We chose this cruise because it I had good comment on the company and also because there were a great opera singer on board (Marc Hervieux!) We had an even better time then we tought we would. I would return anytime! Service was exceptionnal, The 2 captains were very professionnal and close to passengers. The excursions were well suited for everyone since there were different group for everyone fit. Entertainement was a delight for ears. The company should do more cruises with great artist like that. We had the chance to have a french cruise since 85% of the ship's passengers were from Quebec and we really appriciateted all the french part since we were in France. Going in France and having an English time would not have been so immersive within the French culture. I really hope Emerald (Scenic will take that into consideration in future cruises!) Thanks all the staff! Read Less

The whole week on Emerald Liberté was wonderful. The staff were all very friendly and attentive and made us feel at home. The food was fresh, plentiful and really delicious , cooked by the award winning chef. One night we had a guest chef who cooked an amazing regional menu. We visited some beautiful places including Arles, Avignon, , Tournon, Lyon and Beaune, the highlight of these being Avignon. The local guides were all very knowledgable and interesting, keeping us entertained as we walked around the beautiful places. On board there was always plenty to do, with quizzes, game shows, golf and Boules. There were also local presentations on wine, silk scarves and cheese, which were very interesting. There was a lovely mix of people to meet on board with several nationalities represented including Australian,Canadian, American, South African and British. I would highly recommend this trip and look forward to our next river cruise. Read Less

It was recommended by a friend and it did not disappoint. The staff were all brilliant, especially the restaurant staff. Everyone aimed to please with smiling faces. The cabins were well maintained, the food was excellent. We celebrated a birthday while on board and we were treated very special and met our request. The food was excellent with good choices daily. There was more alcohol than I could ever manage and the wines especially the rose was superb. On the evening of my friend’s birthday a local Michelin star chef prepared the dinner, which made it very special for her. It was a perfect evening. The tours were well planned and the tour guides were very knowledgeable. I had a shared cabin and there was enough space for both of our stuff. The cabin was very well appointed. It was also very nice when the staff participated in the evenings activities - it made us feel special. Read Less

The dates met our needs, the itinerary was what we wanted and the value was ideal. we loved the included morning excursions and liked the fact that they had easy walking tours along with the regular paced ones. the extra not included tours were excellent France. i thought the food at dinner was superb. the portions were just right. for lunch i felt the extra main courses were a bit large since we usually had salads and soups. we did not partake in many of the after dinner entertainment offerings. the new on and off the ship scanners seemed to work well. having the head phones and channel cards in the room made it easy to get started on all excursions. the disembarkation process was the best i have experienced. very well organized and went off without a hitch. the guides were very good and spoke excellent English. one of the best river cruises we have been on (our fourth) Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the excellent experience we had with Emerald on the Douro earlier this year. The company were very helpful with choosing flights and sorting out embarkation and disembarkation.The ship was very clean and staff were helpful and the Cruise Director was exceptional - thanks Darren! Having a larger pool was a bonus, as were the acuarobics. Entertainment was up to the usual Emerald standard, and the shore excursions and activities each day were interesting and good value. Food was generally very imaginative and we had the services of a famous French chef one evening, who produced a really splendid dinner. It was a very hot week, and the air conditioning throughout the ship was welcome. This meant that outside activities were restricted. I would have preferred a more relaxed dining option like we had on the Douro - i.e. dinner from 7.30 - 9.00 p.m. rather than the set time of 7 with a 15 minute window. Too early for us, but I understand that the Americans like to dine at that time. The ship mainly sailed through the night, and that meant we didn't enjoy much of the wonderful countryside and the excitement of going through the 12 locks - the nicest days were the last two, leaving at 3.15p.m. for the journey. Read Less

