Hotelschiff Perle

It looks lovely in winter. I've only seen the hotel from outside, but it's really interesting looking and clearly an attraction.

The location and the views all around were the best parts for me, so I don't regret staying in the end. Without those, though, it would've been a pretty poor experience. We booked the large cabin for €168 per night, which gave us the whole upper part of the ship: bedroom, living room and a large bathroom. There's also a shared room with a bar in the bow. Getting there was stressful. I got no details before arrival about access to the ship or where to check in, and spent four hours trying to reach someone by phone. No one picked up, so I was on the phone instead of enjoying a relaxed walk around town. The furnishings are dated. The over-the-top decor in the cockpit isn't appealing and is a huge dust trap. The bathroom needs renovation. It was clean and okay, but the tiles had huge cracks. A regular hotel would get one-star reviews for a bathroom like that. I gave three stars because it's a ship; a normal hotel with the same setup would be two stars at most.

We had to bring our own food, though the dining area has a fridge, sink, kettle, coffee maker and dishes. There's also a pleasant place for a meal or breakfast along the Schlachte promenade, under 200 meters away. The little boat works great for two, and the upper deck has a lovely living room. Picking up the key from the safe went smoothly.

Breakfast overlooking Bremen's old town and the Weser River was a special experience. I got this stay as a birthday present, and I won't forget that night in Bremen: romantic by the Weser, in a truly one-of-a-kind cabin. Cabin 1 on the hotel ship Perle Bremen is in a class of its own.