Embarkation went smoothly and quick as well as disembarkation, everybody knows what to do and where to send you. The ship is exactly the right size with the perfect amount of people. The attention to deatils and to have us, the passengers always happy and doing something is great. The tours are superb, and since we did The Taste of Bourdeaux, the Chateaus and vineyards we visited were amazing. also the tour guides are excellent. The restaurant have something for everybody even a full vegetarian menu. There were something diferent every night for our enterteiment, from dancing to music players. Could not asked for a better service, everybody from the ship crew, waiters and waitress, front desk, managers, cleaning crew, cookers and chefs.... We felt like royalty because of them. For sure we will repeat this line since they have tons of itineraries to choose on different rivers. Thank You Amawaterways/ Amadolce!!!!!!!!!!!! Read Less

We chose this cruise due to the wonderful reputation enjoyed by Viking. It was our first river cruise and it could not have been better. From the moment we boarded the Forseti, the crew made you feel right at home. The accommodations were wonderful. We really enjoyed the meals. Excellent quality and not so much food that you felt uncomfortable. Our excursions were great and we enjoyed them all. Especially the market tours, most interesting and informative. Our last dinner in the Chateau was spectacular. I don't know how they did it, but it was really great. We were so pleased with all the staff during the entire trip. Our Captain was very personable, but professional. We certainly have memories to last a life time. Certainly hoping to have the opportunity to take another Viking cruise in the near future. France is a beautiful country and we learned so much about the wine making process as well as the vineyards. Read Less

What an experience! Customer service levels off the Richter scale!! Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. The Chef, Steve Groves was charming and so modest! Greg Wallace was a bundle of energy and made time for everyone, we learnt so much about his life, such an interesting man. The oyster schuking was memorable and even those not keen were happy to listen and learn. The Head Chef Mattias was a lively character who gave entertaining demonstrations. The whole cruise was geared around food snd wine, taking us to some of the mist stunning vinyards in the Bordeaux region. It was action packed with talks and wine tasting in some of the most beautiful chateaus. The music extravaganza bresthtaking set in the fairy tale Chateau d'Agassac. A beautiful ship visiting the best of the region, stunning scenery and top class local guides, full of personality and information. The Cruise Director Andreea, was full of energy and never flagged, always happy to help and make you feel valued. My favourite wine tasting was at the beautiful Chateau de la Riviere! Such a fabulous setting. The Gala dinner was an event where all the crew came and danced with us, along with Gregg Wallace and Steve Groves. This was a stunning and memorable cruise and worth every one of its five stars!! Read Less

Where could you possibly start to tell people how AMAZING!!!!! The crew of the Scenic Diamond are!!!! From the beautiful Pat, Ros, Nick & Hôtel Manager Cristian at the front desk, along with the fabulous Krasimira, Zina, Crusise director Sonja!!!! Chef Matthias, Chef Jones & omelette superstar Robert we’ll keep you well fed along with ALL the amazing kitchen crew (FYI- bring ya fat pants with you ya gonna need them!!!) The truly sensational Cabin staff (lead by Angela) the fabulous Amanda, and the super wonderful beautiful Ionela (who was our cabin attendant) The AWESOME staff in the bar of Stoyan, Petrica, Daniel (aka Babycakes my favourite) you guys are the best!!!! brilliant conversationalists, super fun and are amazing dancers!!! The absolutely BRILLIANT wait staff led by Pavel, Daniel (the one) Tedour, Andri, Bachelor (who is also one!!!) The beautiful Alex, Vas, Costi etc!!!! All the ships crew and of course; Captain Sebastian & his first Mate, who is also his Father Co. captain Gary!!!! If you do not love this cruise, the food & the amazing people who make up the crew on this ship- YOU ARE the problem, not the tours, not france and not the ship!!! Read Less

What a beautiful introduction to France We started in Bordeaux Stepped on to a beautiful luxurious ship , very comfortable cabins , Nice bathroom Week used space & USB ports & 110 plus European Outlets Yeah We purchased the silver plan What a smart idea ! We are very into wine & trying new things , I was able to try top shelf cognac & whiskey Read Less

