Bet & Peg

tulok ~ thanks for taking your vacation time to post live from the ship!!! Sounds GREAT!!! Did you see any of Basel???? How did you actually get to the ship - on your own? or Viking transfer?

And please don't spend your valuable time answering questions - unless you want/like to! We can all wait until you get home and then "attack" you with our questions!!!!

Kinta ~ glad you like the review and happy that you found it helpfiul! Any questions just ask away - I'll be happy to help as much as I can!

Neffy ~ that's for the compliment and happy that you enjoyed the photos! Hope you have a fabulous trip!!!

A&D Cruising ~ glad you liked the review - I just re-read it and I meant everything I wrote!! Hoping our December cruise is as great!!!

Now, Paris was fabulous - even if it was wet, wet, WET!!! And we plan on returning in 2014, pre or post cruise - 4 days was not near enough time there!!!

As for tips ~ I'd suggest using the metro - but then we're from NYC and "grew-up" on the subways so it was second nature to us. I've read and read about how walkable Paris is - that's right BUT certain areas are a bit far from each other and we found using the metro made things much easier! We bought a pass and I think we did get our money's worth! But if you use the Metro keep hold of your ticket - some stations you'll need it to exit and also we got caught in a "raid" - St Michel Station is in the Latin Quarter - lots of students & young people who jump the turnstile - saw one guy and I think he should be inthe Olympics! Our hotel was in the area and train police we checking tickets and holding the kids without them! Of course we had ours but provided a good laugh for our grown kids at home!

Eiffel Tower ~ we bought our tickets on line beforehand - good idea of it hadn't rained!! We thought we'd enjoy a lovely sunset - instead the inside area was a pig sty from earlier tourists!! But we still enjoyed the view! But be advised, even with pre-paid tickets, we had to wait on line (about 20 minutes) to get to the top - and all the while the sign flashing "beware of pickpockets"!! Gave us a lot to laugh about!!

There's SO much in Paris it all depends on your own likes and dislikes! Also realize ahead of time its expensive - and that's coming from NYCers! But the wine is cheaper - especially in wine stores - we bought 2 bottles to bring on board and DH was lost in choices!!!

We took the HOHO bus the day we arrived - something we usually never do but found it was good for an overview of the city - helped get us put together all the maps and photos we had studied!

Not sure where you're staying but the area on the left bank just south of Notre Dame is a great mix of stores, cafes, booksellers (even in October). An interesting place in that area is "Shakespeare and Company" - old, historical English bookstore. We took the train to Versailles and that was interesting - go early! - we enjoyed the grounds especially out by the canal.

Again a lot depends on what you like and we always enjoy street markets so, on a Saturday, we went to Tour 56 at Montparnasse (fabulous views!) and walked through the food market on Blvd Edgar Quinet - great fun. My original idea was to buy things for lunch and have a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens - but rain interferred so we ate in a small cafe after the market! But we did buy the best olive bread to eat while walking!!

DH loved the Musee d' Armee - and I have to admit displays were interesting! And we should have gotten to Montmartre earlier and spent more time walking the streets there - but just too much to do!!!

I'll be happy to answer any questions - ask away if you have specific ones!! And here's my Paris Slide Show: Paris SlideShow

We were on this cruise last October - our first RC - and just loved it so much we came home and booked 2 more!! We went north to south with a few days in Paris first and then 2 nights in Avignon and 4 in Nice.

I did write a review of the cruise - this is the link:

Viking - Portraits of Southern France - Viking River Review by FotoPeg

I am also a photo fanatic (hence my name!) so here's the link to my cruise slide show: Cruise SlideShow - I think it gives a good overview of what we saw and did on the cruise! Remember our cruise was Oct. 21st to 28th so your weather should be much warmer in July!

Any other questions just post - I'll be happy to "talk" about our cruise!!

Hope you have a fabulous time!!!!

pacmom - PLEASE keep us informed!!! You're SO correct - same river! there may be small changed in cruise itinaries but I'm sure they'll be basically the same - PLEASE keep us in the loop!!!!

vcgeno ~ I know its mor ethan a year early, but please promise you'll report back after your cruise - we're taking this one in October 2014!!!

As a matter of fact, keep posting about all your preparations - and pre/post trips, all other information!!! Best part of CC is learning from others, often cuts your own research in half or opens new ideas to explore!!

We intend to spend some time pre or post in Paris (were last October for first time) and maybe also Bordeaux. I'll start planning details on that cruise after our Dec. 2013 one is history!!!

Please keep us all in the loop!! Thanks much!!

Bill ~ you are fantastic and I join my voice in thanking you for you fabulous reports!!! I completely appreciate that you wouldn't report hearsay until you could confirm it - thank you for being so level-headed!!!!

