Everything Viking France: Normandy, Paris, Provence

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I'm not at all sure that I'm doing this correctly. If I'm not please re-direct me.

How do I subscribe to this thread?

I want to contact rosethorn40 for some questions. How do I contact her privately?

Thank you in advance and this thread is valuable.

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We sailed from Avignon in 2013 and Pont du Gard was not part of the northbound itinerary. As our arrival in Marseille was early in the day of embarkation I asked if Viking could arrange a trip to see it. I was given the email address for the ship and the Concierge (I have forgotten her name) was most gracious in arranging for a cab to take me to Pont du Gard. The driver stayed with me the entire time and treated me like royalty but being the arrival day, the time zones caught up with me and it was exhausting. Your suggestion to arrive a few days early is definitely the way to go!

The older I get, the more useless I am on day one. Arriving early is becoming more and more of a necessity rather than an indulgence.

For those who might want to try to to Ponte du Gard on their own (and there is now an optional tour listed), do you remember what it cost you?

My friend and I are doing Paris and the Heart of Normandy starting on August 24. We are spending an extra day in Paris after the cruise. Neither of us have ever done a river cruise. Can't wait!!

My friend and I are doing Paris and the Heart of Normandy starting on August 24. We are spending an extra day in Paris after the cruise. Neither of us have ever done a river cruise. Can't wait!!

Have a great trip. If you have any questions, please ask.

Just booked Paris and the Heart of Normandy for September 2019. Our last trip to Paris was in September 2012 to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I planned the trip for nine months and it was amazing. Looking forward to returning.

We are frequent cruisers, having done at least one a year since 2001 - this will be our first river cruise. Expecting a totally different experience.

Terpsfan1 - I will be eagerly awaiting your comments on this cruise after you return!

Just booked Paris and the Heart of Normandy for September 2019. Our last trip to Paris was in September 2012 to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I planned the trip for nine months and it was amazing. Looking forward to returning.

 

We are frequent cruisers, having done at least one a year since 2001 - this will be our first river cruise. Expecting a totally different experience.

 

Robin - happy to hear you booked the Paris and Heart of Normandy river cruise. I know that September 2019 sounds like a long way off, but the time fly by especially if you start researching tours and ports now.

 

Ron

My friend and I are doing Paris and the Heart of Normandy starting on August 24. We are spending an extra day in Paris after the cruise. Neither of us have ever done a river cruise. Can't wait!!

Once back from your cruise, can you report on the brand/quality of house wines they pour free of charge at meals?

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Just booked Paris and the Heart of Normandy for September 2019. Our last trip to Paris was in September 2012 to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I planned the trip for nine months and it was amazing. Looking forward to returning.

 

We are frequent cruisers, having done at least one a year since 2001 - this will be our first river cruise. Expecting a totally different experience.

 

Robin - happy to hear you booked the Paris and Heart of Normandy river cruise. I know that September 2019 sounds like a long way off, but the time fly by especially if you start researching tours and ports now.

 

Ron

 

Ron, I hope you will report back when you return from France's Finest later this summer.

VERY interested in the Paris to Normandy cruise portion. Three generations of family going next "summah" as they say in Boston. HS kids fluent in French. It's my worst European language attempt. Had them watch "Band of Brothers".

VERY interested in the Paris to Normandy cruise portion. Three generations of family going next "summah" as they say in Boston. HS kids fluent in French. It's my worst European language attempt. Had them watch "Band of Brothers".

Sounds like it is going to be a marvelous adventure for all.

Are you doing a private tour in Normandy and if so, how are you dealing with the two hour drive from the ship to the touring area?

No plan at the moment for a private tour in Normandy. The cruise is still a long way away.

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With permission from the author. CharTrav is currently posting live from France's Finest. You can follow the whole conversation in the roll call All Viking France's Finest 2018 starting at post #56 but I will be posting the narrative here.

ChartTrav's narrative. If you have questions to ask CharTrav or want to follow the Q&A, here is the link to the original thread https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2600730&page=4:

VERY interested in the Paris to Normandy cruise portion. Three generations of family going next "summah" as they say in Boston. HS kids fluent in French. It's my worst European language attempt. Had them watch "Band of Brothers".

I'm trying to get my hands on The Longest Day.

I'm trying to get my hands on The Longest Day.

Also recommend opening of Saving Private Ryan.

Once back from your cruise, can you report on the brand/quality of house wines they pour free of charge at meals?

 

 

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Absolutely! I am also hoping to pick up a few bottles at some of the stops. I understand that you are allowed to bring it on board, unlike ocean cruises.

Absolutely! I am also hoping to pick up a few bottles at some of the stops. I understand that you are allowed to bring it on board, unlike ocean cruises.

Actually, Viking has a very liberal BYO policy on its all of its ships, river and ocean. They actually encourage us to sample the local wines, beers and spirits and to bring them aboard. There is no corkage fee in the dining room. There is no need to hide your drink in a sippy cup if you want to drink it in the lounge. The bartenders will give you whatever glasses you need. It is just all very civilized.

Once back from your cruise, can you report on the brand/quality of house wines they pour free of charge at meals?

