Deilmann Cruises ply Elbe River for nine days of German hospitality

Verdant vineyards, orchards ripe with fruit, dramatic sandstone cliffs, tiny medieval-style villages unscathed by time and majestic cities with monuments dating from the 15th century, are just some of the sites guests enjoy on Peter Deilmann Cruises' nine-day Elbe River cruise while tours aboard the intimate five-star MV Katharina von Bora and MV Frederic Chopin, sailing between Berlin and Prague, and the five-star MV Dresden, sailing between Hamburg and Dresden. Itinerary highlights include visits to charming Meissen, where guests can see how the world-famous porcelain by the same name is produced; Martin Luther's Wittenberg; Prague, famous for its Gothic and Baroque architecture and its massive Hradcany Castle complex; and the small wine-producing town of Melnik with its majestic Renaissance-style castles. Cruise-tour packages, price from $1,825 to $3,020 per person, double for cabins, include all meals onboard, a Captain's Welcome dinner and farewell receptions, shore excursions, transfers and such nightly entertainment as traditional and folkloric performances. Optional three-night cruise-tour extensions, offering additional city tours, deluxe hotel accommodations, breakfast daily and transfers are available for Hamburg, Berlin, Prague, Vienna or Budapest at money-saving package rates of $319 to $799. Cruise-only fares are offered at $1,550 to $2,805 for cabins and $2,255 to $3,710 for suites, without the shore excursions and transfers. Airport transfers are included when air is purchased from Peter Deilmann Cruises. For details on these and other cruises, contact a travel agent or Peter Deilmann Ocean Cruises at 800-348-8287 or by e-mail at pdcmail@deilmann-cruises.com. Cruises itineraries, deck plans and ship photos are online at www.deilmann-cruises.com.