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The River Cruise Lady

River cruising and small ship luxury cruising

AmaWaterways River Cruises

Multigeneration River Cruising!

January 20, 2020 by River Cruise Lady Linda Leave a Comment

I thought I would share a few of the last bookings that I’ve done for river cruising because you may not have thought of this option if planning a multi-generation trip with your family.

My client was turning 80 and she thought about how she wanted to spend her birthday and decided on a family trip.  Her spouse had passed away years before so she decided to splurge and take her children and grandchildren on a European river cruise. There was a range of ages from 12 to 79 and even her brothers & sisters decided to join in the fun!

It worked out great for them because there are so many different excursions options to choose from (mostly always all included).

For example, on a Rhine river cruise with Ama Waterways, in Cologne the excursion choices would be a walking tour, or cathedral visit or Kölsch beer tasting or a bike tour through the city.  So what usually happened was everyone went off and did their choice of excursion and then they would gather for dinner together in the dining room and talk about their different experiences – such a great family bonding time.

Avalon Waterways also have Active & Discovery itineraries which work well with families too.  Then of course Uniworld and Tauck both have dedicated family departure dates (usually in the summer or for the Christmas Market cruises) which then have even more excursions geared towards family groups.

So consider river cruising as a way to create a wonderful legacy that your children/grandchildren will have of travelling with their parents/grandparents and memories that will last a lifetime.

Biking along Moselle Rive

Filed Under: AMA Waterways, Avalon Waterways, Christmas Market Cruise, Danube River, Europe, Mosel River, Rhine River, River Cruise Lady, River Cruises, River Cruising, Scenic River Cruises, Tauck River Cruises, Uniworld, Virtuoso, Virtuoso Travel

Renew your vows on a River Cruise

January 14, 2019 by River Cruise Lady Linda 4 Comments

Do you have an upcoming milestone Wedding Anniversary?  Whether its ten, twenty-five, thirty, forty, fifty years or something in between – how would you like to renew your vows with your loved one ?  If your wedding day was a long time ago and you would love to re-marry your spouse all over again but with a romantic European town in the background, I have an amazing ‘proposal’ for you 😊

One of the river cruise companies that I partner with has a Renewal of Vows Package on their Danube River Cruise itinerary.

This romantic package includes:

  • Symbolic Renewal of Vows Ceremony led by a designated official
  • Two 1-hour massages PLUS one manicure/pedicure or hair salon service
  • Bottle of champagne
  • Romantic turn-down service with rose petals
  • Special custom-made dessert by the onboard chef
  • Sundowner excursion with champagne

The cost of this package is $500usd or $599cad but if you bring 2 other couples to go with you, I will pay the cost for you!  If you bring 5 other couples with you, one of you will sail for free!  Know a group of people? if you bring 10 other couples, you both sail for free!

Here is the Romantic Danube itinerary and the river cruise pricing starts at $5820usd/$6820cad per person for a French Balcony category (based on May/June 2019 dates) Extra nights in Budapest, Prague or Munich can be added on for a longer stay.

I look forward to helping you and your partner celebrate your Anniversary just the way you deserve!

River Cruise Lady Linda's Romantic Danube River Cruise Itinerary

Perhaps you could write your special date on a lock and add your own Love Lock to one of the bridges you’ll visit!

Love Locks on a Bridge
Love Locks on a Bridge

Filed Under: Cruises, Danube River, Europe, Featured Post, Quaint Villages, River Cruise Lady, River Cruises, River Cruising, Vow Renewal Tagged With: Danube River, river cruise, River Cruise Lady, river cruising

Crystal River Cruise on the Rhine and Mosel

December 8, 2018 by River Cruise Lady Linda Leave a Comment

From the welcome airport greeting to the final farewell, our Crystal River Cruise was a fantastic experience!
We met the friendly Crystal staff at the Amsterdam airport and were promptly transferred by Crystal’s own fleet of buses (that follow along the cruise) to the Crystal Mahler. The river cruise pier is located right in front of the historic Grand Centraal Station so we took a stroll around the ship, checked into our cabin (they call them suites) and headed out to tour the city.

Crystal River Cruise bus
Crystal River Cruise bus
Crystal Mahler docked in Amsterdam
Crystal Mahler docked in Amsterdam

We walked past the station, Anne Franks House, over many bridges & canals and even the Red Light District (which is usually fairly quiet during the day but a rather robust women was standing outside as we went by). Amsterdam is such a beautiful, bustling walkable city although one has to look both ways frequently to avoid the constant whish of bicycle riders that whiz past (at top speeds I might add) as that is their main form of transportation there.

