Live: Viking Chateaux, Rivers & Wine Cruise - August 11-18

[Host Jazzbeau]

10 hours ago, Canal archive said:

Where are you off to with AMA.

Bordeaux, following an Azamara cruise from Portsmouth to Rouen and down along the coast of France that ends in Bordeaux.  Nice opportunity for a side-to-side.

[Australia08]

20 hours ago, Canal archive said:

Only a short comment about that and it’s not meant nastily just means we have to get going sooner - since you Americans got into river cruising getting hold of some of the larger cabins has become somewhat problematic, boy are you guys off the mark quickly!

I may not understand your comment, but we booked this cruise 2 months prior in June (relatively last minute). There were 2 AA suites still available and with the last minute promotions, it was about the same price as a veranda cabin on a non-sale date later in the season. I couldn’t believe the price and snagged the cabin. I spend a lot of time looking at the promos listed on the Viking Ocean cruise critic site because people post the promotion codes for ocean and river. Our cruise in the spring (2024) was a lot more expensive per day because we booked it more than a year out when we were on an ocean cruise. 

[Canal archive]

Well done you!

[Australia08]

Saturday, August 17 - Bordeaux and Cadillac

 

Unfortunately, the tides were not with us so we could not sail to Cadillac.  Viking did bus us there in the afternoon, however.

 

First though, we attended an interesting morning lecture about Bordeaux during WWII. After that, it was final packing and some lunch onboard.  Our afternoon tour lasted from 1:00-6:00 pm.  We passed by Cadillac, heading straight to the winery where we would taste Sauternes.  The vineyards in this area were planted on rolling countryside so very pretty.  We had time to walk among the vines after the tasting session.

 

Some of the vineyards passed on the way to the winery

 

At the winey - Chateau de Rayne Vigneau

 

A shot from outside the tasting room

 

Walking among the vines

 

The rolling countryside at Chateau de Rayne Vigneau

 

After the winery visit, it was back on the bus to return to Cadillac for our walking tour.  I would describe this walking tour as just okay.  Didn't really learn that much and our guide was not very dynamic.

 

The Sea Gate, in the walled city of Cadillac -- the walls were built in 1315.

 

The Clock Gate in the walled city of Cadillac

 

Eglise Saint-Martin de Cadillac

 

Chateau de Cadillac, home of the Dukes of Epernon

 

View from the bus as we returned to Bordeaux

 

Once we returned to the Forseti, it was time for our final embarkation talk, the Captain's Farewell Cocktail Party, and dinner.

 

The earlier threatening skies had cleared and we enjoyed the last hours on the Forseti.

 

 

 

Edited September 13 by Australia08

[Australia08]

Sunday, August 18 - Bordeaux to Versailles

 

Embarkation on Sunday morning was easy.  We had tickets from Bordeaux to Paris, then on to Versailles.  I had purchased our tickets on the fast train (2 hours) direct.  I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but using the French Rail SNCF Connect app was great.  I booked our tickets there originally, and when our outbound flight to Paris was delayed at the beginning of our trip, it was so easy to just go on the app and change our train tickets to the next day at no extra cost since we had first class tickets.  I highly recommend the app.  I was also able to use the app to pull up our tickets for our morning trip back to Paris. 

 

We also decided to just use the Bolt app to call a ride to the train station.  I called, we walked across the street to the location indicated on the app and our ride was there within 10 minutes.  So easy.

 

Our train trip back to Paris was without incident, and our connection on the RER to Versailles was easy, too.  We soon found ourselves walking from the train station to our hotel,  The M Gallery Le Louis Versailles - the closest hotel to the palace.  This was a great location and the room was roomy and comfortable.

 

We had some time to walk around the town, then headed out to Le Limousin for dinner.  We especially loved the foie gras and escargot. 

 

 

 

 

On our walk back to the hotel after dinner, we enjoyed the lights from the Palace at Versailles.

 

 

 

 

[Australia08]

Monday, August 19 - Versailles to Chartres

 

I had decided that after our river cruise, I wanted to see two areas we had not visited on our prior trips to Paris - Versailles and Chartres.  Since the Palace at Versailles was closed on Mondays, we headed out to Chartres to view the famous cathedral.  The train trip was only about 45 minutes. I was able to book the tickets right on the SNCF Connect app the evening before.

 

The Cathedral was exceptional.  We used the information from the Rick Steves' France book to tour the Cathedral, then went to lunch at Cafe Blu in the shadow of the cathedral - Great food, too!

 

Approaching the Cathedral from the train station

 

 

The Cathedral exterior - Wow!

 

 

My soup at Cafe Blu

 

My Croque Monsieur at Cafe Blu

 

Mike's Croque Madame at Cafe Blu

 

Another view of Chartres

 

After spending the afternoon walking around Chartres and visiting some of the other churches, it was back to Versailles.

 

 

 

[Australia08]

Tuesday, August 20 - Versailles

 

Okay, today was our day for the Palace of Versailles.  We had booked the tour of Louis' private apartments for 10:00 am.  This got us into the palace without having to stand in the long lines.  Once your tour is over, you are able to spend as much time exploring the palace as you wish.  This is definitely the way to go!

 

Our small group guide was excellent.  The thing I liked most about the small group tour was the final stop which was Louis' private Opera House.  Oh my goodness!  This is a must see.  I'm going to post a few photos from our day, but believe me, I am only posting about two from inside the palace.  There are just so many rooms.  I hope the following photos give you a sense of our day.

 

 

 

Louis XVI's desk

 

 

The ceiling of the Opera House (inside the palace)

 

Another view of the Opera House

 

 

 

Yes, it was very crowded in the Hall of Mirrors - not my favorite place

 

 

Marie Antoinette's room in the Petit Trianon

 

No wonder Marie Antoinette loved being here near the Petit Trianon

 

One of the buildings at the Queen's Hamlet

 

Gardens outside the Grand Trianon

 

This was a very long day for us. We ended up walking over 10 miles! I really think that one should view the buildings one day and the gardens on a separate day.  

 

We were so tired after our long day, that we decided to walk to a nearby Monoprix, buy baguette, cheese, pate, wine, and madeleines, and have a picnic back in our hotel room!

 

 

 

Edited September 14 by Australia08

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, Australia08 said:

Tuesday, August 20 - Versailles

So glad to see the boxwood hedges looking so good – last year they were being attacked by some pest (which I don't think had been identified yet).  This is how the gardens should look!

[Canal archive]

I think the Box ‘problem’ has been felt all across Europe it’s either ‘Box Blight’  a fugal infection or Box beetle, believe it or not there’s a Mite as well. We’ve lost our two attempts with Box at topiary as have many of our neighbours, the weather conditions have been blamed. It’s fairly easy to decided which version has got to your own plants. Mind you having something however nasty in common with Versailles is a bit ‘posh’ isn’t it?

[islandwoman]

Thank you for your detailed description of your Viking Chateaux, Rivers & Wine Cruise and for posting all of those beautiful photos. 

The wine tours you experienced sound very interesting.  I'm wondering whether they are among Vikings included tours or if you had to give up the included tours and pay extra for optional winery tours?