Peter Deilmann Cruises

MV Prussian Princess

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Operator: Deilmann Cruises / EuropAmerica Cruises
Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1991 / 1996
Length / Tonnage: 364 / 5,000
Number of Cabins / Passengers: 69 / 144
Officers / Crew: European
Operating Area: The Rhine and Moselle Rivers and the Main Canal from late March through early November

Prussian Princess is one of Peter Deilmann's deluxe fleet of 4 and 5-Star river ships that gracefully transport fortunate souls along the classic waterways of mainland Europe. The Deilmann company, in operation since 1968, has gained a well-earned reputation as the premiere European river cruise line for North American passengers. North American and British Isles cruise guests aboard the Princess and any Deilmann vessel need not fear their lack of German language skills: the well-trained European crew speak fluent English. Language-phobes also can take comfort in knowing that all printed and oral announcements are made in both English and German.the delight of the British guests on board, the 144-passenger Prussian Princess was built and christened in the Ruscador Shipyard of Hull, England. Lovingly maintained, the ship is refurbished each winter with more complete renovations taking place every three to four years. This beautiful Princess cruises the Rhine, Moselle, Danube and Main rivers, as well as canals along the Rhine, Belgian and Dutch waterways. Grand tour cruises with 14-night itineraries include Vienna to Amsterdam, Budapest to Amsterdam and everything in between.

This review focuses on the 7-night Mainz to Amsterdam program. Since I once experienced the heartache of missing an embarkation due to a bad weather flight cancellation, this traveler applies the "day in advance" rule to all cruise holidays. This practice not only provides a nerve-soothing buffer of extra time to reach your cruise departure destination, but to explore it as well. The journey to Mainz was no exception to my self-imposed rule. You can make your own hotel reservations or have the Deilmann agent book for you. The company recommends the Mainz Hilton International, a vast, ultra-modern convention style hotel. You can't beat the location - along the banks of the Rhine and near the beautiful Old Town section of Gutenburg's hometown. The hotel meets all "Hilton" expectations. The hearty breakfast buffet in the Romische Weinstube dining room is not to be missed. Breakfast bonus: in addition to tasty food, this cozy restaurant also serves a great view of the Rhine.guests lucky enough to arrive early in Mainz can tour the newly expanded Gutenberg Museum to learn about the history of printing and get a glimpse of a priceless 15th century Bible crafted by the inventor of printing. A colorful open-air market fills the square outside the grand Romanesque Cathedral that dates from 975 A.D. Ironically, the construction of the Mainz Hilton provided a place for travelers to stay and a major attraction for them to visit. During the excavation for the hotel's foundation, the remains were unearthed of Roman ships dating from the 4th century. These remains and two full-size reproductions are on display at Mainz's free Museum of Ancient Navigation. This is a "Don't Miss" stop for sailors, ship lovers and archeology enthusiasts. Prussian Princess was docked directly behind the Mainz Hilton for this embarkation. Nonetheless, the Deilmann company arranged for transportation from the hotel lobby to the ship. The four-star service had begun before we set foot on-board! Dockside, we were greeted by eager porters whisking our luggage up the gangway and into the inviting reception hall. We were efficiently checked in and escorted to our cabin by a helpful and informative stewardess. Be sure to ask for a bathrobe. The plush terry cloth robes are provided at no charge.

Like all of Deilmann's floating stock, the PRUSSIAN PRINCESS is warmly appointed. Lots of mahogany and brass, rich brocaded drapes and upholstery and original oil paintings throughout the reception area and lounge lend a home German touch to the boat. The lounge bar is aglow with polished brass, gleaming stemware and leather seated bar stools. Leather banquettes and an over abundance of club chairs and cocktail tables are comfortable, if a little cramped. The dining room is outfitted in soothing peach tones and, like the rest of the boat, Tiffany-style stained glass ceiling and wall fixtures. The space between place settings as well as other dining tables is generous. Brass stair rails and banisters in the reception hall lead you passed a beautiful wall mural to the 37 lower deck cabins. Also below is a cozy "nook" of a bar, the ship's beauty salon and gift boutique, and an enormous double bookcase with glass doors which houses the ship's library. In addition to an eclectic collection of classic literature and modern novels in both English and German, guests can help themselves to board games or playing cards or pop the latest Hollywood video into the bar's VCR. The best spot of all, however, is the Sun Deck. With its plentiful, padded deck chairs, it offers the full panoramic view of the Rhine Gorge in all its splendor. Delivery of hot chocolate or coffee to help ward off the early spring chill would have been a welcome service.

