Itinerary
- Day 1
Marseille to Arles
Your river cruise kicks off in Marseille where you'll board by 5 pm (flights should arrive by 3 pm). After getting settled into your cabin on the Suite Ship, you'll have dinner this evening while the ship stays docked in Arles.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Arles to Avignon
Arles is yours to explore for the full day. You can choose a Power Walk with your Adventure Host, a Painting Workshop where you'll learn Van Gogh techniques, or a Guided Walking Tour that hits the Roman Amphitheater. Stop by Le Café Van Gogh for wine, then the ship sails to Avignon. Later this evening there's live jazz entertainment onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles with visit to Roman Amphitheater
- Live Jazz Band Entertainment
Optional Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host
- Painting Workshop learning techniques of Vincent van Gogh
- Stop at Le Café Van Gogh for wine
Landmarks Roman Amphitheater Le Café Van Gogh - Day 3
Avignon
Avignon's fortress and the Palace of the Popes are the main draws here. Optional excursions let you see the ancient Pont du Gard aqueduct or visit Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars if you're interested. Otherwise, you'll have free time to wander through art galleries, museums, and photograph the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet. Evening brings live entertainment onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon with visit to Palace of the Popes
Optional Activities
- Guided Optional Excursion to Pont du Gard ancient Roman aqueduct
- Guided Optional Excursion to Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars for Rhône wine tasting
- Self-guided exploration of Avignon's art and culture
Landmarks Palace of the Popes Pont du Gard Pont Saint-Bénézet - Day 4
Viviers
The morning involves a leisurely sail to the village of Viviers. You can either climb the hillside with your Adventure Host or take a Guided Walking Tour through the pale-stone buildings, Romanesque cathedral, and Old Town. Later on, there's a tasting of local specialties onboard before you sail to Tournon in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Viviers exploring cathedral and Old Town
- Tasting of Local Specialties onboard
Optional Activities
- Walk to Viviers hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host
Landmarks Viviers Romanesque Cathedral - Day 5
Tournon to Vienne
Tournon, one of France's oldest medieval cities, opens up with choices between a morning hike or Guided Walking Tour to see the 16th-century castle. Jazz entertainment plays during your sail to Vienne, where you'll join a guided walk through the cathedral, Archaeological Gardens of Cybèle, and the Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia. After dinner, head out to explore the Vienne Jazz Festival at local bars.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon
- Guided Walk through Vienne including cathedral and Archaeological Gardens of Cybèle
- Jazz entertainment onboard during sail to Vienne
Optional Activities
- Morning hike in Tournon with Adventure Host
- Attendance at Vienne Jazz Festival (evening)
Landmarks Tournon 16th-Century Castle Vienne Cathedral Archaeological Gardens of Cybèle Roman Temple of Augustus & Livia - Day 6
Lyon
Lyon's highlights come through a Guided Sightseeing Tour starting from Fourvière Hill with its churches, then the Old Town's medieval alleyways, and Place des Terreaux with its famous fountain. You'll have free time for biking through town squares and along the riverbanks where the Rhône and Saône meet. Tonight features Gypsy Jazz entertainment, a jazz style that started in France during the 1930s.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon from Fourvière Hill
- Gypsy Jazz Entertainment (Jazz Manouche)
Optional Activities
- Free time biking through Lyon's town squares and riverbanks
Landmarks Fourvière Hill Place des Terreaux - Day 7
Mâconnais Wine Region to Chalon-sur-Saône
The day takes you into the Mâconnais region's rolling landscapes to see the famous Chardonnay vineyards. You'll do a wine tasting in a medieval castle's cellars, then later taste cheese onboard while sailing to Chalon-sur-Saône. Live entertainment rounds out the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel to Mâconnais region to learn about Chardonnay vineyards
- Wine-tasting in medieval castle cellars
- Cheese Tasting onboard ship
- Live Entertainment onboard
Landmarks Mâconnais Region Vineyards - Day 8
Chalon-sur-Saône to Basel
Morning takes you to the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443 and home to Van der Weyden's Last Judgment painting. Afterward, you'll travel by motorcoach to Basel to board your Rhine River cruise. Dinner happens this evening as you begin sailing to Breisach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune
Landmarks Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 9
Black Forest Region