The beginning of your trip was of such interest since it'll be the end of our Rhine River cruise in December! But now Vienna so SO interesting it gives me something else to think about!!!

I'm also enjoying your comments about Viking and how accommodating they have been - we found the same on our cruise last October. Along with about 25-30 other passengers, we had a problem getting to the ship on the French train - DH called them to alert them we'd be late and the Cruise Director called back with info on what trains to take. Delightfully shocked DH that he (the CD) had, first, gotten the message and, second, took the time to return the call! Hoping that our next experience will be as good!!!!

Thank You again - and, as someone else mentioned, could you just keep cruising and reporting!!!!!

jiminyC_fan ~ embarking/disembarking is easy - you just walk THROUGH the other boat(s) - that's the reason they're SO close!

As a matter of fact, on our cruise last October on the Rhone River, we were double docked only 2 or 3 times. But one time one of the women we had met decided to stay on board during a tour. She was relaxing and reading and decided to go shopping on the other ship! She had a ball and even bought Christmas gifts for some friends!!

Bill ~ thank you SO much for your detailed daily review!!! We'll be on Viking on the Rhine in December and all you're writing is SO helpful!!!

Questions about Marksburg Castle - we were there on a road trip in 2010 and wondering about returning. Did the bus go all the way to the top - I remember a parking lot for cars up there. It was still tricky walking but at least we were at the top. DH has developed a foot problem and wondering about taking the excursion. Do you know any one who didn't go on the excursion? Did they just stay on the ship for the whole time?

Any information will be very helpful!!!

(In 2010, the castle tour we took was mostly in German but the guide said he'll also explain in English. He'd talk like 5 minutes in German and then say in English "this is the bedroom" - I know we missed a lot!!!!!)

vcgeno ~ I agree with you about more focus on wine - but, unfortunately, there really was very, very little!

There was much more focus on silk - Lyon being the center of the silk industry - which I didn't even know about before researching the trip - and DH couldn't have cared less about!!!

Our guide in Beaune was fantastic and she did all the explaining to our group about wine, traveling there and also at the store's tasting - I got the impression the people working in the store spoke very little English. I think her name was Marie(a?) and she was also wonderful at the hospital.

In Train Hermitage again it was the guide who did the talking with a little help from the owner of the vineyard.

Fot Chateauneuf-du-pape we didn't take the ship's tour so I can't comment about it. We stayed 2 nights in Avignon and had arranged for an all-day tour of the vineyards - excellent, excellent, excellent!!

Frim what I've read the Bordeaux cruise really has more emphasis on wine during the cruise - hope that's correct!!!!

But don't get me wrong - I completely enjoyed the cruise but more wine-centered would have been appreciated!!!

On our Viking Rhine River (Provence) cruise last year I found the food portion very good - not as many or as huge as Ocean Crusing - but perfect for an enjoyable meal. People did order additional if they wished and often waiters would come around offering another portion of the main course. I don't think anyone could go hungry!!!

BTW - breakfast is buffet, order from menu or both - no end to the choices! Lunch is served in the dining room but (on our ship) buffet in the lounge. So at both those meals you could eat as much as you wanted. The also had a special "Taste of Provence" at lunch one day - fantastic choices!!

As for the wine service - we thought it perfect - with the exception that the same choice of wine was served every night - but it was free flowing on our ship - glasses constantly being refilled at both lunch and dinner. I can't remember exactly but I think they offered 2 or 3 red and 1 or 2 whites.

We had a regular group we began sitting with for dinner and the guys were all interested in wine. At one of the vineyards they all bought some and we shared that night at dinner - NO problem bringing your own bottle/s to the table - no corkage charge and no attitude. They brought red and one of the women only drank wine - the staff poured her wine from their bottles with no problem!

2onboardagain ~ love your comment and completely agree with you - its all about attitude!

In our short sailing history we've had "delayed" luggage (4 days not "lost" since I got it back!); sailing delayed because of a norovirus; late docking due to fog; winds too high to dock; train break down in France!

And yet on every one of those cruises the positives far outweighed the negatives! (I did get my luggage; neither of us got sick; we stayed over in Galveston and left the following morning; we missed Jamaica but had a good day at sea!; we caught the next train and got to the ship!)

I'm no Pollyanna ~ but I would rather look on the bright side of life...!!!

Huffy2k ~ thanks for your review!! You have me reliving our cruise!! And Monty Python? You really DO sound like my DH!! Only we went north to south...

Sorry about your great thread being side tracked!

2onboardagain ~ scroll down on this forum to the thread titles: "Interesting Article" - its a long one but the bases of the question and my answer that, unfrtunately, doesn't really belong here.

