Beginning in the spring of 2014, Viking River Cruises will offer a new itinerary in France's Bordeaux region. The Chateaux, Rivers & Wine cruise encompasses eight-days in the beautiful Bordeaux and Aquitaine landscape, exploring history and sampling some of the world's finest names in wine.
The award-winning Viking Forseti will be the first Viking Longship to sail in the region.
Chateaux, Rivers & Wine takes guests on a unique exploration of the Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde Rivers, through the region that has for centuries produced France's most remarkable wines including Margaux, Pomerol, St. Emilion and Sauternes. The eight-day cruise journey begins in Bordeaux and makes its first stop in Pauillac, where guests can sip the full-bodied blends of the renowned Medoc and Margaux wine regions and travel along the famed Route des Chateaux for an insight into authentic chateau life. Next, guests have the opportunity to explore the Citadel in Blaye and the charming town of St. Emilion - both UNESCO World Heritage sites - before continuing on to picturesque Cadillac, where they can taste the sweet Premier Cru wines from the Sauternes region. The unhurried voyage concludes with an in-depth tour of the beautiful churches, grand Louis XV architecture and charming cafes of Bordeaux.
To enhance appreciation and understanding of the Aquitaine Valley during the journey, Viking's Culture Curriculum on Chateaux, Rivers & Wine has been designed with the assistance of local experts to provide opportunities for passengers to experience various aspects of the regional culture. Guests may learn to make tender caneles, a caramelized custard pastry, observe the winemaking traditions that have made the area so famous, begin or expand their appreciation of fine Bordeaux wines with the guidance of a master sommelier, and brush up on their conversational French with optional on board lessons.
Guests on the Chateaux, Rivers & Wine cruise will travel on Viking River Cruise's state-of-the-art Viking Forseti, a Viking Longship.
What is a Viking Longship?
Viking Longships integrate patent-pending design and cutting-edge technology with comfortable amenities that reflect guest preferences and current travel trends, such as:
- Two Explorer Suites, which at 445 square feet will be the largest river cruise suites in Europe, each featuring a separate living room, bedroom and private wraparound veranda, offering 270-degree views.
- Seven-two Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda in the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom.
- Thirty-nine Veranda Staterooms with full-size verandas.
- Twenty-two French Balcony Staterooms.
- A revolutionary new all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace, which reinvents the onboard lounge experience by bringing the panoramic outdoor river scenery indoors with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors allowing guests to enjoy the scenery and dine al fresco.
- New premium in-cabin amenities that include heated bathroom floors and mirrors, Sony HD TVs, and premium bath products.
- Sustainability upgrades, such as solar panels, an onboard organic herb garden and energy-efficient hybrid engines that reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride.
Viking River Cruises is offering guests an exciting savings opportunity, an early booking discount.
For all Viking river cruises booked before February 28, 2013, guests will receive up to $200 per couple off the cruise fare, Silver Spirits package worth up to $900 per couple, gratuities worth up to $500 per couple, and airport transfers worth up to $260 per couple.
Contact your travel advisor today for more pricing and availability on a Viking River Cruise.