 

 

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Truth be told, the house wines can change from cruise to cruise. While there will be a red and a white each night, there will be a handful of different wines offered over the course of the cruise.

Truth be told, the house wines can change from cruise to cruise. While there will be a red and a white each night, there will be a handful of different wines offered over the course of the cruise.

All the previous post are accurate! Bring onboard your packages of beer, wine, spirits without fear of a pour out or confiscation. Quite civilized on Viking. i hadn't realized it also applied to Viking Ocean cruises. We will have to try them. It is getting closer to flying and boarding by the day.

Cheers.....Rob & Val:):hearteyes::cool:

All the previous post are accurate! Bring onboard your packages of beer, wine, spirits without fear of a pour out or confiscation. Quite civilized on Viking. i hadn't realized it also applied to Viking Ocean cruises. We will have to try them. It is getting closer to flying and boarding by the day.

Cheers.....Rob & Val:):hearteyes::cool:

Yes, quite civilized. It is so nice being treated as an adult.

Yes, quite civilized. It is so nice being treated as an adult.

To emphasize, Viking policies are uniform (and sane) across River and Ocean. With respect to wine you bring on board, such as purchased on an excursion, you can even ask the waiter for your dinner table to open and pour it for you. Tres civilized.

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Continuing CharTrav's travelogue:

Am now on the Rinda. But will first cover the excursions on the Rhône.

*Vienne*

Husband Steve did the walking tour in Vienne and had nothing bad to say about it except to acknowledge that the town was preparing for the World Cup to be broadcast in all the bars and everybody else in the city Coliseum (I chose to be a bum and stay onboard to soak up zen and sun). Some of the folks who did the walking tour watched the game in the Coliseum and miracles of miracles made it back to the boat intact. Had been told that tickets couldn't be had for any price but went up to the ticket counter anyway and were admitted for free (nosebleed seats tho). For us on the ship, a good chunk of us were in the lounge watching the game aided and abetted by our program director, proudly running around waving the French flag after every goal. And then the French won! Well....pandemonium! Both inside and later outside the ship as all the fans from the Coliseum came boiling down the hill to the road intersection nearly in front of us. Such jubilation! After dinner we watched the continuing craziness from the safety of the sun deck.

Lyon Day 1

Next day in Lyon, Steve did Beaujolais and Truffles (all day) and I did the included Beaujolais Wine Country in the morning nd optional Secrets of the Château de Fléchère in the afternoon. Both involved significant (1hr) bus time out and back but were in my opinion worth it. In the mornig, our guide was a fellow named John who I swear reduced most of us to quiet tears as he told us about the experience of that region during WWII, which was part of Vichy (Free) France. He told us about how quickly France had fallen, helped along by Vichy who then became the leader of Vichy France. How all was pretty peaceful albeit not great for a few years and then heated up again when the Vermacht reoccupied it. How they worked to save the local Jewish population from being rounded up; how many they had helped to reach Switzerland. And the growth of the Resistance and the part those from Lyon played in it. Ending with heartfelt thanks to the American liberators who arrived from the South. We were all moved by his words.

Upon arrival in the town (Fleurie?) we were given some free time to wander about and then it was off to Château des Ravatys where we received an excellent introduction to Beaujolais wines starting with an introduction to the vines themselves and then taking us inside where it's made and of course plying us with different vintages of wine, as well as, a comparison between those made from grapes on the flat soft soil and those from the harder mountain soil (called terroir)

During the afternoon trip to the Château de Fléchères we learned about a house that had been built originally to provide a safe place for Protestants to worship (on the third floor) and later, after the govt policy winds shifted towards only allowing Roman Catholics, was converted to just a plain but very large house (with the Apostle's Creed above the door chiseled enough to damage it but not enough for those who knew what it was not to recognize it). The secret part is that when it was built all the rooms had frescos on the walls. All of them. Sometime in the 1800s, a family bought it and either plastered over the frescos or covered them with paneling. When they lost or sold the house (think the former), the next buyer wanted to convert the thing to a hotel or some such. When that effort was thwarted by that person's own architect, backed up by the local town, the poor thing sat for years falling into decay. Finally a team of buyers came along and is in the process of restoring it including the most difficult job of restoring all the frescoes in each room to something approaching their original glory. The ones covered by paneling were the easiest. The ones plastered over or...gasp!...painted over in yellow when it was used as the set for a famous movie whose name I can't remember...those will be the hardest. But they've made inroads on both the yellow paint and plaster. I think the trip was worth it. The guide was very knowledgable about the project and the primary owner, who met us and through our guide as interpreter, answered any question we had. He also treated us to local sparkling wine (orange juice or water for those who didn't want the alcohol) and sweet treats.

Lyon Day 2 - tomorrow

Booked on France's Finest beginning March 26, 2019. Anyone else????

Booked on France's Finest beginning March 26, 2019. Anyone else????

Ronni, there are two March 26 cruises, so are you starting in Paris or Avignon? If you are starting Paris on the Rinda, then we will see you there for the first half of your cruise and last half of ours.

In any case, come join the roll call where we can chit-chat.

ALL 2019 Viking FRANCE'S FINEST