loge23

ChesapeakeSailor,

I have been doing some more checking on Arcachon by train. Round trip is $34 Economy and $50 first class. The train station is in the center of town with a bus to the dunes nearby and the ferry to Cap Ferrat a short walk away. We were a little put of by the tour guide for Arcachon not including the oyster and wine tastings. Seemed rather petty since the tour cost is not small. We think we will take our euros and have a great lunch on our own in Arcachon or Cap Ferrat and taste the oysters at lunch. Probably will go on May 1 since we will already have toured Bordeaux for 3 days before the cruise.

 

This is a link that shows a map of Arcachon with the train station location noted, plus info on the ferry and bus mentioned above.

http://www.raildude.com/en/arcachon-railway-station/arcachon/station/12368/319

 

This is a link to the train schedule.

http://www.raileurope.com/us/point_to_point/ptp_results.htm?execution=e1s21&resultId=86788131

Trains go to and from almost every hour. Time is a little over 50 minutes.

Great tip - thanks! Sounds like a good trip for the free day in Bordeaux.

I notice that you have been on a couple of other Viking Cruises. How were those? I am wondering if the issues are with the cruise line or the itinerary. Thank you.

Our two previous cruises with Viking were excellent. One was the Southern France Avignon-Lyon trip and the other was Amsterdam-Basil. Each were more traditional river cruises than the Bordeaux cruise.

As we all are, I continue to monitor the boards for now. It seems the current cruise is doing better.

To answer another question, our insurance will cover most of the trip expense - enough to make a change if we have to. I hope we don't have to.

I have been lurking watching this post closely as my wife and I were scheduled to sail in August. I still have time to cancel and I think we will. The itinerary has optional tours that are incredibly expensive and the places that we are going that are free are not very interesting. I have a friend who lives in Bordeaux and he called me and told me that the reason no one has been using the river for cruises is that it has bad tides every day all year long! I have decided to call Viking tomorrow and cancel our cruise. I guess I should have talked to him before I booked the cruise but after doing so, he called me to warn me. He said that area is awful.

He said to watch a movie called: "Little White Lies". That movie was made at Bordeaux and shows people on boats getting stuck in the mud that is so characteristic of the area estuaries and rivers. He said everyone who lives there, knows you can't cruise the rivers very well and he thought Viking did not do it homework. All I can say is I have been scared away from this area and will try to cruise somewhere else.

Best wishes to all

Have to admit, we are thinking the same thing. Having visited the area last year, we were looking forward to returning and seeing places we did not get to, with the convenience of being on Viking for the transfers and transport (we traveled indy last year). We are meeting friends from GB - that we met on a Viking cruise several years ago - in Paris for a brief reunion prior to the cruise, so our options are many. As has been pointed out on this thread, we knew and understood the limited cruising range of this itinerary; but we have no desire to sit on buses for hours.

Should be a good think-over this week.

Happy and safe trip to all the upcoming cruisers!

Hi loge23 ~ where abouts in Queens did you live? We're in Middle Village whichis Forest Hills poor neighbor! DH has lived here all his life; I'm a

"newcommer" only been here 51 years!!

 

Here's an updated list:

 

April 12, 2014 ~ id4elizabeth

April 12, 2014 ~ Go Pack

April 26, 2014 ~ tipsygirl

May 17, 2014 ~ kidfixer: Linda

May 17, 2014 ~ MalibooNewYork Theresa

May 31, 2014 ~ ABQcruiser

July 12, 2014 ~ vcgeno

July 12, 2014 ~ SueFrankuk

July 19, 2014 ~ loge23

Aug. 16, 2014 ~ lovetocruise17

Aug. 23, 2014 ~ MABoat

Aug. 30, 2014 ~ roebud; Rose & Gary

Sept. 6, 2014 ~ indianrider

Sept 13, 2014 ~ smokinmike

Sept. 20, 2014 ~ zmjh45

Sept. 27, 2014 ~ parkie

Oct. 4, 2014 ~ FotoPeg: John & Peg, Tony & Linda

Nov. 1, 2014 ~ Laffey724

Born in Brooklyn, grew up in Rockaway Beach. My wife is from Middle Village!

