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Viking River Cruise - Bordeaux
Posted on 4/14/26 at 8:14 am
Posted on 4/14/26 at 8:14 am
I’m considering booking Viking’s 8-day river cruise through Bordeaux and the surrounding region, and I’d love to hear opinions on both Viking as a cruise line and the trip itself...
1
Posted on 4/14/26 at 9:39 am to lsuche2003
I am at the airport right now waiting for my flight to Athens for my Viking ocean cruise.
We took the Viking Bordeaux cruise two years ago. It was our first Viking cruise and our first river cruise and we loved it. If you are in to wine, you get to thoroughly explore one of the great wine regions of the world.
We started and ended in Bordeaux which is like a mini Paris.
The boat didn’t travel very far, but we were in a different port every day.
On the St Emilion day we had lunch at a Chateau and winery and were hosted by the Count and Countess who own the estate.
On the Medoc day we drove by four of the five first growths, got to walk around Chateau Margaux and had dinner at Chateau Kirwan.
I took an E-bike ride through the vineyards which was fun and scenic.
As for the scenery, I will say that it was pleasant, but not as spectacular as the scenery on the Rhine and the Danube. We took the Grand European last year and it was incredible. The ports and scenery were off the charts. That was the best cruise I have ever been on.
The Bordeaux cruise is highly recommended, especially if you are interested in wine. Otherwise, try to swing the Grand European which is longer since it combines the Rhine and the Danube.
We enjoy Viking.
We took the Viking Bordeaux cruise two years ago. It was our first Viking cruise and our first river cruise and we loved it. If you are in to wine, you get to thoroughly explore one of the great wine regions of the world.
We started and ended in Bordeaux which is like a mini Paris.
The boat didn’t travel very far, but we were in a different port every day.
On the St Emilion day we had lunch at a Chateau and winery and were hosted by the Count and Countess who own the estate.
On the Medoc day we drove by four of the five first growths, got to walk around Chateau Margaux and had dinner at Chateau Kirwan.
I took an E-bike ride through the vineyards which was fun and scenic.
As for the scenery, I will say that it was pleasant, but not as spectacular as the scenery on the Rhine and the Danube. We took the Grand European last year and it was incredible. The ports and scenery were off the charts. That was the best cruise I have ever been on.
The Bordeaux cruise is highly recommended, especially if you are interested in wine. Otherwise, try to swing the Grand European which is longer since it combines the Rhine and the Danube.
We enjoy Viking.
This post was edited on 4/14/26 at 3:32 pm
Posted on 4/14/26 at 12:19 pm to geauxpurple
Thanks for all the great information. I’m curious — when’s the best time to take the Bordeaux cruise. I’ll definitely look into the Grand European in the near future.
Posted on 4/14/26 at 2:01 pm to geauxpurple
Here we go! Expect the full trip report!
Posted on 4/14/26 at 2:45 pm to lsuche2003
We went in April 2024 and it was fine. The weather was nice and the summer crowds had not hit yet. We only had one day when the water level did not allow us to dock at the port so we docked at Bordeaux again and were taken by bus to Cadillac and Sauternes which was not far away.
Another reason we picked the Bordeaux cruise (other than the wine master course) was that we were planning to go to Paris anyway and Paris is an easy train ride from Bordeaux.
Another reason we picked the Bordeaux cruise (other than the wine master course) was that we were planning to go to Paris anyway and Paris is an easy train ride from Bordeaux.
This post was edited on 4/14/26 at 2:51 pm
Posted on 4/24/26 at 4:40 pm to geauxpurple
Did you book your air travel through Viking? What airport did you fly into for the Bordeaux trip? Did you arrange your own airport transfers? I’m assuming you booked all of your excursions through Viking… Is it worth upgrading the alcohol package? What stateroom is preferred for the river cruise?
TIA
TIA
Posted on 4/24/26 at 5:06 pm to lsuche2003
Travel through Viking was cheaper for me when I took my cruise with them. Viking had transfers to and from the airports I flew out of. Just like with any cruise, if you are a drinker, get the drinking package. For Viking, I think its not as expensive as other cruises. Beer and wine are included during breakfast lunch and dinner. They did have a nice selection of premium alcohol available to those outside of dining times.
Posted on 4/25/26 at 8:35 am to lsuche2003
Get the Silver Spirits drink package. You don’t go to Bordeaux to drink cheap wine.
When we took the Bordeaux cruise we arranged our own travel because we went to Paris on our own by train after the cruise.
Bordeaux has an airport. You will probably have a layover in Paris then a short flight to Bordeaux. The cruise ship is just a short cab ride from the airport.
I will say that if Viking does handle all of your travel, they are very efficient at it.
We had one of the French balcony staterooms which is basically like a large sliding glass door by the bed. I thought it was fine but of course a real balcony would be a step up. The rooms are nice but small.
When we took the Bordeaux cruise we arranged our own travel because we went to Paris on our own by train after the cruise.
Bordeaux has an airport. You will probably have a layover in Paris then a short flight to Bordeaux. The cruise ship is just a short cab ride from the airport.
I will say that if Viking does handle all of your travel, they are very efficient at it.
We had one of the French balcony staterooms which is basically like a large sliding glass door by the bed. I thought it was fine but of course a real balcony would be a step up. The rooms are nice but small.
Posted on 4/26/26 at 8:50 pm to geauxpurple
Other than the wine part, is this an otherwise great cruise to go on?
We've never done Viking before. I assume it's not a booze cruise?
Nothing wrong with a few drinks and light partying but we're trying to avoid a lot of the garbage that goes on with booze cruises.
We've never done Viking before. I assume it's not a booze cruise?
Nothing wrong with a few drinks and light partying but we're trying to avoid a lot of the garbage that goes on with booze cruises.
Posted on 4/26/26 at 9:37 pm to theballguy
quote:
I assume it's not a booze cruise?
None of the European river cruises (including Viking) are booze cruises. There's usually a couple of folks that over indulge on each voyage regularly but it will not be a Caribbean cruise or Carnival like.
History, Food, some local music.
Since most of Europe was built along the waterways river cruising is an excellent way to go.
Two years ago I did a Silversea ocean cruise along the west coast from Portugal to England (including Bordeaux). Bordeaux is very cool. As Geauxpurple posted, it's like a mini-Paris.
Posted on 4/26/26 at 9:38 pm to theballguy
quote:
Nothing wrong with a few drinks and light partying but we're trying to avoid a lot of the garbage that goes on with booze cruises.
Never been one of these but I'm guessing a Viking river cruise in the Bordeaux wine region is probably the polar opposite of the booze cruise crowd. Like 72 year old wine snobs that go to bed at 8:30 polar opposite.
Posted on 4/26/26 at 9:43 pm to AUFANATL
quote:
Like 72 year old wine snobs that go to bed at 8:30 polar opposite.
I'm only 67 and can stay up to 10:00pm if need be : ).
Posted on 4/27/26 at 1:21 am to theballguy
quote:It was a wonderful cruise. We took it because we are in to wine and we wanted to be close to Paris.
Other than the wine part
To answer your question, if wine is not a priority for you I would pick another itinerary.
The best river cruise I have ever been on is the Viking Grand European that cruises both the Rhine and the Danube. The scenery is more beautiful and the ports are more interesting. The Rhine and the Danube are both more scenic than the Bordeaux rivers.
As I am writing this I am sitting on the Viking Star debarking in Venice after the Empires of the Mediterranean cruise. This is the best ocean cruise I have ever been on.
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