Our group consisted of eight friends traveling together, and we had a wonderful time. The crew knew our names, they were courteous and efficient; the food and service were beyond compare. In addition to a gourmet menu, the specials each night were so delicious!! Our group all loved wines, and the beverage package far exceeded our expectation for great wine during dinner and after. Not one of us had any complaints or criticism. The excursions were accurately described, especially the length of time involved and degree of rigor. After dinner entertainment was fun and we were kept informed of upcoming events and what was happening on board. Viking made our travel so much easier - from picking us up at the airport, the bus rides to and from port, and helping us maneuver ticketing and gates for our departure, Viking stayed with us. We are all thinking of future Viking trips together. Read Less

We had friends who shared our interest in local wines. Both couples wanted to expand our knowledge of wines in France. This cruise was everything we dreamed of and more. When we booked our room we chose the french balcony - I just had to have an opening to the outside world. I was a bit concerned by the small square footage. We were advised that we would often been busy outside the room, and we were encouraged to book and spend the money has we felt would benefit us personally vs feeling pressured to upgrade. Well, the space was plenty - storage was ample, and as predicted, we just didn't spend a lot of time in our room. We often enjoyed the upper deck during time on the ship. We never felt that there wasn't someplace comfortable to enjoy on the ship. Many hours were spend off the ship enjoying our destination. Dinning was excellent. We did opt for the spirits package and liked the "chef's recommendations" of wine with dinner. We did see that the menu of local wines offered did vary a couple of times on the ship. What decided the spirits package for us, was the simple option of enjoying wine or drink anytime of day at the bar, not just at meals. We were not big drinkers - but I think the package price was fair, and we probably would have either spent more, or denied ourselves trying something great if we had not purchased it. The included tours were excellent. I would say there is no reason to feel you must upgrade to an optional tour. However, if the optional tour appeals to your interests - it will be worth every penny. We did two optional tours and they both exceeded expectations. I honestly was concerned, because one of them (The one where we saw the coopers make wine barrels and tasted at wineries in Medoc cost $250/person. - However, it was worth every penny. The tours, the tastings and the lunch were all outstanding and our tour guide, Sarah, was fantastic. So if the tour is of interest - take it! Just don't feel like the included tours are less than - because you are treated like a valued person and friend regardless of which route you take. Our pre port briefings were handled by Mimi and she was absolutely magical, She was moving to the Paris to Normandy cruise after our trip. I am tempted to take that cruise just be with her again! Some people find a dinning attendant and stick to the same tables to enjoy the connection they made. We were more flexible and sat in different areas of the dinning area - really at any meal - just making the choice ad lib. We felt confident doing so, because every attendant was outstanding. Every person even the young woman who joined our cruise on her first real day - was delightful, attentive, and made us feel valued. They take every care to attend to your needs. We are not yet retired, but we cannot wait to be - where we can perhaps take advantage of last minute deals. It was a fabulous vacation. Please pay for the Viking AIr package - where you can work with their travel agents - that money was well spent! Every moment, from start to finish was handled by viking and we had a true vacation, because we did not have a care in the world - all the details were managed meticulously by Viking. I notice I need to rate Fitness - you walk on your tours. But they do not have facilities - you won't need them. Nancy (A community college teacher of nursing) 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 chose this cruise originally because of the itinerary. We were meeting our daughter in Bordeaux in order to tour the Dordogne and the Loire Valley. We came with no expectations. Our only prior river cruise was on AMA on the Danube which we loved. This one surpassed our expectations. The food, the service, the tour guides, the special dinner all were amazing. From the time we boarded the ship, we were welcomed as old friends. The decor is restful and serene. Every staff member went out of their way to be friendly and helpful. The food was outstanding and the dining room setting was inviting as it was so open- no partitions to block views and the ability to see everything including the views. There were different size tables- up to 10, so as we gathered new friends, there were tables to accommodate us. We found the tour guides to be exceptional. On our prior cruise, they were acceptable, but these were significantly better. Their knowledge, their friendliness, and handling of our groups. Truly an amazing river cruise. 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

