Gene Sloan

USA TODAY

Thinking about a river cruise in Europe this year? Our latest Cruise Ship Tour, in the carousel above, offers a deck-by-deck look at the Continent's most unusual new river ship, the Elbe Princesse.

Unveiled in April, the 80-passenger vessel is specially designed to navigate the shallow waters of the Elbe and Moldau rivers, allowing for year-round cruises between Berlin and Prague -- a temperamental route that has flummoxed river cruise operators in the past.

As can be seen in the tour, the Elbe Princesse is driven by two innovative paddle wheels that can operate in extremely low water, and it has a draft of just 2.95 feet. Built to be light and maneuverable, it offers a stylish lounge and bar, a restaurant and a large sun deck with chairs.

Designed as a research tool for vacationers considering a voyage, the Elbe Princesse photo tour -- by cruise writer Aaron Saunders -- is the 154th in our ongoing series of ship galleries. For previous photo tours, click on the links below.

Alaska Marine Highway System (ferries): Kennicott

Alaskan Dream Cruises: Admiralty Dream

American Cruise Lines: Queen of the Mississippi; American Eagle

American Queen Steamboat Company: American Queen; American Empress

Azamara Club Cruises: Azamara Journey; Azamara Quest

Avalon Waterways: Avalon Panorama; Avalon Expression; Avalon Angkor; Avalon Tapestry II; Avalon Myanmar; Avalon Passion

Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Eclipse; Celebrity Constellation; Celebrity Century; Celebrity Reflection; Celebrity Solstice; Celebrity Silhouette

Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Magic; Carnival Breeze; Carnival Sunshine; Carnival Breeze, Magic compared; Carnival Destiny (before transformation into Carnival Sunshine); Carnival Ecstasy; Carnival Splendor; Carnival Inspiration; Carnival Liberty; Carnival Valor; Carnival Dream; Carnival Imagination; Carnival Miracle; early icons of the Carnival fleet; Carnival Vista

Celebration Cruise Line: Bahamas Celebration (out of service)

Costa Cruises: Costa Favolosa; Costa Deliziosa; Costa Diadema; Costa Atlantica; Costa Luminosa

Cruise & Maritime Voyages: Marco Polo; Discovery

Crystal Cruises: Crystal Symphony; Crystal Serenity

Cunard Line: Queen Mary 2; Queen Elizabeth; Queen Victoria; Queen Mary (retired)

Disney Cruise Line: Disney Wonder; Disney Fantasy and Dream compared; Disney Fantasy; Disney Dream; Disney Magic

Emerald Waterways: Emerald Sky

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines: Braemar

Hapag-Lloyd: Europa; Europa 2

Holland America Line: Nieuw Amsterdam; Westerdam; Eurodam; Oosterdam; Statendam; Veendam; Koningsdam

Hurtigruten: Midnatsol; Lofoten; Nordstjernen; Fram; Kong Harald

Lindblad Expeditions: National Geographic Sea Lion

Louis Cruises: Louis Majesty; Louis Olympia; Orient Queen; Cristal

MSC Cruises: MSC Fantasia; MSC Divina; MSC Preziosa

Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Jade; Norwegian Breakaway; Norwegian Sky; Norwegian Epic; Norwegian Gem; Norwegian Getaway; Norwegian Escape

Oceania Cruises: Riviera; Marina; Nautica; Sirena

Paul Gauguin Cruises: Paul Gauguin

P&O Cruises: Britannia

Ponant: Le Boreal; Le Soleal

Princess Cruises: Ruby Princess; Crown Princess; Grand Princess; Emerald Princess; last look at the 'Love Boat'; Royal Princess under construction; Royal Princess; Sapphire Princess; Regal Princess; Diamond Princess; early icons of the Princess fleet; Star Princess; Golden Princess

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Seven Seas Mariner

Royal Caribbean International: Oasis of the Seas; Voyager of the Seas; Grandeur of the Seas; Jewel of the Seas; Allure of the Seas; Quantum of the Seas; Anthem of the Seas; Freedom of the Seas; Harmony of the Seas

Scenic Cruises: Scenic Gem

Seabourn Cruise Line: Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Odyssey; Seabourn Quest

SeaDream Yacht Club: SeaDream I

Semester at Sea:World Odyssey

Silversea: Silver Spirit; Silver Shadow; Silver Galapagos; Silver Cloud

Star Clippers: Star Flyer; Royal Clipper

Tauck: Inspire; Savor

Un-Cruise Adventures: Safari Explorer; Safari Endeavour (in Mexico's Sea of Cortes); Safari Endeavour (in Alaska); Wilderness Discoverer; S.S. Legacy

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection: S.S. Catherine; S.S. Maria Theresa; River Countess; Ganges Voyager II

Vantage Deluxe World Travel: River Discovery II; River Splendor

Viking River Cruises: Viking Odin; Viking Bragi; Viking Heimdal; Viking Skirnir; Viking Vili

Viking Ocean Cruises: Viking Star; Viking Sea

Voyages to Antiquity: Aegean Odyssey

Windstar Cruises: Wind Surf; Wind Star; Star Pride; Star Breeze; Wind Spirit

Yachts available by charter: Christina O

Retired ocean liners: SS United States; SS Rotterdam

Theme galleries: The most spectacular suites at sea; the last of the great ocean liners; ship christenings with Queen Elizabeth II; Royal ship christenings through the years