modern one which will give our passengers a more comfortable experience.”
Chan believes the company’s key advantage is its use of guest speakers. The nine-night Rhine and Moselle cruise runs from Basel in Switzerland to Arnhem in the Netherlands, calling at the German towns of Heidelberg, Mainz, Cochem and Cologne.
The ship will have an architectural historian on board to educate guests on points of interest. All excursions are included in the price, which leads in at £1,945.
FOR VISITORS to Germany who want to see as much of the country as possible in a short space of time, a river cruise is an ideal choice.
Traditionally, cruises have operated on the Rhine and its tributary the Moselle, taking passengers through the heart of the country’s scenic wine-growing region, providing ample opportunities to stop and sample this year’s vintage.
KD River Cruises managing director Graham Clubb said: “The Middle Rhine between Cologne and Mainz has lots of medieval castles, while the Moselle meanders through vineyard-clad slopes between Koblenz and Trier.”
The season runs between the end of March and October each year. Durations range from two-night weekend breaks, costing around £395, to seven-day itineraries for around £895. Both prices include flights and full board.
Cruise boats can cover quite a few miles. In a week, a vessel on the Rhine can travel from Basle in Switzerland to Amsterdam on the North Sea. On the Danube, clients can travel from Bavaria in south Germany to Budapest in Hungary.
As this type of holiday has increased in popularity over recent years, passengers have seen the quality and on-board comfort on these ships improve.
The main UK operators KD River Cruises, Peter Deilmann and Swan Hellenic all use new ships which offer clients first-rate facilities. KD River Cruises operates six ships spread across the Rhine, Moselle and Elbe, luxury operator Peter Deilmann has six boats operating on the Rhine, the Elbe and the Danube, while Swan Hellenic has two departures next year, on the Rhine and the Main.
Describing the attractions of a cruise, Clubb said: “Many of our cabins have large panoramic windows so people can sit and watch the world go by during the day.
“Many of our ships have got heated swimming pools and saunas, and, because they are much smaller than ocean cruise ships, passengers get to know each other very quickly.”
The company’s best seller is a seven-day cruise on the Rhine and Moselle on the 182-passenger ship Italia. Highlights include the city of Cologne with its Gothic cathedral, and the town of Trier, Germany’s oldest city, dating back 2,000 years.
In between, the ship stops off at a number of wine towns, including Bernkastel Kues and Cochem. Prices lead in at £895.
For repeat passengers, KD has introduced a new itinerary for 2000 along lesser known tributaries of the Rhine – the Saar and the Main – which flow fromFrankfurt towards Austria.
Reacting to customer demand for cruises that take in the former East Germany, deluxe operator Peter Deilman plans to introduce a new ship on the Elbe next March.
The vessel will add an extra 82 beds, taking capacity to 140 beds on the Berlin to Prague route.
Director Richard Esdale said:”For the cruise market, it is a relatively unexplored itinerary. The route only became navigable once the Berlin Wall came down.”
The new ship, the Katharina, will operate a seven-night Elbe cruise for around £1,235.
Swan Hellenic has chartered a new ship, the 100-passenger Swiss Crystal, for its 2000 German programme.
Marketing director Sissie Chan said:”The ship is a more modern one which will give our passengers a more comfortable experience.”
Chan believes the company’s key advantage is its use of guest speakers. The nine-night Rhine and Moselle cruise runs from Basel in Switzerland to Arnhem in the Netherlands, calling at the German towns of Heidelberg, Mainz, Cochem and Cologne.
The ship will have an architectural historian on board to educate guests on points of interest. All excursions are included in the price, which leads in at £1,945.
River cruises
KD River Cruises: offers a seven-night garden-themed cruise on the Rhine and Moselle rivers. The trip is escorted by horticulturalist Dr Alfred Evans. Prices start at £695 per person, including flights. Included in the price are all excursions. These feature the Botanical Gardens of Cologne, Japanese Gardens of Leverkusen and Schwetzingen gardens near Heidelberg.
Swan Hellenic: brochures a 14-night cruise on the Main and Danube rivers, which visits Wuerzburg, Nuremberg and Bamberg. Guest speaker is Sir David Goodall, a member of the diplomatic service, who gives historical lectures on each port of call. Prices start at £3,375, including gratuities, excursions and flights.
Peter Deilmann: recommends a seven-night cruise on the Main-Danube Canal for clients who have already done Rhine and Moselle river cruises. The main ports of call are Bamberg, Nuremberg, Berching and Regensburg. Prices start at £783 per person, including flights.