Day 8 - Chateaux, Rivers and Wine - Viking Forseti

 

Day 8- Sunday 27 September 2026

Our flight was scheduled to leave at 11:05. Our bags were to be placed at 07:30 outside our room and rooms had to be vacated by 09:00. But we left at 08:30 for the airport. Viking are excellent both at meeting arriving guests at airports and looking after departing guests. There were three Viking reps meeting us at the airport; one dedicated to looking after mobility challenged guests and one to help with baggage.

Airport Vineyard

We were taken to check-in then to security. Bordeaux Merignac was undergoing construction and signage was lacking so we were really grateful to Viking’s help.

Summary

There is little cruising and little to see when cruising. The major attraction of the Bordeaux region is wine, but Viking have learned many people now booking this cruise have little such interest and other interests are catered for.

I would have liked an included excursion on Day 6.

But we relaxed, read our Kindles, and enjoyed excellent food and wine. I was surprised to find the majority of Bordeaux red wines on the list were outside the Silver Spirits package (11 out of 18). We liked Charmes de Kirwan most, and enjoyed it three times. On coming home I found it on sale at Majestic at £30.

 The weather was sunny and pleasantly warm in the high 20s Celsius. Apart from one breakfast in the main dining room we ate either in the Aquavit Lounge or out on the prow.

The staff were unfailingly friendly, professional and hardworking.

I wondered if there was an agreement between the river cruise companies to time visits differently, because unlike other cruises, we never saw other groups on our excursions.

But seven days wasn't long enough.

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