Adler-Schiffe

Who they are

Adler-Schiffe is an excursion shipping company with boats in the North Sea, on the Frisian islands, and in the Baltic, on Rügen and Usedom.

It is a family company based in Westerland, on the island of Sylt. It was founded by Kurt Paulsen in 1950, with improvised trips in a fishing boat, and since 1986 it has been run by his son Sven Paulsen. Today it has 26 passenger boats and in high season employs up to 350 people. As well as Sylt, Amrum, Föhr and the Halligen in the North Sea, it sails in the Baltic from Wismar, Kühlungsborn, Kiel, Rügen and Usedom, as far as Swinoujscie and Miedzyzdroje in Poland, and on the Elbe from Hamburg.

What it does on Rügen

Trips along the coast of the Jasmund chalk cliffs and the Königsstuhl from Sassnitz harbour and from the piers at Binz, Sellin and Göhren, from an hour and a half to three and a half hours depending on the departure, and combined with other visits on the island.

In the winter timetable 2026-2027 it still sails to the cliffs from the Sellin pier, the Binz one and Sassnitz harbour: from Sassnitz the trip lasts about an hour and a half, and from the southern resorts, about four hours return. You can come back to a different pier from the one you left from. On 1 January 2027 there is a special New Year trip with a glass of sparkling wine and a Berliner, the traditional doughnut.

Combined tickets pair the boat with another visit: out by boat and back on the Rasender Roland steam train from Sellin or Binz, or the boat plus entry to the treetop walkway at Prora, to the Skywalk in the centre of the national park at the Königsstuhl or to the Ozeaneum in Stralsund. For the 2027 season it also announces trips to Cape Arkona, seal-watching trips, tours of the island and the line between piers; the calendar is still being prepared.

On board: dogs, bikes and accessibility

Dogs may travel, with a charge that depends on the route and the boat and is added when you book. Most boats have few places for bikes, so it is best to reserve early; trailers and tandems take up two. Wheelchairs go up free on all boats, although the person and the chair board separately over the gangway, with help from the crew; electric scooters are not allowed. There is food and drink on all boats except two small excursion cutters.

Tickets, cancellation and languages

They are bought on its website, with a 10% online discount, at advance sales points or on board if there is room; the company recommends buying beforehand. At the ticket office you pay in cash, with Visa, Mastercard or a debit card, and online also with PayPal. You must be at the pier 15 minutes early, because boarding closes five minutes before sailing. To cancel a ticket bought online, write to [email protected] with the booking number; the charges depend on how far ahead, according to its terms of carriage, and partial cancellations are not accepted. If it is the company that cancels the trip, it will let you know. The website is in German and has a Polish version; the booking phone number is +49 4651 9870888.