Using Viking Air we flew from Newark Liberty to Amsterdam and then on to Marseille. We were met by Viking representatives and taken by bus to the Buri in Avignon. Check in was fast and we went straight to our cabin. The cabin was small but efficient designed. We never felt cramped. The French balcony was enjoyable and while occasionally we had another ship parked next to us blocking our view, it never bothered us. We just closed the curtains until the ship moved. It was never an all day situation. We had a nice lunch on the Aquavit Terrace and when we returned to our room our luggage was there. Our clothes fit easily into the closet and the luggage stored under the bed. After a short nap we were rejuvenated to explore the ship. There was an orientation talk and we were able to sign up for the optional tours that evening. Dinner was enjoyable and the included wine was very good and plentiful. The open seating allowed us to meet many people from different countries.

The included tours and the 2 optional tours we took were very good. The guides were informative and the buses were comfortable and clean. We took the Les Baux tour and also the Chateauneuf du Pape tours.

The one tour in Tain L’Hermitage could have skipped the art museum we visited. The woman who ran it was lovely but the art was not interesting or really noteworthy. The chocolate factory was nice and a source of many souvenirs but also way too many calories with all the samples. I could have skipped it. Read more