Here's an updates list:

 

April 12, 2014 ~ id4elizabeth

April 12, 2014 ~ Go Pack

April 26, 2014 ~ tipsygirl

May 17, 2014 ~ kidfixer: Linda

May 17, 2014 ~ MalibooNewYork Theresa

May 31, 2014 ~ ABQcruiser

July 2014 ~ loge23

July 12, 2014 ~ vcgeno

July 12, 2014 ~ SueFrankuk

Aug. 16, 2014 ~ lovetocruise17

Aug. 23, 2014 ~ MABoat

Aug. 30, 2014 ~ roebud; Rose & Gary

Sept. 6, 2014 ~ indianrider

Sept 13, 2014 ~ smokinmike

Sept. 20, 2014 ~ zmjh45

Sept. 27, 2014 ~ parkie

Oct. 4, 2014 ~ FotoPeg: John & Peg, Tony & Linda

Nov. 1, 2014 ~ Laffey724

Hi Peg,

Regards to Queens! (left 25 years ago)

We're on the 7/19 sailing.

Happy Cruising!

Hi Loge23 - Regarding your mention of Mouton Rothschild, what town is that located in? Sounds great!

Mouton, Lynch-Bages, and Pontet-Canet are all in Paulliac. Couldn't be too far from the dock site - 5-10 minute taxi would be my estimate. Btw, the riverside of Paulliac where we dock is really a very nice street lined with cafes and shops.

loge23....Thank you so much for the valuable information you shared.

 

We will be taking the Bordeaux cruise in August and will be in Libourne (St. Emilion) and wondering how far Fronsac's Chateau La Dauphine is from the port. We would love to make arrangements to visit this winery. How long was your tour at this winery? Would you suggest visiting other wineries in the area also?

 

Rose

I can't be certain about the distance, but La Dauphine was no more than 5 minutes from Libourne as I recall. I do highly recommend!

Figeac is also fairly close to Libourne - no more than 10 minutes.

There are many others in the vicinity. Great reference below:

http://www.saint-emilion-tourisme.com/uk/que-faire.html?idcat=3

Also, in St. Emilion, stop in and say Bon Jour to Madame Tapon, just across the street from the Logis Ramparts Hotel. Madame Tapon, her husband, and young daughter have been in the wine business for decades. They have a small shop and a visit is a warm, engaging up front experience of the great Bordeaux wine growers. We had by chance just purchased some of the Tapon product before our last trip and basically wandered into her shop, delightfully making the connection. Madame Tapon was so happy to hear we purchased her wine in the States! She said, we grow the grapes and bottle the wine and have no idea where in the world it goes after it's purchased!

You will love this region and the people!

You speak with some knowledge, can you elaborate some on the wineries you visited and the wines you tasted? It would be greatly appreciated. What kind of prices are you referring to with some of the tastings?

Sorry for the delay. I appreciate yours and all of these messages as well as we prepare for our July trip.

Our trip in '13 was for two weeks - one full week in the Bordeaux region and one split between the charming town of St. Jean de Luz and Barcelona.

Our first stop was St. Emilion where we camped at the Logis Rampartes. We visited Fronsac's Chateau La Dauphine for a tour and tasting. This was a nominal fee and we purchased a bottle - all for 29 euros. Obviously, La Dauphine is not one of great houses, but their wine is delicious and the winery has been lovingly restored by the current owner who lives on site. The Chateau is beautifully located overlooking the Dordogne. Fronsac is understandably proud of their heritage as a quality producer and they are aggressively staking their claim these days in the wake of a decline over the last few decades. Small wineries like this offer the best experiences in my opinion. We toured this Chateau alone with the guide so it was a very personal and rich experience. Contact the beautiful and so friendly Marion Merkur at the winery if you plan to visit.

