MS Maribelle Cruise Review

Viking River Cruises: Southern France

ABOVE: The MS Maribelle in Chalon-sur-Saône, France.

By Durant Imboden

Archived Cruise Review

• Note: MS Maribelle is no longer sailing with Viking River Cruises. (The ship has been replaced by newer vessels.)

River cruising has been popular in Europe for decades--especially among the Germans, who have a long tradition of cruising on the Rhine, the Danube, and other Central European waterways. In recent years, an increasing number of river-cruise lines have targeted English-speaking travelers with voyages throughout Western and Eastern Europe. I had the chance to sample one such itinerary in October, 2003 aboard the MS Maribelle  of Viking River Cruises. (The Maribelle, which was built in 2000, was then known as Viking Burgundy.)

In the course of a week-long journey on the Saône and Rhône Rivers in Southern France, I learned what makes river cruising so different from ocean cruising--and why river cruises are increasingly popular with foreign visitors who want a more pleasant and less stressful alternative to escorted bus tours. With my 17-year-old son Anders Imboden, I enjoyed the convenience of unpacking and unpacking just once while exploring more than half a dozen cities and towns in a region known for vineyards, gastronomy, medieval castles, and Roman monuments.

This 191-page cruise review includes a report on the ship and its crew, descriptions of ports and excursions, and 169 captioned photos of the MS Maribelle and its cruise itinerary from Chalon-sur-Saône to Avignon, France.

Important:

• Viking's Southern France itinerary and shore excursions may vary slightly from year to year, and the itinerary's name often changes, so check the Viking River Cruises Web site to learn what's included or excluded during this year's or next year's cruising season.

• The last time we checked a few years ago, Viking had not just one, but three ships on its Southern France itinerary. The vessels are from Viking's new "Longships" series.

Next page: MS Maribelle