CaroleLee

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/23/travel/what-to-do-in-bordeaux-france.html?em_pos=medium&ref=headline&nl_art=2&te=1&nl=travel-dispatch&emc=edit_tl_20190525

Hope this link works . From Sun NY Times 5-26-19

Anyone out there on the AMA Bordeaux cruise in the future or past. If past would appreciate your insights & suggestions- leaving in a few weeks

Carole

So agree with you Ozzie are the best traveling people. They really do have the most fun & joining with them is a hoot.

On our last 2 AMA cruises we had several Ozzies

Carole

21 hours ago, CJcruzer said:

Hi,

DH+friends are taking this  cruise-what date is your cruise?

The Chateau de Montaigne-is interesting given his place in French lit ( creator of the essay).If you you are a francophone or francophile then this might interest you. The market & tastings can be a great deal of fun. Personally I love wandering (even in groups) around]d markets.

Have a great time

Carole

 

 

There are 2 excursions I am debating between, for our morning stop in Libourne

 

2 hours. French country market visit with tastings

 

Visit a well-preserved local town that was a fortified Bastide in medieval times. When the Duchy of Aquitaine belonged to England, the region was the focus of rivalry between the Kings of France and the Kings of England. To ensure the loyalty of the local people, both created the "new towns" called Bastide, with special privileges for the inhabitants. Libourne is one of the eight Bastide towns of the Gironde area. Its traditional covered market, one of the biggest around, still offers the freshest and finest the area has to offer. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the plethora of gastronomic delights on display. Enjoy this traditional local market including tasting some local specialties from rich cheese to meats to produce.

 

3 hours Chateau de Montaigne

 

Tour the magnificent Château de Montaigne, a stunning 19th-century castle with its 14th-century tower, which was the family residence of the philosopher Michel de Montaigne. The beautiful estate has a mix of medieval, Renaissance and Gothic styles. In 1885, fire destroyed the building, and the daughter of Pierre Magne, Marie Thirion Mautauban, rebuilt it a year later. The current castle therefore dates from 1886. Today, the Mahler-Besse Family (6th and 7th generations after Pierre Magne) occupy the estate. The Tower of Montaigne is a historical monument of the 14th century. It is a place of pilgrimage, for it is here, near Bergerac and Saint Émilion, where Saint-Michel-de-Montaigne lived most of his life and spent hours of the day to meditate, think and write his essays. During the visit, we remember the life of this great man, his work and philosophy. You will also enjoy a tasting of the wines of the Mahler-Besse family during your visit to this historic property.

 

 

any advice or opinions appreciated.  Thanks!

On 3/20/2019 at 5:10 AM, pontac said:

It's only 3.5 k between the two, get a taxi at the station. 

 

Bit too far to walk with luggage, hassle with tram.

 

You'll drive along the riverside and be able to spot your boat and thus stop right next to it.

Thx

One more thing off the list

On 3/7/2019 at 4:29 PM, Got2Cruise said:

The 2019 River Cruise Season will be beginning soon! Who’s booked? Which itinerary and cruise line?

 

I’m looking forward to our Lisbon to Porto Cruise tour on Uniworld in July. 

Bordeaux & Loire with friends on AMA in June. Anyone out there on this cruise?

Carole

Taking TGV to Bordeaux St Jean station. There are 2 couples with carry-ons & a large checked bag. We are docked @ Quai des Chartons. Need taxi/van  transport- any suggestions

Thx

Carole

update to Amboise.Evidently the Hotel Chateau is just a place holder name. Hotel is TBD.

Anyone out there on June 13 2019 cruise?

Carole

Just rec an updated conf from AMA. They are now listing the hotel in Amboise (Loire extension) as Hotel Chateau. I cannot find any info on this hotel. Has anyone heard of it?

Thx

Carole

11 minutes ago, LTC said:

Hi Carole, 

Did that cruise in August 2016. I keep a journal of my trips and on that cruise the Chaine des Rotisseurs was on the 4th night (Blaye/Bourg), the Captain's Gala Dinner was on the 5th night (Libourne/St. Emilion, this excursion was wonderful!)and if you are on a wine cruise the Wine Pairing Dinner was on the 6th night (Libourne). I don't know if they keep this the same year to year. Have a wonderful cruise!

Many thx.

Now if someone would post the dailies...

Carole

For anyone that has done this cruise question- what days (ports) are the special dinners ( Chine de Rotisseries, Capt's Dinner etc) held?

Thx

Carole

AMA & AMA Taste of Bordeaux rolls calls seem to have disappeared

For anyone that has done this cruise question- what days (ports) are the special dinners ( Chine de Rotisseries, Capt's Dinner etc) held?

Thx

Carole

I think AMA has lost control over the dining room. While the food was good, the general lack of decorum from our fellow passengers and the complicity of the crew has us wondering if we will ever cruise on AMA again.

