Combining fine wine, beautiful scenery, and luxury travel, Viking River Cruises has devised the ultimate getaway with their “Châteaux, Rivers & Wine” cruise. The trip is an 8 day journey through France’s most notable wine regions.
Viking River Cruises has become quite notable as well, having been named the Best New River Ships of 2012 in Cruise Critic’s Editors’ Picks Awards and also recently launching the eco friendly Viking Forseti. The Forseti is a diesel-electric hybrid engined yacht, with fixed solar panels and a number of onboard herb gardens.
On the “Châteaux, Rivers & Wine”, the journey begins in Bordeaux, meandering along the Route des Châteaux on the Peninsula of Médoc. It is truly a stunning trip, with gorgeous views of the many french vineyards and grand estates along the water.
If the views weren’t already enough, on the ship you will also be able to sample wines from the Marguax and Médoc regions. For further sightseeing, there is also access to the Citadel in Blaye, within St. Emilion, which has been declared a World Heritage site.
At the Cadillac vineyards, you can sample the lavish Sauternes wines, and later, finish the tour off with a visit to Bordeaux’s many cafes, architectural monuments, and churches.
For the “Rivers” component of the cruise, guests learn about the rivers of Dordogne, Garonne, and Gironde. The surrounding areas of these rivers are all known for their vintage wines, of which they have been producing for over a century now, and guests may explore the land while sampling the delights themselves.
To end the trip, guests receive an all exclusive, informative course on vineyards and wine making. In this course, local experts educate the guests on everything one needs to know about wines and customs in Bordeaux, as taught through Viking’s specially designed Culture Curriculum. Even further, guests are taught French, learn the art of baking canelé, and are given tips by master sommeliers.
Viking River Cruises’ “Châteaux, Rivers & Wine” begins in March 2014, continuing on until December 2014. The cruise includes all meals, all inclusive prices, 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 7 guided tours, and 7 nights in a stateroom with a stunning view of the river. To come aboard the ship the cruise is priced at $1,656 per person, and this is dependent on the staterooms that guests book as well as their travel dates