One of Central Europe’s most important waterways, the Elbe River
rises at an elevation of about 5,000 feet in the northwestern
Czech Republic. It is fed by a number of small streams, the most
important being the White Elbe. The river traverses much of
Germany in a northwesterly direction on its way to the North
Sea. An Elbe river cruise is extraordinarily beautiful,
providing river cruise visitors stunning views of lush
landscapes that have hardly changed in hundreds of years. The
course of the river is predominantly natural, unaltered by human
technology. As such, a cruise along the river provides an
unspoiled experience of how the river has appeared throughout
history. The river was mentioned by ancient Egyptian historian
Ptolemy, and was known to the Romans, as the Albis, meaning
“river” or “river bed.” The Latin root of the river name can
also be interpreted as meaning “white” or “shining.” The origin
of this descriptive name for the river may become clear to
modern cruise visitors experiencing its shinin