How a Trip on MS Camargue Converted Me to River Cruising
By Maud Dunne
I’ll admit it: when I first considered a river cruise in France, I wasn’t entirely convinced. I imagined something pleasant, comfortable… but perhaps a little passive. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Stepping aboard the MS Camargue completely changed my perception of river cruising — and honestly, it surprised me in the most beautiful way.
From the very first moments on the Rhône, I felt something shift. This wasn’t simply a cruise. It was an intimate journey through the soul of Southern France.
Feeling at Home on the Water
What struck me immediately was the warmth. The MS Camargue is a boutique ship, and that changes everything. The crew didn’t just welcome us — they recognised us. They remembered names, preferences, little details. There’s something deeply comforting about being greeted with genuine smiles each day.
Because the ship is small, you never feel like a number. Conversations flow easily. You see the same faces. You build connections. It feels less like boarding a vessel and more like being invited into a floating home.
And as someone who loves meaningful travel — not just ticking boxes — that intimacy made all the difference.
Experiencing France with All the Senses
What truly moved me was how immersive the journey was.
As we sailed past vineyards and sunlit châteaux along the Rhône, the crew didn’t simply point them out. They told stories. They explained the nuances between regions — the way the light changes, the difference in terroir, the history layered into each town. It reminded me why I love France so deeply: every bend in the river carries centuries of culture.
And then there were the sensory moments.
In Arles, we were treated to a surprise performance by musicians connected to the Gipsy Kings. The music wasn’t just entertainment — it was atmosphere, emotion, rhythm woven into the Provençal night air.
At dinner, each meal reflected where we were. The wines were local Rhône selections, thoughtfully paired. You could taste the landscape — the sun, the soil, the traditions — in every glass. As someone who believes food is one of the purest ways to understand a place, I found this incredibly powerful.
Even the crew’s regional attire added a charming, almost theatrical touch — subtle details that made each stop feel celebrated.
It wasn’t staged. It felt authentic. And that authenticity is something only a French operator like CroisiEurope — deeply rooted in its own culture — can truly deliver.
A Small Ship, A Big World
I expected mostly French guests onboard, but instead we had a wonderfully diverse group. A few seasoned American cruisers told me they specifically chose CroisiEurope for its cuisine and immersive approach. They wanted depth, not spectacle.
That resonated with me.
This wasn’t a cruise built around excess. It was built around connection — to the river, to the regions, to the people.
More Than Seeing France — Feeling It
By the end of the journey, I realised something important.
River cruising, when done this way, isn’t about simply observing landscapes from a deck chair. It’s about moving gently through a country, letting it unfold around you. It’s about slowing down. Listening. Tasting. Connecting.
The MS Camargue didn’t just show me Southern France.
It reminded me why I live it in the first place.
And it converted me — wholeheartedly — to river cruising.
It would be an honour to convert you too. Reach out to us to discover the wonderful river and barge cruises across France, and we’ll make it happen.