This was the third time we had travelled on a Scenic cruise. We like the fact that although initially it seems expensive when all inclusive items are taken into account it is very good value. One can have as many or as few drinks as one wishes, all gratuities and excursions are included and the food is excellent. One could travel without any "foreign " currency in fact. Our one criticism this time was that the tour director was not sufficiently sympathetic to the mobility problems of one of us. A little more thought there would have made the difference beteen us being able to join an excursion and not being able to join. The ship is very well appointed and extremely clean. An added bonus was butler service which meant we had our clothes laundered or pressed and could call on help to adjust our television or mend a squeak in a door! Read Less

As an all inclusive cruise we liked knowing what we paid up front was the bottom line, no hidden extras. We have travelled with Scenic before so not a difficult decision. Lovely comfortable beds light airy and clean cabins. This time travelling to a region of France we have not seen before and wanted to learn more about. On board attentive staff, great food , friendly fellow passengers made the ten days most enjoyable and we learned a lot about wine, the grape varieties and wine making. Starting and finishing in Bordeaux which we found to be a delightful city and had adequate time for exploring. Other ports of call included Libourne, Pauilliac, Fort Medoc, Cadillac, Bourg sur Garrone and Blaye, we also took a side excursion to Cognac, a lovely town and of course we just had to see how its namesake spirit is made and tasted at Remy Martin. Recommend to anyone not just wine enthusiasts. Read Less

I chose this cruise to celebrate a significant birthday. I wanted Luxury and I wanted to see a bit of France without me driving there. A river cruise was the obvious choice and Scenic because I had cruised with them before and knew I would get the level of service and luxury I expected. I booked the holiday direct with Scenic It is very easy call them pick a date and an airport and they will organise everything A driver picked us up at home took us to the airport , we flew out on time . A driver in Bordeaux was waiting to take us to the ship where a cool glass of champagne was waiting. It was a very relaxing way to start the cruise. The cabin was very nice compact. Plenty storage/cupboard space . We had a young lady Marietta who looked after our room and was very pleasant. The food; the self service breakfast and lunch was very good. Different selection every day and plenty to eat. Dinner was table service and was usually several small courses allowing you to sample many types of food. There were two other tables where you were invited to dine.at least once during your stay. They were of the same standard just a slightly different menu and wine pairing. Dress code; it shoes as relaxed although they did have to evenings of cocktails with the captain. A few people did dress in evening suit and bow ties. Most were smart casual in shirts with or without a tie and flannels. Ladies were smart casual. Entertainment; was provided most nights and varied from a disco to a classical quartet. Bar staff were all lovely and we could ask them to prepare our drinks to suit our personal tastes. Measures were in 40cl which I found a bit strong. Excursions; We visited several chateaus which are wine growers and not always a castle We also visited some small towns and a citadel at Braye this was my favourite place. The guide was very good and brought the place to life for me with his explanations. St Emilion was my favourite town with it's monolithic church. Most of the excursion were accompanied by an excellent guide Barbara . She was very enthusiastic about the region it's wines and history. We tried to make sure we were on her coach as she made the trip fun. This is an adult only holiday and to be fair geared for older adults as there is nothing child or teenage friendly on board except the grannies on holiday. It suited me as I fall into the older adult category . Disembarkation; We had to vacate out rooms by 8.30am and breakfast was served from 6.00 to 8.30. We then had a long wait in the lounge as our flights were at 17.00 and the airport was 40min drive. We were given a light buffet lunch at midday and we could have tea,coffee wine ect while we were on board. With this in mind I would rather have had a silly time in the morning flight rather than hanging about. We arrived at the airport in plenty time and again hanging about with your luggage till the gate opened. It was not a nice airport to fly from but it was the best option for this cruise. Read Less

Scenic can always be relied on to provide excellence in all areas. The crew were friendly and knowledgeable, their service was great throughout. Our cabin (205) was comfortable, clean and well looked after and the balcony was an asset. The itinerary was based around Bordeaux and we cruised the Garonne, Gironde and Dordoigne visiting many chateaux and tasting many wines. The guides were fantastic especially Marie who really knows her history. All the crew were good but some deserve a special mention; Tamara, Marina and Daisy kept us well supplied with food and drink and the two Daniels and Ricardo and Teodor made sure no glass or plate was left empty. Marieta our cabin steward kept us clean and tidy and our butler Armin although not overworked was there when we needed him. The food was well cooked and presented and Tania the Cruise Director was everywhere making sure that all the guests knew what was happening, where and when. Read Less

