With no flights involved we took the Eurostar to Paris and onwards by TVG direct to Nantes where we had decided to stay overnight before joining the ship. Our embarkation at the river station was at 6pm and this was easy to get to by taxi from our hotel. As we made our way to The Loire Princesse the crew were waiting at the quayside to take our luggage as we checked in onboard at reception to a very friendly welcome. We had  pre-purchased the excursions package before our cruise which I would definitely recommend.

The Loire Princesse is the only large river ship on the Loire due to her unique paddlewheel propulsion system exclusive to CroisiEurope. The depth of the river varies greatly during the seasons and the paddlewheel design enables the ship to sail in low water levels.

After settling into our cabin we then made our way to the large and spacious lounge. Complete with dance floor and a bar the comfortable lounge is located at the front of the ship with panoramic views from all angles! Cocktails, games, dancing and entertainment all take place here and this is where we all had welcome aboard champagne drinks and met the multilingual crew. After exploring the ship it’s soon time for our first dinner. Located on the lower deck the restaurant is where all meals are served during the cruise. Bruno, the Maître d', allocated us a lovely table next to a window, but to be honest all tables are excellently positioned. The atmosphere is casual but elegant and we enjoyed the first of many sensational meals. A selection of drinks including wine was readily served throughout.

The Loire Princesse is a premium ship with just 48 cabins carrying a maximum of 96 guests. Our cabin, number 222 on the upper deck, was climate controlled, it had a lovely bathroom with shower and toiletries provided, a satellite TV which folded into the ceiling at the touch of a button, free  Wi-Fi and a digital safety deposit box. Best of all our comfy double bed was situated facing the large floor to ceiling picture windows and the balcony, which was perfect to watch the ever-changing views when sailing.

During dinner we set sail for Saint-Nazaire arriving at 1.00am. In the morning I was intrigued to find we were moored adjacent to the Saint-Nazaire submarine base, an extraordinary building built during World War II by Nazi Germany which housed the U-boats. I was able to explore briefly during our excursion that morning which took in a visit to the nearby L’Escal ‘Atlantic museum of the famous ocean liners from days gone by, namely SS Normandie and SS France.

Our guided tour continued to the Saint-Nazaire shipyard, one of the largest in Europe. Once the birthplace of the most outstanding French transatlantic liners, today it is the construction site for elegant cruise ships. This was an amazing tour being able to view the construction of the latest modern cruise ships. Apparently the shipyard has orders for the next 10 years! We discovered the immensity of this site (267 acres), the stunning logistics, and the advanced technology required to build these ships. On return to The Loire Princesse its time for a 3-course lunch with wine as we set sail back to Nantes and after dinner an evening guided excursion by boat along the Erdre river one of the most beautiful in France with castles and châteaux seeming to endlessly line our route.

Up early the following day and after a splendid buffet breakfast we head up to the sundeck. Plenty of chairs and sun loungers it was never a problem finding somewhere to sit and watch the world go by. After lunch we depart on an excellent guided tour of the Muscadet Wine Route and Clisson a charming medieval town. Villages and vineyards en-route until we arrive at the impressive castle of Cassemichére where we discover its history, see the caves and sample the dry white wines.  Back to the ship in time for dinner, it’s a fabulous buffet meal laid on tonight, and there’s a live band in the lounge to follow.

Cruising to Ancenis and on arrival there’s a short, interesting lecture arranged on the castles of the Loire. Ancenis is a pleasant and typical Loire Valley town and we were moored close to the "Bretagne-Anjou" suspension bridge crossing the Loire. We took the time for a stroll around the town exploring and visiting the small boutique shops. A guided tour of nearby Angers followed which proved very interesting with a visit to its 13^th century fortress which houses the famous Apocalypse tapestry, all explained by our knowledgeable guide.

All too soon our splendid cruise is coming to a close. The last day features one tour most guests were eagerly looking forward to, discovering the wonderful fairy-tale castles of the Loire Valley. It’s the Captain’s Gala Dinner event tonight, excellent food as always, wine flowing, and we say goodbye to all the lovely hard-working crew.