Grand France for Wine Lovers – Cruise Only

15 days
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River Cruise
This French river cruise on the Seine offers the best of France. Begin your adventure on the captivating French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur. Explore this elegant area and relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. On the Rhône River sits Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh. Tour historical Avignon to se...

Overview

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

Highlights

    • Onboard welcome reception; scenic cruising in the Camargue region (daylight permitting)
    • Guided sightseeing, visit the Roman Amphitheatre
    • Guided sightseeing, visit Palace of the Popes; guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape
    • Onboard lecture; guided walk, visit the Old Town and the cathedral
    • Guided walk in Tournon; onboard chocolate and wine tasting; guided walk in Vienne; onboard food & wine pairing dinner
    • Guided sightseeing, picture stop on Fourvière Hill; guided tour to Beaujolais
    • Chardonnay excursion; wine & cheese tasting on board
    • Choice of visit the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune or visit a wine cellar; TGV train from Dijon to Paris
    • Choice of excursions to Giverny or Bizy Castle; choice of guided walk, or guided hike in Les Andelys
    • Choice of excursions along the “Normandy Abbeys Route”, or hike in the Natural Park; lecture on board

What's this trip about?

    This French river cruise on the Seine offers the best of France. Begin your adventure on the captivating French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur. Explore this elegant area and relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. On the Rhône River sits Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh. Tour historical Avignon to see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes, and later join an excursion to the wine region of Châteauneuf du Pape. Visit the twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage, beautifully nestled among vineyards, and Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital. Take a guided tour to Beaujolais and go the following day to Chardonnay to sample local wines, as well Burgundy wine before traveling to Paris. A Master of Wine will travel with you on this first portion of the cruise and will hold lectures, tastings and will share food and wine-pairing expertise. On the Seine River, you’ll have the choice of seeing the historic Normandy Landing Beaches, the Point du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery; the delightful Les Andelys, Joan of Arc’s Rouen, Vincent Van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise, or Napoleon and Josephine’s Malmaison. Enjoy a stay in Paris, home to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre Museum. Take a guided walk through the “City of Lights” to see historic Île St. Louis and Île de la Cité where medieval Paris was founded.

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeOperator does not provide
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityARLES
End CityPARIS (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • France

Attractions

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

Activities

  • Culture
  • River cruise

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1

ARLES, FRANCE (EMBARKATION) The Camargue National Park Board your Suite Ship® in Arles. Before dinner sail toward the mouth of the Rhône for a taste of the tranquil vistas of Camargue National Park (daylight permitting). OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES (D)

Day 2

ARLES Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour of Arles—the captivating city of the Provence region. You’ll visit the Roman Amphitheater in this visually stunning city that inspired the works of Vincent van Gogh. Consider a Guided...

Day 3

AVIGNON The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence 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. DISCOVERY Enjoy a trip to the famed wine cellars of Châtea...

Day 4

VIVIERS World History in a Charming French Country Village DISCOVERY Join an Onboard Lecture hosted by your Master of Wine while sailing to Viviers. CLASSIC Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on a late afternoon Guided Walking Tour of this charming village....

Day 5

TOURNON/TAIN L’HERMITAGE 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 ...

Day 6

LYON Adventures in Food and Wine in the Gastronomy Capital of France CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon from Fourvière Hill with its numerous churches. You’ll also explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafés, monu...

Day 7

ST. JEAN DE LOSNE Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône Enjoy a leisurely cruising day along the majestic Saône River. DISCOVERY Join an excursion that will take you to a Chardonnay cellar for a wine tasting. DISCOVERY Later, enjoy a delicious wine and cheese tas...

Day 8

ST. JEAN DE LOSNE (DISEMBARKATION)— BEAUNE— DIJON— PARIS (EMBARKATION) Drive to Beaune and take a High-Speed Train from Dijon to Paris. CLASSIC Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Jud...

Day 9

VERNON Monet’s Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du Jour Start the day with a Morning Stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host. CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Giverny, home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the grounds and see ...

Day 10

CAUDEBEC Churches, Cherry Orchards, and White Cliffs of Normandy ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Morning Jog in Normandy’s town of Caudebec. CLASSIC Take a Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route—where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustin...

Day 11

CAUDEBEC. NORMANDY EXCURSIONS 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, ...

Day 12

ROUEN The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and a Heroine for France ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Morning Walk. CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—home of the martyred Joan of Arc—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock...

Day 13

CONFLANS In the Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife J...

Day 14

PARIS Cafés, Cathedrals, & Canvases—The City of Lights Truly Shines ACTIVE Take a Morning Walk with your Avalon Adventure Host to see Paris at first light. CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour through the Heart of Paris to see the historic Île St. Louis, Île de la...

Day 15

PARIS (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

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Dates & Availability

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Price per day$0
Last Updated: 5/24/2019

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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DEBBIE

Dec 2023

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From favorite cruise line to Never Again!!!

My first Avalon cruise/land tour to Vietnam/Cambodia was the best experience of my 80 plus cruises. We recently took the Avalon Egypt/Jordan cruise/land tour and it ...

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customer

Dec 2023

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Avalon waterways went out of their way to accommodate our early morning arrival.

We booked an Egyptian cruise with Avalon months ago that included airport transfers, but we did not book our flights through them. Ten days before departure we had ...

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Robert

Nov 2023

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It was the Paris to Normandy then to…

It was the Paris to Normandy then to Marseille 14 day cruise. The whole cruise was terrible, ports were bypassed, crew was very inexperienced, the restaurant was uno...

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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

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
Optional Activities
WLP-T1|Take this cruise with land stays
Trip ID
AVALON-WLP0-T1

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