Viking Pride: Paris and the Heart of Normandy - Review

We just returned from Viking’s Paris and the Heart of Normandy cruise on Viking Pride. This was our fifth river cruise, fourth on Viking (last was the Danube two years ago), and it was a great week in spite of some inclement weather.

Because of previous commitments, we could only spend two nights pre-cruise in Paris and booked our own accommodations. We stayed at L’Empire, a small hotel off Rue du Rivoli with a great location, large rooms for Paris, friendly accommodating staff and was a perfect choice for our sightseeing itinerary. It was an easy walk to the Louvre, Tuleries Gardens, L’Orangerie and Orsay museums, and Notre Dame. The room was well appointed with double sinks, a mini-bar, and very comfortable bed. There are many restaurant options within easy walking distance and a small market a few doors down from the hotel. There is construction two buildings away that occurred during the day, but at night it was quiet so no problem for us.

In our time pre-cruise we were able to conquer the Louvre and l’Orangerie museums, Rodin’s sculpture garden, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame (which we stopped at again on the tour provided by Viking on the second day). We also bought Batobus tickets which was a great way to get from point-to-point while also sailing on the Seine and getting an up close view of all the beautiful bridges.

The hotel booked a cab take us to the dock to board Viking Pride (24 Euros) and we arrived around 12:30PM, our bags were taken and we went to the lounge area to meet our fellow travelers and relax until the cabins were available at 3PM. The Pride was docked alongside a nice park and a small town area was located within walking distance. A walking tour of the area was arranged for those wanting to stretch their legs.

We had a standard “C” cabin on mid-deck with a window just above water level. The cabin was comfortable and had both a European as well as American electrical outlet. There was a TV in the room and included CNN, Fox, Sky News, ESPN (yes, we got to see college and NFL games on Saturday/Sunday), National Geographic, Sky Cinema and itinerary and movie channels. Itinerary related movies included shows related to the Eiffel Tower, Musical Paris and Post Impressionist painting. Movies included Rocky Horror Picture Show, Moulin Rouge, and Perfume, the story of a murderer. (Note: cabin 240 is situated by the ice machine. We were asked not to get ice after 10PM)

Most travelers were Americans with a few Canadians as well.

Viking’s crew was outstanding. Robert Horwath the Hotel Manager was everywhere, easily approachable, and what we’d call had a “happy” staff. The staff worked tirelessly, never complained. Cornelia Svatek was the Program Director. She and her staff were always available, helpful and extremely knowledgeable of the areas we were visiting. We were impressed with the increase in number of options provided, on-your-own flyers for each stop, and the Concierge service now available on Viking. If there is something you want to do outside the offerings provided, just ask and it can probably be arranged.

While not one of the newer Viking Ship’s, we thought Pride was in great shape. The crew could be seen cleaning constantly and were pleased with all areas of the ship.

We are not foodies and found the food good to excellent depending upon the choices. A nice variety of food was served and always available options such as Caesar salad and Steak were offered. Also, a nice change since our last cruise is that complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks is also now offered at lunch. Lunch offered options of either buffet in the lounge or as seated in the dining room. Again, nice change and provided options. Menus for all meals were posted pre-meal in the reception area. The breakfast buffet was plentiful and you could also order special items from the kitchen. The create-your-own oatmeal area was a hit with a number of passengers. Juice, rolls and the always present coffee machine available in the reception area for early risers, and the coffee machine made great coffee.

We found internet access much improved from two years ago and never had a problem connecting. Best connections were in the reception area (or above in the small library area) and toward the rear of the lounge. We connected successfully on our laptop, iPad and iPhones with no issues, and it’s free!

We had rain on-and-off during the week and luckily went prepared with water proof jackets, small umbrellas and clothing for layering. We also took large zip lock bags for our cameras and they came in handy on several occasions. There were days we seemed to go through three seasons in a day and even experienced a hail storm in Rouen. Luckily, for most outdoor sightseeing it was either overcast or partly cloudy to sunny so just go prepared for anything if travelling this time of year.

