Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Paris
You'll arrive in Paris and get picked up at the airport by an Emerald Cruises representative who'll take you to your hotel in the city center. The drive gives you a chance to get oriented with the layout and settle in for the next couple days before the river cruise portion begins.
- Day 2
Paris
Start the morning with a local guide walking you through Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe to understand the history behind these landmarks. After lunch, head down to the Seine for a river cruise that takes you past the Eiffel Tower and other iconic sights from the water, which gives a completely different perspective of the city.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Paris
- Seine river cruise
- Visit to Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit to the Arc de Triomphe
- Sailing to the Eiffel Tower
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Seine River - Day 3
Paris to Lyon
After breakfast you'll take the train from Paris to Lyon, which takes about 2 hours and moves through the French countryside. Once you arrive, you'll board the Emerald Cruises Star-Ship and have dinner that evening with other guests on your river cruise, so you'll meet your travel companions right away.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (First dinner on board with fellow guests)
Included Activities
- Board Emerald Cruises Star-Ship
- Day 4
Lyon
A guided city tour takes you through Lyon's food scene and stops at the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, a UNESCO site that overlooks the city from high up. Later in the afternoon you can walk through Lyon's Christmas market to see the lights and try regional foods and treats, which captures the holiday spirit of the season.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon
- Visit to Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière
- Visit to Lyon Christmas market
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière Lyon Christmas Market - Day 5
Vienne
You'll walk around Vienne, a small town just south of Lyon that has layers of history from Roman times and the medieval period. The included walking tour points out important buildings and ruins, and the riverside location makes it a quiet change of pace from the bigger cities.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Vienne
Landmarks/POIs Vienne - Day 6
Tournon
Tournon sits along the Rhône with a 16th-century castle visible from the river, and a guided tour fills you in on the town's wine history going back to ancient Greece. The tour covers the cultural traditions around viticulture in this region, so you get insight into why this area matters for French wine production.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournon
- Guided hike through the vineyards in Tournon
Landmarks/POIs Tournon Castle - Day 7
Viviers
Viviers is a walled medieval town where a walking tour shows off the architecture, narrow streets, and decorated windows throughout the old town. If you're interested, there's an optional workshop where you can try decorating santon figurines, which are traditional clay Christmas ornaments made by hand.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Viviers
- Walking tour of Viviers
Optional Activities
- Decorating Christmas Santon figurines (EmeraldPLUS experience)
- Visit to Chauvet Pont D'Arc (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Viviers Cathedral - Day 8
Avignon
Avignon's walking tour covers the Palais des Papes and Pont d'Avignon, both UNESCO sites, and you can wander through the old streets and check out one of Provence's bigger Christmas markets. Back on the ship that evening, you'll have a Provençal-style Christmas dinner and listen to a classical concert in town.
- Meals
- Dinner (Proven\u00e7al-style Christmas dinner on board, prepared by France's Top Chef finalist Fabien Morreale)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avignon
- Visit to Palais des Papes
- Visit to Pont d'Avignon
- Visit to Christmas market
- Proven\u00e7al dinner hosted by local chef Fabien Morreale
- Classical concert in Avignon
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of the Pont du Gard (extra expense)
- Visit to Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Palais des Papes Pont d'Avignon - Day 9
Arles
In Arles you'll see the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre and other Roman sites, plus walk where Vincent van Gogh lived and worked in this historic city. The rest of the day is free, so you can explore at your own pace or stop by the Christmas market in the center of town.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Arles
- Visit to Arles Amphitheatre
- Visit to Christmas market
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)
- Proven\u00e7al Cosmetics Workshop (extra expense)
- In the footsteps of Van Gogh: painting workshop (extra expense)
Landmarks/POIs Arles Amphitheatre - Day 10
Departure from Marseille
After breakfast you'll say goodbye to your fellow passengers and leave the ship for a transfer to Marseille airport. You're heading home with memories of medieval towns, holiday markets, and the regional food and wine you experienced along the Rhône River.
- Meals
- Breakfast
