Grand France with 2 Nights in Nice (Southbound)

17 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
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River Cruise
Set sail on your Seine River cruise and sail to Vernon with your choice of a visit to Claude Monet’s Giverny or Bizy Castle, nicknamed “Normandy’s Versailles. In Caudebec, take an excursion to the historic Normandy Landing Beaches, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, or select an excursion for a traditional “Taste of ...
27%
$10,877
From$7,957
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

Highlights

    • Onboard welcome reception
    • Choice of excursions to Giverny or Bizy Castle or walk with your Adventure Host; choice of guided walk, or guided hike in Les Andelys; onboard crêpe tasting and Pastry Demonstration
    • Choice of excursion along the “Normandy Abbeys Route” or bike with your Adventure Host
    • Choice of full-day excursions to Normandy landing beaches or "A Taste of Normandy" excursion
    • Choice of guided sightseeing, see the Astronomical Clock and visit the cathedral or bike tour
    • Choice of excursion to Auvers-sur-Oise or excursion to Napoleon and Josephine's Château de Malmaison or bike with your Adventure Host
    • Choice of guided sightseeing or historic sights of the 'Heart of Paris' walking tour or walk with your Adventure Host
    • High-speed train from Paris to Dijon; motorcoach transfer to Beaune and visit to the Hôtel-Dieu; onboard welcome reception
    • Guided walk in Tournus; onboard cheese tasting
    • Choice of guided sightseeing with picture stop on Fourvière Hill or bike with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture

What's this trip about?

    Set sail on your Seine River cruise and sail to Vernon with your choice of a visit to Claude Monet’s Giverny or Bizy Castle, nicknamed “Normandy’s Versailles. In Caudebec, take an excursion to the historic Normandy Landing Beaches, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, or select an excursion for a traditional “Taste of Normandy.” Visit Joan of Arc’s Rouen, then choose between a visit to Vincent Van Gogh’s Auver-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s Malmaison. Return to Paris for your choice of sightseeing in the “City of Light”—discover the true heart of Paris on a guided walk through the sites of Paris’ rich history, or take a tour to see the iconic landmarks of the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and more. Board a high-speed train bound for Dijon, and transfer to Beaune to embark on your second Avalon Suite Ship® in Chalon-sur-Saône. Cruise to Lyon, is the gastronomic capital of France and a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Take a guided walk of Tournon, beautifully nestled among vineyards, to see its Roman ruins and fascinating 16th-century castle. On a guided tour of historical Avignon, see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes—the largest Gothic fortress in the world. Situated on the Rhône River, Arles is famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater. As a perfect finale to your French river cruise vacation, spend 2 nights on the French Riviera along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityPARIS, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)
End CityNICE

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Arles
  • Avignon
  • Burgundy
  • Dijon
  • Giverny
  • Lyon
  • Nice
  • Normandy
  • Paris
  • Rouen

Activities

  • Culture
  • River cruise

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: PARIS, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)

Welcome to France. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

Flights into Paris must arrive by 2:30 pm.

Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Your day is free to explore the world’s most romantic city before starting your cruise on the Seine. Get acq...

Day 2: VERNON

Monet’s Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du Jour

Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

ACTIVE Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Givern...

Day 3: CAUDEBEC

Ancient Abbeys Along the Seine

ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route—where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built...

Day 4: CAUDEBEC. EXCURSION TO NORMANDY

Heroic Bravery on Normandy Beaches and French Farming Traditions

CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Normandy’s WWII landing beaches, visit significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, OR:

CLASSIC Take a...

Day 5: ROUEN

The Cathedral of Our Lady and a Heroine for France

ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels, OR:

CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—site of Saint Joa...

Day 6: CONFLANS

The Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV

ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided To...

Day 7: PARIS

Cafés, Cathedrals and Canvases in the city of Light

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

ACTIVE Experience the Seine river by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:

CLASSIC Discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating Guided ...

Day 8: PARIS (DISEMBARKATION) DIJON–BEAUNE–CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (EMBARKATION)

Take a High-Speed Train from Paris to Dijon, to drive on to Beaune.

DISCOVERY Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement. This afternoon, travel to Chalon-sur-Saône to board your Suite Ship®.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN TOURNUS

(Breakfast,Dinner)

BEAUNE-HOTEL-DIEU.jpg

Day 9: TOURNUS

Pearl of Southern Burgundy

Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.

CLASSIC Tucked away in the southeast corner of Burgundy, Tournus is one of the oldest and most important monastic centers in the region, Our Local Guide...

Day 10: LYON

La Vie En Rose in Lyon

Sail for lovely Lyon this morning.

ACTIVE Discover Lyon's architectural district by bike with your Adventure Host, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet, OR:

CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseei...

Day 11: LYON

Adventures in Food and Wine

CLASSIC Join a Culinary Walk through the city to discover why it is known as the gastronomic capital of France. The rest of your day is free to explore, relax, or shop in France’s third largest city. Take a bike from the ship and ...

