pontac

We are on same trip.

Winery visit was very good. Small 7th generation owner, who was there but left commentary to guide who didn't always understand peoples questions.

Chocolate visit was to the shop - no talk or demonstration - but unlimited free chocolate samples to gorge on. Too long there IMO, leaving time only for a cursory walk thru town before lunch & ship departure.

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Whatver you're comfortable in.

There's no dress code.

From the Viking site

Dress is casual and comfortable, both on board and ashore. Because the weather can be unpredictable, it is best to bring layers. It is recommended that you have a sweater or light jacket for spring and summer, and a heavier jacket for chillier months. Rain can happen at any time, so a collapsible umbrella is a “must.” You are likely to do a good deal of walking during shore excursions, so you will definitely want sturdy, comfortable walking shoes; but, since our ships are much smaller than ocean cruising vessels, you do not have to worry about too much walking on board.

There are no “formal nights” on board, but there is usually a Captain’s Welcome Dinner and/or Farewell Dinner; on many itineraries, you will attend a concert, ballet performance or other dressier event. For these evenings, you might like to bring “dressy casual” wear.

I like to wear a shirt and sports jacket at dinnerand that's about as formal as anyone goes, and I'm in a minority. A tuxedo would be well over the top.

If you're comfortable in it, then it's OK

"as some will be dining off boat and others will be upstairs with the buffet in the lounge."

 

There is a buffet on these river boats? For dinner?

Every night?

 

Hi Nancy,

I don't know about other lines, but yes on Viking. Breakfast, lunch and dinner you can eat in the dining room or have a simpler meal in the lounge

The thread is titled Viking Dining and my sig line shows I've only been on Viking so I didn't explicity state Viking in my post, apologies. :)

 

I wondered if anybody from this cruise ever booked their own transportation and scheduled their own chateaux visits in addition to some offered by Viking.

There are at least 2,000 Chateaux in the Bordeaux apellation. Some are world famous and impossible to visit unless in the business (ITB), others small family operations, some geared for tourists, some willing to take bookings.

You can book a trip in a shared 10 seater mini-bus with the tourist office (short walk from boat mooring in Bordeaux), and if you take up the implied offer in Viking's pre-tour itinery that the concierge can arrange visits to premier wineries, that's what he'll try and book for you.

So you should think about whether you have a favourite winery you want to visit, prefer red, white or sweet, merlot or cab dominate etc etc etc.

The arranged tours with Viking give a very good insight and spread of wineries, to two world famous ones, (Kirwan and one other just before -- both 'classed growth'), an excellent visit to a sweet wine vineyard and winery, and other wineries.

I arranged a private tour of Bordeaux wineries for me and my friend visiting from the USA a couple of years before my Viking trip. The guide had the contacts to get us into, and tasting from the barrel at Ch Mouton-Rothschild (!), as well as more humble places whose wines I had been buying. For a personalised trip contact Hamish Wakes-Miller (who is ITB and based there) at http://www.bellawines.co.uk (note: I have no connection except as a very satisfied customer)

One disappointment is that Château Siaurac and The World of Truffles are the same day :( as we'd love to do both. For those who've done one or the other--I'd love to know what you thin

We took the optional wine trip to Chateau Siaurac, where we were greeted by owner Paul Goldschmidt who is an amusing host who walked us through his vineyards and gardens and in his living rooms in the chateau. We had a tasting of several wines and then had a decent lunch with more wines.

However, this optional tour cost €87 a head and I think it was well-overpriced*. Yes we had lunch, but we’d already paid for lunch and wine on board. Assuming that wine enthusiasts would be the ones booking this trip, I thought it didn’t offer enough, there wasn’t enough detailed info (although Paul was delightfully indiscrete on occasions). Looking at the winery website you see they offer blending experiences, for example.

*Especially as its a real marketing opportunity as Siaurac holds stock of its wines in the US and Americans are encouraged to order at the winery on this trip for delivery when they get home. And a great many did so.

I did this cruise in March this year.

I really enjoyed it tho' the weather was miserable most of the time.

This really is a trip for wine lovers, and especially the wines of Bordeaux.

Non-wine lovers won't feel the same emotions when stopping for photo-ops at Ch d'Yquem, Palmer, Cos d'Estournal etc...

The tour is more focused on wine rather than cruising. Scenery from the boat is not in the league of the Douro or Rhine, and of course you start and end at the same point, keeping to quite a small geographical area.

I am a wine lover, I did enjoy the trip and of all the ones I have taken, this is the one I most want to repeat, but next time in the autumn, when the vines are burdened with grapes and harvesting is under way.