Amsterdam Canals
Amsterdam Canals
Amsterdam historical buildings
Amsterdam historical buildings


Heading back to the ship, we decided to unpack and took some pictures to show the features of our Petite Suite – category S4/S5. The cabin was spacious enough at 188sq ft but with the closet & bathroom lacking drawer space to put some of our stuff, just made do with using the cupboards instead. The mini-bar was fully stocked with water, beer, pop and later white wine. The Nespresso type coffee maker is unique to Crystal as you don’t often see any type of coffee maker in a river cruise cabin. The suites are also equipped with binoculars, Audio machines for going out on tour to hear the guides without having to stand beside them and lots of plugs.(great for all the devices we tend to bring along)
River Cruise Lady Linda
River Cruise Lady Linda
Crystal Suite desk
Crystal Suite desk
Petite Suite 2 beds
Petite Suite 2 beds
Crystal Suite mini fridge
Crystal Suite mini fridge

Crystal Suite accessory drawer
Crystal Suite accessory drawer
Petite Suite Closet
Petite Suite Closet
Petite Suite bathroom
Petite Suite bathroom
Suite bathroom amenities
Suite bathroom amenities


If you upgrade to the Deluxe Suite -category S1/S2, which is larger at 253 sq ft (there is one cabin in category S3 and if ever interested in that one, just pop me an email to linda@therivercruiselady.com and I can explain the difference between that one and the S1/S2) you get a full walk in closet plus two sinks in the bathroom and drawers in both) Both have the luxurious King Size bed (or two singles), the Panoramic Balcony Window, interactive TV system with complimentary movies on demand, a bedside Ipad and wifi.
Deluxe suite king bed
Deluxe suite king bed
Deluxe Suite bed facing window
Deluxe Suite bed facing window
Deluxe Suite Double Vanity
Deluxe Suite Double Vanity

Deluxe Suite walk in closet
Deluxe Suite walk in closet
Plenty of plugs in suites
Plenty of plugs in suites
Suite binoculars
Suite binoculars


Dining options on the Mahler were plenty starting with breakfast at the Waterside restaurant, usually served between 7:30 and 9am or if felt like sleeping in, could catch the late risers breakfast at the Bistro served from 9 to 11:30am. If you happened to really sleep in, there were snacks & pastries at the Bistro from 11:30am to 6pm or lunch service started at 12:30 to 2:30pm. The Waterside restaurant times varied daily but was usually between noon and 2pm. Of course you could also order 24 hour room service (including selections from the main restaurant menu) or help yourself to the 24 hour self-service pantry which featured snacks, specialty coffees, teas and non-alcoholic beverages.
Dinner was either at the Waterside restaurant, the Bistro for a Tapas menu or for a special multi course with wine pairing evening, there was the Vintage Room which had an extra cost and needed to be reserved in advance. The food on Crystal was some of the best I’ve ever been served – the presentation was always artistically crafted and the taste was delicious.
Tasty beet salad
Tasty beet salad
Waterside breakfast buffet
Waterside breakfast buffet
Burger and fries for lunch
Burger and fries for lunch
Waterside Lunch menu
Waterside Lunch menu

River Cruise Lady Linda with Chef
River Cruise Lady Linda with Chef
Vintage room getting set up
Vintage room getting set up
Bistro Late Risers Breakfast
Bistro Late Risers Breakfast

Bistro coffe and tea choices
Bistro coffe and tea choices
Beautiful food presentation
Beautiful food presentation
Soup of the day
Soup of the day
Crystal dinner selection
Crystal dinner selection

Crystal dinner selection
Crystal dinner selection
Crystal Bistro buffet
Crystal Bistro buffet
Crystal Bistro
Crystal Bistro
24 hour Pantry Station
24 hour Pantry Station


Our cruise itinerary had to be changed due to the record low water conditions on the Danube so we ended up sailing on the Rhine, Mosel and the Belgian Waterways instead and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Crystal was to be commended for coming up with new excursions due to the changes and we visited some wonderful picturesque places like Bernkastel, Bruges, Ghent and Arnhem. They included cultural visits in Nijmegen to the Van Gogh Kroller-Muller Museum, the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, Drachenfels Castle in Bonn and a magical Concert evening with Eva Vermeeren, Hanne Roos & The Turnhoutse Snaar.
Crystal docked in Bernkastel
Crystal docked in Bernkastel
Quaint Bernkastel
Quaint Bernkastel
View of the ship from the castle
View of the ship from the castle


