Barrier-free in a houseboat on the Müritz

Mobile in every respect

Author: Annette Rübesamen
Published: October 10, 2025

There is peace above all the treetops. And even the houseboats chug almost silently across the quiet lake, © TMV/Gänsicke — ©© TMV/Gänsicke

Mobile in every respect: on Kuhnle Tours' houseboats, guests with restricted mobility also enjoy maximum freedom. Even with their own sauna on request. Five friends show us how much fun a barrier-free houseboat can be on a big trip

Running, isn't it? Silke is beaming. It's her first time at the helm of a houseboat, but she holds the rudder casually in her left hand, has pushed the throttle all the way up and is steering the ten-metre-long boat into the calm, bottle-sized waters of the Müritz with the grandeur of an experienced sea captain. „Out of the way!"“, the 55-year-old calls out cheerfully as a rowing boat with an angler appears, but then prefers to swerve out of the way herself in a wide arc and chugs into an elongated channel. Light greenery grows on both sides of the water, birch trees stretch their branches into the sky, water lilies unfurl their pink inner life. It is wonderful on the water. And isn't it just fantastic that you don't need any previous experience or a boating license to operate a houseboat?

Where are the others? Silke takes a quick look in the two large rear-view mirrors: the sauna boat with Telse and Margit on board, which set off a little later from the Granzow marina, has now caught up considerably. „But they won't catch us!" laughs Silke, and her friends Katja and Sara, who are sitting at the table next to the helm with a coffee, nod in agreement. A houseboat weekend with friends is really relaxing. Silke and Katja come from Stralsund; Telse, Sara and Margit live in Rostock. If they want to see each other for five, they have to plan it properly. That's why they decided to spend a weekend together at the Müritz in the Mecklenburg Lake District. At the Müritz? At the Müritz! After all, what are houseboats for!

The houseboat is barrier-free - and Silke moves completely freely in her wheelchair., © TMV/Tiemann — ©© TMV/Tiemann

Cast off! Relaxing through nature on an accessible houseboat

The Müritz, the heart of the Mecklenburg Lake District, is the largest inland lake in Germany and extremely popular with recreational boaters. There is not only plenty of space here, but also many and varied routes. The five friends have rented two houseboats for their weekend trip: one is a "Febomobil", which is designed like a floating, modern vacation apartment - the bedroom, living room with sofa bed and bathroom are all on one level; the only way up to the large roof terrace is via a rung ladder.

The other is a sauna boat, where you can not only go on vacation, but also take a sauna in the boat's own sweatbox. Both houseboats are barrier-free; and Silke, who needs a wheelchair because of a leg disability, uses it to whizz nimbly back and forth between the cabin, bathroom, saloon and „bridge“, where the wheelchair fits perfectly at the helmstand. The friends think that a wheelchair like this is no reason to miss out on a Müritz tour with Silke!

Tell us about it! The gentle rocking on the water decelerates so beautifully. Finally, there's time for the important things in life.

The jetty in front of Mirow Castle is a great place to chat. The houseboat in the background rests a little while.

Almost like on the Amazon! Margit and Telse steer the sauna boat through the idyllic green channels of the Müritz.

The boats chug southwards through quiet canals, under birch trees and past water lilies. At Mirow Castle, which sits butter-yellow in the meadow behind large chestnut trees, the girls go ashore and get an ice cream at the kiosk. Then they sit down next to each other on the jetty, dangle their feet and talk. Just real friends. Somewhere in the reeds, invisible water birds start a polyphonic symphony. „Much nicer than from the app“, says Silke and has to laugh. „I love nature and I hate cruises. But a houseboat like this? I think it's really good!

The panoramic windows provide a great view in addition to the sweating., © TMV/Tiemann — ©© TMV/Tiemann

Sweating in the sauna houseboat and cooling off in the lake

In the late afternoon, the five of them glide over the calm waters of the Müritz again. Margit casts out the fishing rod - soon it will be dinnertime. Maybe there will be zander, pike, perch or eel? There are plenty of fish in the Müritz. But Margit is unlucky today. As a consolation, the friends treat themselves to a sauna session. In the heated, generously proportioned sweatbox, the women enjoy the relaxing view of the green lake landscape and the evening twilight through large windows.

It has become completely quiet on the water; the dense shoreline forests seem completely untouched. To cool off, she then takes a big jump into the lake, where Sara scores top marks with an elegant header.

Margit comments and laughs.

After that, it's time for a toast. To friendship, to the Müritz and to everything. A soft evening pink now lies over the lake. A heron sits on the shore and the binoculars make the rounds. The Prosecco cork pops, there are snacks and fresh berries for an aperitif, while the oven-baked cheese and vegetables for dinner are already cooking on the table grill. The glasses clink and the conversation continues in high spirits.

It's about traveling. About the fact that a houseboat trip, barrier-free or not, can also be very nice as a leisure excursion... And about the realization that the houseboat would also be great for yoga. With this stillness, this meditative gurgling of the water! Lucky that tomorrow is another day. Ahoy!