So, you're planning a river cruise with Tauck to see Paris and the Rhone River in France? Good choice. You're going to love the meticulously curated luxury adventure from one of the leaders in river cruising and all-inclusive experiences.
Did you know that you can choose to enjoy your 24-hour pampering and an endless supply of food and drinks with an ample side of fitness activities, too?
Colleen and I sailed with 60 others on Tauck's refurbished MS Emerald, and by the end of our 10-day trip we piled up incredible memories while finding plenty ways to keep up with our workouts. Tauck makes it very easy with a variety of amenities and planned activities that offer a fun way to start your day or see the sights in scenic villages in Provence along the Rhone.
We found the five best fitness activities on a Tauck river cruise adventure in France.
We walked for miles along the Seine and crossed back and forth on several of the 37 bridges in Paris. We walked to the edge of Notre Dame Cathedral and Musee d'Orsay. And we walked to Les Invalides, a church and military museum complex and the burial site of Napoleon Bonaparte and other French war heroes. All those places plus anything that caught our eyes in between, such as the Eiffel Tower (often present in the distant skyline, but we got up close for a few pictures of course) and the Egyptian Luxor Obelisk in Place de la Concorde.
When we were done in Paris, we had logged more than 24 miles of walking.
The guided tours took about 50 minutes and cover about seven miles. The best part is that we got to explore a little further afield, like the spacious urban park Parc de la Tete D'Or in Lyon that was filled with playgrounds, lakes and fields of flowers, and the historic Vincent Van Gogh drawbridge in Arles, which is the subject of several of the artist's 1888 paintings.
Note: All Tauck ships have bikes, and some cruise itineraries include hikes and organized cycling excursions targeted to more serious cyclists. These biking excursions feature a guide and special bikes provided at the destination (not from the ship).
Again, we were the only people in the fitness center every time we went in for a workout. At 40 and 50 years old, we were assessed by our fellow passengers to be the youngest people on the cruise. I also understand that we probably prioritize our exercise regimens more than most typical river cruise passengers, but it's good to know that these types of vacations can offer us plenty to do -- especially because I am growing to favor river cruising. I think that more and more travelers are staying active longer, and they like these options and amenities in whatever type of trips they take.
The top sun deck on MS Emerald also has a soft astro turf surface that is nice for walking laps at sunset or sunrise, and we had fun playing on the ship's putting green and relaxing in the hot tub -- especially to soothe our bodies after all that activity we eagerly put ourselves through.
Until next time, thanks for reading, and always travel fit!
JR