#AD I was invited and hosted by Viking for this river cruise experience.
I hope you enjoy my highlights.
I’ve recently returned from a Viking River Cruise on the River Seine exploring Paris and the Heart of Normandy. There were many memorable moments from this 7-night itinerary including guided tours of Giverny and Monet’s Garden, as well as the D-Day Landing beaches and museums. To summarise this experience I’ve broken it down into helpful question and answers that you may have, particularly if you’re new to river cruising or have yet to experience one with Viking.
What is a Viking River Cruise Like?
Firstly, the embarkation and disembarkation process was very well organised, we were transferred to and from the airport where a Viking team member was on hand to instruct us where to go. We embarked the Viking Skaga in the heart of Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty replica and watched the Tower sparkle on our final night onboard from the open deck.
The onboard atmosphere
The Viking Skaga longship is modern and elegant with light furnishings, comfortable seating and floor to ceiling windows in all the main public spaces.
The service
The service was professional and attentive, yet I was pleasantly surprised by how relaxed and informal the experience was for passengers. Viking’s tagline is ‘exploring the world in comfort’, which rings true as there were no formal nights or strict dress codes, so most passengers, like me, opted for smart casual attire in line with the on board ambience.
Every time you stepped back on the Viking Skaga you received a warm welcome, whether it was a friendly smile, a rolled hand towel to freshen up, or a small cup of broth. Some staff made a point of remembering my name or drink preference, a gesture I really appreciated.
The Veranda Stateroom
At 205 square feet with a Queen Size bed, Viking’s Veranda Stateroom was not at all pokey or cramped as you may assume on a river ship! It has a large TV with films and TV programmes ready to watch, bottled mineral water, fresh fruit, a fridge, hair dryer, safe and bedside plug and USB sockets. The balcony had two chairs and a small table to enjoy the river views and air whenever you wish.
The shower and toilet area was well laid out with thick luxurious towels and toiletries provided. My steward was incredibly attentive and meticulous and would organise my desk items to ensure the room was just as inviting as the rest of the ship when arriving back.
What age/demographic does Viking River Cruises cater for?
Viking cater to adults (over 18 years of age) and many passengers on Viking Skaga were from North America and around retirement age. I did notice there were younger couples and (I assume) two generation families as well.
Are Shore Excursions included with a Viking River Cruise?
There were 6 guided tours included with this Viking River Cruise, as well as some optional excursions for an additional charge to further enhance your experience. There were occasions where we were docked long enough (or overnight) so you could do more than one excursion. The excursions were rated by their activity level from easy to demanding so you had a good gauge of the pace.
When you book an excursion a ticket was delivered to your cabin with the meeting time and assigned group. You simply take this with you, along with your personal audio device and earphone (provided in your cabin) so you can hear the tour guide when exploring in a group.
Exploring Paris
I throughly enjoyed the excursions, the tour guides were local experts and had a lot of energy and enthusiasm. In Paris we explored the city by coach and on foot, passing by landmark sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame.
To go deeper into the local culture I also embarked on their Flavours of Paris excursion (at an additional cost) which involved taking the underground metro to an area brimming with cafes and bakeries to learn (and try) French cuisine.
Bayeux & D-Day Normandy Beaches
For me, the included Normandy Beaches trip was the most memorable and poignant experience of the River Cruise. The day began in Bayeux where we saw the famous tapestry and paused for lunch, before we headed to the coast where the D-Day landings took place. There were two options for this excursion, you could either see the US or Commonwealth Sites, the Commonwealth Sites (which I experienced) included stops at Juno Beach and Pegasus Bridge. It was very poignant excursion, particularly as it was close to June 6th, the day of the landings 80 years ago.
Giverny & Monet’s Garden
In Vernon I went on an optional experience to Giverny and Monet’s Garden by bicycle. It was such a wonderful way to enjoy the local scenery as we past by pretty cottages adorned in flowers and cycled gently along the river to Vernon’s iconic timbered mill where we enjoyed a pastry, macaroon and drink.
Versailles
We also stopped in pretty La Roche-Guyon and Les Andelys and the city of Rouen with its spectacular Gothic Cathedral and Medieval architecture. On the cruise back to Paris we stopped in Le Pecq where you had the option to discover Napoleon’s Chateau de Malmaison and Versailles.
What can you do on board a Viking River Cruise?
I soon realised the joy of river cruising is that there is always something to see as the ship navigates the river. Whether it’s watching the ship tightly pass through a lock from your balcony, enjoying the countryside or city views from the upper deck, or having a meal on the ship’s front terrace, my eyes were constantly drawn to what was happening around me.
There is a walking track on the upper deck if you want to get your step count up, or if you want to lean into the slower pace of river cruising there’s books and board games available in the main lobby area.
Viking Skaga had one restaurant for guests and one bar/lounge area with an outdoor terrace which was also used for talks and demonstrations (like watercolour painting and baking) and live music in the evening after dinner. I also participated in a music quiz on one evening which was a lot of fun, and I thought the guest performers and entertainment staff were all very talented and engaging.
Of course the facilities on board a river cruise are not as vast as an ocean cruise ship, but I didn’t have time to be bored as so much of your time was spent exploring the sights!
What’s the food like on board a Viking River Cruise?
I loved that the dining experience on board felt like a shared passion amongst the guests. The Chef would pop up to the lounge and entice us with what the team had prepared, often taken inspiration from the local area. Lunch and dinner were primarily a waited service with flavourful and well presented options. The ship has a small herb garden on the upper deck which is even used for some of the dishes!
On occasions the food was laid out buffet style in the centre of the room, alongside some served hot food dishes. For breakfast I went to the terrace at the front of the ship where a self service station was located, as well as a menu of hot food options such as Eggs Benedict and pancakes which was also served in the dining room. Throughout the day there was also a tea and coffee station in the centre of the ship with a basket of snacks (like pastries, cookies and muffins) that changed periodically.
Where can I find out more information about a Viking River Cruise?
That’s an easy one, head on over to viking.com or call 0800 319 66 60.
I have sailed on the river Seine several times in the past. Along the river bank there are many castles. The Seine valley is picturesque. I would visit Normandy again.