During a Scenic Europe river cruise on the Seine in France, guests can witness this incredible history coming to life in a fascinating way, thanks to Ben Baillie. Dressing up as Rollo the Viking, he will take you through the medieval laneways of Rouen, France, sharing stories of Viking raiders and ancient royalty in a truly unique way – exclusive for Scenic guests.  

Here, Ben tells us why he loves getting into character and shares the expectations, enjoyment and friendship that went into creating an unforgettable cruise season.

This period of history is quite special to me as I am one of the managers of the Council of Europe’s Viking Route (a collection of historic sites and stories that preserve the Viking legacy). Normandy is actually named after the Vikings – the word means ‘Land of the North-Men’ – and Rouen was their capital because of its position on the river Seine. When you are sailing along the Seine, you are travelling in the tracks of the Vikings, the same Vikings who explored North America 500 years before Columbus. Rouen has many secret Viking histories, but to learn about them you will have to join Rollo on a Viking tour of the city.

Meeting the guests from all around the world. It’s a real privilege to be an ambassador for my adopted region of Normandy and to take guests to where the history actually happened.  You can read about a person or event in history, but when you are walking in the footsteps it is a totally different experience. I lead active walks with Scenic guests in Les Andelys as Richard the Lionheart to his former chateau as well. All you need then is someone to bring the story to life with enthusiasm and passion. It's not about dates; it's about discovering our ancestors and the personalities that shaped the world that we live in today.

It is simply about being genuine and caring. As a former soldier, I have seen the worst of humanity in the world. In my job as a tour guide, I now get to share wonderful destinations and bring the stories and histories alive with the guests. I try to live by a medieval saying; “what man is a man that does not try to make the world a better place?”

Two memories stand out. Firstly, receiving a gift from two of my guests from the United States. Joe and Nancy sent me a book entitled How Ike Led with a special personal message from the author, who is none other than the granddaughter of Dwight D Eisenhower, the WWII Allied supreme commander of the D-Day campaign and two-time US President. This kindness will stay with me forever. Secondly, I remember an Australian guest, Anthony, who has a disability. On the excursion out to the Somme battlefields he was unable to get close to the Franco-British cemetery at Thiepval because the grass around the memorial was being replaced. But I was determined that after travelling 15,000km he was not going to miss out. We left the main group and struggled through the uneven gravel and made it to the heart of the memorial. There was no fuss from Anthony, but on the way back on the coach he mentioned that he was extremely happy to have made it to the memorial. These stories make me realise how lucky I am to be a guide and that I am on the right path.

Enjoy the Scenic Freechoice excursion with Rollo ‘the Walker’ plus two of Ben’s other experiences Tommy the soldier on board Scenic Gem and hike with Richard the Lionheart to Château Gaillard during the Normandy & Gems of the Seine itinerary. Learn more about Roman history in Lillebonne during Highlights of Normandy & the Seine.

You can also visit Ben’s website: Follow the Vikings.

Request your complimentary brochure to learn more about Scenic’s 5-star, truly all-inclusive France river cruises.