Itinerary
- Day 1
Marseille to Arles
You'll touch down at Marseille airport where your Emerald Cruises team will be waiting to collect you. After the transfer to Arles, you'll board the contemporary Star-Ship and get settled into your cabin. There's a welcome reception and dinner with other guests on board this evening, so you'll start getting to know the crew and fellow travelers right away.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome reception and dinner)
Landmarks/POIs Arles 
- Day 2
Arles
This morning starts with a guided tour through Arles' Roman and Romanesque sites, including the 2,000-year-old Amphitheatre. Your guide will talk through Vincent van Gogh's time here and the paintings he created in the city. The afternoon gives you free time to wander around on your own, so you can backtrack to places that caught your eye or find a café to sit and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Provençal dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Arles with arena visit
- Visit to Arles Amphitheatre
Optional Activities
- In the footsteps of Van Gogh: painting workshop (extra expense)
- Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)
- Provencal Cosmetics Workshop (extra expense)
- Provencal Soap Making Workshop (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Arles Amphitheatre Arles - Day 3
Avignon
You'll take a walking tour through Avignon's old medieval streets, which are enclosed by fortified walls. The UNESCO-listed Palais des Papes is your main stop, a massive structure built by seven consecutive Popes back in the 1300s. Come evening, there's a classical concert lined up as part of the EmeraldPLUS experience, so plan to be back on board in time for dinner first.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avignon
Optional Activities
- Canoeing excursion in Avignon
- Guided tour of the Pont du Gard (extra expense)
- Visit to Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Palais des Papes Avignon 
- Day 4
Viviers
Viviers is next, and it's a small medieval town with pastel-coloured buildings lining the narrow cobblestone streets. You'll join a guided walking tour through the Old Town section, and your guide will point out the French medieval architecture throughout. It's a quieter stop compared to the bigger cities, so it's a good day to take photos and move at a slower pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Viviers
Optional Activities
- Visit to Chauvet Pont D'Arc (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Viviers - Day 5
Tournon
The ship sails down the Rhône River toward Tournon, and you'll pass a 16th-century castle and old watchtowers along the way. Once you arrive, you can choose between a guided town tour that includes wine tasting, or if you're up for something more active, there's an EmeraldACTIVE hike through the local vineyards.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournon with wine tasting
- Guided hike through the vineyards
Landmarks/POIs Tournon - Day 6
Vienne
Vienne is an important town in the Rhone-Alpes region with history going back to Gallic and Roman times. You'll take a walking tour that covers Roman and medieval monuments scattered throughout, so you'll get a sense of how the town's heritage shaped what it is today. There's plenty of ground to cover here, and it's worth paying attention to your guide's stories about the different periods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cheese and olive tasting on board)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Vienne
Landmarks/POIs Vienne 
- Day 7
Lyon
Lyon is one of France's largest cities and was a Roman capital at one point. You can either join a guided walking tour that includes the UNESCO-listed Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourviève, or pick the active option and do a guided bike tour through the city's architecture. The city's famous for its food, so grab lunch at a local restaurant and try the Lyonnaise cuisine while you're here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tastes of Lyon
- Guided bike tour of Lyon
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)
- Lyon by Night (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourviève Lyon - Day 8
Lyon to Basel
After breakfast on board, you'll disembark from the Star-Ship and board a coach heading to Basel. This is a transition day where you'll leave the ship behind and start the next leg of your journey by road. The drive takes you into Switzerland, and you'll settle in for the next part of your river cruising when you arrive.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Basel 
- Day 9
Freiburg
As part of the EmeraldPLUS programme, you can visit Freiburg, which is called the 'Capital of the Black Forest'. There's a chance to sample authentic Black Forest food and drinks here. If you want something more active instead, there's a guided bike tour in Breisach that covers the surrounding area on two wheels.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Freiburg with tasting
- Guided bike tour in Breisach
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Colmar (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Freiburg Breisach 
- Day 10
Kehl to Strasbourg
You'll arrive in Kehl and then travel by coach to Strasbourg, a picturesque medieval town with cobblestone squares and half-timbered houses throughout. There's a culinary tour planned where you'll try typical Alsatian food and drinks. In the evening, an exclusive private concert is on the schedule, so you'll have music and culture to cap off your day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flavours of Alsace
Optional Activities
- Baden Baden Spa experience (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Strasbourg Kehl 
- Day 11
Strasbourg to Heidelberg
The ship sails along the Rhine River today, and from on board you'll see where the Rhine and Neckar rivers meet. Later, you'll transfer by coach to Heidelberg, a UNESCO City of Literature. There's a guided tour that covers the town's main landmarks, and you'll see the impressive Renaissance Heidelberg Castle looking down from the hilltop.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Heidelberg
Optional Activities
- Active hike from Mount Königstuhl to Heidelberg
Landmarks/POIs Heidelberg Castle Heidelberg - Day 12
Koblenz
You'll sail through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge, where the views include romantic castles and medieval villages on both banks. By late morning, you arrive in Koblenz and explore the town's fairy-tale streets with a local guide. The German Corner is where two rivers meet, and from there you can see Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, one of Europe's largest preserved fortresses sitting high above the town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Orientation Walk of Koblenz
Optional Activities
- Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs German Corner Ehrenbreitstein Fortress Rhine Gorge Koblenz 
- Day 13
Cologne and Düsseldorf
Cologne is your arrival city, and the famous Cathedral is the main draw here. After you've explored that and grabbed lunch, you'll travel to Düsseldorf for an afternoon walking tour through its Old Town. There's time to stroll along the Rhine River, walk through charming streets, and see how the city blends its historic character with modern development.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Cologne Old Town
- Walking tour of Duesseldorf
Optional Activities
- Cologne Beer Experience (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Cologne Cathedral Cologne Düsseldorf 
- Day 14
Alkmaar and Amsterdam
You'll visit Alkmaar, a picturesque Dutch town known for its centuries-old cheese market where traditional cheesemakers still work. The town has historic canals and medieval buildings to walk through. If you prefer being active, there's a guided bike tour option that takes you out through the Dutch countryside instead of staying in town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Excursion to Alkmaar
- Guided bike tour to Waterland
Optional Activities
- Private hidden Gems tour of Amsterdam (extra expense)
- Dutch Delights (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Alkmaar Amsterdam 
- Day 15
Departure
After breakfast on your final morning, you'll disembark from the Star-Ship and say goodbye to the crew and fellow guests you've traveled with. Your coach transfer will take you to the airport for your flight home, and you'll carry memories from the Black Forest region and the charming streets of Strasbourg with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