Having been in the travel business for over 49 years, I wanted to try this cruise line and also take a river cruise, which we had never done. We paid full fare. With some small exceptions, it was a perfect vacation. They provided fabulous backpacks and ticket wallet pre-cruise. They met our plane, and transferred us to the hotel, even though we arrived two days early to get acclimated to the new time zone. Ship was beautiful, spotless, and cabin space very well planned, with plenty of storage space for our two huge bags of luggage, as we traveled pre and post cruise. We would have liked more hooks. They provided bathrobes and velour slippers, Each room had a flat screen TV with huge number of channels, with movies, TV series, travel videos. Umbrellas, walking canes, earplugs, Moulton Brown toiletries, and WASHCLOTHS---a rarity in France. Shower space was fabulous compared to our last cruise on a regular cruise ship in March. Just wonderful. The only negative was the chairs in our in-room balcony were too big for the space and really, really uncomfortable. Included tours were excellent, the guides on almost every tour were delightful, charming, humorous, knowledgeable and spoke perfect English, which we followed on our Emerald padded headsets, which you re-charge every day. We booked 3 extra tours for the afternoons, and they were worth every penny, as these were spectacular points of interest visually, and you also got to see the countryside on the way to the destination. I don't think you could take a bad picture at any of the places we visited---we took over 75--- and every single one could be a postcard. Tournon was our least favorite stop, as there is not a tremendous amount there---maybe a cooking class could have been offered? Evening entertainment for us was mostly movies in the room, but we did go to the movie trivia night--where I won the bottle of wine! It was lots of fun, though we wished the evening events started just a bit earlier, as 9:15PM was late when you had to get up early in the morning for the tours. We are not morning people, but we adjusted. Our cruise director Darren, and the activities director Didi (I'm sorry if I have misspelled their names) were very entertaining, helpful, and efficient. Loved these guys! My husband took one of the bike tours, and enjoyed it immensely. Never used the pool, gym, hairdresser, masseuse, or did yoga, so can't comment on those activities. Breakfast had 3 times; early, regular, and quick bite so you could make the tours. Buffet of selections for every taste, but darned near impossible to get a cup of coffee right when you sat down. Don't know why they don't have coffee machines in the dining room, as I ended up getting mine at the machine in the bar and walking it downstairs---not good--- or safe. Lunch buffet was also very good, lots of selections, with choice of two kinds of ice creams with toppings, and sauces--- every day. Always a line for that. Again, getting a non-wine beverage here was also a problem, and I ended up bringing my iced tea down from the bar. However, if you are a wine drinker, you're in great shape on this cruise, as they never stop pouring...….ever. Dinner was our least favorite meal. We advised in advance that we don't eat pork products, veal, and I'm allergic to shellfish. The first night there was nothing on the menu I could eat, so I spoke to the maître d. She advised there was always a choice of a steak, salmon fillet, or chicken breast and Caesar salad. So, we ordered the steak the first night. The Caesar salad came with BACON sprinkled on it (!!!) and the steak was very tough, so we stuck with salmon most nights--though I don't love it, it was tastier than a plain chicken breast. The celebrity chef night was absolutely the best meal of the cruise, and we could have had his menu and bread every night and would have been very, very happy. The dining staff needed more training, as they could not accommodate any special requests, i.e. dressing on the side for the Caesar salad. In fact one night I was told that the Caesar was an entrée! They cannot deviate, and don't understand what you are trying to say. Also, they forgot two special meals at two other tables around us, and one passenger was furious. Dinner is one sitting at 7PM, so I understand the difficulty of serving over 130 people all at once. Maybe a smaller buffet in the bar area would help--- like they do for breakfast. I actually prefer buffets, as I can choose what and how much I eat. Dining portions were very small, but OK for us. Miguel the dining manager was very charming, always cheerful---but he has his hands full training this dining staff. Also, they need to try to smile more, as they always seemed stressed---which they were, I'm sure. If you have never taken a river cruise before, please be aware there is lots and lots of walking, sometimes you have to climb up and down stairs as you cross over other boats you are tied up to. Because you are tied up to them on some days, you cannot raise the shades in your cabin---so the "balcony" becomes unusable. But you are off early and don't spend much time in the cabin on most days. Also, this cruise is not suitable for children, as there are no activities for them. Most of the cruisers, I would guess, were over 60. All in all, an almost perfect vacation. Wish they did a Normandy River Cruise! Read Less