We participated in many of the bike excursions that Crystal offered and although they do not store the bikes onboard, top quality e-bikes were brought to each location where they offered the excursions. We rode through Historic Nijmegen, Veluwezoom National Park, the Netherlands Waterlands and even biked up a mountainside to play golf and sample some local wine (don’t worry, they bussed us home after that 😊)
Nijmegen bike excursion
Nijmegen bike excursion
Crystal Bike excursion
Crystal Bike excursion
Stopped for cake and apple strudel
Stopped for cake and apple strudel
Koblenz Bike excursion
Koblenz Bike excursion


If you would like to view a video about the bike excursions, you can view it below:

The evening entertainment ended up being something we looked forward to every night. Some lines just have a piano player softly in the background in the lounge but our cruise had Rita and Bruno, a musically talented couple who both sang and played the piano. They seemed to be able to sing anything and even led a couple of triva contests too. There was also an indoor pool that looked inviting but I never saw anyone using it (perhaps they did early in the mornings?) Same with the gym, but again, could have been used early. One place that did get a lot of use was the self service laundry room which included two washer/dryers and ironing board.

Crystal Mahler pool
Crystal Mahler pool
Crystal Mahler gym
Crystal Mahler gym
Crystal Mahler laundry room
Crystal Mahler laundry room

While it is true that the cost of a Crystal River Cruise can be higher than other companies offering an all inclusive experience, it seemed as though most passengers felt that it was a very good value for what they received. Plus their crew to guest ratio is one of the lowest at 1 to 1.55 which we noticed as there always seemed to be a helpful crew member to assist. Crystal has four Rhine class sister ships which are the Mahler, Bach, Debussy and Ravel while the Crystal Mozart that sails on the Danube is configured differently. Whichever one you choose, you’re sure to have a memorable river cruise!

Wonderful crew of Crystal Mahler
Wonderful crew of Crystal Mahler
Crystal Future Cruise consultant
Crystal Future Cruise consultant
Mixology lesson at the bar
Mixology lesson at the bar
Large Panoramic window from outside
Large Panoramic window from outside


For a video tour of the Crystal Mahler, please watch the video below:

Filed Under: AMA Waterways, Rhine River, River Cruise Lady, River Cruises, River Cruising, Virtuoso Tagged With: AmaWaterways, amsterdam, rhine river, river cruise, river cruise bike excursions, River Cruise Lady, river cruising

Crystal River Cruises changing the world of river cruising!

June 4, 2018 by River Cruise Lady Linda Leave a Comment

Crystal Cruises entered in the world of river cruising two years ago and is upping the ante all around.   They’ve just launched their 4th ship, the Crystal Debussy, which is a sister ship to the Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel. 

All four ships will sail either on the Danube, Rhine, Main or Moselle with only 106 passengers (compare that to their same size longship competitors sailing with almost 190 passengers) which means more spacious cabins and more lounge space.

They have also introduced open seating dining in their Waterside restaurant so no more 7pm rush for a table.  They also boast the following: 

  • The only all-suite river yachts in Europe; every suite featuring a King-size bed, most with walk-in closets and double sink vanities
  • The highest staff-to-guest ratio among all European river cruise lines
  • Michelin star-inspired farm-to-table dining, featuring Crystal’s acclaimed six-star cuisine with regionally-inspired menus
  • Unmatched culinary choices with flexible open seating dining in each restaurant
  • Wine sommeliers offering educational insight and endless pour of acclaimed vintages
  • Unmatched collection of multiple Complimentary Crystal Adventures® ashore in each destination; cultural, active and overland
  • High-tech in-suite amenities including: bedside iPad directory; interactive TV system with complimentary movies on demand, extensive music library; ambient lighting and temperature controls
  • A full service, well-appointed Crystal Life Spa aboard each river yacht, staffed by dedicated, highly-trained professionals
  • Crystal luxury motor coaches, featuring complimentary Wi-Fi and coffee bars

As part of their luxury all inclusive river cruising experience, Crystal includes:

  • unlimited fine wines, champagne, premium spirits, beers, soft drinks, specialty coffees, teas and bottle water in-suite
  • All gratuities both shipboard and shoreside 
  • Unlimited wifi/Internet plus electronic international newspapers
  • Daily yoga and fitness classes 
  • Complimentary self-service guest laundry  (so handy for those 15 day voyages)
  • Use of eBikes for both excursions and on your own
  • Complimentary airport transfers from the airport to the ship on day of embarkation/disembarkation

