- I went on an eight-day river cruise through France aboard the Viking Skaga with my retired parents.
- The relaxed pace, calm waters and serene excursions make them the perfect way to travel with them.
- The itinerary balanced enrichment activities with necessary stops, and was worth $4,852.
Last year, my mother suggested we take a river cruise called Viking Skaga. eight daysParis and the heart of NormandyOur itinerary begins along the Seine and ends in Paris and includes small towns in Normandy – such as La Roche-Guyon, Vernon and Rouen.
I knew this trip would help me reconnect and create lasting memories with my retired parents, both of whom are in their early 70s. So my mom, dad and partner and I have booked the cruise in 2022, with a departure date almost a year later in March 2023.
My partner and parents paid for their flights themselves, so the total cost for part of the trip was $4,852 after the upgrade was applied
This price included my cruise fare, all meals and snacks on board, round-trip airfare, airport transfers, travel insurance, gratuities, a free shore excursion at each port, an alcoholic beverage package, and one optional shore excursion.
That’s what the experience was like.
We boarded Viking Skaga in Paris, where we had a clear view of the Eiffel Tower from the deck.
After an overnight flight to Paris, my partner and I headed to Viking Skaga. My parents arrived on a separate flight a few hours later.
The boat docked in the heart of the city, and we were able to see the famous Eiffel Tower from the deck.
Even though our veranda room was only 205 square feet, my partner and I had plenty of room and storage.
our Luxurious balcony 205 square feet, including private balcony. The room had a queen bed, wall mounted flat screen TV, private bathroom with heated floors, small writing desk, dresser, and many drawers.
We didn’t spend much time in our room during the day because we were usually on excursions or in the common areas with my parents.
However, when we needed some time alone to recharge after socializing or sightseeing, our room was a quiet, peaceful, and relaxing place to retreat.
I would have liked a coffee machine in our room but luckily there were espresso machines on the boat and several coffee shops on the grounds.
In my opinion, the only thing missing from our room was a coffee maker. When I’m groggy and trying to get up in the morning, the first thing I like to do is sip my coffee.
Skaga had two free self serve espresso machines in the main common area, but that meant I had to change out of my pajamas, put on regular clothes, and walk down the hall to get my morning fix.
On the plus side, I can make lattes, cappuccinos, or other specialty drinks instead of settling for basic drip coffee. And there were always baskets full of fresh pastries next to the espresso machines. So overall, it wasn’t a bad trade-off.
The on-board dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for enjoying the view of the passers-by.
I felt the food I had at Skaga was on par with dishes from a fine dining restaurant. We enjoyed soup, salad, steak, seafood, pasta, and delicious desserts. I loved every meal I ate on the plane.
The service staff was incredibly friendly and caring. I especially loved the daily specials, served by the servers at every meal, because they showcase French cuisine. For example, we ate escargot, boeuf bourguignon, croissants, and Niçoise salad.
Shared seating arrangements encouraged mixing. Our group of four always sat together, but at every meal we made sure to dine with fellow cruise passengers we hadn’t met yet.
Although it was fun meeting new people, it was sometimes difficult to hear them across the table or have private conversations.
The free daily cruises were well organized and led by knowledgeable guides.
As part of our cruise fare we had to go on one shore excursion each day for free. It ranged from a guided bus tour of Paris to a walking tour of Rouen. Many of the English speaking guides were French and provided detailed information and context on everything we observed.
I was really impressed that Viking provided each passenger with a QuietvoxAn audio device that reminded me of a high-end walkie-talkie.
The guides spoke into microphones that transmitted the sound to the passengers’ earphones, making it very easy to hear even from the back of the group.
Sometimes my partner and I took the same trip as my parents, but there were also days when we all chose different trips. I loved this flexibility and thought it was a great way to travel with a group. Everyone should customize the holiday in accordance with their own interests.
I paid extra for a bike tour of Giverny and it was one of my favorite shore excursions.
Skaga docked in Vernon, where our tour guide met passengers in front of the ship with bikes and helmets on.
Once everyone was ready to go, we headed towards Giverny, stopping briefly to visit Claude Monet’s white marble tomb outside a church called the Église Sainte-Radegonde de Giverny.
After a few more minutes of cycling, we arrive at the property where Monet lived and worked from 1883 until his death in 1926. It is now a museum run by Claude Monet Foundation.
While our guide told us about Monet’s life, we wandered through the famous water lily garden, where the impressionist artist painted More than 250 scenes Of the delicate flowers that float on the pond. We also toured his pink house with green shutters before heading back to the ship.
I paid $119 for this optional excursion, and it was well worth the money.
We also enjoyed the free organized activities and cultural events when we were cruising Skaga.
I love learning new things while on vacation, and Skaga’s onboard activities really enriched my experience by mixing education and entertainment.
One of my favorite activities was the cheese tasting session hosted by our cruise director. The cooking staff in the boat put together a wonderful selection of French cheeses, which we ate while the manager described the history and significance of each type.
My personal favorite was Comté, a mild cow’s milk cheese produced near the French border with Switzerland. Another evening the director gave us a crash course on sense of humor in French. And every night, a pianist on the boat performs in the boat lounge.
The itinerary allowed us plenty of free time to explore new areas at leisure.
I don’t like overly scheduled vacations, and thought this itinerary struck the perfect balance between organized activities and downtime.
For example, my partner and I explored La Roche-Guyon on our own, taking a leisurely walk through the small village and wandering around the Château de La Roche-Guyon, a beautiful castle dating back to the 12th century. Afterwards, we stopped at the local bakery for crepes and pain au chocolat.
When we were in Paris, I loved spending time admiring Auguste Rodin’s stunning sculptures, including “thinker,” In the Rodin Museum.
And after our guided walking tour of Rouen, our group of four stopped for a beer on a sunny patio on the way back to the boat. We also had plenty of time to play cards, which is one of our favorite ways to spend time together.
The cruise on the Seine was calm and scenic, and I didn’t feel seasick.
I’ve enjoyed many of the cruises I’ve been on, but I’ve also suffered from mild seasickness a few times during these cruises. To be fair, I do have a slightly sensitive stomach.
However, the Seine was calm throughout our Skaga trip, and I didn’t feel a hint of seasickness during the entire trip.
There were other benefits to going on a river cruise, too.
I’m a birder, so I loved sitting on our private balcony every morning and listening to the birds. I really enjoyed looking at all the towns and trees that line the Seine from the windows and rooftop. I felt immersed in the area even when I wasn’t participating in an activity or on a tour.
My favorite place to admire the views over the river was the Aquavit Terrace, an outdoor patio at the front end of Skaga that offers unobstructed views.
The trip was expensive, with a total cost of $4,852 for both parts, but it was well worth the money.
I paid for my trip using money from a savings account I opened in my twenties to help budget travel and keep my finances in order. The ride was worth the money because it felt luxurious without seeming stuffy or overly formal.
The food was of a high quality, the staff were attentive and kind, and the free daily excursions on the beach and activities on board were good value. The flexible itinerary made it a great group trip, and I loved that I was able to visit multiple destinations in northern France without having to unpack my bag more than once.
Above all, I loved exploring new places and making memories with my parents and partner.
Correction: July 16, 2023 – An earlier version of this story misstated the writer paying $4,852 to cover three people. The cost was only for her part of the trip, as her parents paid for the trip separately.
