Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Marseille
You'll land in Marseille around 3 pm and head straight to the cruise ship for a 5 pm boarding. Get settled in your suite and have dinner while the ship stays overnight in Arles.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Arles to Avignon
Morning brings three options: a power walk through Arles, a painting workshop on Van Gogh techniques, or a guided tour of the Roman Amphitheater. Later you'll have free time to visit Le Café Van Gogh for wine before sailing to Avignon. Live jazz plays this evening onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Live entertainment with Jazz Band
Optional Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host
- Painting Workshop learning Vincent van Gogh techniques
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles including Roman Amphitheater
- Visit to Le Café Van Gogh
Landmarks/POIs Roman Amphitheater of Arles Le Café Van Gogh - Day 3
Avignon
Pick one of three experiences: walk Avignon's ramparts and the Palace of the Popes, see Pont du Gard's ancient Roman engineering, or tour the wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The ship sails to Tournon in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon with ramparts and Palace of the Popes
- Guided Visit to Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct
- Guided Tour to Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars for wine tasting
Landmarks/POIs Palace of the Popes Pont du Gard Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Day 4
Tournon to Sainte-Colombe
Start in Tournon with either a morning hike or guided walk through the medieval city and its 16th-century castle. Jazz plays while you sail to Vienne, where you can join a guided tour of the hill town's cathedral and Roman temples. Free evening to catch the Vienne Jazz Festival.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Jazz entertainment onboard while sailing to Vienne
Optional Activities
- Morning hike in Tournon with Adventure Host
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon and 16th-century castle
- Guided Walking Tour of Vienne including cathedral, Archaeological Gardens of Cybèle, and Roman Temple of Augustus & Livia
- Vienne Jazz Festival (free time to attend)
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle Vienne Cathedral Archaeological Gardens of Cybèle Roman Temple of Augustus & Livia - Day 5
Lyon
The ship reaches Lyon this morning. You can bike along the rivers or explore Fourvière Hill with its churches, then wander the Old Town's medieval streets and stop at cafés around Place des Terreaux.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Bike tour of Lyon's architectural district with Adventure Host over bridges and along Rhône and Saône rivers
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon including Fourvière Hill, churches, Old Town, and Place des Terreaux
Landmarks/POIs Fourvière Basilica Place des Terreaux - Day 6
Lyon to Tournus
Head to Pérogue, a medieval walled town that's been used as a movie location. Gypsy Jazz entertainment plays this evening as you cruise toward Tournus.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Gypsy Jazz entertainment onboard
Optional Activities
- Half-day guided tour of Pérouge medieval walled town
Landmarks/POIs Pérouge - Day 7
Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône
Travel to the Mâconnais region to see the famous Chardonnay vineyards and do a wine tasting in a medieval castle's cellars. Back onboard, you'll have a cheese tasting followed by live entertainment this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cheese Tasting onboard
- Live entertainment onboard
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting tour in Mâconnais region featuring Chardonnay vineyards and medieval castle cellars
Landmarks/POIs Mâconnais - Day 8
Chalon-sur-Saône to Vernon
Drive to Beaune to visit the 15th-century Hôtel-Dieu with its Van der Weyden painting. Take a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris, then board the cruise ship. You'll sail to Vernon overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune
Landmarks/POIs Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital - Day 9
Vernon to Les Andelys
Morning options include exploring Château des Tourelles on foot, visiting Monet's gardens at Giverny, or touring Bizy Castle. You'll have traditional French lunch with a crêpe and pastry demo while sailing. The afternoon in Les Andelys offers either a hike to Château Gaillard ruins or a guided walk through town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes
- Pastry Demonstration
Optional Activities
- Guided exploration of Château des Tourelles on foot with Adventure Host
- Guided Tour of Giverny including Claude Monet's residence and gardens
- Guided Visit to Bizy Castle (Normandy's Versailles)
- Guided Hike to Château Gaillard castle ruins
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys
Landmarks/POIs Château des Tourelles Giverny Bizy Castle Château Gaillard - Day 10
Caudebec
Choose between a relaxing bike ride along the river or a guided tour along the Normandy Abbeys Route to see medieval Benedictine and Augustinian abbeys. The afternoon has an optional trip to the seaside town of Honfleur.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host
- Guided Trip along Normandy Abbeys Route featuring medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur seaside town
Landmarks/POIs Honfleur - Day 11
Normandy to Rouen
Pick from three experiences: tour the D-Day landing beaches including Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, explore British and Canadian sites like Juno Beach Center, or do a Calvados brandy tasting to learn about Normandy traditions. Live entertainment happens onboard before sailing to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Live entertainment onboard
Optional Activities
- Guided Tour of Normandy WWII landing beaches including Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and American Cemetery
- Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites including British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, Arromanches, Juno Beach Center, and Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
- Guided Tour of Normandy with brandy tasting in Calvados
Landmarks/POIs Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Normandy Pegasus Memorial Arromanches Juno Beach Center Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Day 12
Rouen to Conflans
Explore Rouen either by bike to find famous monuments and hidden spots, or take a guided walk through the medieval quarter. You'll see the 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral where Joan of Arc's story is told.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen monuments and hidden gems
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen including medieval quarter, 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral
Landmarks/POIs Notre-Dame Cathedral Rouen Astronomical Clock of Rouen - Day 13
Conflans to Paris
Morning choices are a relaxing bike ride along the Seine, a visit to Auvers-sur-Oise where Van Gogh lived, or touring Château de Malmaison where Napoleon and Josephine stayed. An optional afternoon excursion goes to the Palace of Versailles. The ship sails to Paris in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Seine with Adventure Host
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home of Vincent van Gogh
- Guided Tour of Château de Malmaison, home of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine
- Guided Optional Excursion to Palace of Versailles
Landmarks/POIs Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles - Day 14
Paris
Your last day in Paris has three guided options: explore the Seine on foot, discover ancient Paris including the Louvre and Île de la Cité, or take a city tour showing the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées. Free time to walk around and relax at a literary café on the Left Bank.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Seine river exploration on foot with Adventure Host
- Guided Walk through ancient Paris featuring Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, and Latin Quarter
- Guided City Tour of Paris including Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Champs-Élysées
- Free time to stroll through Paris or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Louvre Museum Arc de Triomphe Opéra Garnier Champs-Élysées Palais-Royal Île de la Cité Latin Quarter - Day 15
Departure from Paris
The cruise ends this morning after breakfast. You'll disembark in Paris.
- Meals
- Breakfast