Here is a short video about these wonderful new ships

 

If you would like to view the deckplan seen in the video, just click CRYSTAL SISTER SHIPS DECKPLAN

I will be sailing on the Crystal Mahler in Sept so look for a new post with a full report upon my return.   Cheers, Linda

 

 

Filed Under: Crystal River Cruises Tagged With: all inclusive river cruising, Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Ravel, Crystal River Cruises, river cruise, River Cruise Lady, river cruising

Viking River Cruise transformed into Ocean Cruise!

March 6, 2018 by River Cruise Lady Linda Leave a Comment

I recently returned from cruising on the almost brand new Viking Sea sailing out of San Juan Puerto Rico. It was so impressive the way that Viking took all of the wonderful attributes of river cruising and copied them onto their ocean cruises. Plus since the ship carries just over 900 passengers, is considered a small ship which allows them to visit ports not available to the larger ships. Here we were docked right in the heart of the city in Willemstad, Curacao

Viking Sea Docked in Curacao

Viking Sea Docked in Curacao

Like river cruising, there are many inclusions like a shore excursion included in every port, beer/wine with lunch and dinner, specialty coffees, teas & bottled water and of course the biggest perk for me as I was still working, was the free WiFi. Most people that I talked to onboard said it was so nice to have all the inclusions and not to be nickle & dimed to death which tends to happen on many mainstream cruise lines. Also included are two specialty restaurants, one is The Chef’s Table which is a multi-course tasting dinner paired with select wines and the other is Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant serving freshly prepared pastas and antipasto accompanied by fresh seafood or special of the day. Not sure which one was my favorite as they both had amazing food.

Manfredis Restaurant VikingSea

Manfredis Restaurant VikingSea

One difference from their river cruises (which still offer cabins on lower decks that only have a window) is that all the cabins on the Viking Sea have a spacious private balcony. Another great option for those who love to eat outdoors (which includes me) is the restaurant at the back of the ship near the pool where you can enjoy breakfast or lunch on the patio.

Viking Sea Outdoor Restaurant

Viking Sea Outdoor Restaurant

Like river cruising, the Viking Ocean itineraries tend to be city/port intensive which allow you to really get immersed in the destinations visited. In fact, many of the passengers had taken a river cruise first and then decided to try out their Ocean cruises and were very impressed. So whichever one you choose to try first, you’ll be pleased with either!

For more information, see VIKING CRUISES

Filed Under: River Cruise Lady, River Cruises, River Cruising, Viking River Cruises, Virtuoso Tagged With: Viking River Cruises

How big is a river cruise cabin?

November 23, 2017 by River Cruise Lady Linda Leave a Comment

It seems as though the river cruise companies (or most cruise companies for that matter) always showcase their largest suite category cabins in their ads but in reality, most passengers end up in their regular cabins.

Every time I take a new river cruise, I try to capture some video or pictures of the cabins to share with you for size perspectives.

The one below is the AmaCerto built in 2012 by Ama Waterways which is 445ft long and holds 162 passengers

The cabins sizes shown in the video are
300 sq ft – Suite Category
210 sq ft – Twin Balcony Category BA
170 sq ft – French Balcony Category C
160 sq ft – Window Category D

Here is the deck plan of the AmaCerto

AmaCerto Deck Plan

AmaCerto Deck Plan

Here is the video tour of the ship

Filed Under: AMA Waterways, AmaCerto, Amsterdam, Europe, River Cruise Lady, River Cruises, River Cruising Tagged With: AmaCerto

Not just flowers on a Tulip Time River Cruise

July 22, 2017 by River Cruise Lady Linda Leave a Comment

I went on a Tulip Time river cruise this spring with Ama Waterways thinking that it would be all about flowers but nothing could be further from the truth!

Don’t get me wrong, we did see Tulips but we also visited a fabulous museum, learned how to make Belgian chocolate, biked through Antwerp viewing their incredible architectural buildings, strolled peacefully through the windmills in Kinderdijk and maneuvered the canals in Amsterdam.

The Tulip Time cruise started in Amsterdam and I took the ship picture to show you how close they dock to the main train station in Amsterdam (its the building in the background) and then the next picture is in front of the station which is stunning in itself.