This cruise was a present from my parents and for a range of reasons I took my son, so our family group ranged from 16-76 years old. I was a bit anxious about this, assuming (rightly) that he was going to be decades younger than most people. It didn't make a difference! We had an absolute ball. We were picked up efficiently, fed on arrival and then the secret luggage fairies delivered our bags to our room...with check in being earlier than expected. The cabins were a delight - the window came down to give the impression of a balcony...beds were comfy, shower strong and loads of storage space. The food was brilliant - obviously we ate too much and I had plenty of excellent wine. I bought the extended drinks package, so for a small additional amount, had free flowing wine and beer.Without this, the drinks were slightly expensive. The staff were just brilliant - a special mention to Miguel - the hotel manager - he was everywhere - loading bags, serving ice cream, moving bikes. The company is lucky to have him. Our excursion guides were all slightly' quirky' - funny, knowledgable and at no point turgid or boring. There were a range of walking groups, from a bit of a hike to gentle walking - so catering for everyone. We were rubbish at the quizzes, but at least there were plenty we could try. There is a swimming pool and gym (not huge, but OK) on board, lots of cycles, yoga and aqua. It didn't make a dent on the food I ate - but it could have been much worse! So I have gone from being slightly anxious to discussing our next trip with Emerald! Read Less

Just wondering when did French authorities release the boat to start cruising again. We had to spend last night in Radisson Blu in Lyon following the French Authority demanding a ‘controlle’ inspection on the boat. The staff were not allowed to work and we had to spend last night in hotel. We were looked after excellently by the Emerald staff, cannot praise them enough. The whole cruise was excellent. The wine experts very entertaining and knowledgable. The wine tasting was a real treat, expertly presented. The food was superb especially the gourmet evening with French chef. The wine selection for the meals were very good and added to the enjoyment. No faults to list, just praise for the staff and crew. The boat was kept spotless the cabins were efficiently serviced with attention to detail. All the included excursions were well organised with very good local guides. Let’s hope the boat is going again. Read Less

Chose this cruise because I love France. Arles, Avignon and Lyon were really interesting ports of call. Ship was spotless. Food was very good. Service in the dining area was excellent. All staff and crew were friendly, helpful and efficient. We were disappointed that the ship often sailed during the night. When it did sail during the day, there was no access to the top deck due to the many, many lochs and bridges. (There was free access when in port). On day 6, the french authorities boarded the ship for an audit. The ship was prevented from completing its journey. The next day : * we travelled by coach to a vineyard - over 2 hours each way * a scheduled cheese/wine event did not take place * we made our own arrangements for lunch * returning from the coach trip, we were told to pack as we would be staying overnight at the Radisson hotel and we had to find somewhere for our evening meal * we were able to claim for 2 basic meals - but the allowance was far short of the standard and number of courses we had become accustomed to plus, unlimited wine with our meals * passengers were very low in spirit at the end of the holiday and we have never had an explanation as to why the ship's paperwork was not in order. * Liberte was unable to make its return journey to Arles, meaning many more disappointed people. I have written to Emerald Waterways suggesting compensation should be a seventh of the cruise price. I have not had a reply - just a standard letter and a cheque for £110. I don’t think this is adequate when you consider the disruption and inconvenience we experienced. Read Less

The quality of food and the service on board this ship is excellent. Unfortunately the disembarkation and the situation we found ourselves in was traumatic to say the least and it robbed us of the last two days of our cruise which was very expensive. Let me explain - after our evening meal on Thursday the captain announced that we had been ordered to return to Lyon by the French Authorities- no explanation as to why and we still don’t know why. We were told that on Friday morning we were to have breakfast between 7am and 8am as the staff, who were all wonderful, had been ordered to cease all services at 8am. So if you stayed on board, which we did, there was no lunch, no evening meal not even a cup of coffee. We elected to stay on board instead of subjecting ourselves to a very long coach journey. When the coach did return we were told to pack our cases and be ready to leave as we were to be transferred the hotel Radisson in Lyon. This is not what you expect to experience on an expensive river cruise with a reputable company. I must say the Cruise Director Jana (I hope that is how to spell her name) was absolutely marvellous and was assisted by Drazen who was also marvellous. They had arranged wonderful entertainment. One thing we were disappointed with was that we couldn’t enjoy sitting on the top deck when the ship was sailing as we did when we were on the Rhine cruise. I’m not sure the French Authorities want to have cruises on their rivers if this is how they treat the people on them. We still haven’t had an explanation as to why this situation occurred. Read Less