 

See this thread for more: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2673125&highlight=open+seating

Never saw this on 2 prior AMA. Were these men from a group of buddies that booked a special group rate? I've noticed on ocean cruises that groups appear to set up their own others be dammed rules. Any response from AMA?

Just got off AmaStella. The Chef's Table was the best meal of the cruise. Definitely a "Tasting Menu." Very creative, See the photos.

 

Tip: Be sure to review the itinerary as soon as you board and make your reservation ASAP. We did not do this and by the time I tried to make reservations there was only one night available. We had to skip a late afternoon excursion on our night.

Beautiful photos. Leaving next June for Bordeaux.I'm drooling already

Carole

Migelito -- thanks so much for sharing your photos and the other information. My friends and I are sailing the AmaDante Moselle and Rhine cruise November 2018. Looking forward to using the Ama app to organize photos.

 

For other Ama cruisers -- did you dine at the Chef's Table? How was the experience? I love that it is included in the fare.

Chef's Table - Have done this on our 2 prior cruises. Its a fixed menu with wine pairing. The portions are "tastings" size and there are usually 3 of each course- except soup. Service is excellent. You can watch the chef prepare your make- he is in a glass enclosed kitchen.NB: I have a nut allergy and AMA was scrupulous in making sure nuts were omitted from all of my meals

Have a great trip

Carole

We signed up for some excursions on our upcoming river cruise and now that we've received a booklet with more info, I think I may want to change them.

 

Both hikes (in Tournon to Hermitage and in Vienne to Mt Pipet ) say they are difficulty level 5-the maximum. I'm in decent shape but I don't want that.

Has anyone done it and can say how difficult it really is? Plus in August it'll be hot.

 

We are considering instead the Steam Train des Gorges and the Vienne walking tour. Can anyone talk about how those are, not in terms of difficulty but in general?

 

Also, in Lyon we have a choice of a Lyon City tour or Les Halles market tour. I would love it if anyone could give us feedback on those.

 

Thank you!

Vienne- we had a fabulous guide (Jean). He had a great sense of history. This is an under appreciated city- Roman ruins that you can walk up to.

Avignon- I did the city tour & then walked around. Interesting & fun. DH wen to the Pont du Garde( & 2 yrs later still can't get over it)

Tournon- Did the wine tasting & then walked around the town. Enjoyable. We are not into hiking .

Enjoy

Carole

I'm going on the AmaLyra next year Paris to Normandy. Looking forward to seeing Monet's garden. Any tips? We did the last November sailing before the Christmas markets on the AmaSerena last November and loved it!! There were early markets in Vienna and Budapest.

Did AMALYRA Normandy last June. Fabulous cruise itinerary. Monet's House & gardens- beautiful gardens, nice walking area.

Gift shop a little pricey but then again when is the next time you will be there.

Normandy cemetery & beaches- very emotional (dgt & niece of WW2 vets) very moving Taps ceremony at noon.Read your history for a full appreciation.

The small towns along the way are very photogenic-get out and walk- you will be rewarded with wonderful sights & memories

Have a great cruise

Carole

I have a question about AmaWaterWays. I’ve only been on Viking River Cruises and as you enter the lounge on either side there was a drink station and snacks. I was able to make myself a cappuccino whenever I wanted.

I’ll be on AmaSerena next year and was wondering if they have a drink station with snack with a coffee/latte machine?

Thanks.

Coffee, tea, cocoa and snack all day -machine next to bar. Finger sandwiches, soups, cookies-more food than is humanly possible to ingest also by bar. Do not fill up on snacks the food is excellent

Carole

Ladies has anyone has experience with either or these brands? They only sell via web (free returns) but I am leary of buying shoes that I can't try on

Carole

i am interested in learning about experience with the AMA line. We have never done a river cruise. Generally speaking,we have cruised on the smaller luxury lines.

Have booked our 3rd AMA cruise. AMA is understated & relaxed. Food & wine are excellent. The vessel staff goes out of their way to be helpful and most welcoming. Their shore sightseeing are small groups- not mobs with very well informed guides.

AMA is a very mellow way to travel-but there are activities, yoga, bikes etc You will not be bored.

Carole

Here's what my husband and I brought for 12 days in France (River cruise + 4 nights on our own), including some fancy dinners off-ship. We both traveled with only a carry-on (Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45) and a personal item. We had a few thing laundered on-board during the first seven days using the "all you can fit in the bag" deal on Emerald.

France River Cruise Packing List

Hi,

Great list- very smart to break the list into suitcase location.

Question- how did you like TIEKS? I keep getting their ads. Are they comfortable for walking( airport, short distances)?