We really enjoyed all of the stops along the Seine. Our favorites were Monet’s gardens and the day trip to visit the areas and beaches involved in D-Day. At Monet’s gardens a few lily pads were still in bloom and lots of other flowers blooming within the confines of the gardens. After touring the gardens before returning to the meeting spot, we walked into the little town of Giverny to the church where we found Monet’s grave site. The day to the D-Day beaches and cemetery was very moving. Two versions of the excursion were offered, one for Americans and another for Canadian/British passengers and a nice lunch was included in the outing. At the cemetery, the group gathered at the main monument and sang along to the National Anthem played by a carillon, followed by taps and a moment of silence, and there were few dry eyes during this moving ceremony. We each were given a rose to place at a cross of our choice, and the staff offered to look up the location of anyone buried at the cemetery to help you find it. After the cemetery the bus took us to Omaha beach where we had about 15 minutes to walk on the beach and view the monuments there.

We took the optional half-day trip to Versailles and the last day of the cruise. We got a tour of Versailles and then were free to wander through the palace and/or the gardens after the tour. An extended tour was offered allowing more time at Versailles and then a drop off at the Champs-Elysees for some time prior to returning to the ship.

During the cruise, a number of on-board presentations were held and the usual cocktail hour followed by daily briefing was held in the lounge prior to dinner. Piano music and vocals were provided each evening and during lunch. Other presentations/events included French lessons, music quiz, nautical talk, preview of other Viking cruises, guest music by “Spirit of France”, cooking demonstration, guest lecturer on “Painters on the Seine” (who was really good), history of Joan of Arc and I’m sure I’m missing a few but you get the idea.

Optionals for the cruise included:

Louvre Tour – 59 Euros, Versailles – 79 Euros half day/89 Euros full day, Painting class (in Vernon) 10 Euros, Oyster and Champagne tasting (on board) 35 Euros.

Some CC readers had asked about new Viking Longships on the Seine. Sounds like possibly 2014 but are awaiting future schedules to determine for sure. Also, regarding sailings during Christmas, various options are usually offered depending upon when/where ship is around Christmas. Once, mid-night mass at Notre Dame was offered, another time a palace decorated for Christmas was offered so sounds like nothing specific, but will vary by cruise/year. Once again, if you are aware of something based upon your pre-cruise investigation, it could possibly be arranged by the cruise staff if not offered, just ask.

Pictures of our journey have been posted at:

http://smengelt.shutterfly.com/2103

Great review!! Thanks for taking the time to post. Sounds like Viking came thru with a great cruise.

We had Cornelia on the Viking Spirit on the same cruise. I think that where Viking excels is its hotel and tour staff. They are very friendly, knowledgeable and professional.

Glad you enjoyed your cruise. We took the same trip on the Pride in 2008 and loved it. Biggest change is that the tour is now Paris to Paris and skips Honfleur. Our itinerary back then was Paris to LeHavre. It's a wonderful trip.

We were told on our spring trip (April 2012) on the Idun that the new longboats won't be sailing on the Seine because their design is too large for the locks and bridges there. By the way, we enjoyed the Pride every bit if not more than the new longships.

We were told on our spring trip (April 2012) on the Idun that the new longboats won't be sailing on the Seine because their design is too large for the locks and bridges there. By the way, we enjoyed the Pride every bit if not more than the new longships.

I thought the same thing and expected to be told "no" with those reasons. Not sure if some modifications will be done to accommodate. Guess we'll have to wait until 2014 itineraries are published. It was interesting to see when allowed back on the top deck after passing a lower bridge that on Pride, the captain's bridge was on hydraulic lifts that go up and down. Agree with you on enjoying the "older" ships as we enjoyed Sky on the Danube as well. Also, prices are lower for the older ships, fewer people, and as mentioned in the review, Viking seems to be keeping them in great shape.

Thanks for the review!

Welcome back, alas out AU Tigers are still in the doldrums, :(

Do you have any other pics of the ship? I know you said you are not a foodie, but did any meals stand out? Did you stop in Rouen? That is our Christmas Day stop on Spirit next year. TIA, Scott

WarEagle76,

Was the ship docked at all ports within walking distance to the towns? If not which were?

