Cruising the Mythically Rich Rivers of Germany -- Increasing numbers of travelers are opting for views of some of the most legendary panoramas in Germany directly from the deck chairs of yachts and cruise ships. We recommend two deeply entrenched competitors for your euros.
Viking River Cruises, 5700 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367 (tel. 877/668-4546; www.vikingrivers.com) is the world's largest river cruise line. It maintains a total of 14 river cruisers, each designed for between 100 and 230 passengers. Efficient and, in some cases, infused with touches of luxury, the cruises traverse the muddy waters of the Rhine between Amsterdam and Basel (Switzerland), traveling for between 5 and 12 nights. For views of Germany's eastern regions, cruises along the Elbe usually begin in Magdeburg and end in Decin, on the border of the Czech Republic, and focus heavily on day trips through the majestic core of such revered cities as Dresden.
The per-person rate, depending on the onboard accommodations and the season, ranges from $299 to $342 (227€-260€) per day double occupancy. Onboard attendants deliver commentaries in several languages (including English) of the sights and monuments en route. Food is served at tables for between four and eight diners, cruise-ship style. All meals, onboard lodgings, and shore excursions are included in the price.
Peter Deilman Cruises, 1800 Diagonal Rd., Suite 170, Alexandria, VA 22314 (tel. 800/348-8287; www.deilmann-cruises.com) maintains a higher ratio of staff to guests than Viking, and the company is noted for ships with staterooms that are a bit more posh and luxurious, and a bit more expensive, than those of competitors. Per-person rates, per diem, range between $287 and $650 (218€-494€), double occupancy. Rhine cruises usually begin or end in either Amsterdam or Mainz, last for between 9 and 17 days, and in some cases meander up part of the Mosel Valley as well. Deilman also offers cruises along such history-filled rivers as the Po, the Saône, the Rhône, and the Danube, and in some cases, offers the option of back-to-back cruises that traverse some of Europe's industrial canals, beginning in Amsterdam and ending on the Black Sea about 3 weeks later.
