The Loire River, longest in all of France, is in a region once favoured by French Royals (pre-French revolution), home to chateaus, vineyards, medieval cities and Nantes, the cultural gateway to the Loire region. Once an 18 th century maritime city, Nantes is now a youthful university town with boutiques, art and Michelin-worthy restaurants.
Our ship is moored on “ile de Nantes”, just steps away from the famous ile de Machines, a steam-punk park featuring the famous mechanical elephant and one of a kind carousel as well as other mechanical marvels. The rising popularity of younger, multi-generational and single travellers on river and barge cruises is a shift from cruises of the past. No longer are most river travellers in their 60’s and 70’s, and these new floating hotels come with wonderful meals, comfortable cabins and exciting excursions!
The Loire Princesse
Upon boarding the CroisiEurope’s Loire Princesse , I was impressed by the vessel’s colourful décor. There were vibrant pink, blue, orange and brown furnishings combined with crisp white walls. Public spaces include a lounge with open bar, a dining room on the lower level with white linens and an open-air upper deck where you can revel in the views.
The cabins have two single beds or a king, a spacious shower, modern amenities like WiFi, air conditioning, TV and a safe. My room on the upper level, was very comfortable, with a private walkout balcony affording me an amazing view from my bed each morning.
Nightly entertainment includes musicians, games and a show staged by the crew. There are a variety of ages among the passengers, and many nationalities – French, English, American, Russian, Swedish, Canadian and Spanish, to name a few.
Dining on Board
We got off on the right foot every morning with a buffet style breakfast complete with a custom-made egg station. I could choose from cheeses, fruits, yogurt, pastries and more. Even the pickiest eaters will find something to suit their palates. Lunch and Dinner are both a plated service with guests assigned specific tables. CroisiEurope considers the nationalities and languages spoken to ensure that you enjoy conversation with your fellow passengers.
Three courses are served at most meals. Dinners tend to be more extravagant with buffets on two nights. The smorgasbord featured colourful salads with locally harvested produce; they’re artfully prepared and accompanied by a roast beef or pork – one my favourite meals.
The meals are meticulously crafted at the head office in Strasbourg, under the careful supervision of Alain Bohn, the company’s executive chef. He is responsible for imagining, designing, and managing the menus served on board the ships, all in keeping with the finest traditions of French gastronomy.
Dietary needs of travellers with food allergies or other restrictions, are taken into consideration, you alert the team on the day of your arrival. The crew endeavours to accommodate every guest. During meals they offer a choice of 4-5 wines, I tended to favour the local Muscadet, it was light and paired with most meals nicely.
Daily Excursions
Our first day was spent on board or exploring Nantes. On our second day we ventured to Saint Nazaire, a ship building town. For anyone interested in shipbuilding, this is your tour. It’s amazing to see how they’re assembled, so be sure to take advantage of this. Note – for security reasons photos are not allowed.
While enjoying Saint Nazaire, be sure to visit the museum Escale Atlantique, housed in former U-boat hangers. Here you’ll get the complete shipping history from ocean liners and freighters to passenger cruise ships.
A half day is spent exploring the stronghold of Chateau d’Angers. Built like a fortress in the 9th and 13th century it remained the seat of power for the Anjou nobility throughout medieval times. There are seventeen towers lining the walls signifying its defensive role. The grounds include beautiful gardens and pleasant terraces, but the star attraction is the Tapestry of the Apocalypse. Woven in 1375, it’s considered the largest medieval tapestry in the world at a length of 104 metres.
The Loire valley is famous for its Muscadet Wine region, so on an excursion I visited Chateau
Cassemichere and tasted a medley of the wine including a sparkling Rose and a chardonnay. Its
early in the season and the vines are still growing but the landscape is quite beautiful. From here we venture to the charming village of Clisson and visit the Iglise Notre Dame.
As a history aficionado my favourite excursion was the all-day Chateaux Tour. This epic 10-hour
excursion is offered to all passengers.
We visited the beautiful Chateau Azay-le-Rideau, built during the reign of Francois I by Giles Berthelot a wealthy Financier. Walking into the chateau you see the opulent lifestyle and renaissance influences in the furnished rooms. The chateau, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is surrounded by the river Indre and has magnificent parklike grounds.
Next, a stop at the Chateau de Villandry. Perfect time for lunch and a tour of one of the most breathtaking gardens I’ve seen on this tour. These Renaissance gardens were restored by current owners the Carvallo family. There are mazes to walk through, a wide array of flowers, fountains and a colourful vegetable garden. It takes 10 gardeners daily to maintain the intricate designs. You must see it to understand why people love visiting this site.
Last, but not least, the Le Chateau Ussé, Le château de la Belle au Bois Dormant, also known as
Sleeping Beauty’s castle. When you step foot in the castle, the fairy tale springs to life before your eyes. It’s easy to see why it inspired other Disney movies, like Beauty and the Beast. Overall five days on the Loire Princesse with the final night gala dinner of Fois Gras, veal and a baked Alaska for dessert was a nice way to conclude a great voyage.
Tips for CroisiEurope Cruises
Dress Code – In addition to casual, comfortable clothing, pack formal wear for the gala evening and smarter clothing for dinner.
Plan for Extra Costs – The all-day Chateaux tour is included in the cost as well as a few others, but there are excursions that may be purchased a la carte or as a package. One extra cost you won’t have is the bar, it’s included.
Tipping – Tipping is at your discretion.
The Loire Princesse – The ship is built in 2014 and there are 48 cabins on the ship providing room to hold 96 passengers.
As you embark on your travels, remember that our journey leaves an impact. Embrace eco-friendly accommodations, support local communities, and reduce plastic use. Respect wildlife by observing from afar and conserve resources like water and energy. Choose sustainable transportation, leave no trace behind, and participate in conservation efforts. Educate yourself and others about the environment you’re exploring. Let’s ensure that we tread lightly on our planet, leaving only footprints of kindness and taking home memories that inspire others to protect our beautiful world. Happy responsible travels!