River cruise through France
 

I am planning on travelling with my elderly mother on a river cruise from Paris to NOrmandy and then through the Rhone river on May or June 2004. There are several river cruise lines and it's difficult to distinguish their features (mostly Viking, Uniworld, and Grand Circle).
-Does anybody have any experience with any of this cruise lines?
-How is the weather in those areas in May or JUne?
Thank you!

A friend did a Uniworld Cruise in May--two back to back, plus an extension prior to the Normandy part. She and her husband were quite pleased with the cruise--they have done several river cruises (Danube, etc. one of which was on Uniworld also. ) She and I did a barge cruise in E. Burgundy in 2001 and had very good weather and we also did a France tour in May 2002, when we had some rain. I don't think that you can ever "count" on the weather at any given season. This year was unusual for weather in France, I believe. The food and accomodations on their May cruise were good and they were lucky to have great weather. Her husband has some vision problems, but enjoyed the trip. Lots of "off the boat" mini-tours which were interesting. Sorry, she can't tell you herself, but she is not an "online" person. mhm

I would pick June over May-

while it will be warmer, at least if you are in Provence area, you will get to see lavendar and sunflowers in bloom, or at least early blooms....

My Wife and I along with a few other friends are planning a Seine River trip on the Viking Line. Any experiences out there with this particular line? Thanks in advance.

We have done Budapest to Amsterdam on Uniworld.

North Sea to the Mediterranean with Uniworld.

Basel to Belgium with Grand Circle.

They were all great trips with excellent quides, good food and pleasant surroundings.

We can't really say that one was better
than the other. :-B

We have done two 14 day cruises with Viking, not in France though, and both were excellent. Friends have done a Viking cruise through Provence and raved about it. France, with Viking, is next on our list.

manenita-- We did the Rhone Cruise on MS Cezanne...from Arles to Lyon --in August..it was GREAT....if it were me, and I just had the choices you had, then I would probably go for June...