Viking Portraits of Southern France cruise starting 22 July from Chalon sur Saone

DriveslikeMario - thanks for the thought but you can uncross your fingers for me I'm looking forward and longing for hot weather. :)

I only like Sweet White Wine? Will I find this on the Viking Var (Rhine River) ? :confused:

The white wine served with lunch and dinner on all the Viking cruises I have been on has been dry. Also available is a rose wine which I didn't taste but I understand that is sweet. Otherwise ask for the house sparkling wine which is sweet.

YIKES! So very glad to hear that we aren't going to get a bunch of crap with Viking logo all over it to identify us as cruise tourists! I would rather have more wine onboard!

Viking tags are useful for identification when being met by Viking on arrival at airport.

More wine on board? It's never ending. We attempted to drink our boat dry but they just kept pouring till we admitted defeat :)

But better fizz, yes please !

 

We have not (and will not) cruise with Viking, but, looking at the lunch buffet when we toured one of their ships last year in port, what struck us was the food offered: it was heavy on the pastas and similar low cost items and did not compare with the lunches we were enjoying on AMA on the same routing.

Hmm, criticism of one lunch buffet observed by someone who's never cruised with the company.

The lunch buffet served in the lounge is a simpler alternative to the multi-course waiter served lunch in the restaurant. It changes every day, as do the meals in the restuarant, and you can choose to dine at either.

On trips I have been on chefs have sourced fresh items in local markets -- one trip asparagus season was just starting and chef returned with boxes of asparagus, and local dishes are also served.

AMA offered menu selections at all meals daily and we enjoyed the emphasis on local cuisine.

Viking offers selections on all courses at all meals, plus there's always a cooked to order choice of steak, grilled chicken and caesar salad at all lunches and dinners.

I accept that IYO AMA is wonderful, but I do not have personal experience of ithem so cannot compare

Has Viking done away with the folder or is this possibly due to our low category cabin? .

We got the folder for our March cruise, and we've just got another one with the documents for our July cruise. Both booked in aquarium class cabins.

Re the lanyards with name & home state badges. Noticed that no-one had them in March.

We never got them, only those booked via USA Viking got them AFAIK, now seems no-one...

Shame, I thought it was an excellent idea as it gives a talking point to start with when you see where people come from... and very useful when you forget the names of new friends

We also really enjoy a balcony that allows one to sit outside.

Bear in mind that balconies on river cruise boats are very small, that you get the view from only one side of the river, and that there is ample open air seating on the top deck, and often on the prow, and covered seating with panaoramic windows in the lounge. From all you can observe scenery on both sides of the river.

Factor in the amount of time spent on included sightseeing trips, plus meals, and you'll find you are not long in your room except for sleeping.

We have been to the hospital a couple of times

If you're interested in wine, the Museum of Wine is a few steps from the Hospice, in a 13thC building and worth visiting.

http://www.musees-bourgogne.org/les_musees/musee_bourgogne_resultat.php?lg=en&id=55&id_ville=12

we will have to make our purchase of the beverage package onboard,

Ask to see the drinks list, there is a faint symbol next to drinks marking those which are outside the scope of the 'inclusive' drinks package.

If you have a particular favourite brand or drink ask to ensure it is included, e.g. if you want to drink Champagne make sure which Champagne brand(s) are included and they they are not referring to their own cheap German fizz

I don't think it was inaccurate of me to say that the number of passengers depends on the ship..

anyway

It is very simple to find out the maximum number of passengers on a boat, at least on Viking, as they show deck plans in their brochures and on their website showing the cabins. Just multiply the number of cabins by 2.

So Viking Delling, my next cruise has 95 cabins = 190 passengers max

My most recent, Viking Forsetti, Bordeaux, has 95 cabins = 190 passengers

Viking Hemming on the Douro has 69 cabins = 138 passengers max

Viking Sun, on the Rhine has 99 cabins = 190 passengers max

Viking Odin on the Danube has 95 cabins = 190 passengers max

In Asia Viking Mandalay has just 28 cabins, whereas on the Yangtze Viking Emerald carries 256 pax.

questions:

1) number of passengers, - depends on size of boat which depends on river & lock restrictions. <200

2) dress code -whatever you're comfortable in

3) time in each port, - depends on itinery, Port is a grand word, they moor at side of river and you walk off often straight into the town centre

4) cabins - windows, small balconies, size, etc., - depends on cruise line and which class of cabin you book

5) food, - has exceeded my expectations, plenty of choice. And free wine/beer/soft drinks

6) lounges - yep - remember there's always something to see on both sides of the ship.

