pontac

DAY 2 Wednesday 16 August - Arles Joan received a text to say her bag would be delivered 10:00 – 20:00 While we slept the boat departed down-river for Arles, arriving there at 08:00. We took the included walking tour at 09:15, Joan wearing one of my shirts. Temperature was in the high 30˚s and Joan bought a hat from a street stall. Arles is most famous for two sites; its amphitheatre (not Coliseum insisted our guide who said there’s only one and it’s in Rome) and the hospital where Vincent van Gogh stayed and painted that and around 300 other Arles views. There are other Roman ruins and the town centre is close to the river, compact and easily walkable. The amphitheatre is impressively large. We sat on one of the seating tiers while the guide told us its history and showed picture of how it looked in Roman times. It is still used to day for public shows. Then a few minutes later we were in the courtyard of van Gogh’s hospital. It had several different roles subsequently before coming into public ownership. The garden was recreated from van Gogh’s paintings and letters. Our guide mused on the various pronunciations of van Gogh’s name. Go (o as in ‘owe’) is usual in USA, while Goff (o as in ‘ox’) in UK and Gock (gh as in a cough crossed with throat clearing) in his native Netherlands. During the walk the guide pointed out where van Gogh had rented rooms, the café terrace in his 1888 painting Café Terrace at Night and other scenes. We made our own way back to the boat for a coffee instead of waiting around in ‘free time’. After lunch we walked the short distance back to Arles where Joan bought a t-shirt. The boat cast off at 18:00 to return to Avignon. Joan’s bag did not arrive.

Lyon & Provence - London to Avignon DAY 1 Tuesday 15 August - London>Avignon Check-in was quick and flight from Heathrow to Marseille was on time. It was an afternoon flight and I’d calculated that with the extra hour time difference that we’d reach the boat at the start of dinner at 19:00. We’d checked in two identical cases and one was the third or fourth to come out on to the carousel at Marseille. We waited for the other case till the carousel powered off and the lighted sign showing our flight number was extinguished. A lot of people were missing their bags, and a long line was forming at the missing bag desk. When we exited Arrivals we were greeted by the Viking rep who led us to some tables she’d commandeered at a café and we sat with the others till all remaining Viking passengers had reported missing bags and exited Arrival. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Marseille airport to Avignon where the boat was moored. We got to the ship at about 20:20 and went straight to the restaurant for dinner. After dinner Joan rinsed her clothes in the bathroom.

Introduction This was our 13th river cruise since 2012 and the 12th with Viking. We’d originally booked the Great Lakes cruise from Duluth, Minnesota to Toronto, Ontario but after seeing it on Viking TV realised it was too active for us. We’d have lost our deposit by cancelling but a phone call to Viking told me that we could transfer to another cruise for an admin fee of £100 each. Asked which cruise we wanted I plumped for the Rhone, and since we’d cruised downriver in 2015 I chose up-river from Avignon to Lyon. Not losing the deposit was such a relief I didn’t realise till later that the cabin they’d suggested wasn’t a Veranda Stateroom but a Veranda Suite. The Veranda Suite has a bedroom with a French Balcony and a living room with a Veranda. So now this was the fourth type of Viking Longship cabin we’d stayed in. Surprisingly it had less personal storage. The other cabins had two sets of three drawers under the desk, plus two drawers in the wardrobe: the Veranda Suite had just the two in its wardrobe. Also there was a lack of power points. The living room had a 220 (Europlug socket) and 110 (USA flat pin socket) at the desk, but the 220 was used to charge the Quietvox. There was one 220 by the bed. The USB socket didn’t charge devices quickly, if at all. I’d brought a Europlug with four USB sockets and used the bedside 220 socket. Thus we could charge two Kindles and two phones. But there was a bottle of Champagne Jacquart Mosaique Brut NV in a cooler with two flutes, and the fridge was filled with soft drinks and two 250ml bottles of white wine and on top were another two 250ml bottles of red wine and wine glasses. These were refilled daily, but since we only drink wine now, and the Silver Spirits Beverage package was included we didn’t make much use of them. Since we could have glass of Champagne anytime the bottle of Jacquart came home with us and will be drunk in memory of this cruise. Daily shoeshine and free laundry was included, and the wardrobe had towelling robes and sandals. This cruise, as is usual currently, included free Silver Spirits package and gratuities. The boat was Viking Delling, the same boat we’d cruised down the Rhone in 2015. Four Viking boats cruise up and down the route, crossing at Tournon where both sets of passengers go on the steam train ride. Note: All times are in 24hr format, thus 03:00 means 3 am and 15:00 means 3pm

