This was my first river cruise after sailing on 19 ocean cruises. I was curious to see how it compared. The service and food on this cruise were so far superior to the ocean cruises. Our days were full - typically our mornings and afternoons were filled with activities on shore. Every lunch and dinner on board felt like the finest celebration, with delicious food and wine flowing generously. The wonderful and caring crew seemed to make each guest feel special. I must note that the crew took my food allergy (gluten) very seriously - I had plenty of delicious options at every meal. The cruise director (Simona) was top notch. Each day of the cruise, from morning until nighttime was carefully and expertly orchestrated. Our week was delightful and effortless. I wish I could have stayed another week. Thank you to the crew for making this week such a delight.

We took the train on our own from Paris to Lyon and made our way to the ship. Not difficult - just a short taxi ride. Compared to the ocean cruises, the embarkation and disembarkation could not have been easier. We just walked on and off. Upon disembarkation, we took the ship's transfer to Marseille airport and then took our own taxi to our hotel in Marseille for one last night in the south. We stayed at the Intercontinental at the old port and would recommend it. Took a boat tour of Les Calanques and dined in the cafes at the port. Very enjoyable.

The ship's excursions were lovely. We joined most of the morning tours and most of the additional afternoon tours and enjoyed them all. I suppose we were lucky because the weather was perfect every day. Read more