Thanks

Do you have any other pics of the ship? I know you said you are not a foodie, but did any meals stand out? Did you stop in Rouen? That is our Christmas Day stop on Spirit next year. TIA, Scott

Scott, the food was varied and covered a number of different offerings thoughout the week. Depending upon the evening there was the usual chicken, beef, veal and fish options, venison, boar, duck (in a number of different ways which I was really pleased with), frog legs, crab cakes and an interesting escargot appetizer in a raspberry sauce vs. butter and garlic (I prefer the butter and garlic). The Captain’s dinner was my favorite, filet and lobster which were both cooked perfectly. They also offered vegetarian options each night which we didn’t try. I’m guessing the menu could vary based upon the chef, what’s available locally, etc. They also held a cooking demonstration in the lounge one day and a tour of the galley on another.

Our cruise left Paris on a Wednesday and we got to Rouen on Saturday mid-day. There was a walking tour for two hours that afternoon followed by time on your own (this is when right after the tour the sky got very dark and as we ducked into a coffee shop it began to hail). We spent overnight in Rouen then to the beaches in Normandy on Sunday, spent Sunday night in Rouen and sailed at 6:30 AM Monday morning for Les Andelys which was a nice morning sailing after the long day at the beaches.

Was the ship docked at all ports within walking distance to the towns? If not which were?

Larry, yes, we docked within walking distance of town when docked. In Paris, you are near a business area with a nice park and small town area within 10 minutes walking. We were told the Eiffel Tower was a 30 minute walk from our dock (you can see it in the pictures) though we didn’t do that since had been there twice in previous two days. You take a 3.5 hour bus city tour (two stops, one at Notre Dame) on day two and it really was a good tour to get a feel for all of the different areas of Paris, especially if you hadn’t been there before. In Vernon you dock right outside the downtown area and have a short walking tour in the morning, then a short bus ride (about 25-30 minutes) in the afternoon to Giverny to see Monet’s gardens. In Rouen again on the edge of downtown with activities outlined above. In Les Andelys, you are docked at a park adjacent to the town. In Conflans you are docked near town but we were off the ship to Versailles early and left immediately after arriving back from the half-day excursion. Those on the extended Versailles excursion that spent time in the afternoon in Paris, met us back at the dock in Paris shortly before dinner. At any of the stops, if you wish not to take the included tours, you are welcome to wander off on your own. At any time when leaving the ship, you turn in your room key and receive a small card identifying you. When you return to the ship you give back the small card and get your room key back. That is how they ensure nobody is left behind. We were delayed leaving Conflans after Versailles because two people decided to go into Paris and didn’t let anyone from Viking know. They finally found someone who said “Oh yeah, they decided to go into Paris from Versailles on their own”.

We just returned from Viking’s Paris and the Heart of Normandy cruise on Viking Pride. This was our fifth river cruise, fourth on Viking (last was the Danube two years ago), and it was a great week in spite of some inclement weather.

 

Because of previous commitments, we could only spend two nights pre-cruise in Paris and booked our own accommodations. We stayed at L’Empire, a small hotel off Rue du Rivoli with a great location, large rooms for Paris, friendly accommodating staff and was a perfect choice for our sightseeing itinerary. It was an easy walk to the Louvre, Tuleries Gardens, L’Orangerie and Orsay museums, and Notre Dame. The room was well appointed with double sinks, a mini-bar, and very comfortable bed. There are many restaurant options within easy walking distance and a small market a few doors down from the hotel. There is construction two buildings away that occurred during the day, but at night it was quiet so no problem for us.

In our time pre-cruise we were able to conquer the Louvre and l’Orangerie museums, Rodin’s sculpture garden, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame (which we stopped at again on the tour provided by Viking on the second day). We also bought Batobus tickets which was a great way to get from point-to-point while also sailing on the Seine and getting an up close view of all the beautiful bridges.