7) entertainment.- yes, but low key. There's no shows like you get on oceons. Resident pianist, local singers/dancers come on board, demonstrations of local crafts, making local food specialities etc. And make your own by visiting the paces where you're moored

Suggest you get some brochures, see what's on offer from various companies, read the info here then come back with specific questions re the trips/companies you are considering.

We were apprehensive on our first tour as a couple, but no need.

Everyone is in the same boat :) and for every person who wants to chat there's one that doesn't.

Sit at the largest tables and there's a good chance that you'll have space either side of you as some will be dining off boat and others will be upstairs with the buffet in the lounge.

ANd if the table does get full, then they'll be enough people talking that you can be in your own silent comfort zone.

Does Viking pour the same wines daily at lunch and dinner?

When we did teh Rhine trip, and the Danube the followingyear the 'house' wines oured free every lunch and dinner were their own labelled Austrian Gruner Veltliner and Zweigelt. Both better than expected. And of course we supplemented these with local wines bought along the way.

On the Douro the wines were all Portugues, and changed day by day.

The Bordeaux cruise had different wines every day, all Bordeaux and chosen from the appellation where the boat was visiting.

I think it all depends on how much you drink, and what you drink.

If you're the sort who likes sitting at the bar and drinking lots of spirits and cocktails then a drinks package might be worthwhile. But check what is inclused and not included.

We like wine, but don't drink anything else. The free wine at lunch and dinner are fine for us and we buy also wine from local wineries and have them with some meals - no corkage fee.

I have looked at the wines offered in the drinks package, but the top wines are not included and neither is Champagne.

And everyone in the cabin must pay for the package. For us its not worth it.

Also,sparkling wine is served at receptions, welcome and captain's partys, and spirits are served at the reception for repeat customers.

My experiences on Viking

One of the pleasures, if you're a wine lover like me, is to buy local wines along the way and enjoy them with dinner and share them with others on the table.

Viking pour unlimited wine and beer (& soft drinks) with lunch and dinner and they're very happy if you want to bring your own.

Why do you all travel with Viking?

We went because our friends wanted to do so and they chose the cruise and company.

We all loved it so we agreed to do another together, and we've done two on our own.

Loved Viking, offered everything we wanted and more. After one trip you're enrolled into their 'Explorers Club' so we now get extra discount on booking, no credit charge fees, invitation to members on board cocktail party* and they mail a free gift after tours...

* Last trip there were so many of us that had been on previous trips that I felt really sorry for the few on board who were excluded. Quite different to our first trip where the majority, including us, were outside.

Hi all,

 

is it possible in Saint-Emilion to fit in the included walking tour AND the optional Chateau Siaurac visit? Same with Blaye, can we do both the Blaye Walking Tour and the optional Taste of Cognac. Or, do they overlap and one has to choose one or the other.

 

The Ch Siaurac tour includes the walking tour of St Emilion , so you do both. You go to St Emilion after you have lunch at Siaurac

You can do both the Blaye walking tour, which is in the morning and the optional Cognac tour which starts after lunch.

I did the Siaurac tour (see my comments above) but I didn't do the Cognac tour as I'd been to Cognac before and we don't drink brandy anymore but those who did go on it thought highly of it and they were thrilled with making their own blend of Cognac and then bottling it and taking it home.

Note there is a wine shop (run by the producers) in Blaye facing the castle which you visit that sells bottles of every wine from the Blay appellation.

Thanks for the info, RLE.

I got my weekly mailing from Viking yesterday which just featured France and the 2016 cruise hasn't changed its name.

Having two names for same cruise will be confusing for when they sell spare cabins to customers in another territory

@Not Georgia Peach - very interesting. Is Frances Finest the same cruise or something different? (I can't get to any site except the UK site because it sees my IP address and I get automatically switched to UK)**

@Allison - as per my sig lines, I'll be doing it in July

**Later edit - I've found the itinery on the cruiseweb site here http://cruiseweb.com/vikingrivercruises/europe/france/. Two river cruises combined linked by a 215 mile coach ride from Paris toChalon-sur-Saône.

Hmm, pleasure of a river cruise for me is unpacking one at start and packing once at end, not doing it also in the middle. But I suppose if you're flying transatlantic or trans-hemisphere then doing both in one trip might be attractive

Portraits of Southern is showing on the UK website -- but you have to select 2016 itinery from the pull down as the default is 2015

For first day it says

Fly to Lyon. Transfer from the airport to your ship.* After boarding, take free time to explore this vibrant city, or join our “welcome walk” to stretch your legs and get oriented. Head upriver along the Saône around dinnertime.

and it appears the return cruise is after dinner on Day two as for day 3 it says Wake up in Lyon this morning

Saône is where the 2015 boat starts from