Bon Voyage! France Family River Cruise 2023

8 days
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4.2/5 Great
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Small Group Tour
Experience the best of France – together as a family.... two nights in Paris and a 5-night river cruise along the historic Rhône river immerse your family in just about everything Français! Learning means "doing" and experiencing – from a scavenger hunt in the Louvre to castles, chocolat – even cooking and cowboys!
From$4,990
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Feel inspired... as you and your family stand on the top deck of ms Emerald with Provençal landscapes before you… in Paris
    • where the streets are paved in history… on bicycle sightseeing… along the cobblestone streets of medieval Viviers… together.The best way to experience French joie de vivre is to do what the locals do... pedal past landmark Parisian sites on a bicycle ride... take a fast train to Lyon... board a boat for a River Rhône cruise... learn to cook like a gourmet chef at a culinary school... discover the art of making chocolat... have lunch at a private ranch in Provence with French cowboys... paint like van Gogh in Arles (using chocolate instead of oils!)... walk on a triple-decker Roman bridge in Avignon... play pétanque in Viviers...

What's this trip about?

    Experience the best of France – together as a family.... two nights in Paris and a 5-night river cruise along the historic Rhône river immerse your family in just about everything Français! Learning means "doing" and experiencing – from a scavenger hunt in the Louvre to castles, chocolat – even cooking and cowboys!

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Paris, France
End CityLyon

Travel Themes

  • Family Friendly

Destinations

  • Europe
  • France

Attractions

  • Avignon
  • Lyon
  • Paris

Activities

  • Kid-friendly activities

Trip includes

    • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Special visit to a private ranch in French cowboy country – La Camargue – for a hayride and traditional Provençal lunch TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Scavenger Hunt in Musée du Louvre Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,730 Gratuities to Tauck Cruise Director, Tauck Directors, drivers, local guides and ship staff Two-night stay in city-center Paris 5-night Rhône River cruise aboard ms Emerald An introduction to the game of pétanque, played with the locals A walk in Arles that traces the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Paris

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra.
A transfer is included from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or Gare de Lyon, Charles de Gaulle Station or Gare du Nord train stations to Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra. Your family's France river cruise gets off to a fabulous start from the moment you check into your your...
Day 2 A scavenger hunt in the Louvre & a choice of sightseeing

The day begins with a choice of sightseeing – a city tour that includes views of iconic sights such as the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Élysées and Notre Dame Cathedral – or a bicycle tour along the River Seine that begins in the Champ d...

Day 3 A day well spent in Paris...

Your morning includes a visit to probably the most iconic sight in Paris, the Eiffel Tower. Early afternoon, travel aboard a high-speed train called the TGV and head south to Lyon, where you'll board ms Emerald, your floating hotel ...

Day 4 Tournon, cooking & chocolat

This morning your riverboat takes you to the town of Tournon-sur-Rhône for fun family discoveries ashore including an orientation tour of this ancient town on the River Rhône; a cooking class at Scook, the cooking school of Anne Sop...

Day 5 Arles, Camargue cowboys, van Gogh & chocolate art

After arriving in Arles this morning, get a change of scenery on a drive into the Camargue for a taste of France's "Wild West." This vast marshy delta has been home to free-roaming black bulls since Roman times; today the bulls are ...

Day 6 An Avignon palace & a 1st-century marvel

Everyone dreams at one time or another of living in a palace... and today's France family river cruise does just that when your family visits an extravagant grand palace with four mighty towers... On a guided tour of 12th-century Pa...

Day 7 Medieval Viviers, pétanque and more

This morning brings adventure to your France family river cruise with a walking tour of medieval Viviers, where you'll wind your way up through narrow, cobbled streets, curious passageways and doorways in shades of blue and green......

Day 8 Journey Home

Tour Ends: Lyon.
Our family France river cruise concludes in Lyon today as your family disembarks ms Emerald; fly home after 11:00 AM. A transfer is included from the riverboat to either the Lyon Airport or Lyon's Perrache or Part Dieu train stations; you should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Lyon, France

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,990
Price per day$624
Last Updated: 10/19/2023

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

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.

Tauck Reviews & Ratings

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Other Tauck Reviews

K

Kurlyk40

May 2024

Written on

Great Scenery but Accommodations Lacking for cost

My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Ship & cabin information
MS EMERALD
MS EMERALD Of the five 361-foot (110-meter) riverboats in Tauck's Destination Fleet, this newly redesigned riverboat debuts in 2017 with a new deck plan optimized for the utmost in spaciousness – with 70% of her cabins measuring 225 square feet or larger – and accommodating no more than 98 guests, while similar-sized riverboats average about 160. Guest amenities inside her 14 lush 300-square-foot Tauck Suites include brocade upholstery, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, spacious marble baths with full-size tubs, and two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to idyllic riverscapes. She also sports twenty roomy 225-square-foot cabins, four 183-square-foot cabins and one 182 square-foot cabin, similarly furnished. Eight 150-square-foot cabins are cozy and comfortable, and are similar in décor and style to our larger suites. 85% have floor-to-ceiling windows with real French balconies that open on to a balcony in the fresh air; all have in-room movies, minibar, adjustable heating and cooling, private bathroom and shower with pampering toiletries. In addition to our main dining room, The Compass Rose, the ship also features Arthur's, a second dining venue offering casual fare
MS EMERALD
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-ZR2023

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