DEILMANN CRUISES SCORES HIGH WITH READERS OF CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER AND PORTHOLE CRUISE MAGAZINES


Sixth Time Line Among Top 10 in Small-Ship Survey; Named “Best River Cruise” at Porthole Once Again

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2005 – For the sixth time, Peter Deilmann Cruises is one of the 10 best small-ship cruise lines selected by readers of Condé Nast Traveler in the magazine’s annual travel survey. At the same time, Deilmann Cruises won the Readers’ Choice award once again for “Best River Cruise” in the readers’ poll conducted by Porthole Cruise magazine. The Deilmann rankings are in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler and the December issue of Porthole Cruise magazine.

A European river and ocean cruise line, Peter Deilmann was first voted one of the 10 best small-ship cruise lines in the Condé Nast readers’ survey in 1999. Close to 28,000 readers of the magazine responded to this year’s questionnaire on cruise lines, airlines, cities, islands, hotels and resorts. Subscribers judged cruise lines on activities/facilities, cabins, crew/service, design/layout, food/dining and itineraries. In the past, Deilmann Cruises has scored the highest of any cruise line - a perfect 100% - for its European river cruise itineraries, the highest - 95.5% - for food of any cruise line large or small, and 95.3% for service, second only to one other line. Among river ships, Deilmann vessels have the highest passenger-to-crew ratios: 2.5 to 1.

Following the successful introduction of special interest cruises this year, Deilmann will offer music, golf, gardens and cycling cruise programs on its river ships again in 2006 and will introduce new hiking theme cruises. The line is increasing classical music cruises on its river ships from one to four in 2006 – three aboard the 204-passenger Mozart sailing the Danube, April 2–9, Oct. 1-8 and Oct. 8-15, and the fourth on the 100-passenger Cezanne, Sept. 2-9, sailing the Seine from Paris to Rouen and visiting Versailles, Giverny and Honfleur. Programs will feature performances onboard and ashore.

Entrepreneur Peter Deilmann launched the 513-passenger luxury ocean liner MS Deutschland in 1998 on cruises in Europe and throughout the world. In 2006, the five-star ship will sail to southern Africa and Indian Ocean islands as well as to western Europe, the Mediterranean, Baltic and North seas, Caribbean and South America. The Deutschland will also present a gala onboard music cruise celebrating the 250th birthday of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Oct. 4-17, and will offer golf, garden and equestrian special interest cruises throughout the year. Crew-to-passenger ratio on the ocean liner is 2 to 1.

A pioneer in the river cruise industry in the 1980s, Peter Deilmann was the first to design and build ships that reflected the style and amenities of ocean-going cruise ships but were keyed to the unique specifications of river cruising. The line continues to be a leader in luxury cruising. Based in the Baltic town of Neustadt in Holstein, the privately owned German company was founded in 1968 and has its North America headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

Though Peter Deilmann died two years ago, the company remains a family operation run by his two daughters, Gisa and Hedda Deilmann. Seven of the nine river ships are now five star with the Mozart offering the largest cabins - 203 sq. ft. - of any river ship in the world and its new flagship Heidelberg, launched in 2004, offering cabins of 190 sq ft.

For information on all the ships and their sailing itineraries and copies of the 2006 Great Rivers of Europe brochure and the Grand Hotel Voyages of the MS Deutschland, contact Peter Deilmann Cruises at 1-800-348-8287 or by e-mail at pdcmail@deilmann-cruises.com. All the information on the ships, sailing itineraries, cruise-tours, special interest cruises and the brochures are online at deilmann-cruises.com.