MS Casanova
ABOVE: Casanova's helpful,
multilingual reception staff offer the kind of service that you'd expect in a
five-star hotel.
Overall rating
Based on a seven-day cruise, I'd rank Casanova with the
best ships that I've traveled on over the years, from the S.S. France in
the late 1960s to Silversea's Silver Whisper in 2002 and 2003.
Casanova obviously can't offer the cabin space or the breadth of services
and entertainment that you'd get with an oceangoing ship, but it's hard to
imagine a river vessel delivering a higher level of fit, finish, and overall
comfort.
Compared to Viking's MS Maribelle (formerly Viking
Burgundy),
which I cruised on in 2003, Deilmann's Casanova is more of a deluxe
"boutique ship" without being stuffy or pretentious. A Deilmann cruise also
feels less like a group tour, partly due to the international passenger mix but
also because the itinerary focuses less on shore excursions (which are optional
on Deilmann but part of Viking's package--something to keep in mind if price is
a major concern).
Bottom line: If you can afford a deluxe cruise on the Rhine,
Danube, Moselle, or Rhine-Main Canal, Casanova is unlikely to disappoint
you. It's a first-rate ship with a great crew from a company that pioneered
luxury river cruising in Europe.
Next page:
Web links
| 
