AmaDagio--Paris to Barcelona

[RachelG]

Just now found this, and really enjoyed reading along. We do love France, and especially Provence. The trip sounds wonderful.

[ann1bell]

There is a limited edition tour to Tain Hermitage on our river cruise in August. This is a wine tour which substitues for a wine and chocolate tour on the regular itinerary. What do you know about it? My husband and I are not big wine people. What is the reason to choose it? Thanks.

[mpbmark]

There is a limited edition tour to Tain Hermitage on our river cruise in August. This is a wine tour which substitues for a wine and chocolate tour on the regular itinerary. What do you know about it? My husband and I are not big wine people. What is the reason to choose it? Thanks.

 

These are my own personal thoughts and others may disagree.

 

I didn't spend enough time looking into these 2 tours and I should have. I choose the wine and chocolate because I like both items and thought it would be an interesting tour. We walked up the street in Tournon and entered a building set up to handle the wine and chocolate pairing. The guide clearly knew her wines and was quite informative. The chocolatier also knew his subject but was not well versed in English. He seemed to have a hard time explaining his thought processes behind his prepared chocolate and the wines we were tasting. The chocolate was excellent but to my mind, the first 2wines, while good did not pair well. I thought they were not big enough to compete with the richness of the chocolate. The last wine, a 2012 Aleofane Crozes-Hermitage from Natacha Chave (yes, a woman in the men's domain) was an extraordinary Syrah that held up well against the chocolate.

 

The other tour was to Tain l'Hermitage and I believe to the estate of M. Chapoutier. I did not hear anyone discussing the tour but the cruise manager indicted it was a little more technical than the wine and chocolate. I'm not sure what that meant but if I could do it again, I would take this one and pass on the chocolate. The wines of this region will go along way to converting you to French wine and as good as the chocolate was, it can be had elsewhere.

 

Again, this is a personal opinion and your mileage may vary. ;)

[ann1bell]

Thanks for your opinion, Mark!

[Boogwoog]

Thanks for posting this wealth of information about your trip. We're doing this cruise, September 4-11, and it's our first river cruise and only our second trip to Europe. Your information has been helpful to us.

 

Chris

[mpbmark]

Thanks for posting this wealth of information about your trip. We're doing this cruise, September 4-11, and it's our first river cruise and only our second trip to Europe. Your information has been helpful to us.

 

Chris

 

My pleasure. That's what CC is all about. Continue to ask questions as someone here will have the answers. :)

[CaroleLee]

These are my own personal thoughts and others may disagree.

 

I didn't spend enough time looking into these 2 tours and I should have. I choose the wine and chocolate because I like both items and thought it would be an interesting tour. We walked up the street in Tournon and entered a building set up to handle the wine and chocolate pairing. The guide clearly knew her wines and was quite informative. The chocolatier also knew his subject but was not well versed in English. He seemed to have a hard time explaining his thought processes behind his prepared chocolate and the wines we were tasting. The chocolate was excellent but to my mind, the first 2wines, while good did not pair well. I thought they were not big enough to compete with the richness of the chocolate. The last wine, a 2012 Aleofane Crozes-Hermitage from Natacha Chave (yes, a woman in the men's domain) was an extraordinary Syrah that held up well against the chocolate.

 

The other tour was to Tain l'Hermitage and I believe to the estate of M. Chapoutier. I did not hear anyone discussing the tour but the cruise manager indicted it was a little more technical than the wine and chocolate. I'm not sure what that meant but if I could do it again, I would take this one and pass on the chocolate. The wines of this region will go along way to converting you to French wine and as good as the chocolate was, it can be had elsewhere.

 

Again, this is a personal opinion and your mileage may vary. ;)

Thanks for the excellent review.DH & I are considering river cruise for next year and this was one of the itineraries we are looking at. A few questions: As there are no formal nights what is the dress code (what do ladies & gents) actually wear for dinner as well as during the day? What is the general age range? DH& I are active 60's.

Thx

Carole

[mpbmark]

Thanks for the excellent review.DH & I are considering river cruise for next year and this was one of the itineraries we are looking at. A few questions: As there are no formal nights what is the dress code (what do ladies & gents) actually wear for dinner as well as during the day? What is the general age range? DH& I are active 60's.

Thx

Carole

 

There are no formal nights, per se. Some people "dressed up" for the Captain's Farewell Dinner (some sport coats and mice dresses for the women) but we did not. It appeared that shorts and tops were acceptable for breakfast and lunch. I don't recall seeing anyone wearing shorts for dinner. Slacks and shirts (some wore Tees but I would not). Generally pretty informal. Most wore the same outfit for dinner they wore during the day, but we had cool weather except for the last couple of days so you would have to decide if you feel comfortable doing that.