 

The hotel booked a cab take us to the dock to board Viking Pride (24 Euros) and we arrived around 12:30PM, our bags were taken and we went to the lounge area to meet our fellow travelers and relax until the cabins were available at 3PM. The Pride was docked alongside a nice park and a small town area was located within walking distance. A walking tour of the area was arranged for those wanting to stretch their legs.

 

We had a standard “C” cabin on mid-deck with a window just above water level. The cabin was comfortable and had both a European as well as American electrical outlet. There was a TV in the room and included CNN, Fox, Sky News, ESPN (yes, we got to see college and NFL games on Saturday/Sunday), National Geographic, Sky Cinema and itinerary and movie channels. Itinerary related movies included shows related to the Eiffel Tower, Musical Paris and Post Impressionist painting. Movies included Rocky Horror Picture Show, Moulin Rouge, and Perfume, the story of a murderer. (Note: cabin 240 is situated by the ice machine. We were asked not to get ice after 10PM)

 

Most travelers were Americans with a few Canadians as well.

 

Viking’s crew was outstanding. Robert Horwath the Hotel Manager was everywhere, easily approachable, and what we’d call had a “happy” staff. The staff worked tirelessly, never complained. Cornelia Svatek was the Program Director. She and her staff were always available, helpful and extremely knowledgeable of the areas we were visiting. We were impressed with the increase in number of options provided, on-your-own flyers for each stop, and the Concierge service now available on Viking. If there is something you want to do outside the offerings provided, just ask and it can probably be arranged.

 

While not one of the newer Viking Ship’s, we thought Pride was in great shape. The crew could be seen cleaning constantly and were pleased with all areas of the ship.

 

We are not foodies and found the food good to excellent depending upon the choices. A nice variety of food was served and always available options such as Caesar salad and Steak were offered. Also, a nice change since our last cruise is that complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks is also now offered at lunch. Lunch offered options of either buffet in the lounge or as seated in the dining room. Again, nice change and provided options. Menus for all meals were posted pre-meal in the reception area. The breakfast buffet was plentiful and you could also order special items from the kitchen. The create-your-own oatmeal area was a hit with a number of passengers. Juice, rolls and the always present coffee machine available in the reception area for early risers, and the coffee machine made great coffee.

 

We found internet access much improved from two years ago and never had a problem connecting. Best connections were in the reception area (or above in the small library area) and toward the rear of the lounge. We connected successfully on our laptop, iPad and iPhones with no issues, and it’s free!

 

We had rain on-and-off during the week and luckily went prepared with water proof jackets, small umbrellas and clothing for layering. We also took large zip lock bags for our cameras and they came in handy on several occasions. There were days we seemed to go through three seasons in a day and even experienced a hail storm in Rouen. Luckily, for most outdoor sightseeing it was either overcast or partly cloudy to sunny so just go prepared for anything if travelling this time of year.

 

We really enjoyed all of the stops along the Seine. Our favorites were Monet’s gardens and the day trip to visit the areas and beaches involved in D-Day. At Monet’s gardens a few lily pads were still in bloom and lots of other flowers blooming within the confines of the gardens. After touring the gardens before returning to the meeting spot, we walked into the little town of Giverny to the church where we found Monet’s grave site. The day to the D-Day beaches and cemetery was very moving. Two versions of the excursion were offered, one for Americans and another for Canadian/British passengers and a nice lunch was included in the outing. At the cemetery, the group gathered at the main monument and sang along to the National Anthem played by a carillon, followed by taps and a moment of silence, and there were few dry eyes during this moving ceremony. We each were given a rose to place at a cross of our choice, and the staff offered to look up the location of anyone buried at the cemetery to help you find it. After the cemetery the bus took us to Omaha beach where we had about 15 minutes to walk on the beach and view the monuments there.

 

We took the optional half-day trip to Versailles and the last day of the cruise. We got a tour of Versailles and then were free to wander through the palace and/or the gardens after the tour. An extended tour was offered allowing more time at Versailles and then a drop off at the Champs-Elysees for some time prior to returning to the ship.