Thx

Carole

Day 8 and some Thoughts

 

We had our luggage out of the cabin and went down to breakfast just before 8. Breakfast was served from 7-9 this morning but when we got there, a lot of people must have already had breakfast. Tables weren't cleared, they were out of a lot of items, very little fresh fruit left, salmon was gone and items didn't seem to be getting replaced. Said goodbye to the wait staff and checked out of our cabin by 9am.

 

We were asked to wait in the lounge and told that when our taxi was here a staff member would come and get us. Pastries were being put out in the lounge so if you were still hungry or hadn't had breakfast, you could still have some food. At 9:30 a staff member came over to where we were sitting and told us our taxi had arrived. Our suitcases had been placed outside and another staff took our luggage to the taxi. We were picking up our rental car at the airport; it was about a 30 minute drive and cost 50E.

 

Some thoughts about this river cruise:

When I first boarded I did a lot of comparison between a river and ocean cruise. I don't think it's a fair comparison, it's like trying to compare strawberries and bananas because they are both fruits. There's too many differences between a river and ocean cruise and I like them both.But if I was going to make some comparisons it would be this.

 

I think on a river cruise you get much more for the money. On an ocean cruise you hear a lot of people who feel they have been "nickled and dimed". There sure wasn't any of that on this ship. Food was excellent and top quality, wine was superb and if you didn't like what wine they were serving they would bring another wine. The champagne was much better than on ocean cruises. I enjoy it more than wine and after the cocktail parties ended would get my glass filled again and take it to the restaurant. You can also get a refill of wine in the restaurant as you are leaving and take it to the lounge and none of the staff gives you a second look. I have always found service on ocean cruises very good and service here was also the same. One thing that does seem a little different is that on a ocean cruise you get to know your cabin steward and here there wasn't the same interaction.

 

I was a little concerned as to what clothes I should bring but felt very comfortable in what I did bring. I didn't see any fancy dresses, there could have been some but I never saw any. The night we went to the Chef's Table there were more women than men, the sitting was 10 at 2 tables. I had on a sundress and most of the other women had slacks and blouses. The men I did see didn't have ties but did have a collared shirt. There may have been 1 tie and jacket on the other table but I don't know for sure. They keep pouring the wine and honestly after a few minutes I don't think anyone notices or cares. In most situations they'll be someone more undressed than you and someone more overdressed, so just be comfortable!

 

The tours were all great, the guides excellent and the numbers small. I don't know if that would change if you had a full boat. The Quiet Vox device worked great, you weren't straining to hear what was being said.

 

There constantly seemed to be food and all of it was fantastic. There was always a nice spread at the afternoon tea and each day had different desserts. Cookies always seemed to be available in the lounge ( I could always resist them, except the coconut ones ). Unfortunately for my waistline they also had a huge plate of those delicious French macaroons in the lounge from what seemed like lunchtime to dinnertime and who ever has just 1 or 2 of those?

 

Every morning in the library they were "newspapers" where articles were printed out for U.S., British, Australian and yes Canadian news so you could keep in touch with what was happening at home. There was I believe CNN channel on the TV in your room but that very rarely has Canadian news and it was a nice touch to be able to find out what was happening at home.

 

I think I covered everything. If you have any questions, let me know and if I think of anything else I'll post. We are already looking to see where our next river cruise will be!

Thx so much for your review. Booked this for next June & am looking for all the info I can gather. It will be our 3rd AMA cruise- Must say that AMA has been great in terms of service, food, excursions. Can't wait for next June

Carole

We are new to river cruising (as my many earlier posts can attest) but we are not new to ocean cruising or to joining roll calls on CC to meet fellow travelers ahead of time. Yes, mostly to create DIY private excursions when in ports, but it was also fun to "know" folks before we boarded.

 

I must confess I am missing having a roll call. Are river cruise roll calls not popular because excursions are built in so there is no need for them? Or perhaps because the boat is small and we will get to know most people once on board? Would love to know.

 

Catherine

 

PS, we will be on Uniworld's Budapest to Prague in July. We will be the definite newbies! Looking forward to meeting other CCers who are on that cruise.

Hi,

It might be that river cruisers are unaware of CC & roll calls. On 2 prior river cruises none of the pax I spoke with had ever heard of CC. Several totally relied on their TA to do all the research ,booking etc.

Have booked AMA for June 2019 and do not see anyone on roll call for our sailing.

CArole

Haven't sailed Viking but this is an interesting question. My suggestion-1. Call Viking & ask-get the customer svc name.2.Depending on your embarkation port suggest a local pharmacy. Use Google translate to describe what you need. Most pharmacies & their staff (in Europe) are very helpful. Download a map of the embarkation port and query pharmacies. Pharmacies are identified by a green cross.

Have a great trip

Carole

Has anyone used Finnair? Usually fly AA BC but was not too impressed on my last intercontimental flight.

Carole