I'm a solo traveler, and would definitely take this tour again. It's my favorite Viking cruise to date! The Bordeaux region is fabulous - I'd recommend it whether or not you love wine! I'd highly recommend the pre-cruise tour of the Loire Valley. All of the towns and villages throughout the cruise were so enjoyable - picking up a baguette from the local boulangerie and fresh cheeses at the fromagerie, picking out treats at the master chocolatiers, buying tulips for my room at the farmers market, and, of course, visiting wineries and top notch wine shops with a full range of France's finest beverage. That's not to diminish the cognac tour! Blending our own cognac was delightful. Also made some new friends who I've enjoyed connecting with since returning home. Also: * Embarking and disembarking was a breeze. * The ship's updated cabin was comfortable and efficient. * The crew was exceptionally energetic and fun! * The food did not disappoint - good variety and options, as usual! 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

Loved the boat and got to experience Paris for 4 days post cruise. Visiting the different wineries was awesome. We came as a group of 3 couples. We were all celebrating anniversaries. The staff was not only great, but made us feel we had become friends by the end of our week. The drink package was a nice addition to our enjoyment. We liked the fact that our French balcony was just above river level. Slept with window open to here the water going by. We were alway offered water when going on shore. The excursions were always interesting and lead by professional and knowledgeable tour guides. We enjoyed all excursions and our time in Bordeaux on our own. The cruise director was a great addition to our already great time. Our dinner table was always perfect and we met another couple that made for great conversations. Keep up the high quality of Viking cruises. Read Less

Love of France Wine New area Try out Viking We were pleased by all aspects of our hopes for discovery and adventure. Loved this part of France with history, culture, and cuisine. Made new friends on the boat. We decided we wanted to go on more Viking cruises as a result. We liked the opportunity to choose from a variety of excursions each day...even creating some of our own...with the assistance of Viking staff. Food was great. Planning help for pre cruise was good All made for a fun and happy time for us. We traveled to Bordeaux several days prior to our cruise and explored on our own. When we arrived at the airport to drop off our car, Viking hosts greeted us and provided transportation to our ship. The daily excursions were informative, interesting, and often included wine and food. The cuisine on board the ship reflected the French culture. On departure day, the Viking staff was superb in guiding us through the airport and to our plane. 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 my first Viking Cruise, as well as my first river cruise. Prior to this cruise, I have only been on 2 other cruises. I was traveling with 3 others, that have been on previous Viking river cruises. I will say, if I had been choosing the itinerary, this particular itinerary probably wouldn't have been something I would have chosen. However, I thoroughly enjoy it. We also did the pre-cruise Loire Valley tour. Once we got through the horrific mob of people trying to get through customs at CDG (it took over 2 hours to clear customs, not Viking's fault), and found our Viking rep, we were escorted to our vehicle right away. The driver was just about to exit the airport grounds, when he was called by dispatch to swing back around and pick up to more people. Much to our dismay, after being in a mob of people so long. We just wanted to get to our hotel. Unfortunately, the driver had an issue finding the 2 other passengers, so that was an added 15-20 minutes. Once he found them, we were on our way to the hotel. Thankfully. Check in at the hotel was smooth. Our Viking rep told us everything we needed to know for the next day. We went to our rooms, freshened up and headed out on the streets of Paris. The hotel was in a good location. There was a subway station nearby and plenty of options for lunch. The next morning, we hopped on the bus with our tour guide Carmen and off we went to the Loire Valley. Carmen was an excellent tour guide and the places we visited were wonderful. As was the hotel for our 2nd and 3rd night. On Saturday, we arrived in Bordeaux around 4:00 pm and were greeted by many of the staff, when coming aboard. Including the captain. I can't say enough good things about the staff on the Viking Forseti. Everyone was friendly, helpful, funny, kind, hard working, etc, etc. I was in room 208, with a French Balcony (basically a sliding glass door, so you can stick your head out). The room was super clean, but it is small. Very little room to walk around. Granted, your not in your room much, but tripping over each other, while getting ready in the morning is no fun. However, despite it's small size, we felt there was plenty of storage and closet space for our things. The food was wonderful, except one meal, I felt like the veal was overcooked, but that might just be me. I tend to like my beef med-rare. The wine was free flowing at lunch and dinner. It is a wine cruise, after all. The tours were great and very informative. I learned a lot about French history and French wine making during our trip. No complaints with any of the tour guides. The water level was low, so we did have to take a bus to Cadillac. Viking can't control water levels, so they do the next best thing, by busing us there. It's truly some of the little added things, that are really appreciated. Like water. I drink a lot of water and it was nice not to have to continually buy bottled water. They hand out water each day, when you're headed out on a tour. They provide bottled water in your room. There's water available at the coffee station. And you can also get it from your waiter or bartender. Thank you Viking for keeping me supplied in water. Oh, and then there was the day we came back from a morning tour and the chef was at the door greeting us with little pastries. OMG, the best pastry I had all week. I asked our lunch waiter if he could see if there were any left over (I had just seen the chef headed back to the kitchen) and our waiter came back with a plate full for me. He was my new best friend. Viking truly takes care of everything from the time you get off the plane, until the time you have to get back on the plane. At the Bordeaux airport, they had 2 reps helping us get our boarding passes. My only other minor complaint, is that on some of the tours, I wish we had a little more free time. But, I guess if we were given more free time, then we would be learning less. So, it's a trade off. I can't recommend this cruise enough. Especially, if you're a wine lover. Oh, and initially at looking at the itinerary, I thought that there was going to be too much time spent in Bordeaux. I was wrong. I could have easily spent more time there. It's a beautiful city. I actually like Bordeaux more then Paris. Read Less

