Travel Maven Blog ...... David Molyneaux posts from TheTravelMavens.com

Freighter cruising on Aranui 3 in the South Pacific

Jacques Brel’s memory is alive, well and living in Atuona

Travelers by freighter are enthusiastic and adventurous

Aranui 3 at anchor off Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Archipelago of the South Pacific. (Photos by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com)

The voice is unmistakable, even 20 yards away from a bright green barn that sits near a beach on Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands of the South Pacific. Inside is a memorial to chanteur Jacques Brel, who was known throughout the world as a passionate singer, songwriter, and movie star.

Listening to Brel on a warm, humid afternoon was one of the highlights of a freighter cruise to the remote islands of French Polynesia on Aranui 3.

I loved Brel in French. English versions of his songs were recorded by artists ranging from Nirvana to the Beach Boys and swept across the United States in performances of the musical revue, “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.”

A better angle for cruising, Avalon's beds that face the river

On a recent river cruise up and down the Seine, between Paris and the beaches of Normandy, the crew played a little trick on the travel writers aboard.

Avalon Tapestry II on the Seine (Photos by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com)

This was a preview voyage, at the beginning of the season for Avalon Waterways’ new Tapestry II in France, and the company wanted to prove a point about their terrific innovation for improving passengers’ river views from their cabins.

One day, while the 128-passenger vessel was docked, and we were out touring one of the cities along the river, the crew moved our bed.

For several years, Avalon has been bringing out fancier river vessels, 10 of which they call "Suite Ships." These ships have two full decks of 200-square-foot cabins with beds that face floor-to-ceiling windows.

About 80 percent of Avalon's Suite Ship cabins look like this.