We chose this cruise as the attraction of visiting Château’s & Vineyards was something we had always wanted to do & this river cruise did not disappoint, in fact it exceeded all expectations. The places visited were excellent and the included excursions were very informative of the area and wine making region. The surprise of having a wonderful dinner served in one of the Château’s and by the ships staff was the highlight of the river cruise. The friendliness of the staff on board the ship was very welcoming, the entertainment was diverse and engaging. The food was excellent and a great variety at lunch & dinner, giving options to suit all tastes and dietary requirements. Beer & Wine of a very high standard. The drinks menu is extensive catering to every need in choice of spirits, wines, cocktails and soft drinks. We would recommend this cruise without hesitation. If you like to travel & learn about places and enjoy wine this is the cruise for you!! Read Less

We love river cruises and have been on five with Viking. The Chateaux, Rivers & Wine cruise did not disappoint. Lovely staff, ship and fantastic food. We took a pre extension to the Loire Valley and stayed at two lovely hotels along the way. The included tours on the cruise were very informative and we visited many delightful and informative sites. All of the included excursions are described on Viking’s website of each cruise as it is too difficult to list everything on this review. The embarkation and disembarkation went very smoothly. We were in cabin 115 which was very comfortable and quiet. We didn’t get a veranda as it was just as nice going up to the lounge and sun deck to see both sides of the river when cruising. The entertainment was suitable for the river cruise and very much enjoyed after a lovely dinner in the dining room. It was a great time to interact with people we met on our cruise. All in all another wonderful Viking river cruise. We are looking forward to two more this year, along with two ocean cruises. Read Less

My parents are avid Viking cruisers and wantEd us to experience it too. Being in our mid forties we were a bit hesitant since the cruises seem geared to older crowds; however, we have a love of wine and had been wanting to go back to Bordeaux so this cruise hit the mark. The cruise was perfect! We had such a great wine tasting experience and the food was just as wonderful. It was so much fun to experience this with my parents too. I would highly recommend it for anyone that enjoys wine or wants to know more about wine. They do a great job of mixing the novice wine person experience with a more advanced wine drinker. It’s a great experience for any level wine person. 1st class service and dining experience for sure! The staff make every effort to make you feel like royalty. From knowing your name after one encounter to remembering your favorite drink, it’s an experience you won’t forget. Read Less

We are wine enthusiasts and going in a cruise to Bordeaux was a long held desire of ours. We had never done this and decided to take a river cruise because my wife has problems with motion sickness and we thought, as it turned out to be the case, that a river cruise would be trouble free in this regard. The flight from the US Midwest to Bordeaux was long and required 2 plane changes. As usual, airline travel is never ever free of some problem or the other. No change this time but they were solved effectively. Reaching Bordeaux we were met by the Viking people and we were always directed and escorted by them. One of the things we both really liked about this type of travel is that you do not have to pack and change hotels with an intermediate ride by bus, or train. Once you were in your cabin you did not have to move from it. Service was excellent, food in the boat was much much better than we expected. People, other passengers and the crew, were nice and friendly. We did some dancing at the boat and attended some lectures but the main things we did were outside the boat. This whole area of France is medioeval and wonderful to walk. Old churches, castles, walls, twisty narrow streets, and wonderful wine everywhere. We went to a number of wineries and I was amazed by variety of methods they used to produce their wine. We walked the vineyards, gardens and the Chateaux, all very nice. The most unique thing we did was in the town of Cognac, which produces Cognac of course. We went to Camus and after the visit got to this wonderful room that smelled of cognac and wood, and learned to blend our own cognac. Each one of us got his/her own bottle, something totally memorable to me. All considered, this was a wonderful experience for me and my wife. We just loved it. Read Less

