I've just read Steve Bear's review of the Deutschland on the Cruise Review part of this board. If you have not read it, I recommend it highly. It's one great review.

It does raise three questions. First (Ngaire) does anybody know how and where to get info and book this line at a good price using a US TA, which Steve didn't? Second, this line has another, and very interesting ship named the Lilli Marlene, which looks like an old time sailing ship but is built to somewhat modern standards. Has anybody ever cruised her?
And third, I understand this line has very nice European River cruise boats. Does anybody know anything about these?

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Richard,

I have spoken several times with and met the West Coast Sales Manager for Dielmann cruises, as we are interested in river cruising, at least once, to see for ourselves if we like it or not. We are interested in cruising to Budapest and Prague.

I have the name and number of a TA who my contact said is an expert in river cruises. While I have had no experience in booking with this individual, he comes very highly recommended by my Dielmann contact.

Ironically, we sat beside a couple on our flight from LA into Venice, who have booked with this individual for years and raved about his services.

Please contact me, directly, if interested.

Sorry Richard I know nothing about these cruises, I only specialize in Radisson and Silversea. I think you should contact that TA if you decide to consider a river cruise Denise. Always best to work with someone that really specializes in the product you want. I have no idea how full service agents do it - too many different rules between cruise lines and too many varying details.

I think it wise to always work with TAs who specialize in the particular cruise lines you are interested in sailing with, rather than those who are "all over the map." Nothing like working with an expert.

Ngaire, in our opinion, you are TOPS with Radisson and Silversea. If and when we decide to take that river cruise, I would also want the best to work with. Hopefully, this person is as knowledgeable and detail-oriented as you, Ngaire.

Well I can say my cruise in the Baltic on the Deutschland was fabulous. The food was great, the liddo was wonderful for both breakfast and lunch. The specialty dinning room called the 4 Seasons was reservations required, but no surcharge.
Service was wonderful and the crew seemed to love Americans onboard. What I learned from the offices was that because the ship is 5 stars, the wealthy Germans feel they must be very prim and proper...the less than affluent germans feel that being a 5 star ship..they better be formal. Well the crew like Americans to be there to liven it up. Well, let me tell you, the more we drank in the fritz pub in the stern...the more lively it got. The beer fest with assorted sausages out by the pool was a riot...the Prim and propper types really let their hair down to sing, drink and dance.
The dinner in the 4 seasons took over 3 hours due to the large number of courses.....it never dragged...the food....wow (one course was a lobster tail sitting on white esparagras on top os rissoto....yum.
The cabins are small as are the fully marbled bathrooms. There is an indoor pool on the lowest deck.
Cabin door use old fashion big heavy keys, which you turn into the hotel desk (the wall boxes like you would find in an old hotel). It really is very nice, polished and accommodating. By the way, the crew all speak english....Germans don't tip much...believe me a few dollars here and there and you are treated even more like royalty.
My TA has dealt with the line whose office is in Virginia.....who are very nice to deal with. The Virginia office takes the requests for a cabin booking and then passes them on to the home office in Hamburg. The air was booked by the line using Lufthansa out of Philly for me, into Frankfurt and a connecting flight to Hamburg. When I arrived there was a private driver for me who took me to the Hotel in Hamburg...flawless transfers. Stayed 2 days precruise in that city...it was great. Bus to Kiel took about 1.5 hours...nice bus. Upon arrival bags were taken from the bus to my cabin. I walked into the building where a German band was playing...I got a glass of Champagne and boarded with no questions, and taken to my cabin. When we sailed, the band was on the top deck playing, the ships horn blowing....it was the way ships use to be.
Would I sail her again.....YES. It is a German product well tuned like a fine made German piece of Machinery.....are Americans welcomed....yes, infact they go out og their way for you...
I intend to sail a river cruise next year either on the Mozart...largest cabins of any river boat in europe or one of the newer ones...but the Mozart goes to Budapest!
One last note...on the last Thanksgiving cruise of the Seabourn Sun I met a couple in the stern bar late one night and she said she worked for a German line, her office was in Virginia, but that I would not know of the line...I said Peter Deilmann....she almost fell off her stool....I told her my name.....she knew exactly who I was, and when I sailed.....we had a grand time.
One last note...in the Lilly Marlene lounge the nuts served in the evening were not peanuts,,,,but the good stuff.....macadamian, cashews, pecans...yum
If you need a TA let me know, mine has dealt with them on a number of occassions.
The wine is not included, nor are the tips...but the overall quality I though very similar to RSSC, and I would recommend it to anyone who does not need everything to be Americanized.

