Itinerary
- Day 1
Nice to Arles
You'll arrive in Nice and connect with your Emerald Cruises team for the transfer to Arles. After boarding the contemporary Star-Ship, settle into your cabin and head to the welcome reception. Later that evening, you'll have dinner with your fellow passengers to start things off.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome reception and dinner with fellow guests)
Included Activities
- Welcome reception and dinner on board
- Day 2
Arles
A guided tour takes you through Arles to see the 2,000-year-old Amphitheatre and learn about Vincent van Gogh's connection to the city. You'll have time to walk around the UNESCO World Heritage monuments at your own pace. By evening, chef Fabien Morreale hosts a Provençal dinner on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Provençal dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Arles with arena visit
- Provence dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale
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 Arles Amphitheatre Starry Night Over the Rhône location - Day 3
Avignon
Head into Avignon for a guided walking tour that covers the city's history as home to seven Popes during the 1300s. You'll see the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Palais des Papes with its ornate Gothic design. This evening brings a classical concert back in Avignon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avignon
- Classical concert in 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 Palais des Papes Pont du Gard Châteauneuf-du-Pape 
- Day 4
Viviers
You'll arrive in Viviers, a medieval town known for its pastel buildings and narrow cobblestone streets. After a guided walking tour of the Old Town, there's a CD lecture on board covering Art and Culture in southern France.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Viviers
- CD lecture Art & Culture in the South of France
Optional Activities
- Visit to Chauvet Pont D'Arc (extra expense)
Landmarks Chauvet Pont d'Arc - Day 5
Tournon
The ship sails down the Rhône River toward Tournon, where you'll see a 16th-century castle and ancient watchtowers. You can either join a guided tour learning about Tournon's history or pick an EmeraldACTIVE hike through local vineyards if you prefer something more active.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournon
Optional Activities
- Guided hike through the vineyards
Landmarks Tournon Castle 
- Day 6
Mâcon
You'll have a relaxed morning sailing the Saône River until reaching Mâcon. The focus shifts to the Beaujolais wine region, where local Gamay grape varieties produce the fruity red wines that make up 99 percent of the region's wine production.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Beaujolais wine tasting
Landmarks Beaujolais Wine Region - Day 7
Lyon
Lyon is one of France's largest cities and a former Roman capital with notable cuisine. Choose between a guided walking tour hitting the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourviève or a guided bike tour that covers architectural highlights and historical sites around the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Lyon
- Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)
- Lyon by Night (extra expense)
Landmarks Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière 
- Day 8
Lyon to Porto
After breakfast, you'll transfer from Lyon to Porto where the second half of your river cruising begins. Meet the on board staff when you board the contemporary Emerald Radiance Star-Ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 9
Douro Valley
Spend a full day sailing through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Douro Valley, known for 2,000 years of wine production where vineyards and small villages dot the landscape. Tonight includes a welcome dinner, cocktail reception, and a Portuguese cooking demonstration on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Welcome dinner and cocktail reception)
Included Activities
- Portuguese cooking demonstration on board
- Welcome dinner and cocktail reception
Landmarks Douro Valley 
- Day 10
Quinta do Tedo - Vega de Terrón
Your day starts at the Quinta do Tedo vineyard, an 18th-century estate using traditional viticulture methods. You can either walk through local vineyards or try a kayak excursion on the river. Later, the ship sails to Vega de Terrón where you might relax on the Sun Deck.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Quinta do Tedo with wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Kayak experience in Pinhão
- Guided active walk through the vineyards
Landmarks Quinta do Tedo - Day 11
Salamanca
You'll travel to Salamanca, the 'Golden City' with a UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Quarter shaped by Romans, Carthaginians, and Moors. A walking tour covers the Plaza Mayor with its galleries and arcades, Casa de las Conchas decorated with over 300 shells, and the university dating to 1218. Tonight features a Tuna music band performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Salamanca
- Tuna music band in Salamanca
Landmarks Plaza Mayor Casa de las Conchas University of Salamanca 
- Day 12
Castelo Rodrigo - Régua
The ship docks in Pocinho and you'll travel to the medieval town of Castelo Rodrigo to explore its fortress history and try local products. After returning for lunch, you'll have a Port wine cocktail lesson on board while sailing toward Régua.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour to Castelo Rodrigo
- Port wine cocktail lesson on board
Optional Activities
- Archaeological tour by 4x4 at the Côa Valley Museum (extra expense)
Landmarks Castelo Rodrigo Côa Valley Museum 
- Day 13
Lamego
You'll visit Lamego, a Baroque village, to see the Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies overlooking the town. If you're up for it, walk down the 686 steps from the Sanctuary to the main square. Later, a rural lunch at Quinta da Pacheca includes a lesson on Portuguese mosaic painting traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Rural lunch at Quinta da Pacheca), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lamego
- Rural lunch at Quinta da Pacheca
- Mosaic tile painting lesson on board
Optional Activities
- Walk down the steps of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies
- Visit to Mateus Manor House (extra expense)
Landmarks Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies Quinta da Pacheca Mateus Manor House - Day 14
Porto
Porto mixes modern and ancient architecture at the mouth of the Douro River. Known for Port wine, you can see Castelo da Foz and Castelo do Queijo with their pentagonal structures overlooking the ocean. Pick between a guided tour, an active walk through town to see daily local life, or a river cruise.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Porto
- A cruise through Porto
Optional Activities
- Guided active walk in Porto
- Visit to Quinta da Aveleda (extra expense)
- Guided bike tour to the Atlantic (extra expense)
Landmarks Castelo da Foz Castelo do Queijo Quinta da Aveleda - Day 15
Departure
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to the Star-Ship and your fellow passengers, heading home with memories of sun-drenched vineyards and two weeks on the rivers of France and Portugal.
- Meals
- Breakfast
