Chateaux, Rivers and Wine September 2018

My wife and I much enjoyed this river cruise and also the pre-cruise tour around the Loire Valley (with a particularly excellent guide).

The ship itself was brilliant, the staff friendly and helpful and the food good. Needless to say, the local wines included at lunch and dinner were most acceptable. The included excursions reflected the best the region had to offer with good local guides but we felt the optional ones were overpriced and some resulted in missing relaxing river cruising (one fellow passenger was heard to remark they cruised more by coach than boat). Water levels on the Garonne meant the ship could not get past a listed bridge in Bordeaux and the expected cruise to Cadillac had to be by coach. This disappointment was partly offset by the Captain undertaking an additional two hour evening cruise along the Bordeaux river front.

Given the typically warm/hot weather South-west France, we felt better use could be made of the excellent outside Aquavit terrace by additional awning – half the tables were in full sun at lunchtime. Whilst recognising the custom and practice of fellow American passengers, we would prefer to have had gratuities included in the cruise price – accommodating those suggested involves carrying significant amounts of cash!