The Oldest and Largest Paddle Steamer fleet in the world: Long before the Elbe River became home to the very popular European river cruises of today, steamships have been plying the Elbe transporting goods and passenger traffic. In fact, it has been 174 years since royal assent was given for paddle-steamers to operate on the Elbe. In its heyday, around 1900, there were 37 steamships carrying millions of passengers each year.  Unfortunately, the two world wars took its toll on the steamship … [Read more...]