Having been with emerald last year to Holland and Belgium we loved it so much we booked again, such luxury and quality. Emerald are good value for money, not cheap or too expensive. This company have very good staff all over the ship, they can’t do enough for you, very attentive, the Liberte is a small ship, the guests are like having a big family, very friendly. The tour guides are fantastic, very knowledgeable and most are French and they speak in English. The food every day is geogeous from breakfast, lunch and dinner to afternoon tea and late night snacks. The accommodation is luxurious and comfortable, lovely beds. The tours that are included in the price are brilliant. I would not hesitate to book again for another cruise with Emerald it’s deciding exactly where to next so much choice. From home to the airport then the transfers it was effortless. Read Less

This was our first river cruise with Emerald and it won’t be our last. Everything was so well organised from the embarkation at Lyon to disembarkation at Arles. When we joined the ship it was lunchtime they had prepared a buffet for everyone which was very nice, check in is officially 3pm but our cabin was ready early, the cabins are very nice light and airy lovely beds and nice bedding. The whole ship is lovely very clean and modern and comfortable. The dining room is very nice always a good selection of food at every meal and different wines every day, which were excellent, the staff work so hard always have a smile, wherever they are they will greet you, they were such a lovely crew. Whoever did the laundry deserves a big pat on their back, it was so quick beautifully returned and done in such hot conditions as the outside temperatures was 35+ Some of the days! The cruise director Yana was fantastic, she was always there happy cheerful ready to greet everyone, she works so hard but we could tell she loves her job, she is a real joy I hope we meet her again. We were only back three days and we booked another river cruise with them for next year. Read Less

This was our third river cruise with Emerald, having thoroughly enjoyed the two previous ones on the Douro and Rhine, we were not disappointed. Everything went smoothly from beginning to end, largely due, in our opinion to the experience, hard work and dedication of our super (and funny) cruise director Darren (he reminded me of Alan Carr). As on our previous two cruises with Emerald, all meals and the complimentary wines served with lunch and dinner were just superb (one or two of the waiters serving wine seemed more reluctant than others to top-up regularly, but they were easily avoided by moving to a table where one of their more generous colleagues were serving). There was an inclusive excursion at every stop, with local top notch tour guides provided. Every town/city was interesting, we particularly enjoyed Avignon and Viviers, and we found these inclusive tours were enough without going on additional paying excursions in the afternoon. We thought that rather too much cruising was done during the hours of darkness, and it would have been nice to have more opportunities to sit and watch the world go by during the afternoons and evenings, but I'm sure there were probably good logistical reasons for this. We would certainly go on another Emerald river cruise, but are quickly running out of rivers in Europe. I've marked fitness & recreation, entertainment and enrichment activities as excellent, but in all honesty, I didn't avail myself of any fitness facilities and the other two categories are a matter of taste. Read Less

We were interested in the area and have travelled on Emerald before and liked the boats (especially the swimming pool). . The crew were very good, customer service excellent, a there was a varied and interesting events programme. There was not a lot of sailing during the day as the nature of the trip meant there were short hops rather than long gaps between towns but that was more than made up for by the interesting medieval towns on the itinerary. There was lots to do on and off board with a full programme including yoga, walking tours, aqua aerobics and quizzes and all the staff were cheerful, efficient and hard working and any problems ( of which there were few) were dealt with immediately). The cabins were comfortable and well designed with ample storage space and kept immaculately clean by the housekeeping staff and there was a good choice of food, delicious and well cooked. Read Less