This cruise was taken with the intent of visiting wineries. If someone is interested in "cruising", then this is not their cruise. There was a little too much emphasis on the city of Bordeaux, a total of 2 1/2 days were spent there, partially because of low river flow and the ship could not travel to one of the destinations. The dining was great: lots of fabulous choices at breakfasts and dinners. Servers were charming and accomodating. Food portions were large and plentiful. The singer & pianist in the lounge who performed before & after dinner were really good--the singer had a fabulous voice. The tour guides varied from excellent to poor' We were lucky that we had the excellent one for three of our tours and the poor one for only one tour. I expected a guide to be able to answer basic questions and the poor guide could not, and she was a French native. The excellent guide had booklets with pictures and sketches showing how people dressed during the times she was talking about. 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

Overall the ship and cruise was wonderful, especially the dinner at the chateu that the crew set up. Places that we visited were very nice. The guides that took on the shore trips really know what they were talking about. If possible get into the smallest groups you can, we found that the smaller the group the more interaction there was with the guide and locals and this made the trip more personal and interesting. The wait staff on the ship was great. We really enjoyed the staff to passenger ratio--it was like we had our very own waiter for the entire cruise. Some of the dinner choices were not what was expected--the scallop dinner consisted of what was one scallop cut into thrids. Very small portion and when asked about additional portions we were told that the kitchen was out--poor planning to run out of food. The room cleaning crew left a little to be disired--the rugs in the room looked like they were not vacuumed and the bed side tables were not wiped down for 3 days. When we arrive at the airport to depart France we were told someone from Viking would meet us there--stood in line for 1/2 hour to get boarding pass and never saw anyone from Viking. We were at the airport at 6 AM so maybe they don't get up that early. 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

This was a group travel with two dozen friends. We had done two prior Viking River Cruises - the Rhine and Danube - which were more interesting than the Bordeaux Region but we enjoyed this one nonetheless. Our cruise director, Guillame, was the best we'd ever had and the food, with the exception of one really bad rib eye, was top notch. We didn't lack for adult beverages and the quality was very good. I took a water color class and have a nice souvenir from our voyage. The only major disappointment was the substandard WiFi. In the past we'd always had decent signal strength in our cabin. This time we had to go to the lobby and if we got a signal at all, it maxed out at 1.4 mps. Uploading a single photo to Facebook just took too long to make it practical. Other than that we enjoyed ourselves and would definitely consider another Viking cruise. Read Less