 

During the cruise, a number of on-board presentations were held and the usual cocktail hour followed by daily briefing was held in the lounge prior to dinner. Piano music and vocals were provided each evening and during lunch. Other presentations/events included French lessons, music quiz, nautical talk, preview of other Viking cruises, guest music by “Spirit of France”, cooking demonstration, guest lecturer on “Painters on the Seine” (who was really good), history of Joan of Arc and I’m sure I’m missing a few but you get the idea.

 

Optionals for the cruise included:

Louvre Tour – 59 Euros, Versailles – 79 Euros half day/89 Euros full day, Painting class (in Vernon) 10 Euros, Oyster and Champagne tasting (on board) 35 Euros.

 

Some CC readers had asked about new Viking Longships on the Seine. Sounds like possibly 2014 but are awaiting future schedules to determine for sure. Also, regarding sailings during Christmas, various options are usually offered depending upon when/where ship is around Christmas. Once, mid-night mass at Notre Dame was offered, another time a palace decorated for Christmas was offered so sounds like nothing specific, but will vary by cruise/year. Once again, if you are aware of something based upon your pre-cruise investigation, it could possibly be arranged by the cruise staff if not offered, just ask.

 

Pictures of our journey have been posted at:

http://smengelt.shutterfly.com/2103

Dear WarEagle76,

We’re so happy to hear that you had a great time on your cruise! Thanks for taking a few moments out of your day to let us know about your experience aboard Viking Pride and for acknowledging the work of our staff and crew. They truly are among the most valuable members of the Viking family, and it’s always a treat for us when we read comments such as yours.

We took a look at the photos you shared , and we must say that you did a beautiful job of capturing the sights on your itinerary!

This probably goes without saying, but we hope we’ll have the opportunity to travel the rivers with you again soon. Until then, thanks again for sharing this re-cap of your cruise!

Warm Regards,

Viking River Cruises

Thank you so much for the great review. I was considering which river cruise company to book for May 2013.

Based on your xcellent review I plan to choose Viking.

Thanks for the great review, and your additional comments as well.

We'll be making the same cruise on the Viking Pride in September, so your review was very timely for us.

Thanks for the great review, and your additional comments as well.

 

We'll be making the same cruise on the Viking Pride in September, so your review was very timely for us.

Glad you enjoyed it and I'll wish you an early "Happy Anniversary".

Glad you enjoyed it and I'll wish you an early "Happy Anniversary".

Thank you!

I've printed out your comments and put them in a folder with all the other documentation for our trip. Makes them handy to refer to! :)

FYI based upon some previous discussion, just received email announcing Paris & the Heart of Normandy 2014 schedule and pricing. Looks like Viking Pride and Spirit still scheduled on this cruise with no new Longships listed. Glanced at itinerary and looks to be pretty much the same.

Hi War Eagle,

I brought this thread back to the top hoping you'd answer a couple of questions about attire on the ship? We are taking this cruise in May and were wondering if a lot of people wore jeans? Everything that I had read said that people mostly wore what they had on during the day to dinner so I didn't know if I should pack my husband some dockers to wear to dinner or if nice jeans and a button down or other nice shirt would be ok? We're trying to pack a smaller number of clothes and my DH is really more comfortable in jeans.

Thanks!

Melody

WarEagle, so glad this thread was bumped up so I was able to see your beautiful photographs. We are taking another cruiseline but a similar itinerary. Thanks for posting.

Hi War Eagle,

 

I brought this thread back to the top hoping you'd answer a couple of questions about attire on the ship? We are taking this cruise in May and were wondering if a lot of people wore jeans? Everything that I had read said that people mostly wore what they had on during the day to dinner so I didn't know if I should pack my husband some dockers to wear to dinner or if nice jeans and a button down or other nice shirt would be ok? We're trying to pack a smaller number of clothes and my DH is really more comfortable in jeans.

 

Thanks!

Melody

Melody, you will see both in the dining room but on our cruise jeans were definitely in the minority at dinner. Most men would change into long pants and sport shirts (or sweaters as was October and cooler). A few would wear a sports jacket (no tie). Definitely a casual atmosphere on board. We got by with a couple of pair of dess pants and three shirts for dinner for the week.

