Though it is not the newest of their ships, the 200-passenger
Mozart is the flagship of the Deilmann river fleet. Within the compact size of a river ship, it provides many amenities of a larger liner, including a panoramic lounge, an indoor pool and exercise room, a library and a spacious sun deck with its own bar. Standard cabins measure an impressive 203 sq ft, among the largest of river ships.
The Mozart was built in 1987 in Hungary and was purchased from the Hungarian government by Peter Deilmann Cruises, a family-owned German company founded in 1968. Since founder Deilmann died in 2003, the company has been run by his two daughters, Gisa and Hedda Deilmann. The decor and furnishings were refurbished in 2006. The officers are German, the service staff mostly Eastern European. The ship weighs in at 4,000 tons and has an average speed of 11 knots.
Since Deilmann is German-owned, it attracts a large percentage of Germans as well as American and English travelers. The proportion of nationalities changes from week to week. All announcements and written materials are in both German and English and separate tours are arranged for each language. English-speaking passengers are seated together at dinner. Most passengers are in their 60s and 70s, and almost all are couples, as the ship has no programs or facilities for children.
The Mozart sails the Danube River on 7-day round-trips from Passau, near Munich, Germany with Austrian stops in Durnstein, Melk and Vienna, and calls in Esztergom and Budapest, Hungary and Bratislava, Slovakia. The 10-day cruises to the Black Sea add calls in Mohacs in Hungary; Belgrade in Serbia; Russe in Bulgaria, and the Romanian ports of Orsova, Oltenita and Galati, ending in Tulcea, Romania. These are popular routes covered by most river cruise lines and there are newer and less expensive ships from which to chose. However, the Mozart stands out for its spaciousness and gracious old-world European ambience. Walking or driving tours are available at every port, but one of the special pleasures of river cruising is having a ship small enough to dock right in the city, allowing for easy sightseeing on your own. Staff talks give full descriptions of the cities to be visited.
Passengers enter the ship at the rosewood reception desk on the Tamino Deck. The desk offers safe deposit boxes and umbrellas when the weather is inclement. Maps and information about each upcoming stop are put out each morning. Beyond the desk is a large relief wall mural of Eastern Europe with tiny lights that follow the ship's progress along the Danube. Beyond is a lounge area with a stained-glass ceiling, furnished with comfortable chairs facing a picture window. At the front of the ship on the Tamino Deck are the beauty salon, a small square heated pool, a whirlpool and sauna, and a spa room where massages are available by appointment. Two exercise bicycles and four lounge chairs are beyond the pool, facing a panoramic window wall. An additional bicycle, rowing machine and weights are at the side of the room.
All other public areas are one flight up on the Don Giovanni deck. The formal dining room is at one end, the center hall is occupied by the boutique, with an attractive if pricey selection of clothing and gifts. To one side is the paneled library, with books in both German and English, inviting soft leather chairs and a big-screen TV. The cafe beyond offers tables and chairs and a rack of newspapers, both German and English. As yet, there is no Internet access for passengers. The long rosewood Don Giovanni Bar at the end of the cafe leads into the lounge where all meetings, afternoon tea, the captain's receptions, evening entertainment and dancing take place. The upstairs sun deck is delightful when the weather is agreeable. Wind breakers and a stack of warm blankets help when it is not.
Like most river ships, the Mozart does not try for lavish entertainment. A trio of piano, guitar and drums keeps things lively during afternoon tea and provides music for dancing and listening each evening. A pianist entertains during cocktail hour. Several local artists may appear during the course of a cruise; these might include a pianist, a violinist or singers. The crew puts on a good-natured amateur show one night.
All meals are served in the main dining room, lined with picture windows and formally set with crisp linens and fresh flowers on the table. Breakfast is served from 7:30 am to 10 am, lunch from 12:30 pm to 2 pm. The ship has only one dinner seating, at 7:30 pm for all passengers. The Continental meals on the Mozart are well-prepared and more than generous, and the presentation is exceptional. Meals include lavish breakfast buffets plus hot choices; four-course hot lunches as well as a salad, cheese and cold-cuts buffet; seven- and eight-course dinner extravaganzas with hot and cold appetizers, soup, salad, sorbet and a hearty main course. A selection of cheeses is available at dinner, in addition to dessert. Vegetarian menus are available at both lunch and dinner. The dinner theme often matches the destination, sometimes accompanied by appropriate music, such as a Hungarian dinner featuring music from a gypsy trio. Everyone is presented with a set of dinner menus as a souvenir on the last evening. Tea, coffee and water are offered with meals; bottled water is extra. A red and white wine is suggested with each dinner; an unfinished bottle can be saved for the next evening. Wine by the glass is also an option at lunch and dinner. In addition to meals, morning bouillon is served at 11 am, afternoon tea at 4 pm, and midnight snacks and pastries from 10:30 pm to11:30 pm.
The spacious cabins are a much appreciated feature of the Mozart. The 95 outside cabins and three inside cabins each measures 203 sq ft; two grand suites are double that size. Cabins on the Tamino deck appear larger because they have picture windows, but the lower Dorabella deck cabins with two smaller windows are equally spacious and a considerable saving in price. All are generous with closet and storage space. Each cabin has two twins or one queen bed, a sofa and coffee table, a desk and chair, and attractive long drapes. The color schemes are either rose or blue and gold, with rosewood accents. Rooms are equipped with minibars, TV's, radios, and good reading lamps, and are decorated with Impressionist-style original art and fresh flowers. Bedding is European-style down duvets and feather pillows, with synthetics available on request. Beds are turned down at night. TV choices include CNN, CNBC and a movie channel with a daily English language movie shown afternoon and evening. Like the bedrooms, the baths offer excellent storage. Amenities include terry robes and slippers. A rounded door allows a bit of extra room in the shower.
Deilmann cruises are on the expensive side, but the Mozart offers an old-world European experience, lavish meals and efficient service, and most passengers are very happy with the ship. If you prefer to be in the company of English-speaking passengers, it is a good idea to ask about it when making your reservation.
