Canal archive

I’m pretty sure I’ve never actually criticised Viking as to their on board capability’s as I have never cruised with them. In fact because of how they treated my best friend when her husband was taken I’ll on board I’ve been supportive of them and have questioned some critics. You are correct there are very different levels of luxury mine are exceedingly high.

Apparol Spritz whilst waiting for the cyclists return and then lunch in the sun. Beautiful day. Scenic Gem set off for Vernon super cruising weather, whoops spoke to soon. We had the most horrendous hail storm ever so heavy they even had to slow the ship down. Okay they have radar but when the eye cannot see each bank of the river then I believe caution is not only recommended but top of the list. Wow what an experience. Sorry no photos and this from a lady who always has a camera of some kind to hand. But DH has just transferred this taken in Ruone I don’t remember it from our first visit. More catch ups soon.

Pontac will have a fit here as I’m supporting Viking but I’ve never heard of Viking excursions being extra pricey and I would question why should it be exclusive to Viking, just saying.

Ahhhh there’s something to be said about being friends before lovers or okay even becoming friends because you are lovers.

Many years ago whilst shopping in a Paris department store whilst purchasing an item my husband said that I had throughly confused the poor assistant because I used at least four if not five different languages - French, Spanish, German, Italian and English, okay maybe only one word of each but does this make me multi-lingual, I think not but it does mean believe it or not that I have the ability to order various drinks in various languages in loads of places around the world. Ohh I once - in my youth started an - English/American dictionary I must look for it. Fawcet-tap, Lift-elevator and so on and so forth.

At the moment in my dreams, I’m getting good at them!

Pontac you smoothie you. We did a dinner cruise courtesy of Scenic because on its first Seine cruise the Gem wasn’t completely ready. I must admit it was quite good but that was back in 2014 I expect it’s improved by now. Wouldn’t mind doing it again.

Note to above - forgot to say these qualifications mean that as long as these Captains are on board no pilot is required.

It feels like we sneak out of Honfluer as we’re all fast asleep, Only four cruise companies have the required boats and crew to tackle the maritime section of the Seine and moor up in Honfluer harbour, if you get the chance to cruise on one of them do so it’s a river cruising experience not to be missed. So off we went to Caudebec en Caux pretty little place where DH decided on a bike ride which he really enjoyed (he does have his own electric bike) did you know that Victor Hugo lived there for some time and they now have a museum about him. News to me and DH who really enjoyed his actually rather long (not that the participants complained) bike ride. Whilst he and most of the other passengers were off doing other things I was wandering around reading etc. But also keeping an eye on our two Captains who were being put through the wringer by a group who came on board in the morning. After much machinations it turned out that they were both completing their testing on their competence to navigate to and into Honfluer harbour and to and from on the maritime section. So now Scenic has one Captain with the seniority and qualifications and one Captain one year short of his seniority but qualified. An absolutely wonderful thing to observe everyone on board was so happy for them. To have to go through that whilst in the middle of a cruise must add real tension.

Congratulations Notamermaid Bayern Munich has just bought our best footballer so I’m sat here listening to my DH reminiscing about Munich - evidently a beautiful city his many times there and his Germany colleagues of times past. I never got the chance to visit. 🥲

A memory for you. It’s a beautiful city. I’m pleased these cruises have been reinstated they were stopped after an horrendous collision.

We moored in Honfluer for two days absolutely wonderful. Just a little on how Scenic has changed its way of operating since we last cruised with them in 2019. Scenic employed all of their crew except one from a German company who also supplied other cruise companies. The one exception was the cruise director. Now Scenic employ all of their staff, maritime, hotel and catering directly except for one - yes the cruise director. Thinking about this and admittedly from only one cruise but also speaking to a few staff I pretty sure it’s a good move. More on qualifications etc later. 1of4 that’s a cruise we haven’t done so maybe a little arm twisting is called for.😆

Turning to reverse into the inner - inner harbour superb seamanship and teamwork from our maritime crew. Not a lot of room but the skill was certainly on display.

Everything is replaced and topped up and if you have a preference just tell your butler or cabin attendant and it will be done.

I’ve had so many challenges with the above will try to sort it. a.s.a.p.

The food on board was absolutely excellent our head chef was a young Portuguese lady and she was outstanding. At lunch we had a pasta chef again superb no waiting he had delivery off pat. The food choices were excellent something for everyone. At one stage my appetite just disappeared this caused consternation and I was assured that they would prepare absolutely anything for me. Any recipe just ask and it was in your cabin the next day. Now we’re off on our way on the Maritime section of the Seine and that’s anywhere past Rouen. We’ve picked up the pilot - more on that later. Our first shot of the Pont de Normandie

Here we are and this is one of the recipes the original was delicious.

The food on board was absolutely excellent our head chef was a young Portuguese lady and she was outstanding. At lunch we had a pasta chef again superb no waiting he had delivery off pat. The food choices were excellent something for everyone. At one stage my appetite just disappeared this caused consternation and I was assured that they would prepare absolutely anything for me. Any recipe just ask and a copy was in your cabin the next day. Now we’re off on our way on the Maritime section of the Seine and that’s anywhere past Rouen. We’ve picked up the pilot - more on that later. Below the Pont de Normandy the last bridge before the turn into Honfluer harbour.

We were on the first Scenic cruise some years ago when a wonderfully super Australian guy asked for two lamb chops for breakfast and he got them every morning exactly how he wanted them. We noticed this last cruise that they were available every morning on the standard order from the chef menu. I must admit to not seeing anyone order them. My DH had his eggs Benedict by the third day he just had to nod at a waiter.

DHs birthday so cake at L’Amour and we sat with another couple we had spoken with a few times and I was her birthday as well so two cakes that we shared with everyone, really goowey and light as a feather. Back to our cabin to find a very nice bottle of Champagne not his favourite which is Dom but more than passable and we decided to drink it up on the top deck the next day. Which we did complete with nibbles, these butlers are worth their weight in gold. More on the food tomorrow which I’m almost sure was about the best ever on Scenic and its always been good. . Lunch time snack gave us a giggle oh so very French.

Always chocolates on your pillow. Not telling you if there’s anything else because I don’t know as we’ve never cruised with another company no one has tempted us to, change - yet!

No problem playing the movies could be an Apple Microsoft challenge but I love the Trompe l’oeil picture one and the lace maker which took me back to my lace making days.

Sharkster77 just tell him the Falkirk Wheel (by the way don’t miss a trip if you get a chance) is real history because of why it was built where it was built and it’s shape is very war like. The Celtic or Bearded Axe. Basically in the end it’s a good job we all appreciate different things otherwise every river boat would be identical - heaven forfend.

Just a little teaser if you look carefully you can see both ends of the Rainbow 🌈 sadly no pot of gold amazing what you see on the Seine.

Here he is, now his talk about WW1 was the most moving experience I’ve ever had on any cruise and coming from a British Vet even more so, his comparisons were so special he had all of us ladies in tears. It was certainly amazing how many of us had family members who had been involved in WW1 considering that it wasn’t a full ship. Also surprising that so many didn’t realise that they can search for the burial places or memorial places of family members through The Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Just a special day.