 

The general age was older (50 - 60 and beyond). My sense is that these are expensive cruises, what with airfare and all, so for the most part, younger adults don't do these. Also, there are very limited entertainment possibilities on board (no big stage productions or casinos) which may also skew to an older demographic.

 

We are "active" seniors (I think :rolleyes:) as well and have already booked our 3rd river cruise. We think they are a great way to see the interior of a country that ocean cruises can't duplicate.

[orchestrapal]

This is incorrect. There are 25 Van Gogh paintings in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/museum/France/Musée_d*Orsay.html

 

Thank you for posting what I was going to say. Many other museums in France also boast many original paintings by VG.

[mpbmark]

Thank you for posting what I was going to say. Many other museums in France also boast many original paintings by VG.

 

True, see my comments in posts #22 & 24.

[MacWino]

The wines in Tain L'Hermitage would be among the very best wines you will taste in France. Especially if it is a tour to M. Chapoutier. After the wine tasting, you can walk to the Valrhona City of Chocolate and taste everything they make.

Edited August 8, 2014 by MacWino

[mpbmark]

The wines in Tain L'Hermitage would be among the very best wines you will taste in France. Especially if it is a tour to M. Chapoutier. After the wine tasting, you can walk to the Valrhona City of Chocolate and taste everything they make.

 

As I noted above (see post 28) I think the Tain L'Hermitage tour would be a better choice if you are interested in wine.

[rphpcf]

Hi MPBMARK

 

I've enjoyed reading about your trip on AMAdagio thru Provence. We are taking the tour starting Sept 1st and would like to tour Giverney.

 

Did you hire a tour through the hotel concierge, book it in advance online, or just find a guide while there? We are only 2 people but would not mind joining with a group. Did you do a whole day trip or just a half day?

 

Any advice you can give would be appreciated. Thanks

 

rphpcf

[cruisinskier]

Mark, thanks for your detailed review! I have to agree with you about French wines....we spent 3 weeks touring France last year and just returned from time in Paris again this year....it is amazing what 5 euro will buy you! And if you blow the budget and add in some cheese, the sky is the limit :D

 

You mentioned Les Baux...we spent 3 nights staying in the small community there last year. It is really eerie to see at night after all of the tourists have left. Like walking through history.

 

Glad you had a great trip and thanks again for the review!

[mpbmark]

Hi MPBMARK

 

I've enjoyed reading about your trip on AMAdagio thru Provence. We are taking the tour starting Sept 1st and would like to tour Giverney.

 

Did you hire a tour through the hotel concierge, book it in advance online, or just find a guide while there? We are only 2 people but would not mind joining with a group. Did you do a whole day trip or just a half day?

 

Any advice you can give would be appreciated. Thanks

 

rphpcf

 

I booked thru Viator. https://www.viator.com/tours/Paris/Auvers-sur-Oise-and-Giverny-Small-Group-Day-Trip-from-Paris/d479-2050PLUSAG

 

I thought it was a good tour albeit a little pricey. Both sites are really beautiful and it is probably even better if the sun is out.

 

Mark, thanks for your detailed review! I have to agree with you about French wines....we spent 3 weeks touring France last year and just returned from time in Paris again this year....it is amazing what 5 euro will buy you! And if you blow the budget and add in some cheese, the sky is the limit :D

Last year in Positano we went to a store that had several "vats" of wine on site. Bought a 5L bottle of Primitivo and paid 2.6€ per liter or way less than the price of gasoline. Some of the best wine we've every had. Can't find anything like that here.

 

You mentioned Les Baux...we spent 3 nights staying in the small community there last year. It is really eerie to see at night after all of the tourists have left. Like walking through history.

 

Glad you had a great trip and thanks again for the review!

 

I'm sure it is a little "spooky" but what a charming place. Well worth the visit.

[cormike1]

Hi Mark,

I really enjoyed your review. I have looked at this area to do a river cruise and wondered how interesting it would be aside from the wine tasting. Your review has changed my mind....it is on my list of "to do's" now. We have done 3 river cruises with 3 different companies and loved all 3. We just started ocean cruising in the past 4 years but river cruising is our favourite mode of travel. Thanks for a wonderful review....thoroughly enjoyed it!