AmaCerto river cruise ship
AmaCerto river cruise ship
Amsterdam Centraal Station
Amsterdam Centraal Station

We did a morning bus tour of the city before heading out in the afternoon to a Hoorn Tulip and Bulb field where we all became Tulip Specialists after getting a tour of their greenhouses to see all the different phases of growth (the process was very interesting and we learned quite a bit!) Once the bus dropped us off near the town trolley, we walked around the Hoorn harbor which was full of unique monuments and packing warehouses.

Tulip Farm Bulbs Planted
Tulip Farm Bulbs Planted
Tulip Farm Greenhouse
Stop and smell the Tulips?
Tulip Farm Machinery
Tulip Farm Machinery

The next days tour decision was a tough one as you had to choose between the Arnhem Bridge & Airborne Museum (renowned for its role during WWII’s Operation Market Garden) or the Kroller Muller Museum (which boasts the 2nd largest Van Gogh collection in the world). So our small group split up and some did choice A and some did choice B and when we gathered back on the ship in lounge for a pre-dinner drink, all agreed that both were great tours. (read between the lines as this meant that each group thought their tour was better)

When we arrived in Antwerp, we opted for the bike tour through the charming streets of this Belgium major city. Our guide managed to steer us effortlessly through traffic and the drivers were so polite, always stopping for us when we were crossing the streets (that never happens back home!) It was a great way to see such a large area of the city in such a short time and our stop at the Antwerp train station was saved until the end because the beauty of the building just can’t be missed.

Antwerp Bike Tour
Antwerp Bike Tour
Antwerp Train Station
Antwerp Train Station
Antwerp Train Station Inside
Antwerp Train Station Inside

That afternoon took us to the Floralia Spring Flower show at Kasteel van Groot-Bijgaarden which had 14 hectares of brilliantly colored tulips, daffodils and many other spring flowers. The garden area surrounds the castle where the almost 1 million bulbs are still planted by hand each year ! (loved the Peacock)

Floralia Castle
Floralia Castle
Floralia Garden and Planter
Floralia Garden and Planter
Floralia Peacock in Flowers
Floralia Peacock in Flowers

Then we headed for the beauty of Bruges which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that included medieval buildings, winding canals and statuesque churches. I could have taken pictures there all day and this one was at the famous corner that is used many times when displaying Bruges.

Bruge

Bruge

After leaving Belgium, we headed back towards the Netherlands stopping in Rotterdam where excursions could be taken to visit the bustling city or a bit farther took in the charming city of Delft (known for the hand-painted blue and white pottery) with a stop in The Hague before travelling back to the ship. In the afternoon, we sailed peacefully into Kinderdijk to see hundreds of windmills dotting the horizon. With the sun shining brightly, it made for a wonderful stroll or bike ride through the area.

Kinderdijk Windmills

Kinderdijk Windmills

Our last full day was a full one with the morning touring the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens, a 70 acre park that probably had the most flowers I’ve ever seen. It was so colorful and I’m sure the pictures don’t do it justice.

Keukenhof Gardens
Keukenhof Gardens
Keukenhof Gardens
Keukenhof Gardens

Then onto Amsterdam where we finished up with a great canal cruise through the city (where you find out why they call it “Venice of the North” )

Amsterdam Canals
Amsterdam Canals
Amsterdam Canals
Amsterdam Canals
Amsterdam Canals
Amsterdam Canals

Now that I’ve taken you through my trip, I realize that I haven’t even talked about all the wonderful food (and drinks) we had onboard Ama Waterways! The staff were really friendly and our Cruise Director Rachel was one of the best ones I’ve ever experienced. She delivered her port talks with humor, personal stories and kept everyone interested, on track and on time.
I was in a French Balcony cabin and since the weather was great, enjoyed sitting in the stateroom with the breeze flowing in on many occasions.

I would highly recommend a Tulip Time river cruise to anyone !

Filed Under: AMA Waterways, Amsterdam, Bruges, Europe, Keukenhof, River Cruise Lady, River Cruises, River Cruising, Tulip Time, Virtuoso, Virtuoso Travel

Africa River Cruise Safari

March 16, 2017 by River Cruise Lady Linda Leave a Comment

Ever since Ama Waterways brought out their Africa Safari and Wildlife cruise brochure, I dreamed of going on it and even had the cover pinned up on my wall.

Well my dream finally became a reality recently and it was even more amazing than I could have ever imagined. My pictures were almost the same as they had portrayed in the brochure as we were able to get so close to the animals on the river (and on the land Safari in Kruger) and I was also able to get some fantastic videos of them in their own environment that you can view at the end.