REVIEW:      I am back from my May 23rd, AmaDolce Taste of Bordeaux.    Lets just say I'm glad I sailed on AmaStella and AmaPrima previously.  If this was my first Ama sailing I would never have sailed her again.    The bad:  The food offerings were far different from my previous experience.  There were two main entrees in the evening to chose from, one fish and then one meat.  Then had the always available burger, chicken breast or steak.  I can honestly say that neither the steak or meat options was ever tasty.   I recall their meat dishes melting in your mouth.  This wasn't the case.  The service was terrible.   They would bring french fries, disappear and when you finally get their attention to bring ketchup it would take 15 minutes and usually a second request.    Same with the drink service during dinner.  One night we sat and there was no butter (normally there were three types), one was missing and again, after asking we had to ask again after 15 minutes it was brought.     Two nights prior to disembarkation, we decided to sit in a different section and did receive good service, so shame on us for not changing servers sooner.  (although service should be the same throughout).    Keep in mind this ship that normally sails with 146 only had 115 passengers on board.   There were many empty cabins.   Being in wine country we expected to have more tastings and such on the excursions.   It just seemed a lot of time was spent trying to kill time.   Overall, in a day we may have actually visited one winery a day and received three small tastings.     The good:     Love the new Wellness coach on board who held fitness stretches, yoga, to high intensity classes each day.    Love the Sip and Sail cocktail hour each night.  Their complimentary wine offerings are very tasty.  My own tips:   If you need a hotel prior/after the cruise in Bordeaux, I highly recommend Hotel Vatel.  It is part of the international hospitality school and the service is excellent, the room large for a European hotel and it was very reasonable ($150).  You can walk to the river cruise from there.   They actually saw us walking towards the ship and a staff ran up to take our bags.  We did our own pre-cruise in Tours & Amboise.  It was very easy.  From Paris CDG we took the high speed rail and in 1 1/2 hours you are in Tours (St. Pierre des Corps station) we stayed in an airbnb nearby.  Took a train for $1.30 to tours one day and Amboise another on our own, recommend the Le Petite trolley in both towns to give you an overview then return to the areas your like.    One day we did a full day excursion to three Chateaux out of Tours.   We got back on the high speed rail and continued onto Bordeaux.   Very easy as that is the same train whether we would have taken if directly CDG-Bordeaux.     Our travel agent knew we would stay one night in Bordeaux before embarking.  He advised us to pick up our Cit du Vin tickets the day we board and arranged that and recommended booking lunch in their rooftop restaurant Le7.  We dropped our bags off at around 10 am with Ama who gave us our tickets (for all passengers this Cit du Vin excursion is done (for our cruise) the last day after arriving back in Bordeaux).   Cit du Vin is an interactive museum (personally my daughter nor I cared for it) and many passengers we spoke with the last day did not either, but it is hyped up to be great.   You will be left on your own and an audiovox to do it at your own pace.   You can spend an hour to half a day if you want.    We did enjoy the glass of wine up top (part of your ticket) and then we proceeded to have lunch at Le7 (i booked this months in advance on my travel agents recommendation.      We really did enjoy doing this.    My daughter did do the city tour of Bordeaux with the excursion but when the rest continue to Cit du Vin she returned to the boat.  I had taken a bicycle from the ship and did my own thing.    Probably my favorite day as it was always the best weather day we had.     Read Less

We wanted to explore the Bordeaux region of France and its local wines. We saw new country, new customs, different people and had a wonderful time. There is always something to do with on shore excursions or simply stay on boat and relax. We found that we met different people with each meal and had choices of tables of people to join. The staff learned our names first day and even quickly learned our habits, needs, and drink preferences. That was one of the most amazing things to me given the numbers of people and weeks they work. We enjoyed ourselves so much we have planned another Viking trip in August 2020 to the Rhine. We plan on going ahead and staying behind to enjoy the countryside. I fully recommend a Viking cruise to anyone. You deserve the special treatment and benefits they have to offer. I will go as often as I can. Read Less

I chose this cruise because it promised a wine focus in the Bordeaux region, as well as visits to chateaux and mansions. Just what I wanted. The excursions and optional activities were first class. I especially liked the truffle hunting and cognac making, as well as the cruise director's special visit with a vintner at his shop and home. Wine was wonderful, as was the food, and I made several new friends. It was nice to be without children, and to have time to just relax if that's what I wanted to do. The ship is first rate - just the right size for a river cruise without too many distractions (or people!). I'll do other river cruises, for sure, but I do wish there were other itineraries that focused on wine. I learned so much more about French wine, and would love to take a wine tour in Provence or Italy. I'd recommend Viking anytime. Read Less