The Black Forest comes alive with multiple options. Pick a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine, a full-day guided tour of Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum with its water mill and traditional butter-making, or explore Freiburg's medieval city center. An optional morning excursion goes to Colmar with its half-timbered medieval buildings. The ship cruises to Kehl by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour to Black Forest including Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum, water mill, and butter-making demonstration
- Guided Tour to explore Freiburg's medieval city center
Optional Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with Adventure Host
- Guided Optional Excursion to Colmar village
Landmarks Vogtsbauernhof Open-Air Museum Freiburg Medieval City Center Colmar - Day 10
Strasbourg
Strasbourg can be seen by bike with your Adventure Host or through a City Sightseeing Tour of the Gothic cathedral, ancient murals, and astronomical clock, plus La Petite France District. Optional guided excursions head to the Maginot Line fortifications or Alsace wine country. Free time lets you hit a museum or stroll the center. You'll sail to Mainz this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City Sightseeing Tour including Strasbourg's Gothic cathedral with astronomical clock and La Petite France District
Optional Activities
- Discover Strasbourg by bike with Adventure Host
- Guided Optional Excursion to historic Maginot Line fortifications
- Guided Optional Excursion to Alsace wine country
- Self-guided exploration of Strasbourg
Landmarks Strasbourg Gothic Cathedral La Petite France District Maginot Line - Day 11
Heidelberg to Rüdesheim
Heidelberg offers several paths: a walk along the Philosophers' Way, a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle with its Renaissance ruins and the Great Vat wine barrel, or a guided city walk including the Gutenberg Museum. After a short sail to Rüdesheim, live entertainment happens onboard this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle with Great Vat (World's Largest Wine Barrel)
- Guided City Walk including visit to Gutenberg Museum
- Live Entertainment onboard
Optional Activities
- Inspiring walk in Heidelberg along the Philosophers' way with Adventure Host
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle Great Vat (World's Largest Wine Barrel) Gutenberg Museum - Day 12
Rhine Valley
Rüdesheim starts your day with options like vineyard hiking with your Adventure Host, a tour of the Mechanical Music Museum with Rüdesheimer coffee tasting, or Johannisberg Castle's 18th-century barrel cellar with wine. Then you sail through the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge, seeing ancient castles 400 feet above the water and passing the legendary Rock of the Lorelei. Free time in Koblenz comes before dinner and entertainment onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Mechanical Music Museum with Rüdesheimer coffee tasting
- Guided Visit to Johannisberg Castle 18th-century barrel cellar with wine tasting
- Rhine Gorge sail through UNESCO World Heritage site with castle and Lorelei Rock views
Optional Activities
- Hike through picturesque Rüdesheim vineyards with Adventure Host
- Free time in Koblenz
Landmarks Mechanical Music Museum Johannisberg Castle Rhine Gorge Rock of the Lorelei - Day 13
Cologne to Amsterdam
Cologne opens with a local-style bike ride, a guided walking tour of Jewish heritage sites, or a guided city walk featuring the soaring twin-steepled Gothic cathedral. You'll grab free time for locally brewed Kölsch pale lager, then the afternoon and overnight cruise takes you to Amsterdam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided City Walk of Cologne with twin-steepled Gothic cathedral
Optional Activities
- Bike ride like locals in Cologne with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Cologne's Jewish heritage sites
- Free time to enjoy Kölsch pale lager
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 14
Amsterdam
Amsterdam's morning gives you an early walk with your Adventure Host, an off-the-beaten-path guided walking tour through cobblestone streets, or a guided canal cruise past Golden Age stately homes. The day is largely free to wander the charming city, or you can join optional excursions to historic Zaanse Schans windmills or a countryside biking tour. Colorful streets, canal houses, galleries, and shops are all there to find.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Off-the-beaten-path Guided Walking Tour through Amsterdam cobblestone streets
- Guided Canal Cruise past Golden Age stately homes
Optional Activities
- Early morning walk in Amsterdam with Adventure Host
- Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans historic windmills
- Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside
- Self-guided exploration of Amsterdam
Landmarks Zaanse Schans - Day 15
Amsterdam Disembarkation
Your river cruise ends this morning in Amsterdam. You'll have breakfast before disembarking and heading home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
