Dielmann - Princesse de Provence Saone and Rhone Rivers Cruise

[Suzanne123]

All I can say is, "Wow!" I have been on 20 ocean cruises, and if ever a cruise vacation exceed my expectations, this is the one. I honestly cannot think of one thing for Dielmann to improve. The food, staff, excursions, fellow passengers (about 50/50 German and English-speaking) and even the weather could not have been better on this seven day cruise through Provence and south of France.
Thanks so much to Steamboats and everyone who helped me arrange flights, trains and hotels and for their advice on river cruising.
I'm now officially "hooked" and planning a 2009 river cruise on the Mozart -Danube River.

[framwave]

Took the Mozart in April 2006. Absolutely fabulous1

[hattack]

what timing..we just confirmed your cruise for the week of April 5th,2008..tell us more

[nyfeds]

Hi Suzanne,

So glad your Deilmann cruise experience was a great one. We, too, enjoyed our Deilmann cruise on the Cezanne.

We are quite interested in river cruising through Provence. Upon looking at Deilmann's ship photos, the cabins on that particular ship look extremely small with only twin bedding. Could you please tell me if the cabins are only twin bed accommodations?

We would love to cruise Deilmann again, if possible.

Thanks! Really enjoyed your photos, too!

[Suzanne123]

They were all twin bed cabins, and yes, the cabin did seem small at 130 sq. ft. One couple who dined with me said that their cabin on the Mozart was much larger.
However, I didn't spend much time in the room, as I booked their excursion package and then ended up taking others so that I had two excursions booked every day.
I did see a couple other boats -- one from Viking and another that I think was called La Rose, if you want to check them.
Although small, the room was very clean. The bathroom was about the size of one on a Princess ship, but with a door to the shower, and Molton Brown soaps and lotions. (I know you'll think I'm crazy, but here's a picture of the pretty bathroom sink -- probably a first for Cruise Critic (LOL)

[steamboats]

Hi Suzanne,

It´s great to hear that you had a wonderful cruise!!

Nyfeds,

Yes, the cabins on the MOZART are larger. I know they are 20 sqm (203 sqft, suites have 406 sqft) compared to the PRINCESSE DE PROVENCE which has 11 sqm (130 sqft).

The other ship you had seen must have been one of the A´Rosa ships A´ROSA LUNA or A´ROSA STELLA (http://www.a-rosa.de/). They have a mouth with a red rose painted on the bow. It´s a German cruise company which is tending to a younger crowd having more sports orientated shore tours and a buffet style dinner. They do have 86 cabins (174 passengers). All cabins do have double beds (I can´t tell you the US "size", they are larger than your doubles but I don´t know if they are queen or king size). There´s nothing mentioned about the cabin size. But regarding the ships size it can´t be much more than 11-14 sqm.

The VIKING BURGUNDY carries 152 passengers in 76 cabins. Standard cabins are 11 sqm (120 sqft) DeLuxe cabins are 151 sqft.

Cabin size is more or less limited to the maximum size of the vessel (especially the width is limited because of the lock chambers). 11 sqm is a standard size.

steamboat

[letsgo39]

Avalon is building a new ship,The Scenery,which will be their first ship to cruise on French waterways.I am not sure when it will be launched but it is being built for the 2008 season.The cabins will be 172 sq ft with hotel style queen size beds.Dh and I cruised Budapest to Amsterdam last summer on the Avalon Tranquility and it was fantastic.We are hoping to do this cruise,on the Scenery,Paris to Nice in 2009.We are off to Italy this year. Avalon is owned by Globus which is the reason we chose them to begin with.We have taken several land tours with Globus in the past.With Avalon your daily tours are included as is wine with dinner.:D We really enjoyed the French balconies with the sliding glass doors!