Their Stars of South Africa itinerary starts in picturesque Cape Town, where one could easily spend a week touring around the area as there is so much to see. We did a full day Cape tour which starts out going to Boulders Beach to see the African Penguins (could have watched them all day) then onto the famous Cape of Good Hope sign and Chapman Peak Drive.

African Penguins
African Penguins
Cape Of Good Hope Sign
Cape Of Good Hope
View of Cape Point
View of Cape Point

Since we had gone in a day early, we were also able to visit Table Bay Mountain, Robben Island and the Cape Winelands area and we still didn’t see it all !

Then onto Botswana for the most incredible river safari where I couldn’t stop taking video of the Elephants (by day 3, my husband said, you have enough footage of the elephants!!)
We got to see them playing in the water, spraying themselves as it was so dry and watching the babies learn from their mommas. Of course we also saw Giraffes, Impalas, Hippos, Cape Buffalos, Lions, Warthogs and many beautiful African birds too. We also visited a local village which was very humbling. These are just a few of many pictures I took:

Chobe River Elephants
Chobe River Elephants
Chobe River Impalas And Giraffes
Impalas And Giraffes
Chobe River Lion
Chobe River Lion

Then it was onto to Victoria Falls to see one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World where the sound is so loud that the African name for the falls translates to “the smoke that thunders” The Victoria Falls hotel is filled with old world charm that feels like you’ve been transported back in time where you can peruse its history filled walls.

Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls Hotel From Bridge
Victoria Falls Hotel From Bridge
View From Vic Falls Hotel
View From Vic Falls Hotel


A quick plane ride to Johannesburg brought us to the big city where we overnighted before doing a full day tour of the city and Soweto (SouthWest Townships) that was very interesting (and sad at the same time as we saw some new townhomes that had been built to replace the tin shacks that still sit empty)
Soweto
Soweto
Nelson Mandela Square
Nelson Mandela Square
Johannesburg
Johannesburg


Another quick flight took us to Kruger Park to do our land safari where we were lucky enough to come across so many lions (that again – I just took way too many videos of!)

Within one day, we were fortunate to view the Big Five that everyone aspires to see – so amazing. Kruger was experiencing a major drought when we visited which was not good for the animals but great for viewing. We had morning (6am to 9am) and afternoon (4pm to 7pm) safaris which gives you an opportunity to see different animals who are more active at different times. It was so hard to narrow down the pictures to just a few and I will post some more again soon.

Kruger Leopard
Kruger Leopard
Kruger Cape Buffalo
Kruger Cape Buffalo
Kruger Baby Lion
Kruger Baby Lion


If you dream about Africa and its on your bucket-list, my advice is to make that dream become a reality and you will never regret it for a minute !

Video clips of the trip can be seen below:

Filed Under: Africa, AMA Waterways, Cape Town, Kruger Park, River Cruise Lady, River Cruises, River Cruising, River Safari, Victoria Falls, Virtuoso Travel Tagged With: Africa, Botswana, CapeTown, Kruger Park, RiverCruise, Safari

Breathtaking Bordeaux Scenic River Cruise

December 13, 2016 by River Cruise Lady Linda Leave a Comment

I now see why the new Bordeaux region river cruises are becoming a fast favorite – it was wonderful (and not just because of wine tasting at 10am !)

There are a couple of different ways to get to the region, one being a pre-cruise stay in Paris and then taking the 3 hour train ride to Bordeaux or flying straight into BDX which is the airport in the region.  Since I had previously been to Paris, chose to fly straight in and the representative from Scenic Cruises was there to meet us for the 20 minute transfer to the ship (one of their complimentary inclusions, even if you don’t book your airfare with them)

After settling in our cabin, enjoyed a welcome buffet dinner but due to some jet lag, many turned in early that night.

The next morning we sailed to Bourg and once we were docked, we headed off for our first excursion which was a Saint Emilion city tour where we got our first glimpse of the stunning chateaus that fill the wine region.

Scenic Diamond docked in Bourg France
Scenic Diamond docked in Bourg France
Scenic River Cruise Saint Emilion City Tour
Scenic River Cruise Saint Emilion City Tour
Stunning Chateau in Saint Emilion France
Stunning Chateau in Saint Emilion France

On our way back after the tour, we stopped at Chateau Soutard for a “sundowner” drink which was very nice.  It is one of the oldest estates in the area dating back to 1513 !Then we met up with the ship in Libourne.

