time4travel9

I have recently returned from 2 back-to-back Viking cruises in France; I have been a Viking customer on 3 separate boats. Two of the three boats had wonderful food service and preparation; one [soane/Rhone rivers] was only acceptable, though 2 dinner dishes during this "acceptable" dinning experience were, in my opinion, extraordinary [why the kitchen was not able to perform consistently throughout that cruise is a mystery]. I voted for Viking because of the overall excellence of the on-board staff and how the company dealt with high water on the French rivers in May: The Viking Spirit was brought out of Paris before high water blocked exit/entry; the ship was docked at Conflans and shuttle buses were operated into Paris-including the pre-planned bus orientation tour. We could remain in Paris the entire day on our own and given directions and map to the bus pick-up point in front of the Grand Palace on the right bank. Instead of leaving Paris by boat, we arrived on the last full day of the tour back in Paris by boat in the daytime--for a dramatic river entry up to our dock site 2 blocks south of the Eiffel Tower-wow! On the second boat, because of high water coming down the Rhone, our boat, the Viking Europe, departed early from Arles for a early-afternoon return north to Avignon [passengers wishing to remain in Arles for the day were then bused back to Avignon before dinner time]--thereby affording 2 nights and a late afternoon and one full day in Avignon. With the heavy and constant rains in Western Europe this spring and the necessity for the release of water from up-river dams--any cruise on a European river is going to be an adventure!