First impressions of the boat were excellent and we had no reason to change our minds. Embarkation was smooth and we were shown to our very comfy accommodation. The cabin was quite compact but very well designed so space wasn’t a problem. It was kept immaculately by the housekeeping staff throughout our trip. The food was outstanding, covering many of the regional specialties during the course of the week, always plenty of choice and always delicious. The wine was well chosen and flowed freely during lunch and dinner. We cannot praise the staff enough, always friendly and helpful. They made you feel your enjoyment of the holiday was very important to them. The daily excursions were well chosen using knowledgeable and helpful local guides. The evening entertainment on board was enjoyable, especially the quizzes and dancing, we also had great fun taking part in a salsa lesson one afternoon. We were particularly impressed by the officers’ sympathetic, discreet and effective handling of a thankfully minor medical emergency involving my husband, who has diabetes. The discreet subsequent enquires as to his health were greatly appreciated. Thank you to everyone for a fabulous cruise. Read Less

This was our first time cruising and could not have had a more positive experience. Every attention to detail was covered by Emerald. We arrived a day early for an extra 24 hours in Lyon but still Emerald picked us up from the airport and then again from the Raddison the next day. The ship was immaculate, not a speck of dust and how they keep all those huge windows gleaming is amazing. The staff were wonderful. Jana the Tour Director did a marvelous job, well supported by Drazen the Activities Manager and a host of others. The food was 5 star at every meal, as were the wines. The tours and entertainments were top hole. There is something on offer from 7am to 10:45pm, but of course, nothing is compulsory. That said, the tours were not to be missed with knowledgeable guides and fascinating places. The onboard entertainments offered something for everyone. There was never a dull moment, and certainly never a hungry moment or any problem with getting a drink! Read Less

Emerald Cruise: Lyon to Arles with Nice extension – June 8-18, 2019 Last year, my wife and I, along with another couple booked the Rhine river cruise with Emerald Cruise Line, adding 3 days in Nice as an extension of the trip. The cruise itself was awesome! River cruising allows you to watch the countryside go by at a pleasant and relaxing pace. We never felt the motion of the ship, nor heard the sound of the engines. We often lowered the upper window of our French balcony, hanging our heads out the window to enjoy the air and the views. The room was comfy, and efficiently used the space. Our housekeeper, Petra, was friendly, efficient and kept our room immaculate without ever disturbing us. We sailed North to South from Lyon to Arles, making stops at Chalon, Tournon, Viviers, and Avignon. Our Cruise Director, Jana, introduced herself and made us feel welcome and at ease, giving us an overview of what we would see in the following 7 days. Each evening she would explain the next day’s itinerary and what excursion options we could choose [or just relax on the ship playing games and meeting new friends]. At each of those nightly previews she would relate a “story” to us which would crack us up. You can’t miss Jana’s stories. She introduced the captain and the captain 2. The captain welcomed us in French while captain 2 translated, adding several funny quips which may or may not have been in the original. Jana then brought out Istvan, the “floating hotel” director. He obviously has a stressful job and emphasized our comfort and safety. Next, we met our activities director Drazen, who was hysterical the entire trip. He led most of the games such as music and movie trivia, true-or-false, and the more physical activities such as bike trips, pool aquatics. The chef, Theo, was very talented. The food was outstanding. The breakfast was a full buffet, lunch was a buffet combo with the main entrée being a selection prepared in the galley kitchen. Dinner was outstanding both in its variety [with many different selections for each night] and the quality of the cuisine and presentation. Every dinner exceeded our expectations. And, of course, the wines from the Rhone valley [Cote du Rhone, Burgundy, T’ain L’Hermitage, Chateauneuf de Pape] were outstanding. The servers in the dining room were attentive [especially Antonio], and mastered the art of mirrored service, so that both sides of the table received their plates at the same time. They must have made 15 trips each meal up and down the stairs from the dining room to the galley. Everyone could choose their daily excursions depending on their wishes and/or activity level. And they were all great! Informative bus/walking/bike tours utilized local guides who knew the area and their subjects, and geared their script and speed to their audience. Emerald has done a great job of building a crew on this ship who works as a team and as a family, always smiling, accommodating our every need and excited to share with us the pleasures of river cruising. By the way, don’t sleep through the locks. To see the ship go through one of those is fascinating. Read Less