Capt. Tom,

Please let us know eventualy if you go on the Mozart. I love its itinerary and the fact, as you point out, that the rooms are the biggest for a river boat. I also like their newer ships, like the Casanova out of Italy and the Chopin in Germany and Poland.

My land tour travel agent says the Deilmann river cruises are the best in Europe. I think I have posted about this on another topic. It might have been on CC. I have been wanting to do the Elbe - Berlin to Prague. Denise, whenever you are ready, & I can some how found some $$. I am way over my travel budget for the year. 2005 could be a bleak year for travel - but I am hoping not.

Betty, maybe you could talk Radisson into the need for a librarian onboard. You could be on duty a couple of hours in the morning, a couple of hours in the early evening and have the rest of the time to yourself!

Olivia

Don't think I didn't try this ploy while on the Diamond for 3 weeks several years ago. There library was only so so in my opinion & I offered my services to the cruise director & the pursor. You notice how far it was gotten me???? Maybe I will try once again on the Voyager this summer - or maybe take along a copy of my resume. I really do wish I could find out how & who does this for them. Now there is a perfect part time job. Any one out there that has influence, just give them my name. Just don't include Todd's photo site with my name.
However, I do think they would need me for part of the BAIL to restock the library. Say Hong Kong to Singapore. And they wouldn't even have to pay me. Just charge me the $50 per day they charge the guest speakers & I'm there with my crate full of books!

Richard,
I was on a Peter Deilmann cruise last fall (the Mozart) from Passau to Passau round trip on the Danube. The ports were Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava,Durnstein,Melk and Grein. It was a beautiful trip and the river boat was very nice. The cabin was roomy as was the bathroom except that it had only a small shower. The food was excellent. Of course it isn't all inclusive like Raddisson! And I believe it is assigned seating for all meals. I am not sure because I was with a group and we took at least four tables and we moved around within our group. This was actually part of a larger trip with a pre-cruise in Prague and post cruise in Salsburg and Munich. The travel agent was a fairly large agency in L.A. and they do at least one of these trips each year as golfing trips (I don't golf but my friends do) so they are very familiar with most of the river boats. The owner of the agency was on our trip last year with us. If you email me I can give you the name of the agency.

John & I are very interested in doing a river cruise through Germany, Prague & Budapest. Denise & Alan are hoping to do one also. Let us know if anyone organizes one.

Denise,
If I recall from the Tauck thread you have travelled with Tauck & recently received the Australia/New Zealand brochure. Did you also receive the small brochure with the advance 2005 info? I noticed that Tauck is now offering 3 or 4 river cruises. How do you think they would compare to Peter Dielmann river cruises?

Hi Vickie,

I did see that, as well. I can't say how Tauck would stack up against PD; however, Tauck is a first-rate tour company and I have no doubt that their cruises may very well be comparable. I'd be interested in knowing the answer to that, as well.

When we are ready to take a river cruise, we will need to do a cost comparison. We'd really like to consider one or the other for 2006.

With the popularity of cruising, it was a wise decision for Tauck to combine the two, don't you think?

You're right Denise, it was a good idea for Tauck to offer the river cruises. May draw more customers who hate the pack/unpack/different hotel everyday thing.

I tried to do a cost comparison on the Amsterdam to Budapest cruise that they already offer but can't find anything similiar on Dielmann other than combining 7 day cruises.

I see that with Tauck, shore excursions and the gratuties to ship personnel are included.

I'll be interested in seeing the details for the new cruises in 2005.