Arrived in Bordeaux 3 days before cruise and explored thoroughly. Great B&B (La Maison Fernand) above Place Fernand Lafague - very close to restaurants and Rue Saint-Catherine boutique shops. Scenic Diamond was a beautiful floating hotel for our 11 day cruise - with excellent managing staff and tours run by an exceptional Cruise Director. A very well organised and paced tour with a good variety of attractive destinations: not always wineries. Scenic offer a complete tour experience with cultural and artistic events interspersed with in-depth guided tours of many beautiful villages and towns. Highlights were: String Quartet Classical concert at Chateau d'Agassac; St Emilion, with its underground cathedral; Bergerac's lovely streetscapes and its pioneering 19th century hydroelectric facility; Bordeaux's Cite du Vin wine museum; cycling through the vineyards; and, the Remy Martin tour in Cognac. The ship-board entertainment lead by our highly entertaining Cruise Director Sonja was excellent, as was the extensive menu and the hotel service. Local wines were featured, but could have been more mature, with more higher quality regional alternatives offered. A thoroughly enjoyable discovery tour of the Bordeaux region from Scenic who, once again, provided an exceptional river cruise experience. Read Less

This was our first river cruise having done many sea cruises with Seabourn and Silversea. We were initially pleased with the overall experience, although the suites were a little tired. All of the staff were extremely polite and helpful and we listed many individuals in our on board review.The food, service and excursions were excellent. The on board entertainment was average. Apart from one guest entertainer, we had the same pianist/vocalist for the entire cruise. The problems started for us after a couple of days when our toilet stopped flushing. On reporting the problem, we were informed that there was a major issue as a plastic bottle had been flushed into the system. There was an unsuccessful attempt by staff to solve the problem and this resulted in 170 guests and all staff having to use 2 toilets on another ship alongside.The use of this other ship continued for 2 days but the problem remained for the whole of our cruise. We were assured by the staff that there would be some compensation for the inconvenience caused. In fact some guests chose to leave the ship part way through their holiday. Having submitted a complaint to Scenic we were initially offered 20% discount on a future cruise.This is hardly compensation for what we had suffered and in fact has no value unless we book again with Scenic. We contacted Scenic to express our disappointment and it took a further 3 weeks to be told that we would not be getting any further compensation other than the discount. We feel that this is extremely poor service when we were led to believe there would be some financial compensation against the considerable expense we laid out for this holiday. Read Less

Cruising the rivers of Bordeaux Region (the Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne) in April was wine-soaked and wonderful. As expected, the Viking longships are among the best for river cruising, providing comfortable cabins at all levels. Being almost totally sold out well ahead of time, we were luckily able to get Category "E" staterooms for ourselves and our travel companions (my son and his husband). The rooms were very comfortable and sufficiently spacious, with many thoughtful touches: extra pillows, bathroom amenities, fully equipped closets, and both 120V and 240V plugs. Having said that, we were hardly ever in the rooms except for a good night's sleep. The attractive lounge areas (including a very nice library with lots of books on the local area) and friendly fellow cruise companions meant that we enjoyed as much time out of the room as possible. Both the included shore excursions and the optional trips were interesting, and a good mix for both wine lovers and history buffs alike. The wine tours were educational for both beginning wine lovers looking to learn a bit more and for oenophiles. There local wine choices provided with lunch and dinner, but also the option to purchase the Silver Spirits package for more select vintages. Viking as well allows guests the bring their own wines on board, which the wait staff will happily serve without a corkage fee. With one exception, the docking locations are all located within walking distance of the town or city being visited. One could easily leave for a local lunch or dinner, though the food served on board was consistently fresh, well-prepared and delicious. The highlight of the tour is a private dinner in the orangery of a local wine chateau. To ensure the consistently high quality expected on a Viking cruise, Viking brings their own chefs and waitstaff (by now you know the friendly waitstaff quite well) to provide you with amazing food and service in this enchanting, off-site location. This was our fourth Viking River Cruise, and we enjoyed it so much we would choose the same one again were there not so many other enticing choices. Read Less