Saint Emilion France
Saint Emilion France
Chateau Soutard Saint Emilion
Chateau Soutard Saint Emilion
Welcome to Libourne
Welcome to Libourne

Our next day gave us a choice of three different excursions and I chose to do the wine tasting at Chateau Franc Mayne  (we were in Bordeaux after all 🙂 )

The Chateau is not only a vineyard but also a charming little hotel that has a total of 10 rooms, each of them different with a specific theme.  Right in the middle of their vineyard, they even have a tree house that you can stay in.

Wine Tasting in Bordeaux
Wine Tasting in Bordeaux
Scenery along the river
Scenery along the river
More Scenery along the river
More Scenery along the river

Back to the ship again for a scrumptious lunch and then we did a leisurely sail along the river heading towards Pauillac enjoying the scenery along the way.   We also had great talk about “Understanding the Gironde Estuary” from Captain Jeremy followed by a port talk from the cruise director on what to expect for the next day.  Then the Captain rejoined us for a his welcome reception before we headed off to dinner.

Another day, another wine tasting !  This time we had a guided tour of the Medoc area and passed so many stunning chateaux, especially on such a beautiful sunny day.  Our tasting was at Chateau Lagrange and since we were such a small group, hardly needed to use our “Tailormades” (which are Scenic’s GPS locator guides connected to personal headphones that allow you to wander around while still being able to hear your guide without having to stand right next to them, plus they are also useful when walking around on your own or sitting up on deck listening to the diverse selection of topics)

Medoc Area Chateau
Medoc Area Chateau
Wines of Chateau Lagrange
Wines of Chateau Lagrange
Chateau Lagrange in Bordeaux
Chateau Lagrange in Bordeaux

After lunch we had a free afternoon so took the bikes out for a spin around the Paulliac area, such a nice leisurely way to see the town.  The Scenic bikes are so easy to use and don’t like to admit but the power assist boost sure made it easy to go up any hills.  For dinner that night, we were treated to a meal off the ship at the famous estate of Chateau du Tertre and it was so special, we felt like royalty.

Bike riding in Pauilliac
Bike riding in Pauilliac
Chateau du Tertre
Chateau du Tertre
Chateau du Tertre estate
Chateau du Tertre estate

It was nice to have a leisurely morning the following day as we sailed back to Bordeaux.  Since we enjoyed the bikes so much the day before, signed up for the Bordeaux City tour by bike and although there was more traffic, was still a very enjoyable way to see the sights.

Scenic Bike Tour
Scenic Bike Tour
Biking around Bordeaux
Biking around Bordeaux
Bike Tour around Bordeaux
Bike Tour around Bordeaux

I haven’t even talked about the food yet which is another wonderful part of river cruising, you certainly never go hungry !   Dinner every night is served at 7pm in the dining room but there are two other choices available.  One is a separate dining area on the ship called L’Amour which is a separate smaller venue that you can make a reservation for. The other one is exclusive for Diamond deck guests and they are treated to a special six course degustation menu dinner called Table La Rive with sommelier paired wines.  Only ten guests per evening partake in this so it makes for a more intimate dining experience.

Dining on Scenic River Cruise
Dining on Scenic River Cruise
Dining on Scenic Cruise
Dining on Scenic Cruise
Another meal on Scenic
Another meal on Scenic

There was a multitude of excursions to choose from the next day which were 1) Hiking tour through Loupiac (which we chose) 2) Walking tour of Cadillac 3) Excursion to Roquetaillade or 4) Excursion to Saint-Macaire.

We were lucky to have another beautiful day for our hike and with our quirky local guide leading us, felt very immersed in the area and had some wonderful views of the river from the ruins of the castle that we hiked to.

Welcome to Loupiac
Welcome to Loupiac
View from Loupiac hike
View from Loupiac hike
Castle ruins along our hike
Castle ruins along our hike

That evening because we were still in Bordeaux, took advantage of going for a walk after dinner and we found out why its nicknamed, Breathtaking Bordeaux as the lights that lit up the buildings were just that.  We were docked right in the heart of the city and could walk around easily.

Scenic docked in Bordeaux
Scenic docked in Bordeaux
Bordeaux at night
Bordeaux at night
Moon over Bordeaux
Moon over Bordeaux

Whew, the next day we were back to wine tasting – this time in the Sauternes region with a visit to Chateau de Myrat  – run by the Pontac family who have been winemakers for over 400 years !