After a full day aboard the Prussian Princess I was quoting Scarlett O'Hara: "As God is my witness, I will never go hungry again." Meals are delicious, every one a beautifully presented event…and, don't even get me started about the bread. A daily breakfast special of omelets or pancakes was available each day along with a bountiful buffet, a traditional icon of German hostelry. A different German sausage was served every morning along with American-style or European bacon, and scrambled eggs. An assortment of yogurts, cheeses, dry cereals, fruit, kippers and the aforementioned gorgeous breads and pastries could be topped off with bottomless cups of coffee, juices and champagne. No sooner had you waddled away from the breakfast table than you were being offered hot broth to tide you over until lunchtime. Lunch starts with a salad and appetizer buffet that, for most, would suffice…but not on the PRUSSIAN PRINCESS. Following the buffet were services of soup; a starter; a choice of a meat, fish, or vegetarian main course; desert and a selection of fruit and cheese. Two hours after lunch, trays filled with flaky pastry, creamy tortes, bread puddings and other treats are produced for afternoon tea. Dinners onboard are 7-course tours de force. The soups are a specialty of Chef Markus Ernst's young European culinary staff. Every dinner (and lunch) menu offered a choice between clear or cream soup. You couldn't go wrong with either at any meal. Each evening, diners would find a different style and flavor of fresh bread roll at their place setting and a whimsical and ever-changing napkin fold. Menu choices - including a fine wine list - were consistently varied, interesting and delicious. A late-night snack buffet was served at 11 p.m. every night for the terminally hungry. And, by the way, wine and beverages were reasonably priced and the selection was outstanding.

The PRUSSIAN PRINCESS has 69 cabins, all of them outside twins and identical in size. The 32 Upper Deck cabins have the advantage of a French door/window that afford excellent views including up-close looks at the interior of working river locks. Clever placement of mirrors, soft color scheme, rich woods and crown molding create a feeling of comfort and airiness. Built in closets and shelves were efficiently designed to accommodate the storage needs of even the most overly ambitious packer. The soft down-filled pillows and duvets were turned down each night, the requisite chocolate treat providing a head start to sweet dream land. On the first night of the cruise, ladies on board also found a beautiful long stemmed rose on their pillow. In true "they've thought of everything-style," each cabin is equipped with a bud vase so the scented gift could be enjoyed throughout the cruise. Roses also can be found in the design of the porcelain bathroom sink. A rare glitch in the otherwise meticulous softgoods appeared in the bathroom in the form of an overly worn, torn bath mat. For a moment, it made me homesick!

This is not a "party boat." There's no disco here nor any "organized fun" shipboard activities. And, I say "Amen" to that! This is a cruise for grown-ups who want to relax, enjoy beautiful scenery, be pampered with extraordinary service, indulge in wonderful food and wine and take advantage, or not, of interesting shore excursions. There's live music in the lounge every evening following dinner and one night the crew performs a sweet sing-along of well-known German and American tunes. The experience brings to mind a more romantic time when travel was more luxurious, exotic and less harried. This cruise is for sophisticated individuals who want to experience the destination and the people, not those who simply need to check off another country on their travel wish list. The mix of passengers on this cruise was 80% German, 15% American and 5% British. That said, know that the mix changes. The hotel manager told us that the next cruise passenger list was 90% American and they consistently have a high percentage of North American passengers onboard.

We did the 545-mile trip from Mainz to Amsterdam, an itinerary that includes stops at some of the most charming of the Moselle's historic cities and medieval villages.In Bernkastel, toast the start of your trip from the al fresco cafe high atop Landshut Castle and receive a grand view of the meandering Moselle and the pretty town below. Explore the oldest city in Germany with an excursion through Trier that includes a visit to a wine cellar for a taste of the regional vintners' art. An afternoon excursion to nearby Luxembourg is also offered. Step through the massive doors of the imperial castle "Reichsburg" as part of a city tour of the delightful town of Cochem followed by another wine-tasting session. The giant statue of Kaiser Wilhelm stands guard in Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. A good guide book is all you need to discover the points of interest here. IMPORTANT NOTE to those fortunate enough to book this cruise anytime during April to mid-May: DO NOT MISS the Amsterdam excursion to the heaven-on-earth known as Keukenhof. Tulip lovers will be beside themselves over the more than 700 different varieties of bulbs in bloom throughout this world famous garden.

If you've never cruised in Europe, a Deilmann "Princess" is a perfectly wonderful way to start what will certainly become a favorite mode of European travel. The PRUSSIAN PRINCESS is certainly very highly recommended.