I want to go To a Truffle hunt, vist the Bordeaux Region along with Taste some great Bordeaux Wine & most of all visit a Prehistoric Cave! I was able to accomplish all these things on a luxurious cruise. Also celebrate a special Birthday. All the staff was friendly and provided excellent service. The entertainment was the best on my the last night when they had people arrive from the Bordeaux Opera Company. They performed many wonderful opera favorites along with interacting with the audience. The ship also offered a few Wine Tastings which I felt provided a good education on Bordeaux Wines. I have found a few bottles of my favorite wines when I returned back from my trip. I served them with a pasta dish I made with the authentic Truffles I purchased at the Truffle farm we visited. It gave me an opportunity to relive this wonderful trip with a Fabulous dining experience. Read Less

We have always wanted to take a Viking cruise and this cruise was even more than we expected. The boat and the entire staff were exemplary. The tour directors were well versed on the areas we visited. A wonderful learning experience at every stop. The food and wine -this was a rivers and wine cruise after all—were a real experience!! Viking gets everything right!! Bravo!! We were with Viking from beginning to end. This is the way to travel. There was nothing left to chance as were picked up at the airport and delivered to the boat. At the end of our cruise we put our bags outside our cabin door and they were loaded for us and we were delivered to the airport. We are in our early 70s and we felt so cared for in our “Viking bubble”. We are already booked for another Viking cruise in October 2019. For my husband and I this is the way we want to travel. Thank you Viking! Read Less

This was the very first cruise that my wife and I had ever taken. I did not know what to expect. We were extremely happy with everything. Viking certainly does things right. Our cabin was small, yet it was adequate for our needs.I was impressed with the cleanliness of the room. Luggage fit nicely under the bed. Descent space in the drawers and closet. I found the bed to be very comfortable. The shower was tiny, but, we managed. I cannot say enough about the food. Fantastic. I put on a few pounds that I am still trying to lose. The entire staff, from the captain on down, were friendly and very helpful. The service was outstanding throughout the entire cruise. We enjoyed all of the excursions that were included. The guides were quite knowledgeable.I had a problem sometimes with the accent of the guides. Our cruise director, Susie, was the best. She went out of her way to help several of the passengers. There was always plenty of bottled water. My only complaint was the very slow wi-fi connection. Viking certainly seems to have thought of everything. We are looking forward to our next river cruise. Read Less

This was our first river cruise, and we chose Viking because of their excellent reputation. Cruise representatives were waiting for us at the airport and were expeditious in helping us get to the buses for transport to the beautiful Viking Forseti. The moment we stepped on board, the crew was waiting with beautiful smiles to receive us. The ship and our cabin were immaculate. I'm extremely particular about cleanliness and Viking is up to my high standards! The meals and service were divine. . .spectacular! We had our favorite waiter, who quickly learned our names and remembered our favorite beverages at each meal. We enjoyed the onboard entertainment and the excursions, each planned to the detail! Service was outstanding from each and every crew member. The ports of call were a delight - we were on the Chateaux, Rivers and Wine cruise. We would definitely travel on another Viking Cruise! For a first river cruise, this could not have been more wonderful! Read Less

We love wine and wanted to learn more about the Bordeaux wine region, so this cruise was perfect. Even wine enthusiasts on our cruise admitted that they learned quite a bit from the included excursions. The tour guides were excellent at keeping the tours interesting but also relaxing. We loved Jaime’s knowledge and sense of humor. The entire Viking team did a remarkable job of anticipating — and meeting — our every need. We felt like royalty! The food, whether it was casual fare in the Aquavit or fine dining in the main dining room, was always delicious and plentiful. The selected wines were, of course, local and perfect for the meal. And the service was always supreme. They knew our names within a day or two of arriving on board. From the captain to the concierge to the housekeeping staff, every single crew member was gracious, friendly, and truly seemed to appreciate us as guests. Read Less

