Lovely itinerary along the Rhone. The larger towns and city (Avignon, Arles, Lyon) were of more interest and provided quality local guides. Disappointment with day tour to Ardeche in terms of small-town visit. The excursion to Beaujolais was very disappointing. The chateau on our tour was run down and wines were poor quality compared to some other passengers' experience. I found this with their Bordeaux trip as well. Viking needs to do better quality control to ensure that all passengers are having the same quality experience. That said, I would recommend this cruise and will travel Viking again but feel they have lost some of their quality perhaps as a result of its expansion to ocean and expedition cruises.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Viking staff met at airport and provided timely transportation to the ship. Bags were in the cabin in a matter of minutes.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Standard Viking riverboat dining options. Viking has opened up Aquavit Terrace for full dining experience which is a great idea. The dining room continues to offer traditional seating at tables of 6 or 8 so you are able to meet other passengers. The wait staff were generally attentive but it seems that many were new and learning the "Viking way". Not as spot on as I have experienced in the past. There were missteps with people not getting food they requested. The staff seemed very overwhelmed and there seemed to be a lack of staff in the main dining area. The wait staff was too far stretched to provide the level of service which I have had on the last 5 Viking cruises I've taken.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Not really applicable.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The ship's pianist planned a variety of music for passengers each night. An outside band was brought on one night.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Again, relative to other Viking cruises I've taken this was disappointing. The room steward never introduced herself to us but was attentive when asked for something specific. Wait staff was overwhelmed. Program director and restaurant manager were fabulous!!! Great personalities and responsive to individual requests.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Cabin was well annointed with storage, space and design. Room was cleaned twice daily. There are not good provisions for single people traveling together as the layout of the room does not lend itself to two twin beds being separated enough. This has been a constant comment I have provided to Viking over the past 12 years. Once you separate the beds to provide a comfortable distance between them the outlets for chargers are blocked by the pillows.
Ship tip
Lovely boat with attractive accommodations. Pack your patience with the service staff. I felt that they were under a lot of pressure to perform without having sufficient assistance and numbers.
Enjoyed the tour of Vienne especially the garden right off the port. Our guide was new and not that proficient in English. Not up to the quality Viking has provided in the past with local guides.
We took the day long bus tour to Ardeche to the Lavender Museum. Had an excellent guide and enjoyed the visit although the lavender hadn't bloomed yet. Visited the gorge and had lunch nearby. Quality of food and service were good. Visited the town of Vogiers. VERY disappointing!!! There was nothing quaint, charming or of interest in a sleepy small town with no picturesque scenery or quality shops. We left a half hour early since no one seemed to enjoy the experience. Viking needs to find another town to replace this one for this tour!!!
Fabulous guide!!! Easy access to town. Interesting tour of the Pope's Palace and walking tour of town. Vibrant, interesting, and full of small shops and pedestrian streets.
Excellent excursion with knowledgeable local guide. Provided historic references to places we visited. Provided free time to shop and then finish the tour. Boat was docked right in town so very easy to return to town in the afternoon. Great shops and picturesque town.
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