Haqdeluxe Posted August 28, 2022 #26 Share Posted August 28, 2022 5 minutes ago, pontac said: How does this work if all 150 people want to go on the excursion? Do they have 15 groups with 15 guides? 15 or 5 groups, all touring the same site at roughly the same time... not really seeing a big difference. With multiple ships in port it has always been the hords of tour groups jockeying to visit the same quaint little town and the same sites at the same time that I've found takes away from and diminishes the experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisi Posted August 28, 2022 #27 Share Posted August 28, 2022 Avalon has several groups for it's excursions as well, we started off with about 6 - 8 in ours, ended up with 10. They also have a choice of excursions, so you can do the "classic" tour, a "specialised' tour and an "active" tour, so that also helps to keep the group sizing down. We were on a ship with 121 passengers, and I don't think we ever had a full bus when we had to take one for touring away from the river. Some times we had a large coach with about 15 people on it...we sat in the back and would have 1/2 of the bus for space! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawnvip Posted August 28, 2022 #28 Share Posted August 28, 2022 39 minutes ago, pontac said: How does this work if all 150 people want to go on the excursion? Do they have 15 groups with 15 guides? Good question!! Other than a few of the Very Popular excursions (Monet's Garden for example) where all of the cruise passengers went to the same place, our experience was AMA reception had colored "tickets" available each morning for the various available tours. For each day there was always the option of 3 or so tours, and sometimes a bike tour on offer as well, going to different sites and with differing level of activity. The chance of everyone going to the same place was pretty small. Once off the boat, people went to the bus with their ticket color (or to the bikes!) and boarded. Each tour we chose had at least 3 guides on board the bus and split the guests up between them. Once at the location, we paired our audio device to the lollipop of our guide and away we went! One day we had the whole bus, guide, driver and site to ourselves, which was amazing and one of our favorite tours of the cruise. We also did a bike tour one morning and once again we were the only ones! This process may have been unique as the cruise last year was in the "lull" of the pandemic. I'll report back at end of September when we're back from the next AMA cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiladyldp Posted August 28, 2022 #29 Share Posted August 28, 2022 I am a very picky eater and won't eat fish and a lot of other things. What I found (on Viking) that I can eat breakfast because there is lots of variety and lunch usually is has lots of variety or you can eat off the ship. Where I saw limitations for me was dinner but there was usually something I could I eat. Maybe ask if the appetizer if you like it can be made dinner size. They are very accommodating so don't be afraid to ask for substitutions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare franski Posted August 28, 2022 #30 Share Posted August 28, 2022 16 hours ago, Canal archive said: Fran may I correct you it should be, is, not, can be! No argument from me!! Fran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canal archive Posted August 29, 2022 #31 Share Posted August 29, 2022 I’m pretty sure that cruise companies are really helpful where dietary concerns are expressed apart from a pretty weird wine one I’m no problem but various cruisers I’ve met have had their challenges met successfully with Scenic so I’m sure if you talk to your restaurant/hotel manager your dietary concerns will be met. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Got2Cruise Posted August 29, 2022 #32 Share Posted August 29, 2022 River Cruising gives you an amazing amount of free time. If you don’t want to follow the guides when you get to the point of interest, just let them know. They’ll give you directions where to meet for the bus back. Or how to get back on your own. I’d recommend the Danube to try RC if you like to independently travel. Do a precruise in Budapest independently. Then a post cruise in Munich independently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted August 29, 2022 #33 Share Posted August 29, 2022 On 8/28/2022 at 11:37 AM, Haqdeluxe said: 15 or 5 groups, all touring the same site at roughly the same time... not really seeing a big difference. With multiple ships in port it has always been the hords of tour groups jockeying to visit the same quaint little town and the same sites at the same time that I've found takes away from and diminishes the experience. Don't what experience you have, but my experience is that AMA and Scenic do a very good job of keeping their – small – tour groups out of each others' way. The – large – Viking groups may be able to hear their guide (thanks to QuietVox) but few of them can see what is being described. The personal touch is ... priceless. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canal archive Posted August 30, 2022 #34 Share Posted August 30, 2022 When we first started river cruising with Scenic we joined the medium paced group, being fairly fit and it worked for us and as an avid photographer an ideal pace. Now especially not being as fit and having two wonderful new knees we go with the slower paced group, why, taking those photographs is so much easier. We were also one of the first groups to use the phone app way back in time and it works like a dream especially with so much extra information. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljandgb Posted August 30, 2022 #35 Share Posted August 30, 2022 I love river cruising, and also land trips, which let you soak up more local culture and time. A combo is a great way to "get it all." We've used a French company twice now to arrange land portions of our trips, "France Just for You" and wouldn't hesitate to use them again. They'll arrange lodging, tours, rental cars, trains, pretty much anything your want, and are reasonably priced and easy to work with if you're hesitant to do all the planning yourself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyK13 Posted August 30, 2022 #36 Share Posted August 30, 2022 On 8/29/2022 at 8:48 AM, Got2Cruise said: River Cruising gives you an amazing amount of free time. If you don’t want to follow the guides when you get to the point of interest, just let them know. They’ll give you directions where to meet for the bus back. Or how to get back on your own. I’d recommend the Danube to try RC if you like to independently travel. Do a precruise in Budapest independently. Then a post cruise in Munich independently. Exactly what we are planning to do in December! 3 nights in Budapest before Vienna to Nuremberg cruise. Then 3 nights in Munich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Got2Cruise Posted August 30, 2022 #37 Share Posted August 30, 2022 2 hours ago, KathyK13 said: Exactly what we are planning to do in December! 