I always wanted to go to Bordeaux since I have French cousins who live there. My husband is a wine lover, so the trip appealed to both of us. Having been on two previous Viking cruises, I knew that the services, staff, and facilities would be excellent. While the sightseeing was not as exciting as the Rhine river cruises, it was very relaxing and enjoyable. I felt that I was on a real vacation and not just a tour. We enjoyed the small towns and wineries that we visited and absolutely loved Bordeaux. We came two days before the cruise so that we could enjoy more time there. I wish Viking did not charge extra for arriving early when they book the airfare. The food was very good, especially the pastries and soups. The wait staff was very accommodating. We did not attend many evening activities since we enjoyed taking a walk if we were docked in a town. We also enjoyed sitting leisurely at our table and chatting with our new friends. One afternoon there was a terrible wind and rain storm during one our shore tours. The crew, including the captain, worked very hard mopping up the entry/reception area of the boat and handing out towels. Everyone was soaked -- travelers, crew, and captain. Our tour director, Jorges was very good. He gave a very amusing French lesson. Even though I spent years studding French, I enjoyed it very much. My husband's leather belt became so wet during the storm that it was unwearable. He did not think to pack a spare. He asked Jorges if he could somehow find a belt for him to borrow for a few days. Jorges wound up lending my husband his own extra belt. That's real service! The visit to the food market with the chief was very enjoyable. It think it should have been an included tour and not an optional since there was no other included tour that day. The post-trip to Paris was also very nice. We had been there several times previously, but we really enjoyed the included sightseeing bus tour. It was a nice review of all the major sights that we had previously explored on our own when we were much younger. We were grateful that a Viking rep met us at the train station in Paris to lead us to the transport to the hotel. The same person also met us at CDG, got us to the correct terminal and made sure we were always in the correct line. We have already signed up for two more Viking cruises. I think that says everything. Read Less

We liked the fewer number of passengers compared to a thousand "herd" on a larger ship. It is easier to make new friends and compare notes. The cabins, while small, are well appointed and make use of every inch. Food was excellent with outstanding service. Best of all was our cruise director who was extremely personable and aware of everyone's needs and quick to respond to requests. Shore trips were delightful as people were divided into groups depending on ones ability to walk quickly or slower for those who needed a bit more time to navigate the walk. The staff all seemed "happy" and so willing to help. Always greeted you with a cheery hello or good morning. I believe they contributed to our cruise rating of outstanding. Would love to clone our tour director and have him on all cruises. The entire experience was so great that after returning home we booked another within a week Read Less

Very interested in wine and the area. Simply amazed all the history we learnt in the area. LOVED the Truffle Tour and the tour with the chef to the local market! ALL OF OUR GUIDES were amazing, knowledgeable and fun to be with. Gourmet meals, extremely friendly and helpful staff. Loved and used the coffee/refreshment areas and especially the sparkling water! We met really friendly people from all over the world and have exchanged our photos with them. We were a little reluctant to go on the wine cruise as we enjoy and know about wines and didn't want to be with a bunch of "of wine snobs". It was not like that at all. so glad we came. With the Air France strike, people that had made there own travel arrangements were checking the airlines but we were relaxed and confident that Viking would have all things organized for us. We got to the airport around 5 am !!!!! and were met with a guide who helped all of us go thru our boarding passes and made sure we knew where we were going! Did embarkment was organized and easy although early! The one thing I keep remembering is when we travelled to the Truffle farm and passed thru a small town where discovery of the latest Neandrathal caves /museum an people were discovered. I am extremely Interested in this and we went slow thru the town and I am sure the others on the bus wondered what I was so excited about. If we had more time, we would go back. Oh, all of our bus drivers were amazing. How were they able to get thru all those tight spots, know the best routes and could make sudden detours if necessary? Excellent job! Read Less

We fit it in on a longer trip to Italy and France - glad we did Loved Viking but the itinerary was less than ideal, partly because of unavoidable weather/water levels Loved the food and the staff/entertainment- would not change a thing! Already booked on another Viking (ocean) cruise this year The ports were very interesting and shore excursions were okay. Mostly we planned our own shore time but loved the optional Blye tour to a local home The piano player David was very talented and accommodating- there was a widow on board who had a favorite song of her husband’s and he played it every time she walked into the lounge - we all cried the last night. Our cabin was more than adequate and always extremely well cleaned. Our favorite part of the trip was actually our wonderful waiter Alexey - exuberant and funny and kind and unfailingly excellent service Read Less