AF-1 ~ first, I have been following the other thread about Viking's CEO's statement. After reading the original post and before reading anything else - my first thought was "don't let DH read any of this or he'll re-schedule both our trips!!" As for me, I think the CEO is a narrow-minded blow-heart who has presented his company with a huge PR problem - at least on CC!

All that being said, I also understand that, while a CEO can set the direction of a company, it all comes down to the individuals - captains, CDs, room stewards, waiters, receptionists, chefs, etc. - that you encounter on each individual ship that make or break your trip!! [Just like each dinning experience (and I don't mean McDs!) comes down to the Maitre d'/dining room manager & waiter/waitress more than the General Manager who's usually not directly involved!]

Last year, our first Viking Cruise, we were very fortunate, the CD (Cruise Director) on our cruise was top notch and the rest of his staff was fantastic! Thus we completely enjoyed our cruise - even with a train breakdown (not Viking's responsibility), cloudy weather (again not Viking's fault), rain - no one to blame! Coming home and making a small complaint - I didn't even realize it was a complaint at the time! - but talking to a Viking rep who was on the spot (she knew I was on CC!!) and offered a future discount - just "sold" us on the company for their smart business sense! She didn't buy" me - that would have been impossible! - but she turned the situation around. Like when you have a restaurant reservation and have to wait - does the Maitre d' buy you a drink?? - least they could do if it's their fault - but shows if they have a smart staff!!

Second - as for "Carnival" - it's funny but that, in my opinion, its always been "the party ship for young people" (BTW we've never travelled on it). Viking is not that! If the comment is meant that Carnival is a mass market, low price, non-caring cruise line - then I feel that's also is not true - at least from our one experience. Yes, Viking pricing is confusing and gimmicky - but a call to their office or your TA can give you the actual price. And I know for a fact that they worked with a single to get a lower price because she was a repeat passenger (don't know what would have happened if it were her first cruiser). I think Viking gives a good "product" - however, I do wish they'd cut some cost by not sending so much advertising - use E-mail for those of us on-line and cut out the paper/postages costs!!!! Until I hear differently, I think the comparrison with Carnival is a knee-jerk reaction used to get a rise out of Viking cruisers.

But bottom line is almost everyone has their favorite line - and loyalty is rewarded by discounts/perks - but that's not necessarily bad - when I get my nails done 10 times at my salon I get a free manicure! But we ALL have the ability to switch cruise line - ocean and river! If we're unhappy on our next two Viking cruises we may "jump ship" and try another line! or may chalk it up to experience - all depends on what happens and if there is any solution offered! [Celebrity has not always been smooth sailing but I've always felt they - the staff on the ship - have done the best they can! And I'm sure we'll sail with them again!]

Don't know if this helps any - but Thank You for asking! I think the CEO should be gaggedand locked into his office - they should fine a far more diplomatic rep as their mouth-piece!!!

DH also enjoys his Martini(s) but, with beer & wine at lunch and dinner, our bar bill was very, very small!! We didn't buy the beverage program and didn't miss it!!!

We went North to South last year on the Neptune. If the itinerary is the same, you'll have 1 + 1/2 days in Lyon - a fabulous city! The included tour is the morning of the 1st day and is a bus tour to the highths of the Old City and then down into the lower Old City. There was a walking tour there and the guide gave us a choice of returning on the bus to the ship for lunch or staying the the city and going back on our own. (We asked and the bus took us about mid-way back so we could have lunch - it was then an easy walk to the ship.)

So Lyon is an easy city to DIY - you'd have plenty of time!!

For some photos - see my link in post #4.

Last year on our Portraits tour we dod 2 optionsla tours - one to St. Remy/Les Baux and one to Pont du Gard. We felt both were fabulous!

My onlu "problem" was that the main purpose of the cruise was wine, especially Chateauneuf du Pape. In Avignon Viking ran 2 optional tour at the same time: one to Chat and one to Pont - we wanted both! Solution was to remain in Avignon 2 days and take a private tour to Chat - it was an all day tour that was fantastic!! Well worth the additional expenses!!! (actually DH's Christmas present that year and forever!!!)

But I'll add that going north to south he optional tours were at the end of our trip! The first sailing day there was an OT that no one took - I think everyone had the same thought - let's experience sailing!!!

I went on the River Cruise with a BIG ? in my mind - I'm not a fan of ship's excursions - we usally DIY or book small group tour. But I'll admit I was VERY impressed by Viking's tours and their guides! I will say, however, that I can agree with Huffy2k - there should be a more "active" tour along with the "leisure" tour - although I don't remember anyone slowing us down.

Huffy2k ~ I'm really beginning to "worry" about "us" - elieve it or not - I also had the same experience with the eggs Benedict - not ordering them until the last day and then wondering why I had waited!!!!!!!

