MS UFENAU to private individuals and companies for events such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, and meetings. Revenue is generated through ship rental fees plus catering/culinary services. Pricing is quote-based and customized to client needs.
2. Public Event Tickets: The company organizes and sells tickets to public events on the ship, such as the Seenachtsfest and themed dining experiences (Meeresfrüchte & Austern Soirée). This creates direct revenue per attendee.
3. Club/Association Bookings: The MS UFENAU serves as the club locale for the 'Smoke on the Water' association, providing approximately 25 trips per year under a recurring arrangement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GENUSSSCHIFF AG charters the MS UFENAU passenger ship on Lake Zurich for private events (weddings, birthdays, anniversaries) and corporate functions (business meetings, client entertainment), paired with fully customizable onboard catering from apéros to multi-course dinners and an onboard cigar humidor. The company also organizes ticketed public events such as the Seenachtsfest and the Meeresfrüchte & Austern Soirée and serves as the recurring club locale for the Verein 'Smoke on the Water'.

Product overview

GENUSSSCHIFF AG operates a single-vessel fleet centered on the MS UFENAU, an elegant lounge-style passenger ship on Lake Zurich. The company offers the vessel for private charter and hosts curated special events. Services include customizable catering (apéros, dinners, brunch, fondue, grill), cigar offerings from an onboard humidor, and pre-configured package deals for groups. The ship features indoor lounges (Bug and Heck) and outdoor deck areas, with a 2026 renovation enhancing the guest experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GENUSSSCHIFF MS UFENAU Private Charter Cruises Private charter and rental of the MS UFENAU passenger ship on Lake Zurich for private events (weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, family gatherings) and corporate functions (business meetings, client entertainment). The vessel accommodates 50+ guests indoors across two lounges plus outdoor deck seating, with customizable catering from apéros to multi-course dinners and an onboard cigar humidor.
• Pauschalangebote (Package Cruises) Pre-configured group cruise packages on the MS UFENAU including the Grill-Genussfahrt, Fondue-Raclette-Fahrt, and Brunchfahrt, each designed for approximately 40 persons with 3-4 hour lake circuit options.
• Special Public Events on MS UFENAU (Seenachtsfest, Meeresfrüchte & Austern Soirée) Curated public themed cruise events on the MS UFENAU, including the annual Seenachtsfest with fireworks and a CHF 155 per-person dinner ticket, and the Meeresfrüchte & Austern Soirée featuring a 5-course seafood and oyster menu at CHF 235 per person departing from Zürich-Enge.

Quantifiable outcome

• Swiss Location Award 2025 'AUSGEZEICHNET' - recognized among the best experience locations in Switzerland with 75,021 votes from event organizers, visitors, and independent jury

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Haller Gerüstbau AGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 7 January 2026Scaffolding company that built the custom enclosure (Einhausung) protecting MS UFENAU during renovation works at JMS in Schmerikon.
• Feldmann Pneukran + Transport AGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 6 January 2026Crane and transport company that performed the water extraction (lifting) of MS UFENAU from Lake Zurich to the renovation facility in Schmerikon.
• Shiptec AGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 6 January 2026Marine engineering experts that supported the water extraction and lifting operation of MS UFENAU at the JMS facility.
• JMS-Gruppe (JMS)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 6 January 2026Shipyard facility in Schmerikon where MS UFENAU was transported for extensive renovation from December 2025 to April 2026. Provided space and hospitality during the renovation period.
• Verein 'Smoke on the Water'coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 February 2021The 'Smoke on the Water' association uses MS UFENAU as its permanent club venue for approximately 25 trips per year. The vessel serves as the club's lounge and meeting space, representing a key recurring customer relationship.
• Thomas Kirnbauer (Eigner)minorOthersOwner/shareholder who provided a delivery van for the renovation logistics during the Ausräumen (emptying) phase in December 2025.
• Thomas EntzerothminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional photographer based in Zurich who provides photography services for the company website, marketing materials, and documentation of events and the renovation.
• FotoWerk132 (Christian Schmid)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional photographer (FotoWerk132) who documents renovation progress, events, and creates promotional video content including drone footage.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Boat Company: Small-ship cruise operator offering intimate passenger cruising experiences in Alaska and the Sea of Cortez. Comparable in boutique scale, single-vessel charm, and experiential positioning that combines scenic cruising with culinary and cultural elements.
• Zürichsee Schifffahrtsgesellschaft (ZSG): The main scheduled passenger shipping operator on Lake Zurich, operating multiple vessels. While ZSG focuses on scheduled public routes rather than private charters, it competes for the same Lake Zurich passenger experience market and uses similar waters.
• BLS Schifffahrt: Operates passenger ships on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in Switzerland. Offers scheduled services, themed cruises, and private charters combining dining and scenic experiences, similar to Genussschiff's hospitality-focused model.
• Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe (BSB): Operates passenger ships on Lake Constance (Bodensee), the largest lake in the DACH region. Offers scheduled services, special event cruises, and private charters with dining—directly comparable Swiss/German lake cruise operations.
• Schifffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersees (SGV): Operates passenger ships on Lake Lucerne, offering scheduled services, charter cruises, and dining experiences. Similar Swiss lake cruise operator with comparable hospitality and dining offerings in a premium alpine lake setting.

Regional players

• White Fleet Venice: Operates elegant passenger vessels in Venice's lagoon and along the Italian coast. Similar boutique cruising experience combining scenic waterway tours with dining, though serving a different European region.

Emerging players

• Aqua Expeditions: Luxury small-ship cruise operator specializing in remote river and coastal expeditions (Amazon, Mekong, Galápagos). Comparable in offering premium, small-capacity, experience-focused cruises with curated dining and beverage programs.

Broad incumbents

• Crystal River Cruises: Luxury river cruise operator offering all-inclusive premium experiences on European rivers. Comparable to Genussschiff in ultra-premium positioning and inclusive dining/culinary experience orientation, though at much larger scale.
• Viking Cruises: Major river and ocean cruise operator with extensive European river cruise fleet. While much larger and focused on multi-day itineraries, Viking's premium positioning and dining-curated experiences share DNA with Genussschiff's hospitality-led approach.
• A-ROSA: Major river cruise operator in Europe offering premium cruise experiences on the Danube, Rhine, and other rivers. While larger scale and focused on multi-day cruises, A-ROSA's full-board dining and lounge experience concept parallels Genussschiff's culinary cruise model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/genussschiff-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 GENUSSSCHIFF AG