Just returned from our first Viking river cruise on the Forseti. I can't say enough great things about our experience. The staff on this cruise was phenomenal. Suzi was our cruise director and she was fabulous. She runs a flawless operation and we so enjoyed talking with her about her experiences in France. The entire staff in the dining room (Georgia and Georgi especially) saw to it that all of our meals were exceptional. My buddies in the bar, Boris and Dragos, are the best customer service reps that Viking could ask for. They made our trip extra special. We miss them. It was amazing to watch the entire crew from the Captain down all chip in with excursions, luggage, provisions. Truly a team effort. All of our excursions were great, especially the oyster trip to Arcachon, If you are taking this trip in the future, don't miss this one. Also, the dinner at Chateau Kirwan was exceptional. We had a French balcony room which was small but adequate for the small amount of time spent in it. If you love wine and great food, take this trip! Already looking at our next journey with Viking. Read Less

Wanted to get an overview of French wines and this was an exceptional choice. We’ve done Viking and wanted to try AMA. Have to say this was good choice. They’re close in format but AMA offers a bit more in terms of activities. Also most everything is included in AMA Where Viking had a bit more ala carte choices. The crew were just the best. John our cruise director was on top of everything and very warm. The wait crew were equally skilled and we loved getting to know Artur! Every crew person we engaged with gave us superior service. The tours were great with the tour guides exceptional in all areas. Top notch!Great ship clean and well appointed. My only ask would have been for more time in St Emillion and maybe for AMA to offer wine shipping back to states so we could have consolidated wine purchases vs having to shop back from each Château. A ten for me! Read Less

We chose this cruise as we enjoy food and wine and that is what Bordeaux is all about, aside from all the beautiful scenery. As we had traveled with Viking before, we knew that we could expect the best service along with the beauty of the countryside. The Viking ships are perfect, with all the amenities that you would expect from a luxury accommodation but what really sets the cruise apart is the absolutely above and beyond service from the crew and the fresh, local cuisine that is served at every meal. You really feel at the end of the week that the crew have become your friends and family. Not a single member of the staff is ever unfriendly, in an unpleasant mood and always treats you as if they were happy to be waiting on you hand and foot! The cabins are excellent. We have stayed both times with an outside balcony, this year in a one bedroom suite. Here too the service is exquisite, the cabin being cleaned twice a day, morning and night. We have booked another trip in the Spring! Can't wait! Read Less

Always wanted to visit France's wine country and felt there was no better way to do it than on Viking. Every part of visiting the vineyards was planned by Viking and all we had to do was sit back and enjoy. The tasting were wonderful and varied from vineyard to vineyard. The ships staff was always there to assist you in any manor. The crew took great care of everyone and the dining service was tops; not to mention the food being fantastic. Highly recommend this cruise if you want a nice experience and enjoy wine. There was a minimal amount of cruising; mostly bus transfers to the vineyards. A little taken back by that, but it didn't take much away from the trip. We were docked a majority of the time in Bordeaux , but it was an enjoyable city to wonder around inane had plenty to see and do. Read Less

This was our 30 year anniversary celebration so we decided to take the cruise. My wife had never been to France and I really wanted to have a memorable celebration. This cruise provided an intimate setting, great food, great wine, great crew, and so relaxing. The food was wonderful every meal. We got to know several of the staff and actually sat at the same table every evening for dinner. We received the best treatment from everyone. The staff knew us by name and even remembered some of our favorite wines. The food was divine. Perfectly cooked every time and the presentation was fabulous. The chef told us every night what he was preparing and it made the wait delicious and difficult. The planned excursions were very entertaining and exciting. They were well planned and informative. The tour staff were so knowledgeable and helpful. We had plenty of free time to explore on our own. Our cabin was perfect. Always cleaned and well kept. The staff again knew us by name and were very accommodating to our needs. My wife and I would definitely go on this same cruise again. Read Less

This was our 4th Viking cruise. Bordeaux looked interesting. Weather was outstanding if a little warm. Looked forward to wine tasting - was disappointed, although enjoyed the wines on the ship. My wife considers it the best Viking cruise we have taken - probably #3 for me. But greatly enjoyed the trip. Was worth the money. Highly recommend. We came in a day early, choosing our own hotel (a bed and breakfast). Gave us a day to adjust to time change and roam town. Did a bicycle tour of the town. All the included tours were good. We did one optional - tour to St Emilion and wineries. Always liked the free time as always. Good combination from our perspective. Highlight of the tour - boat crew did a dinner evening at a local Bordeaux winery. Good was great, wine was good, just a real treat. Highly recommend this Viking cruise. Read Less