Travel Seller’s Report: Sailing Through French Wine Country

After 56 ocean cruises, my wife and I decided to try a river cruise. We chose Burgundy and Provence because we especially like red wine, and this itinerary would take us through the heart of some of the best red wine regions in France.
 
We flew to Marsailles where we were met outside customs by the Uniworld representative a little after 10 a.m. and advised that the bus transfer to the ship would be at 11 a.m. We relaxed in the air terminal enjoying coffee and French bread and at 11 a.m., went looking for the Uniworld bus. Unable to find it, we asked at the information desk, and they had a note that Uniworld had been looking for me at 10:37.
 
They couldn’t have looked too hard as we hadn’t ventured out of the area. Considering we had flown all night, I would have preferred not to have to wait three more hours to even leave the airport. But, it was France, so I ordered a small bottle of wine, bought another loaf of bread, and we sat and enjoyed it while waiting for the later bus.
 
We finally boarded a bus about 12:40 and arrived at the ship in Arles a bit after 2 p.m. The embarkation processing was prompt and we were in a cabin quickly. Our luggage arrived a few minutes later. 
 
The ship, new in 2006, has a crew of 34, and a capacity of 134. On this sailing there were 125 passengers. The mix of passengers included a credentialed chef from a community college in Illinois traveling with a group of students, a German couple, a group of 20-30 year olds from Chicago along with their travel agent, a good number of 60-somethings from England and Australia, and the rest North Americans.  
 
The ship has just one elevator, which can accommodate a wheelchair, but does not go up to the sun deck.

The sun deck has a hot tub aft, and lots of chairs, tables, and chaise lounges. Two large awnings offer shade, but they must be lowered to pass under some bridges.
 
There are three passenger decks: the lower deck has portholes, the middle deck has windows, and the top deck has French balconies for each cabin, with a glass door that opens, allowing you to step out about two feet to a railing. That is what we had booked. Considering the line recommended we travel with one piece of luggage and a carryon, the storage space was enough. The storage available, less than what you find on ocean ships, consists of two drawers under the bed and a small closet with some hanging area and some shelves.
 
The bathroom was fine, with a glass enclosed shower, not a clingy plastic curtain. There are large drawers under the bathroom sink for storing toiletries. There is a 110 volt razor outlet in the bathroom, and a 110 volt outlet on the dressing table in the cabin.  A hair dryer was provided. 
 
Bottled water is complimentary. 
 
Dining
 
The middle deck is where the dining room is located. Dining is buffet style for breakfast and lunch, and open seating for diner, with tables for two, four, six, and eight. Breakfast included French pastry, omelets to order, a rotating daily choice of fruit filled crepes, or pancakes or French toast. Dairy products and fresh fruit are always available. Lunch features salads, hot entrees, small pre-made sandwiches, pasta, and a carving station. Soup is available to order from the waiters. Let your clients know, if they sit in the same area each time, they’ll have the same wait staff. 
 
At dinner (seating is around 7 p.m.), Uniworld offers a five-course menu with a choice of two entrees. My wife, who prefers fish, was happy to be offered halibut, grouper, John Dory, dorado, pike, salmon, and trout. Meat entrees included pork loin, strip steak, lamb shank, veal filet mignon, chicken, beef tournedos, and rabbit.  Steak, chicken and salmon were always available as options and special requests can be accommodated at dinner.
 
This was an Epicurean Adventurer themed cruise, featuring local recipes, food and wine. Wine, complimentary at dinner, ranged from Cote du Rhone (Syrah), to merlot, pinot noir from Burgundy, as well as several white wines from the regions. There is also a wine list with wines for purchase.
 
I was impressed that at dinner the servings were not oversized. Sometimes on ocean cruises, if I eat the full five course meal, I’m stuffed! The portions served in the river cruise were modest and I didn’t feel I had overeaten at any time. And of course you can ask for more; they even accommodated some special requests my wife made. 

Onboard Activity
 
Entertainment was limited to a pianist and small dance floor in the lounge on the top deck, where a bar is open all day, and continental breakfast and light lunch and tea are available during the day. On two evenings after dinner, a local pianist and vocalist played, and one afternoon a demonstration of silk painting was available. But with a city every day, walking excursions, and fine dining, not much more was needed. There was also a flat screen television in the cabin with CNN, BBC, Sky News, and some movies.
 
A fitness room offered two machines, a massage area, and a sauna, located aft on the top deck, just below the hot tub. Just outside the dining room on the middle deck is a boutique open a few hours a day, and a lounge with two computer stations, but no printer. Internet was available for 15 Euros for unlimited time during the week, and the satellite was generally available. In the lounge is a machine that makes instant beverages, including espresso, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate 24 hours a day. There are also six bicycles available at no charge that can be reserved. They are beach cruiser style but have hand brakes and gears. We used them to get around Lyon, the largest city visited during the cruise, to get around one afternoon. 
 
In Port
 
Because the ship docks right in the towns, my wife was able to get up early and walk five miles each morning feeling safe and getting an early look at the new towns. Each evening before dinner there is a short presentation about the next day’s agenda, including what time the morning excursions will depart. 
 
Every day there is a free excursion; all but two involved walking through the town with a local English speaking guide and an AudioVox set with earphones so we could hear the guides without being right next to them. After the guided walk, there was usually some time to walk independently before returning with the group, or we could remain on our own. One of the free excursions was by bus where we rode through the Burgundy vineyard areas and visited Beaune, followed by time on our own in the Saturday market, and a ride back. 
 
There are four optional afternoon tours available, at reasonable cost. These included a visit to an olive farm, a visit to lavender fields, a visit to a Roman aqueduct and wine tasting in Chateauneuf de Pape, and a visit to a working 17th century chateau followed by Burgundy wine tasting,
 
John Gawne is the owner of a Virginia-based Cruises Inc. He filed this report after a Burgundy & Provence cruise on Uniworld’s River Royale.
 
Next week: A closer look at the itinerary and insider’s tips to offer your clients.