3 nights in Budapest before Vienna to Nuremberg cruise. Then 3 nights in Munich. Ohhh you’ll be there for the Christmas markets. Lucky you! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyK13 Posted August 31, 2022 #38 Share Posted August 31, 2022 22 hours ago, Got2Cruise said: Ohhh you’ll be there for the Christmas markets. Lucky you! Yes! Postponed from 2020, then 2021, hoping it happens this year! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loge23 Posted August 31, 2022 #39 Share Posted August 31, 2022 On 8/26/2022 at 10:13 PM, LoriAB said: I absolutely fell in love with that region, and I want to return with my significant other. Not sure if you meant taking a river cruise from Paris to Normandy, but if so I would definitely recommend doing this trip on your own. The river cruises to Normandy really don't cruise much - it's a short distance and there's very little scenery from the boat, unlike the Rhine or Danube cruises. If you fly into CDG, you can rent a car (get one with GPS). It's a pretty short drive from there to Giverny or Rouen, where you can regroup for a night or two. From there, it's an equally short trip to Bayeux, in the heart of the Normandy beaches area. Brittany and the lovely town of Honfleur are also easily reachable by car (albeit in opposite directions). You'll also have much more time to explore while you're on your own. There are excellent guided tours if you wish from Bayeux to the landing beaches - and plenty of yummy places to eat when you return to Bayeux. Don't forget to see the awesome Bayeux Tapestry exhibit in town - it's a highlight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted August 31, 2022 #40 Share Posted August 31, 2022 I have done Normandy both as a fly-drive and more recently as a river cruise. Both approaches have much to recommend them, but even with a GPS the driver will miss out on most of the scenery. If you want a carefree introduction for your partner, my recommendation would be a leisurely river cruise – specifically the Scenic 11-day itinerary that overnights in Rouen and Honfleur: Normandy & Gems of the Seine 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare texasstar Posted September 1, 2022 #41 Share Posted September 1, 2022 I enjoyed the river cruise on Seine. I thought the scenery on the Seine was beautiful, but I wish we had taken a private tour of the beaches while we were on our land tour of Brittany and Normandy prior to our cruise. I felt the cruise trip to the beaches was rushed. The tour guide rushed the group, especially those of us that do not move as fast as we used to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted September 1, 2022 #42 Share Posted September 1, 2022 8 minutes ago, texasstar said: I enjoyed the river cruise on Seine. I thought the scenery on the Seine was beautiful, but I wish we had taken a private tour of the beaches while we were on our land tour of Brittany and Normandy prior to our cruise. I felt the cruise trip to the beaches was rushed. The tour guide rushed the group, especially those of us that do not move as fast as we used to. Understood. We presumably had a different guide, and also our expectations for that day may have been different to yours. We felt the Scenic tour to the American beaches was just the right length. [But we had done Bayeux on our own on the previous trip, so we didn't have to choose between the two destinations.] Bottom line: you can't see everything in an area on any one trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted September 1, 2022 #43 Share Posted September 1, 2022 17 minutes ago, texasstar said: I enjoyed the river cruise on Seine. I thought the scenery on the Seine was beautiful, but I wish we had taken a private tour of the beaches while we were on our land tour of Brittany and Normandy prior to our cruise. I felt the cruise trip to the beaches was rushed. The tour guide rushed the group, especially those of us that do not move as fast as we used to. I am going to the Beaches in November from Cherbourg cruise port. We do have a private tour. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPT Trips Posted September 1, 2022 #44 Share Posted September 1, 2022 We took a 13 day Grand Circle trip, The Seine: Paris to Normandy - https://www.gct.com/trips/river-cruises/europe/the-seine-paris-to-normandy/2021/itineraries?icid=global:itineraries:europe-by-river-cruise:sen2021 It goes one way, either Paris to Honfleur or the reverse, with overnights in Paris, Vernon, Rouen, and Honfleur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canal archive Posted September 1, 2022 #45 Share Posted September 1, 2022 The museum at Arromanches is interesting I was brought up and lived in the Portsmouth area so it was just a little surreal to see the used Mulberry harbours having grown up with ones left behind. As we weren’t going to a Canadian cemetery Scenic arranged for couple to go by taxi to visit a member of their families resting place they met up with us at lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caripoo Posted September 2, 2022 #46 Share Posted September 2, 2022 I love the river cruises......That being said, NOT to the Normandy and Paris region....that area is best seen by car, train, or private chauffeur. There are better regions for those...The Rhine, Danube...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smtcan Posted September 2, 2022 #47 Share Posted September 2, 2022 On 8/31/2022 at 3:00 PM, Host Jazzbeau said: I have done Normandy both as a fly-drive and more recently as a river cruise. Both approaches have much to recommend them, but even with a GPS the driver will miss out on most of the scenery. If you want a carefree introduction for your partner, my recommendation would be a leisurely river cruise – specifically the Scenic 11-day itinerary that overnights in Rouen and Honfleur: Normandy & Gems of the Seine On a cruise before COVID we had an overnight stop in Le Havre with two long days. We rented a car at the port and explored the Normandy Beaches. The ship excursions concentrated on the American sites, but we only spent a short time at Omaha Beach before visiting Juno and Gold, which held more relevance for us. I had done a lot of reading before our trip, so knew exactly where we wanted to go. Without that research we would not have understood the significance of what we saw. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted September 2, 2022 #48 Share Posted September 2, 2022 Both the Scenic cruise we took and the AMA one I had researched offered a choice of Normandy tours aimed respectively at Americans and Canadians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisi Posted September 3, 2022 #49 Share Posted September 3, 2022 Avalon is another line that offers trips to either the American or UK & Cdn beaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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