Arles was towards the end of our trip (we did north to south) ~ found the tour OK but was waiting and waiting for the VanGogh "cafe" and then it began to rain - suggested on the questionaire that they offer a Van Gogh Tour in Arles!

I'm sure I've boarded many with my photos but for anyone new here's my experience of the Rhone River, on the Neptune (sister ship of the Europa) October 2013: Cruise Part II

It was a fabulous cruise causing us to book 2 more Viking cruises!!

Thanks for starting this thread ~ hopefully we can learn from each other and passengers on other cruise lines who've experienced the Bordeaux area.

We're booked on this cruise in October 2014. We booked early since I was sure it'd be a sell-out - maybe I was mistaken! But still really looking forward to the experience. DH is a wine enthusiast ~ main reason we took the Rhone River cruise last year! We booked a balcony hoping October would be warm enough to use it even in port - maybe we overspent but wanted it!

We haven't fully decided on pre/post plans but, as of now, thinking of a few days on our own in Paris pre-cruise and perhaps remaining in Bordeaux a few days post. Still have to check out Bordeaux - but thinking of a Loire Valley day trip from the city.

We did 4 days in Paris pre-cruise last year and had a great time - just not long enough!!! I enjoy doing the trips on our own since then we can choose where we'll stay. Just a matter of personal choice.

Lori ~ sounds FABULOUS!!!!! I'd say I can't wait but we have SO many wonderful things happening this year still coming and I don't want to wish away the time! But its great knowing we'll have such a great trip to look forward to and all of the advice and suggestions help!!!!

YES - I'd love to read your blogs!!! email is my screen name at aol dot com - thank You SO very much!!!!

Someone else warned about prices being higher in Basel but then there's seemed to conflicting comments about each market having different items. I've had enough "buyer's regret" when I haven't seen something after passing it up but I'll be careful in Basel! Just going and seeing the lights and stalls and decorations and food - just what we've wanted!!! Its funny but for the past maybe 10 years NYC has had Christmas Markets in 2 or 3 places - but almost no food - unless you count the usual greasy watered hot dogs! So the idea of the mulled wine and brats and all the pastries I've seen photos of sounds SO appealing!!!!!

Thanks again for your time - will get back to you with any questions!!

Lori ~ PLEASE tell me more about your December 2012 trip!! We sail December 7th from Basel to Amsterdam on Viking Rinda and would love to hear any and all you can tell us about the ports - especially the Christmas Markets - and Basel - we'll be there 2 days pre-cruise.

Does Viking run their usual tour?

Do they run extra tours/shuttles to the Christmas Markets?

Evenings - is it possible to see the markets on your own or do they have tours?

Anything "special" we should look for at any of the markets?

Thanks much for your time in answering!!

tvmovielover ~ This December we'll be Basel for 2 days pre-cruise - asking all who've been there for any suggestions of "what to see" (besides Christmas Markets, that's a given!), where to stay and where to eat.

Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

I think short sleeves for early June might be not be warm enough - but you never know! I usually monitor the weather for about a month or so before traveling - can't be fool proof but usually help in getting an idea of tempertures!

Good Lucj and have a fabulous trip!!

sadiemay ~ we've been in Amsterdam 3x now (all for cruises) in late June, mid July and early September. All 3 times its been on the cool side - but we never hit cold weather. In 2010 we took an early July Baltic cruise - it was the warmest ever in Russia (summer heat fires in Moscow later that July) but when we returned to spend some time in Amsterdam it was cooler there!

Paulinda is correct - layers! I usually bring thin long sleeve tops (even turtlenecks) that I can wear under other tops/blouses. I have one black, one whilte that are almost always packed and many times I've been veryhappy to use them! They wash/dry easily also.

Amsterdam is a great fun city with lots to do and see - hav e awonderful time!

Novice2cruise ~ having been on only one river cruise I'm far from an expert! But I think its hard to say which side of the ship is best since the ports that you'll dock at can be on either side of the river. We'll be going from Basel Switzerland (east side of the Rhine) to Amsterdam (left side of the river) with Breisach on the east; Strasbourg & Speyer on the west; Heidleburg & Rudesheim on the east; Koblenz & Cologne on the west and who knows about Kinderdijk. And that's presuming that the ship doesn't turn or go into a slip to dock.

When we took our first Ocean Cruise (a one-way Venice to Barcelona) the TA suggested getting a cabin on the "land side" - the starbord/right side of the ship. That was so when we were close to land we'd see "something" even if it was just lights. But River cruising is SO different since the river is so narrow (not dangerously!) you can see either side from your cabin.

And I agree with pacmom - you'll be spending most of your time in the lounge or on the top deck.

Have a fabulous trip!!!