Cruising The Seine with Viking
When I was invited to join Viking Cruises in France, to celebrate the launch of eight new river ships in Paris, followed by a mini river cruise up the Seine, I didn’t hesitate. While I had not previously considered myself a cruise person, Viking stands apart as a luxury experience and I was sold after my first trip with them to Norway on assignment with Conde Nast Traveler a few years back. It may in fact, be one of the best ways to explore multiple stops in particular pockets of the world, and this trip was no different - I would recommend this mode of travel if you are looking for both consist luxury in your stay, while you have daily onshore excursions in locations big and small. Added bonus: Viking caters to an adults-only audience.
Shop some of my travel essentials or my children’s travel book
Reunited with familiar, friendly media and corporate faces alike, we met in Paris to begin the festivities, as the longships (with space for 168 passengers) have premier company docking near the Eiffel Tower that really adds to the “wow” factor. The first day included the naming ceremonies for eight new vessels simultaneously in both Paris and in Amsterdam (the latter will sail on Rhine, Danube and Main River itineraries), which included breaking bottles of Norwegian aquavit on the side of the ship. The presence of Viking chairman Torstein Hagen who expressed excitement as the cruise industry begins to bounce back from the pandemic shutdown over the past couple of years (the company’s ocean ships have PCR labs on board) and the company seeing overwhelming demand currently (travel is going to be huge for many this summer, people are very ready for big bucket list and international trips).
Of course, the sailing itself is a lovely experience, and traveling North to Normandy we had stops to Vernon & Giverny (Claude Monet museum), La Roche-Guyon and of course, Versailles - which I had not been back to in many (many) years. Given the amount of tour buses I saw arriving there, tourists are very much back. Viking is also launching a culinary-themed options to its Seine River itineraries that includes croissant-baking classes at a local cooking school and wine and cheese tasting sessions with a sommelier.
Viking will also launch a new Mississippi River itinerary in the coming year, along with it’s popular new cruise to the Arctic. Where do you want to go?