Entrance to Chateau de Myrat
Entrance to Chateau de Myrat
Chateau de Myrat
Chateau de Myrat
Wine lesson at Chateau de Myrat
Wine lesson at Chateau de Myrat

After dinner, a local guitarist, Jeremy Dupouy came onboard and had most of the crowd singing along with him for an evening of fun.

We had a longer bus ride the next day as headed all the way to the coast to Arcachon where we did a really interesting hike up and down Europe’s tallest sand dune.  It is called Dune du Pilat and when we got to the top, (felt like I cheated go up the stairs so walked back down the dune ) had a great time watching this fellow try to paraglide but there wasn’t quite enough wind so he just couldn’t get going.

Walking up the stairs at Dune du Pilat
Walking up the stairs at Dune du Pilat
Paraglider at Dune du Pilat
Paraglider at Dune du Pilat
Walking down in the sand at Dune du Pilat
Walking down in the sand at Dune du Pilat

Stopped for a great lunch (included) before heading back to the ship where we were joined by some amazing musicians called Les Veneurs d’Epernon.  They play what is classified as Trunk Hunting which belongs to the family of natural brass and its origin was a church instrument for liturgical songs and concerts.

Les Veneurs d'Epernon on Scenic Cruise
Les Veneurs d’Epernon on Scenic Cruise
Les Veneurs d Epernon on Scenic Cruise
Les Veneurs d Epernon on Scenic Cruise

When we sailed to Blaye/Bourg the next day, we were feeling very brave and signed up for the 30km/18.6m guided bike tour and it turned out to be one of our most favorite ones.  The scenery was spectacular, the weather was wonderful and felt better knowing that I was burning off some of those delicious meals!.  Scenic even presented all the bike riders with a certificate at the end for our accomplishment.

Scenic Bike Tour from Blaye
Scenic Bike Tour from Blaye
Scenic Bike tour past the Citadelle
Scenic Bike tour past the Citadelle
Scenic Bike Tour through Blaye
Scenic Bike Tour through Blaye

As we head into our final day, I should mention that Scenic is the only company (currently) who offers Bordeaux as a 11 day itinerary which is why we were able to fit so much touring in, while most others usually do it as an 8 day sailing with pre-nights in Paris or post nights in Amboise/Loire Valley to create a longer trip.

Speaking of our last day, it was also a pretty special one as headed up to Cognac where we had a picturesque walking tour through the town before continuing on to visit the Remy Martin estate and sample a few tastings.  The toughest decision was deciding on which bottle to bring home as a souvenir ! (the kind of souvenir that doesn’t sit on your shelf gathering dust 🙂

Hennessy Ferry in the town of Cognac
Hennessy Ferry in the town of Cognac
Cognac tasting at Remy Martin
Cognac tasting at Remy Martin
Which Remy Martin Cognac to buy?
Which Remy Martin Cognac to buy?

As we sailed back to Bordeaux, that evening we were treated to a beautiful illumination cruise up to the Pont de Pierre bridge to help create more memories of this breathtaking river cruise.

Filed Under: Bordeaux, Europe, River Cruise Lady, River Cruises, River Cruising, Scenic River Cruises Tagged With: Bordeaux, France River Cruise, river cruise, River Cruise Lady, Scenic River Cruises

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In less than 3 weeks now, I will be sharing the de In less than 3 weeks now, I will be sharing the details of a brand new Seven River Journey through 14 countries in Europe happening in 2023 - it will be a once in a lifetime event so stay tuned for more information !! #rivercruiselady #rivercruise #sevenrivers #staytuned
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In less than 3 weeks now, I will be sharing the details of a brand new Seven River Journey through 14 countries in Europe happening in 2023 - it will be a once in a lifetime event so stay tuned for more information !! #rivercruiselady #rivercruise #SevenRivers #staytuned ... See MoreSee Less
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Happy World Rivers Day! Once we can start travelling on them again, which one are you looking forward to the most? #danube #rhine #seine #rhone #douro #mississippi #columbia #snakeriver #mekong or ??? ⚓️ #rivercruiselady #rivercruise ... See MoreSee Less
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10 months ago

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Would have been a ‘cruising down the river’ day on my @uniworldcruises Nile Cruise Egypt itinerary so looking at the intriguing landscape until I can get there again one day. ⚓️#rivercruiselady #rivercruise #nilecruise #dreamingoftravel #staysafe ... See MoreSee Less
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