Lake Cruises in Bavaria See a Price Hike Despite Booming Demand
Bavaria's lake cruises have seen a surge in popularity, with passenger numbers for various lakes, including Königssee, Tegernsee, Ammersee, and Starnberger See, almost reaching pre-corona levels. This resurgence in demand was confirmed by Managing Director Michael Grießer, who also shared some unsettling news - a 'moderate' price increase is in the offing.
Sailing through the scenic waters of Bavaria has never been more attractive, with around 1.5 million paying passengers enjoying the experience last year. Despite this success, the prices are about to go up slightly.
It took four years for the old high to return and for guests to return at similar numbers as in the record year before the pandemic. Bayerische Seenschifffahrt, an associated company of the Free State of Bavaria, operates over 30 ships and employs around 160 people, making it one of Germany's largest inland waterway shipping companies.
On Lake Königssee, around halfway through the year, the number of guests dropped to approximately 700,000, with a few thousand less than the previous year. This can be attributed to one electric boat that remained out of service due to general refurbishment. However, the company managed to make up for this loss by converting some boats to accommodate more guests and offering more seats, albeit at a reduced capacity.
Lake Starnberg and Lake Ammersee recorded a total of 510,000 visitors, with Lake Ammersee significantly benefiting from Lake Starnberger See's technical problems, which led to confusion among guests. This resulted in a shift in focus towards Lake Ammersee, with visitors registering around 230,000 paying guests at Ammersee and 280,000 at Lake Starnberg.
Grießer hopes to break the 300,000 mark at Lake Tegernsee this year, with the company operating there during the Christmas period and Advent weekends to cater to the popular Christmas markets in the area.
Although ticket prices are set to rise, Michael Grießer insisted that the increase would be 'moderate' - around 3% to 5% - impacting all four lakes from next year. For Königssee, this means an increase from 22 euros to 22.50 euros for adult tickets, marking an approximate 45% increase since 2019, when a trip to St. Bartholomä cost just 15.50 euros.
Factors Behind Moderate Price Increases
Several factors contribute to the moderate price increase in river cruises despite high demand and nearly returning passenger numbers to pre-pandemic levels:
- Increased costs for cruise operators, including fuel, staffing, and supply chain disruptions.
- Upgraded amenities, exclusive excursions, and regulatory compliance leading to higher operational costs.
- Seasonal pricing strategies, inflating prices during peak seasons and holidays.
- Economic factors like inflation and marketing and advertising efforts affecting overall expenses.
Despite these challenges, the allure of Bavaria's lake cruises remains undiminished, with visitors eagerly anticipating their next journey across the beautiful Bavarian waterways.
