Like her name, the Deutschland is a true German ship, as she was chartered for the HDW shipyard. Before the Deutschland commission, this shipyard had not built a cruise ship since 1987. The liner was built by 130 subcontractors in sections at four shipyards, eventually floating on HDW. The ship was delivered to Peter Deilmann Shipping Company on May 11. , 1998. The ship was sold in 2015, and the German travel agency and cruise company Phoenix Reisen currently operates the ship on Northern European itineraries in the summer.
For the remainder of the year, Deutschland transforms into World Odyssey and operates as part of the Semester at Sea program,
The mature German or Northern European passenger was the target of this ship’s design. It is decorated like a grand hotel from the 1920s, the crew is mainly German and flies a German flag. Most of the passengers are European.
Deutschland’s overall appearance takes you back to the 1920s and the ‘golden age’ of cruise ships. Brass, marble, teak, and glass are evident throughout. The ship is a true ocean liner, and it only accommodates 550 guests. The exterior of the Deutschland is white with blue trim and looks somewhat normal. The interior is something else. When you get on board, the 1920s atmosphere makes you feel like you are visiting an old movie set. This ship reintroduces the elaborate crystal chandelier, imperial ballroom, loom chairs in a winter garden filled with palm trees, fine antiques and original artwork.
The décor of the ‘Grand Hotel’ evokes the splendor of Edwardian times and the roaring 1920s through the use of brass, marble, Tiffany ceilings and gleaming upholstery in the salons. Beautifully appointed staterooms, an elegant Roman spa, expansive walkways, and plenty of teak complete the setting.
Partner Ship Design (PSD), a German company started in 1991, can be credited with the interior design and styling of the ship. Let’s start with the cabins. To suit the theme, you will need a brass key to enter your cabin. Although you won’t find many rooms with a balcony in Deutschland (there are only two), the cottages have large windows with Venetian blinds. Décor includes burled walnut-effect wood, double full-length mirrors, and reproduction oil paintings. The art deco bathroom is filled with brass and tile.
What would a large hotel be without large dining rooms? The Deutschland includes three: the Berlin, the Four Seasons and the Lido. The Berlin is the main restaurant, offering continental cuisine. The Four Seasons is only open for dinner and accommodates 70 passengers by reservation only (at no additional cost). The Lido is a casual buffet with indoor and outdoor seating.
Life at sea in Germany reflects its elegant image. A great ocean traveler like this presents lazy days at sea, forcing passengers to relax. There are no casino games on this ship, but several lounges, bars, and hangouts, all with their own flair. The Old Fritz Pub, for example, may remind you of a Heidelberg brewery. The Amphitheater (Kaisersaals) looks like a dance hall from the roaring twenties, with classical paintings on the ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and paintings and chandeliers on the walls.
Movement on the ship can be internal or external, as in an old passenger ship. The designers’ use of evenly spaced decorative columns and a carpet pattern that breaks into any other column gives hallways an interesting relaxing effect.
If the name of the cruise ship in Germany sounds familiar, the ship received a lot of indirect publicity in late July 2000 with the crash of the supersonic liner Concorde. All the passengers in the unfortunate Concorde that crashed outside of Paris were in a letter on the way to New York. They had planned to embark on a cruise through Germany up the east coast of the United States and through the Panama Canal before ending up in Ecuador. It is sad that an airline tragedy can be so tied to this great ship.
If you are German speaking and looking for a cruise in the grand style of the ‘old days’, Deutschland may be perfect for you!