Next was the great Chateau Figeac on the Pomerol border. Tariff for the tour/tasting was 15E each. We tasted their premier cru Figeac '08, and their seconds, Petit-Figeac and La Grange Neuve. Again, lovely hostess and a warm and welcoming tour.

Other St. Emilion tastings were in one of the many excellent wine shops lining this medieval town. Ours, in the shop across from our hotel sampled several houses unavailable in the States. All offered to ship of course, but that is much much easier said than accomplished.

Over in the Medoc, we stayed at the Hotel Rollan de By in the north Medoc. The Rollan de By is owned by a chap who had also purchased Chateau Graysac and Haut Contissas. Our stay was augmented by a private tour with barrel tasting of their very promising Rollan de By, Medoc.

Lynch-Bages offered a great tour as well, for 35E each of all five of their wines including their standard bearer. Lynch-Bages virtually owns the little village around them and they are very wine-tourism friendly. Stop for a nice lunch at Cafe Lavenal on site. We had a delicious special of a cold canteloupe soup accompanied by Sauternes - heavenly.

Mouton-Rothschild was a highlight. We opted for the grand tour (there are several levels) at 40E each which included the winery, the can't miss museum, and a tasting of their second growths and their famed Grand Cru. The winery was recently overhauled and it is a must stop for any wine fan. Do not miss the fabulous museum with the original artist label drafts from every vintage from the world's greatest artists.

Finally, an errant cork's throw away from Mouton is Pontet-Canet. This winery has also been lovingly restored by the current owner and is in the process of converting their operations to completely Organic. I think you'll find Pontet-Canet to be a throwback of sorts to the fine tighter, tannic wines we may have first tasted way back when from Bordeaux. The Chateau tour is one of the very best we made.

We did visit Lafite Rothschild, but only a brief stop on their property and front office, which are open to the public. Winery visits are a much different matter!

In conclusion, I was impressed by the tours being so different from one another. Each winery has their own differentiation in their processes. They are all fiercely protective and proud of their wines as being just a bit better than their neighbors down the road. Remarkable really! Enjoy this little piece of paradise!

Simply google your favorite wine for ample information, in English, about their Chateau and tourism.

Thanks all for the information regarding the great vineyards and potential for touring. I am hoping we will be able to visit some first or second Cru's. I wonder what wines they will allow for tasting? Certainly not a 1945 Lafite, I am sure. I would suppose more like a lesser vintage like 2008 or 2006.

Looking forward to finding out. Hope to hear from you early sailings!

You are correct about the vintages found in the tastings. Also, expect to pay for the top quality producer tastings. Just about all the great chateaus are online and you can reserve your tasting online as well. Mouton had several options, with their grand cru served only at the highest levels. Forget about Lafite unless you are a merchant with good connections.

In all the great chateaus however, you will see the great vintages - some over 100 years old - in the vaults although, alas, not from inside the vaults.

loge23 ~ your trip last year sounds fabulous!! Pauillac sounds lovely - looking forward to seeing it! Since this is a new itinerary for Viking, its SO frustrating not to have reviews from previous passengers!! So your comments about the area are much appreciated!!!

 

And the fact that you're returning this year for the cruise says a lot! Please promise you'll give us a full review when you return!! We leave September 25th for a week in Paris before our Oct. 4th cruise - please give us a "heads-up" on what to expect!!!

Will do!

We toured the Medoc and Right Bank last summer independently. Most wineries are open for tours and tastings (save for harvest season), but most also require reservations. Many are accessible online. Google Bordeaux wineries and you will find many excellent resources.