We had never been to the south of France and wanted to get a taste of the area to know whether we would like to return. We chose to spend a few days in Lyon ahead of the trip to overcome jet lag and to get to know the area, and we chose the Nice extension at the end of the journey for the same reason. Embarkation in Lyon and disembarkation in Arles were both smooth.The ship was new, clean, efficient and the operation was run very well. The service throughout is first good. The cabins were well appointed, and there was plenty of room for our luggage under the bed. Although the cabins are small, we really only slept there and didn't need a larger cabin. The food continues to be excellent and suitably varied by region. Our cruise director, Jana, is fantastic; coincidentally, she had been our cruise director on our first cruise three years ago, and we were delighted to see her. She recognized us right away! There were many more activities during the cruise this time, and they were well thought out and attracted a good number of guests. We enjoyed the shore excursions, although a few of the local guides were disappointing. We passed on our thoughts at the end of the trip via the evaluation form. For us, the best extra excursion was to Pont du Gard, the amazing Roman aqueduct. We were joined by two other family members and two friends, for a party of six. Would we take another cruise on Emerald? In a heartbeat! Read Less

Our second cruise on Emerald Waterways and as wonderful as the first. Great value on a fabulous itinerary. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. A special thanks to Darien for being attentive and hilarious; he made the trip special. The food was excellent and even include a diner prepared by a celebrity chef; an underlying fantastic meal. The wines served were very good and changed ever day. Somehow they seem to outdo the previous day’s selection ever day. All the city stops were interesting with an included morning tour in each, we took 2 of the 4 optional afternoon tours; finding them both well worth it. All the guides we had were professional and informative. Seeing the Roman Aqueduct was a particularly memorable sight. Both River Cruises we have taken have been relaxing and afforded us the opportunity to meet interesting other people; this trip was no exception as we spent much time with two other couples; one from Perth Australia and another from England near the Scotland border and with one our neighbors and their associated friends. We were shocked to find a group of 16 on board that were from nearby in our little state of Delaware; what are the odds. Highly recommend Emerald Warerways. Read Less

Wanted to see something of the South of France & sample some of the wines. We have travelled with Emerald twice before & really enjoyed the holidays. This cruise was of similar standard however there were a few minor problems. The cabins were smaller than The Emerald Sky - lacking in storage space. When the weather was really hot & we wanted the swimming pool roof open non of the staff knew how to operate the roof so it remained closed. The food in the evenings was OK - the meat was on the whole was tough & I was unable to eat it at times, the restaurant staff never noticed that I was not eating until dinner was over so I was unable to have another meal. One of our party is Gluten Free therefore unable to drink beer/lager, as we had had a problem with getting cider on the Emerald Skye I contacted Emerald before our holiday & was told they would inform Liberte staff however the bar staff did not understand cider & insisted on serving it in a small wine glass even though we were paying for a full 330mls, they were obviously keeping what was left in the bottle for the next drink which consequently was flat & undrinkable. We enjoyed the excursions, saw some amazing places, the guides were excellent. The staff on the whole were enthusiastic & friendly & accommodating. It was a shame that most of the sailing was at night so we were unable to sit on the sun deck & watch the world go by & see the sights unlike the Rhine cruise. The ship was clean, the cabin staff efficient. One the whole we had a lovely week and would sail with Emerald again. Read Less