[mpbmark]

Hi Mark,

I really enjoyed your review. I have looked at this area to do a river cruise and wondered how interesting it would be aside from the wine tasting. Your review has changed my mind....it is on my list of "to do's" now. We have done 3 river cruises with 3 different companies and loved all 3. We just started ocean cruising in the past 4 years but river cruising is our favourite mode of travel. Thanks for a wonderful review....thoroughly enjoyed it!

 

Thank you so much for your kind words. The area is truly beautiful and the tours are very informative. The wonderful wine is a bonus. We have done a couple dozen ocean cruises and are planning our 3rd river cruise with AMA. If you have any questions I'll try and supply answers.

[caviargal]

Thank you so much for your kind words. The area is truly beautiful and the tours are very informative. The wonderful wine is a bonus. We have done a couple dozen ocean cruises and are planning our 3rd river cruise with AMA. If you have any questions I'll try and supply answers.

 

Mark, your detailed review has been great to read. Thanks very much for taking the time.

 

We are doing this cruise with AMA in the opposite direction in less than 3 months. We are staying DIY in Paris for 4 nights prior to the cruise and then taking the TGV to Arles.

 

Ours is wine themed and AMA does a great job with wine cruises. We are really looking forward to this itinerary as it is a totally new area for us to explore and we are huge fans of French wines.

 

Working now on planning a day trip from Paris to explore the champagne houses.

[mpbmark]

Mark, your detailed review has been great to read. Thanks very much for taking the time.

 

We are doing this cruise with AMA in the opposite direction in less than 3 months. We are staying DIY in Paris for 4 nights prior to the cruise and then taking the TGV to Arles.

 

Ours is wine themed and AMA does a great job with wine cruises. We are really looking forward to this itinerary as it is a totally new area for us to explore and we are huge fans of French wines.

 

Working now on planning a day trip from Paris to explore the champagne houses.

 

You should have a great time. I would have enjoyed the wine based cruise but couldn't make it work, time wise. You might want to check out the champagne tour offered by O'Chateau. http://www.o-chateau.com/wine-tours-from-paris

[pbnjrockette]

Have really enjoyed your review! Brought back many wonderful memories!

 

Although we traveled with a different tour this past July/August it was really interesting to read your review of some of the same areas and the differences with another company. Interesting to note the differences in weather as well as 'what a difference a DAY makes'---noting the varies activities that one might encounter at each venue ( jazz festivals, art festivals, fairs)

 

Thank you for your review! (am considering trying AMA for one of our cruises!)

[mpbmark]

Have really enjoyed your review! Brought back many wonderful memories!

 

Although we traveled with a different tour this past July/August it was really interesting to read your review of some of the same areas and the differences with another company. Interesting to note the differences in weather as well as 'what a difference a DAY makes'---noting the varies activities that one might encounter at each venue ( jazz festivals, art festivals, fairs)

 

Thank you for your review! (am considering trying AMA for one of our cruises!)

 

Thanks for your comments. Just my opinion, but I think AMA is a terrific river cruise line. We've taken 2 cruises with them and found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Look what they did as a surprise for my wife's birthday.

[mpbmark]

And a complimentary bottle of wine and chocolate

[pbnjrockette]

Thanks for your comments. Just my opinion, but I think AMA is a terrific river cruise line. We've taken 2 cruises with them and found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Look what they did as a surprise for my wife's birthday.

 

 

Love the rose petals!!!! Sure must have made her smile (wonder what they do for anniversaries????)

 

For my husband's birthday he was sung to by the dining staff... got a delicious chocolate mousse cake to share with our table mates. Back in our stateroom were towel animals, a gift (cruise line hat) birthday card signed by CD and concierge and a bottle of champagne.

 

Certainly makes everyone want to travel on their birthdays!!

[mpbmark]

Love the rose petals!!!! Sure must have made her smile (wonder what they do for anniversaries????)

 

For my husband's birthday he was sung to by the dining staff... got a delicious chocolate mousse cake to share with our table mates. Back in our stateroom were towel animals, a gift (cruise line hat) birthday card signed by CD and concierge and a bottle of champagne.

 

Certainly makes everyone want to travel on their birthdays!!

 

Yes it does. She also received a serenade but a little off key. 😱. Fun just the same. Also, her birthday is 7/14 or Bastille Day as it is known in France. Quite a celebration in Tournon.

[caviargal]

You should have a great time. I would have enjoyed the wine based cruise but couldn't make it work, time wise. You might want to check out the champagne tour offered by O'Chateau. http://www.o-chateau.com/wine-tours-from-paris

 

Thanks, we are doing a DIY to Reims by train. :)