Day 12: TOURNON

A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards

CLASSIC Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon—one of France’s oldest medieval cities. See its 16th-century castle, and Roman ruins between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. ...

Day 13: AVIGNON

The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence

Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.

CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the fortress city of Avignon—with its ramparts encircling the city—and a visit to the amazing Palace of the Popes...

Day 14: ARLES

Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights

ACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise through a Power Walk in Arles with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY Attend a Painting Workshop to learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh. Create your own painting in the style of t...

Day 15: ARLES (DISEMBARKATION)–NICE

Spectacular Seascapes of the Mediterranean Coast

After breakfast this morning, you’ll drive to Nice on the spectacular French Riviera, which stretches along France’s Mediterranean coast from Toulon to the border of Italy.

(Breakfast)

NICE-RIVIERA.jpg

Day 16: NICE

The “Queen of the French Riviera”

CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Sightseeing in Nice. Discover the narrow, winding streets and baroque churches of Vieux Nice, the old city—an area which has changed little since the 1700s. (Breakfast)

NICE-STREET-VIEW.jpg

Day 17: NICE

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

(Breakfast)

NICE-COASTLINE.jpg

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Dates & Availability

Price From $7,957
Price per day$468
Last Updated: 5/29/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
01 Apr 2025
17 Apr 2025
$8,997
15 Apr 2025
01 May 2025
$9,397
13 May 2025
29 May 2025
$9,897
27 May 2025
12 Jun 2025
$10,017
24 Jun 2025
10 Jul 2025
$9,917
08 Jul 2025
24 Jul 2025
$9,817
05 Aug 2025
21 Aug 2025
$9,817
19 Aug 2025
04 Sep 2025
$10,017
16 Sep 2025
02 Oct 2025
$10,217
30 Sep 2025
16 Oct 2025
$9,917

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Avalon Waterways.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Avalon Waterways Reviews & Ratings

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Avalon Waterways

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CRUISING ELEVATED.
Innovative, transformative, original. Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and
away from the ordinary. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts you in the captain’s seat to navigate your journey, fuel your passions and steer clear of the unexpected as you cruise down the world’s most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. One step aboard our modern, luxurious Suite Ships with the grandest views in cruising and you’ll see how the tides they are a-changin’. 

Welcome to a new wave in cruising. Welcome aboard Avalon Waterways.

IT DOESN’T GET ANY SUITER.
Enjoy the perfect blend of elegance and ease – where little touches are bold, gestures are grand and the views even grander. There’s a reason our ships are the critics’ darlings and favorites among our most discerning guests. Our boutique-hotel-inspired Panorama Suites feature the industry’s only Open-Air Balconies with the widest-opening windows in cruising and decadent Comfort Collection beds that face the ever-changing scenery.

PACK YOUR PASSIONS.
As you set sail down the world’s most legendary waters, we’ve curated a collection of the most intriguing experiences to immerse yourself in – both on board and off.

SEE MORE THAN THE SEA/
On a typical cruise, you see waves, water and more water. On an Avalon cruise, legendary landmarks and postcard-perfect landscapes are always in view. Dock to discovery takes mere minutes. 

LET’S DISH.
While we naturally present the signature delicacies of the regions you visit, we enrich the gastronomic journey by offering multiple dining venues, bringing unexpected culinary experiences to the table.

What they’re known for
River cruises to classic and exotic destinations with a luxury flair and personalization options.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel

Enjoying an unbeatable location next to the iconic Eiffel Tower, this 456-room sleek, modern hotel offers free Wi-Fi internet access throughout and has a California-inspired Brasserie with open kitchen and stylish wine bar. Other amenities include a large gym on the 9th floor with panoramic rooftop vistas.

Paris

France

18,Avenue De Suffren

Le Meridien Nice

With a "touch of chic" inspired by the timeless elegance of the Côte d'Azur, Le Méridien Nice is an authentic jewel located facing the Mediterranean Sea on world famous Promenade des Anglais. It is a few steps from the pedestrian area with its many fashion boutique, shops, restaurants, and bars. The Old Town is also within walking distance. Discover signature cocktails at the bar or enjoy a tasty dinner inspired by the region on the panoramic rooftop restaurant while watching the sunset. Relax in the heated outdoor pool or exercise in the fitness centre. Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access is provided. The refined and exotic interior design inspired by the Golden Sixties gives each of the 318 guestrooms a unique sun-drenched style featuring soft Mediterranean blue and sandy beige shades. Fully air conditioned rooms include a flat-screen TV with international channels, coffee/tea maker facilities, in-room safe, minibar, iron and ironing board, and free wireless high speed internet access.

Nice Cedex 1

France

1, Promenade Des Anglais

Radisson Blu Hotel

Nice

France

223, Promen. Des Anglais

Barriere Le Majestic Cannes

Cannes

France

10, La Croisette

Travel Insurance
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Age Requirements
6 years and up
Additional Information
Trip ID
AVALON-WPLE

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