Thanks so much for responding. That's just what I needed to know!

Thanks so much for the review! My DH and I are taking the cruise in April and this answered a few questions. May I ask a couple more please? Do you know the name of the dock they are at and can you walk to the Eiffel Tower from it on the arrival day, as we arrive by noon. Is the tour the next day, one in which you can get off and you can actually tour Notre Dame, or is it just a drive by of the area highlights?

Thanks so much for your reply.

~Latttelady

For those of you who stayed after the cruise, did you have a walking tour the next day from the hotel? What time does Viking pick you up to return to the airport for the return flight?

Would you suggest doing things on your own, or taking the "tours"?

Many thanks!

Thanks so much for the review! My DH and I are taking the cruise in April and this answered a few questions. May I ask a couple more please? Do you know the name of the dock they are at and can you walk to the Eiffel Tower from it on the arrival day, as we arrive by noon. Is the tour the next day, one in which you can get off and you can actually tour Notre Dame, or is it just a drive by of the area highlights?

Thanks so much for your reply.

~Latttelady

The picture below shows the dock area used by Viking in Paris. The location shown on the map is where I believe Viking Spirit normally docks. We (on Viking Pride) docked a little South of that point at Port de Javel Bas. You will get a book prior to your departure that shows the exact location of the boat for your cruise. We made a copy for our cab driver as we stayed in Paris pre-trip on our own. He had no problem findng it. Once you arrive, you can dump your bags and either sit in the lounge or go walking. The Eiffel Tower is within walking distance. We had seen it on a previous day and did not do the walk which I believe they said was 30-45 minutes. You would also have time on the afternoon of the first full day on board if you do not do the optional Louvre tour and did that later on your own.

The driving tour does stop for time at Notre Dame. Believe we had about an hour and a half (a lot of timing will depend on traffic). We parked several blocks away but was an easy walk. There probably won't be time to go up into the bell tower as the line was long, but you will be able to go into the church and walk around the grounds. Around the church and on the way back to the bus there were a number of cafe's if you want an espresso, croissant, etc..

Sorry I can't answer your post-cruise questions regarding the Viking extension. When we did pre-cruise, we stayed near the Louvre and used the Batobus which allowed us to go from place to place while cruising the Seine and see the bridges up close which we enjoyed. Here is a link to their website:

http://www.batobus.com/english/index.htm

At Christmas we did the Paris and the Heart of Normandy on the Spirit. We did the post Viking hotel stay. I understand it will be a different hotel, however we had a walking tour of the Marais District and that was very , very good. Quite a nice neighborhood and lots of history. After the walking tour we were given directions on how to get back, as we took the subway to start the tour. The Viking rep at the hotel, Arnold was fantastic. Also the concierege at the hotel was good too. They were able to get me to a local Church for Mass on Sunday and then recommend a restaurant. They also helped with subway info, which was pretty easy to use.

Rcaruso, we will be on Spirit this Christmas. Does Viking do anything special for Christmas Eve/day? Do you have any pics of your cruise posted anywhere? TIA, Scott

Well when we got to Paris the Seine was high and the ship was in Conflans, so immediately we were bused there (about 45 min). At the end we did make it to Paris, the ship squeaked under the bridges. But due to that we were able to go to midnight Mass the next day as we then went to Rouen. The weather was in the 50's which was unusual and not much rain.

Viking did a Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. We had a visit from Santa Claus (cruise director) after dinner in the lounge. There were Christmas markets in front of the Church in Rouen and in Paris, but not as good as the ones in Germany , but you can get hot mulled wine.

The ship is the sister ship to the Pride. We were in the bottom small cabins, but we weren't in the cabin much. The food was good. They had a cheese tasting (3 cheeses) and one of the lunches in the lounge was based on food of Normandy.

We had a great time, 3rd river cruise. We will be taking another around Christmas on the Danube again this year on one of the new long boats.

If you have any more questions just post.