Highlights from our trip were Mouton Rothschild (do include the museum!) and Lynch-Bages, with their village and fun bistro, Cafe Lavinal. We also visited Chateau Figeac just outside of St. Emilion and La Dauphine in Fronsac. Pontet-Cadet was also a standout, with their aggressive transition to organic vinaculture. We stayed in Medoc at the Hotel Rollan-de-By, which included the named winery and Chateau Graysac, recently acquired by the Hotel's owner. We found three nights on the Right Bank and three in Medoc quite sufficient for touring.

The village of St. Emilion is simply breathtaking, even with the hordes of tourists. Bring very stable and comfortable shoes for this towns cobblestone streets, narrow sidewalks, and very steep passageways. The town is virtually full of wine shops - most of which offer tastings. While great wines that are unavailable in the states can be found here, you will not find any bargains among the grand crus. Factor in shipping and you are most probably better off patronizing your friendly local wine merchant back home.

I understand the Viking ties up in Paulliac. The riverside section of Pauilliac is a wonderful one-street town full of sidewalk bistros and shops - an excellent place to relax and enjoy some of the fruits of the region. With good planning, you should be able to line up a car/taxi for tours to nearby chateaus, just to the east of the dock area. Be forewarned if you drive of the hidden cameras and speed devices on many French roads. You may get a nice bill in the mail 3 or 4 months (yes, with late fees) after you return home!

We will be returning this year to Bordeaux on Viking, in July, to enjoy what we hope is a relaxing return to some of the sites we missed, including Cognac, without having to drive!

Just off of a four-night on the Ruby. We had no problem securing our 2-top in the Michelangelo. Francesco is the Head Waiter - be prepared for a somewhat chaotic opening night, but it does settle down nicely from there.

Like other posters, and your stated plans, we also ate one night (the second) at the Crown.

The first night, after a 30 minute wait (the longest ever on Princess), we were seated at - I believe it was - 281, or 821 (I know, sorry!) a 2 top at the left rear of the restaurant. The service from Joel (a Filipino gentleman), and Julia (from the Ukraine) was stellar - among the best ever. I asked Francesco to hold this table for us for the 3rd and 4th night at 7:30pm and was accommodated cheerfully. Highly recommend! Joel is a very professional - a true gentleman, while Julia is a delightfully cheerful, bubbly gem of person. Julia is a Marketing professional with a University degree who is learning as she sails throughout the world. Joel is a warm engaging chap - both at the top of their game. They made us feel like long-time regulars in your favorite neighborhood restaurant.

Be nice, be polite, and be appreciative and you will get whatever table you want!

...and the food was delicious. I recommend the duck dish!

It looks good to me. I'm happy to see the Gewurztraminer and Sancerre remains, although I'd prefer an Alsacian for the gewurz. The Gevrey made the cut and the Italians are well-represented, except for Pinot Grigio's - only one from a country swimming in it.

On the minus side, I see that old fave Kenwood Jack London Cabernet has fallen off.

The Mouton Cadet is a terrific value wine, but this is sold for under $10 in the big box grocers - $27 here. The Avalon Cabby is a reasonable bargain choice.

For the sparklers, $38 for the Domaine Chandon is a bit high. The Korbel @ $27 offers a better value (actually buy the brut rose at $28). Are there no more Champagnes?

Overall, no big disappointments and no big happy surprises.

There was some smoking on the CB 12/22-29 in the casino, although there were at least two nights there that I know of that did not allow smoking. Churchills, and the area adjacent (the foyer for the theater entrance on 6) was smoke central - yechh!

One violation from a selfish smoker occurred in Skywalkers during a Plat/Elite cocktail hour - she apparently sat off by herself near a family table and proceeded to stink out the whole place. No wonder there's a no-smoking policy - it pollutes the entire area.

According to one of the salvage company's sites (below), the six (6) forward fuel/oil tanks have all been emptied. They are now proceeding to the mid-vessel tanks however the seas are not cooperating. I will assume that there will be three operations, for the forward, mid-ship, and finally rear tanks before all of the oil is effectively removed. Some progress, anyway.

http://www.boskalis.com/press/news/news-page/latest-update-costa-concordia.html