On what grounds? I think that if you are not wine fixated then don't take the Bordeaux trip as the cruise pootles around Bordeaux calling in at the various appellations for visits and tastings. If you love Bordeaux wine, your heart thumps at the thought of being in St Emilion, Margaux, Pauillac etc, and want to get a feel for the area's terroir, then by all means (I love Bordeaux wines and have been on two Bordeaux cruises.) Don't expect to get into the top Chateaux, although Viking has dinner in Margaux 3rd growth Ch Kirwan accompanied by their wines and a tasting before in another classified Chateau). If you do want to visit the top Chateaux then a specialised land tour can arrange this - I did so with my American friend and visited 1st growth Ch Mouton-Rothschild and tasted (well drank) a half-bottle taken from barrel. No reason not to take cruise then follow that with specialist land tour. The Rhone (I've also done twice, both with Viking) also has some tastings, these are of course of Rhone wines, and Viking had a very good included tour to Beaujolais. Jazzbeaux says you start in Paris. First I'd say that river cruises usually go in alternate directions, when the boat reaches its destination passengers get off and a new crowd board to cruise back, second I didn't think it possible to cruise from Paris to Lyon. All the cruises I have looked at have Paris as an extension (at extra cost) and bus those opting to take it to/from Lyon at the start or end of their cruise. The report on my most recent Rhone cruise will be posted in the next few days and my report on my recent Bordeaux cruise is here

We are booked on this cruise 27 March 2024 - 5 April 2024 so while I doubt I'll remember this thread then, if you don't get an answer you can rely on jog my memory next March

That is from Viking's dress code on their website - but note the all important may include that precedes it. Evening wear for men may include collared shirts, it may not....... Trust me when I said

On all the 12 river cruises I've done with Viking dress has been casual, so the answer to your second question is yes. The passengers are a mix of ages and nationalities, some change out of their day wear but none wear formal clothes. You might see a odd tie on a man but you'll also see polo shirts and sweaters, sometimes all on the same table. It's your holiday - wear what you're comfortable in, no one will blink an eye. Here's what Viking have to say What is the dress code? During the day, dress is casual including shorts (if the season is warm), slacks or jeans and comfortable shoes for walking tours. There are no “formal nights” in the evening; recommended evening dress is “elegant casual.” For ladies, this may include a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; and for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional. Some shore excursions visit religious sites that require modesty of dress. To avoid being denied entry, we recommend men wear long pants and refrain from sleeveless shirts; and for women, clothing that covers the knees and tops that are not sleeveless or too revealing.

I understand your concerns, it is one we had when we started river cruising. I am not that outgoing and have little in the way of small talk and Mrs P is shy. However we didn't have a problem. To answer your specific question, I have cruised on two lines, Viking and Scenic. Viking has two tables set for two in the Aquavit Lounge which serves the same dinner as the main restaurant. Scenic has tables for two in the main restaurant but they are packed so close we found it embarrassing not to say hello to the neighbouring table. And you can't be guaranteed to get a table for two. But it's not really a table for two which is the issue; it's that you don't want to sit on the same table as others and feel you have to make conversation. We have just got back from a cruise of the Rhone with Viking on a Longship. They can take a maximum of 190 passengers and this cruise had 183 so it was almost full. However we had no problem being on our won when we wanted. We sat at table that would seat four and there were just us two, or we sat at the end of a very large table in the middle of the main restaurant and there may be two of the other end but we were much further apart than we would have been on a table for two. However this was August and there were tables for lunch and dinner set on the open bow area in front of the Aquavit lounge that wouldn't be there in winter or rain, so there'd be fewer tables overall. So it also depend on when you travel, more table in summer, but conversely there may be fewer cruisers in the winter. Unless a cruise line has only tables for two you cannot guarantee getting one. You ask which cruise lines have tables for two, but some cruise line use different types of boat, for instance the boat Viking used on our (most enjoyable) Ukraine cruise had plenty of tables for two. Sadly this cruise is currently not possible.

To answer your question. We got back Tuesday 22/8 from a Rhone cruise Avignon-Arles-Lyon No river issues. Lyon is the point where the Saone river joins the Rhone. We didn't sail on it, but crossed it by bridge a couple of times and it looked in good health. So you are going down river on the contents of the Rhone & Saone. I don't think you'll have water problems. However - it was very hot, 35-38C.

Me too. I'm off tomorrow on my 12th Viking cruise. Scenic had their chance, but I want real luxury.

We don't know what the excursion includes or how much it costs which is why I and others have suggested that the OP compares offerings and prices. I have a fit when you criticise Viking without ever having tried them. I, on the other hand, have taken a Scenic cruise that you highly rate and I was disappointed. I didn't think it was as luxurious as Viking. But people have different views of luxury.

I took a Scenic cruise last August. We didn't have a jar of chocolates in the room. There was a fridge but nothing in it tempted and we didn't use anything it it. There were miniature of wine but they were plonk and as one could get a better (included) drink from the bar there didn't seem any point. But what you get may depend on your cabin class.

According to Vikings website "You might like to take a Seine cruise on board a bâteau-mouche this evening to see some of the city’s landmarks and lovely bridges lining the riverbank." It's possible to book a private bateau-mouche, according to their website - www.bâteau-mouches.fr - but what sort of cruise are you getting? Just a cruise or a dinner cruise? And booking a boat for just 20 people sounds expensive, but Viking probably get a huge discount. As one can easily book these tours one self, using the bâteau-mouches web site, I'd compare what's on offer and prices. I took Mrs P on a surprise trip to Paris, we had dinner on a bateau-mouche while it cruised through Paris and it was a highlight still fondly remembered.

Yes. You are free to walk off the boat any time the boat is moored. You should be back 15 minutes before boat is due to depart. If you go to the Opera for a 6pm performance then you will miss dinner which is usually served 7pm. Although the boat may be moored over night in Budapest they may cruise for an hour or so in the evening so guests can see the lights of the city. Details will be on the Viking Daily news-sheet which will be on your bed when you check-in, so if boat is not moored when you return from Opera it will be back. The phone number of the boat and the mooring address is at the foot of the Viking Daily, so take that with you or photo it in case of queries. Have a great time, I'm sure you will. Viking give a good experience

Such good sense in four words

Looking at the rooms pics on the Scenic site the TVs are wall mounted so sockets on the edges ought to be available @Canal archive is currently aboard a Scenic boat, perhaps you could ask her to see if there's an accessible USB socket on the TV. She's posting about her cruise here

Thanks to @gnome12 and @Kristelle Then it appears to be some thing at my end. As to @Got2Cruise's question I get unavailable - as shown in this quote - and when I click on it I get this I'll try a different browser

Thanks for the explanation. Tip of the hat to the greeter for not asking you to wait for the next train's arrival. Re young tykes, I mean valued guests, from Scenic T&Cs

Why was the greeter surprised? Surely she was expecting you.

This cruise is very tempting, and I think I'm not the only one. When I looked at Uniworld website a few days ago I saw massive discounts for 2023. I went back to the site just now and those discounts have gone. There are a few, but they are nowhere as big as before.... BTW - am I the only one seeing the word 'unavailable' under all the movie files?

Which cruise line are you going on?

Where is the cruise from - and to?

I've looked at the daily schedules for the Scenic cruise I did last October. There was 'morning exercises' from 07:30 - 08:00 (don't ask me what they were like - I didn't go near them) The bikes are electric; they're big and heavy and the battery didn't obviate the need for pedalling up hill. Some riders found them too much work. Walking back to the boat in most towns is easy, even if you can't see river. Keep heading down hill, the river will be at the lowest point. While some other cruise lines give out bottles of water to guests leaving the boat, Scenic supply a water bottle in the room and it's your responsibility to fill it and take it with you.

Rules are different in different markets...but.. we realised we didn't want to go on a Viking Expedition cruise in North America which cost a lot. If we'd cancelled we'd have lost our deposit which was a great deal of money, however they told us we could change our booking so we chose a European cruise on another date. All the deposit went to that cruise, and it covered that deposit and a fair chunk of the entire cruise price. We lost £100 per person 'admin fee', but since £100 is the discount given to repeat cruisers that is shrugged off. £200 versus thousands? No brainer!

Re toilets on mainland Europe. You can get a coffee in a café and use the facilities there, otherwise the public toilets don't have a standard fee. Sometime the guides will give out coins to those needing them. Over many cruises I've found that sundecks are closed on the judgement of the crew, unless clearance is very little they may just warn you to sit and not stand. On wheelhouse tours - speaking for Viking, except during Covid they always had a wheelhouse tour. Some cruises one had to book it, other times anytime the Captain wasn't busy docking, going through a lock or manoeuvring a tight bridge. Our trip earlier this year the Captain announced he had an open wheelhouse policy - my son spent 45 minutes there quizzing the First Officer. I found there was nearly always something to do and I missed more on-board activities than I attended.