I recently joined Viking’s Paris and the Heart of Normandy river journey and what you notice first is what a wonderful way to enjoy beautiful Paris.
You are docked a short walk from, and in full view of, the Eiffel Tower.
Imagine sitting on the sun deck, on your purpose-built, Seine River Viking Longship, sipping your favourite cocktail as the sun sets and lights begin to twinkle on this iconic monument.
Three nights of your seven-night itinerary are spent docked in the heart of the city, allowing you to explore Paris and return to the comforts of your ship. A hotel simply cannot offer the same experience.
From the moment we boarded the Viking Fjolvar, we were greeted with friendly crew offering amazing service.
Your itinerary says you will be offered a light lunch as others are boarding and staterooms are being allocated. This turned out to be a full-luncheon, offering local produce with a Parisian flair; you just knew you were in for something special.
Our new home offered beautifully appointed staterooms and suites. All have river views with options for French Balcony or Veranda Staterooms, free Wi-Fi, complimentary bottled water, hotel style bed that can be configured twin or large double, ample size bathroom with premium toiletries and hair dryer, safe, individual climate control and plenty of storage space.
Public spaces include a Sun Deck, lounge, restaurant and the gorgeous Aquavit Terrace, which is an open-air, more intimate al fresco dining option at the front of the ship.
We enjoyed breakfast here and a few cocktails later in the day as we watched the French countryside slip by or observed the workings of a lock system.
With the whole cruise in France and everything sourced locally, you can imagine the quality of the cuisine. All included food and wines were superb. Every day is a culinary delight both onboard and ashore. There is plenty of variety at each sitting with ample snacks and treats between meals.
Onboard entertainment varied from a light-hearted opera recital to a WWII sing-along, all from local artists who join the ship for the evening. There is also a resident pianist who kept us entertained.
Our cruise director Jerome was outstanding. Apart from his amazing organisational ability, he was a comedian, historian, quiz master and lecturer. His talks were popular and relevant for everyone onboard. There were even cooking demonstrations and craft workshops.
The itinerary is carefully created to let you experience this beautiful part of Normandy at a leisurely pace.
Sometimes you are sailing during the day when the scenery is at its best and sometimes during the night, allowing you to wake up in a new destination.
You glide past serene fields, famous for Normandy cows producing unique milk which make soft cheeses such as camembert. The area is dotted with orchards, farms and wineries. Apples and pears are a speciality producing amazing local ciders. Whether you are eating onboard or ashore, this voyage is a foodie’s dream.
Viking is renowned for their meaningful onboard and onshore experiences. I am very interested in history and historical figures and this itinerary offers an array of opportunities to step back through the centuries.
You will get to know the stories surrounding Napolean and the love of his life Josephine, Monet and his famous garden, Joan of Arc’s military achievements and eventual demise in Rouen and the Sun Kings of France with all the comings and goings at the magnificent Palace of Versailles.
The ultimate highlight for me was cruising into Rouen and taking an active walking tour of this beautifully preserved medieval city.
So much history from Joan of Arc, the black plague, to Allied bombings, culminating in a tour of the stunning cathedral.
Our Viking guide gave us a tip to pop back in the late evening to experience the incredible light show projected onto the cathedral. A seasonal attraction we would never have heard about without our guide.
From Rouen the next day, a tour to visit the various commemorative sites, cemeteries, museums and beaches of the WWII D-Day landings.
The sacrifices and feats of endurance and heroism performed by the soldiers, sailors, airmen and resistance fighters are truly incredible to hear about.
Our guide had lived in that area all his life. He teaches history and his father and grandparents experienced the D-Day landings first hand.
How privileged we were to have him showing us around and what a humbling experience it is to visit these places.
It’s important to understand that Viking offers Thinking Person’s shore excursions.
Your guide is more likely to be a history teacher rather than a history student. They immerse you in the destination with first hand experience, stories and a knowledge that is second to none.
Each stop includes a complimentary sightseeing tour – be it a short coach trip to a French château or a walking tour starting from where you are moored.
There is choice of an active group or a group for those less mobile with everyone able to participate at their own pace.
Plus, these included excursions can be enhanced by optional excursions you choose to add to your itinerary to tailor make it the way you want your holiday to be.
I highly recommend Viking’s river journeys and in particular this itinerary to relax and revel in what is a truly remarkable area of France.