We arrived before our check-in time so cabin was not yet ready but we were welcomed on board, our luggage was stored for us and we were offered buffet lunch. Embarkation and disembarkation were very well organized. Cabins are very comfortable and efficient. Crew was exceptional. Meals on board were delicious - chef takes advantage of regional specialties and local fresh markets. Free wine (white, red, rose) and beer (only one choice on draught) with lunch and dinner (3 hour windows each). Panoramic balcony rooms have windows the full cabin width where the top drops down to allow plenty of outdoor air and viewing. Emerald's payment policy of 50% at booking with remaining balance due shortly before cruising was appreciated (rather than full payment required at booking like at least one other company). Tip: take advantage of discounts offered by attending an information session. Emerald's docking locations are typically right in the city centre so there weren't many bus trips; you could walk to the town centres which was appreciated if you wanted to go back into town during free time. Included shore excursions were interesting and educational. Local tour guides in each town were very personable and knowledgeable. The optional tour ($) to Pont du Gard was a definite highlight of the trip. Worth every Euro! Emerald also has the policy of encouraging their guests to buy and bring on board local beer, wine and food and will gladly uncork and provide glasses, etc. for you. We would definitely book with Emerald again! Read Less

This staff were terrific - professional, and very well organised. Each member was war and friendly, without familiarity. Though they did know what our preferences for tea/coffee, wine etc. after a couple of days. The pace was gentle, offering well guided daily walks, and more activities if one wanted. Local guides provided much one the way of local and historical information. The food at all meals was excellent, and the wines were local to each area we visited and the wait staff ‘generous’ with it, within reason. The bar offered many selections either a la Carte or via a couple of drinks package options. Again, the staff excelled and provided fun and entertainment. The cabin was well set out, spacious for its type and facilities. Cabin service twice daily was very good. The welcoming warm and the disembarkation procedure was seamless and very well organised. Could not fault any service provided and had a wonderful time on aboard and at our stops along the way. Read Less

Went on a river cruise on board the Emerald Liberte back in April. Can't say enough about the entire trip. From the moment we boarded the crew were so welcoming and helpful. Our cabins were nice but the balcony and window were fantastic. Everyday the food was amazing. From breakfast to dinner, there was always something delicious to eat. The staff in the lounge and dining room were always there to help. Both Captains and Yanna and Drazen were exceptional. The daily excursions gave you a nice feel for the towns we stopped in. It was great docking right in the middle of the towns. Every town we stopped it was beautiful but my favorites would be Lyon, Avignon and Arles. Nightly entertainment was fun. But it was also relaxing to just sit in enjoy a conversation with the group. It was the most wonderfully relaxing but fun trip I have taken in a while. I can't wait to take another Emerald Cruise. Read Less

Having completed one Emerald cruise on the Danube, and been impressed, we decided a second on the Rhone should follow. We were not disappointed! It was the first of this season but the boat, the crew and all hotel staff were bonded as a very competent, friendly and professional team who constantly demonstrated a desire to please. Accommodation, bar and drinks, onboard entertainment, pool/cinema area and especially the food and accompanying wines were all consistently very good. And of course last but not least, the guided land tours and scenery were in excess of expectations. We had a drinks package and struggled thereafter to spend money on board! My wife regrettably made up for it whilst on shore and we came home with marvellous cheeses, mustards, wines and chocolates! Jana the cruise Director and DD the cruise Entertainment director were superb and got to know all 130 passengers personally and treated them as both individuals and as members of the Team Emerald. A glowing review I know but well deserved Read Less

Wonderful way way to see Southern France. Service was incredible. Friendly service staff. The food was deliciously prepared. We saw a little bit of everything from architecture to art museums. Plenty of time if you want to hang out on the deck, or by the pool, or walk the town where the ship is docked. Cabins were clean, quiet and efficient. The gym is small, but there is a running track up on top of the ship. There was plenty of walking on the tours, so lots of opportunities to get exercise if you want it. This is a mature crowd, and children are not allowed which makes for a very quiet good time. The cruise is geared towards an older crowd, so if you are looking for extreme partying or a 24 hour buffet, this isn't the cruise for you. There is always some sort of entertainment at night. There isn't much shopping to do, but for me, I appreciate a more educational trip - the tour guides were very interesting and full of information. Great Value, great time! Read Less