Portraits of Southern France River Cruise

I've recently returned from a wonderful holiday in France. I decided to try a river cruise, something that I'd never considered before but as I was going away in August, it seemed like a good way to see a lot of different places and to avoid the crowds at the same time. To be honest I was a little unsure if a river cruise would be to my liking. I was concerned that I may feel a little claustrophobic on a small ship with limited things to do and was worried about being stuck with the same passengers all week. However, I need not have worried as it turned out be a great choice. I chose Viking River Cruises' " Portraits of Southern France" as the itinerary really appealed to me . We cruised along the beautiful Saone and Rhone rivers from Burgundy to Provence stopping at lots of beautiful towns on the way.

The beauty of a river cruise is that the ship moors right in the centre of town so you can just step off the ship and go off and explore. We visited so many wonderful and interesting places- spectacular walled towns with medieval buildings, many with ancient Roman amphitheatres such as Arles the town where Van Gogh lived and which inspired many of his famous paintings.

Everywhere we stopped there was a guided tour on offer which was included in the cost of the cruise. Most were walking tours as the sights were all so close. One day the tour included wine tasting at a local vineyard and chocolate tasting at a famous chocolate manufacturer. I heard one passenger say "Wine and chocolate all on the same day -it doesn't get any better than this! " As for the ship, although small, it was spacious and airy and there was a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere on board. The ship had a well designed layout of public areas and a restaurant and lounge with panoramic views. There was also a spacious sundeck where we relaxed in the sun enjoying the beautiful views of the French countryside.

All the cabins had a river view, most with picture windows and hotel-style beds. However, as I booked at short notice, the only cabin still available was one of the few standard cabins located on the lower deck. These cabins are smaller with half height windows at water level and a sofa bed and pull-down bed. The cabin was fine but I personally found the beds too hard.

The restaurant had panoramic views and the food was outstanding. As a vegetarian, I can honestly say I've never eaten so well on any previous holiday- EVER.

I really loved the Burgundy & Provence region and sailing peacefully along the river and mooring in the centre of such beautiful towns provided a holiday with a great combination of relaxation and exploration. I would definitely consider taking a river cruise again as it really exceeded my expectations and I will have no hesitation in recommending Viking River Cruises to my clients.