Festschiff

Festschiff hires out two party ships on Lake Zurich, the LS Stäfa and the LS Steinschiff, as floating wedding venues, from their home port at Ziegelhof 856 in Schmerikon. The site is published in English and German, prices can be worked out online, and the ships can pick guests up and drop them off at moorings all around the lake. It suits couples who want a wedding party on the water for up to 120 guests, with the catering brought in from outside.

The ships are run under the Johann Müller AG name, which appears in the site's footer, and the contact email uses the jms.ch domain.

The two ships

LS Stäfa is the larger ship, described as "An elegant party vessel for up to 120 people." The site lists 76 m² of interior space and a 70 m² sundeck. The seating examples show how that space can be used:

• 54 people in a block layout;
• 66 people at round tables;
• 120 people for a marriage ceremony;
• 80 people at square tables seating 5.

On board there is a galley with an oven, 2 refrigerators, buffet and storage space, underfloor heating, and separate women's and men's lavatories, with bistro tables and a lounge as options. The technology is serious for a boat: an 86-inch 4K screen that connects to Apple, Microsoft, Android and iOS devices through Barco ClickShare, a multimedia system for CD, USB, SD and Bluetooth with DAB+ and FM radio, wireless handheld and headset microphones, and loudspeakers inside and outside on the deck. For speeches, a slideshow of the couple's photos or a playlist, everything is already there.

LS Steinschiff is the smaller ship, "A charming party vessel for up to 80 people," with 50 m² of interior space and 20 m² of exterior space. Its seating examples are 80 people at a long banquet table, 36 at round tables, or 42 at round tables with benches. The equipment is simpler: an audio system with a cable input for a phone or tablet, a wired handheld microphone and an interior loudspeaker, plus 2 refrigerators, buffet and storage space, a toilet and optional bistro tables.

One detail matters for the date. The Steinschiff has mobile heating for the transition months of spring and autumn, which the site says is "not suitable in the winter months." The LS Stäfa has underfloor heating, and the wedding page promises memorable moments "whatever the season", so a winter wedding on the water means the larger ship.

For both ships the site says: "We're happy to tailor everything to your wishes – combinations are entirely possible."

Where the ships go

"Our party boats can travel to any location on Lake Zürich," the wedding page says, and it backs that up with a long list of moorings for boarding and leaving the ship. Among them are Rapperswil Hafen, Stäfa, Meilen, Männedorf, Küsnacht, Zollikon, Thalwil, Horgen, Wädenswil, Richterswil, Pfäffikon, Lachen, Altendorf, Schmerikon, both the north and south landings of Insel Ufenau, and in Zurich itself Zürich Enge, Zürichhorn, Zürich Tiefenbrunnen and Zürich Bürkliplatz.

That list is the practical heart of the offer. A couple can board guests near the ceremony location or the hotel and bring them back to a different landing at the end of the evening. The contact page says the team gives detailed information on moorings, schedules and catering recommendations when couples get in touch. It does not give travel times or public transport details for the landings, so those are worth asking about for guests who are new to the area.

Food and drink

Festschiff does not run its own catering. The wedding page says it "can recommend the following caterers" and lists them: Bad am See in Schmerikon, Dolce far niente event-catering in Zürich, Egli Catering AG in Pfäffikon, Marina in Lachen SZ, Maximahl Catering in Dürnten, Metzgerei Betschart in Schmerikon, Metzgerei Jud in Benken, michele kocht in Zürich, Sirana Catering in Bilten and Tuck-tuck in Rapperswil. The site does not say whether other caterers are allowed, or how drinks are handled. The galley with oven on the LS Stäfa gives a caterer somewhere to work; the Steinschiff has only fridges and buffet space.

In practice this means two contracts: one with Festschiff for the ship and one with the caterer for the food.

Prices and booking

The site has an offer calculator ("Calculate offer now") where couples can work out a quote for their event, and a calendar for checking dates. No base prices are written on the wedding page itself, so the calculator is the place to start. Through December 2026 the site advertises a Christmas special with 10% off every cruise that month with the code "weihnachtsschiff".

Bookings and questions go through the contact form, by phone on +41 55 286 14 60 or by email to festschiff@jms.ch.

What couples say

The wedding page carries two short reviews. Patricia and Thomas M. write that they celebrated a wonderful wedding on the ship, that the atmosphere was unique and that they and their guests were thrilled, and recommend the LS Stäfa to any couple. Natascha and Marcel K. describe a wedding celebration on the LS Steinschiff with the backdrop of Lake Zurich.

What the site does not settle

The seating plans include a ceremony layout for 120, but the site does not say who conducts a ceremony on board or what kind of ceremony it is. It gives no minimum hire time, no minimum guest count, no end time for a cruise and no rules on music or dancing. The crew's languages are not mentioned, although the full English version of the site helps couples from abroad plan in English from the start. There is also nothing on what happens if the weather turns on the day of a summer party on the sundeck.

Who it suits

Festschiff suits couples who want the wedding party itself to be a lake cruise, with guests collected from a landing near the ceremony and a screen and sound system ready for speeches. The LS Stäfa fits up to 120 and has underfloor heating for the cooler months; the LS Steinschiff suits a smaller, more rustic party of up to 80 outside the winter months. It suits less well a couple who wants a single supplier for venue and food, or anyone uneasy about spending the evening on the water.