drcpa

We're doing the same thing with our Amsterdam to Basel trip. We purchased the Lucerne extension through them, but they didn't have any openings for Amsterdam - which was okay with us, because I wanted to do it on our own anyway. I asked about transfers for Amsterdam and was also told no.

 

Would have been nice, but we can handle getting from Shiphol to our hotel, so it's not really a big deal.

Small world. We just completed that exact tour with Viking in December and you're right that the Schiphol to Amsterdam City transportation is a snap. Enjoy, enjoy...we loved it.

I realize this is what my daughter would call a first world problem, but nevertheless.

My wife and I have booked a November Avignon to Lyon cruise with Viking and purchased our air through them as well.

We opted to arrive a couple of days before the cruise for obvious reasons; to enjoy a bit of the South of France before the cruise and, most important, to follow our rule of never arriving at the cruise departure city the exact day of the cruise, particularly in winter. We knew of, and accepted, their deviation fee for arriving early.

We asked to purchase transfers from Viking and they said "no" for the arrival day Marseille Airport to the Viking ship at Avignon.

Their reasoning was that we were arriving early, although we told them we understood that getting back to the Marseille Airport would be our responsibility.

Our thinking is that (a) we had purchased their cruise, (b) purchased their air, and © accepted we needed to be at the Marseille airport at the designated time.

This policy makes no sense to us and seems a bit inflexible and arbitrary as I'm almost certain (and will certainly stand corrected) that other cruise lines allow this.

Thanks for hearing me out.

...for everyone's kind, thoughtful, and helpful suggestions. This is exactly what I was hoping for and I sincerely appreciate the consideration.

My wife and I have had the wonderful opportunities to sail on three Christmas Cruises; the Rhine (where we had a memorable New Year's Night in Amsterdam with AMA), the Danube with Viking, and recently the Amsterdam to Basel trip, again with Viking. (We count our blessings!)

Next year we have scheduled the Viking Lyon and Provence trip in early November.

While we feel we "get" the Rhine/Danube itineraries, we don't know much of France outside of Paris.

This trip is Avignon to Lyon and we were wondering if anyone has any comments, tips, suggestions, etc on such an itinerary.

In advance, much thanks for your thoughts.

...no one asks what a "French Letter" is. :rolleyes: