My wife and I cruised the Rhone and Saone rivers in southern France during early April of 2014 and were absolutely delighted with our Viking River Cruise experience.

Our 190 passenger longship, the Heimdal, was elegant and very contemporary, and our mid-ship veranda stateroom was roomy and had a lovely balcony from which we watched the spectacular countryside drift by as we enjoyed our morning coffee. We found the pace relaxing and the ports of call, such as Arles, Avignon and Lyon, rich in art and architecture - our particular cultural passions.

We were concerned that April may prove to be too early for such a cruise, but we were pleasantly surprised with the warm weather and the vibrant spring colors of Provence. We concluded our vacation with a three day extension in Paris and a side trip to Monet's gardens in Giverny - an experience no artist or gardener should miss! Read more