Itinerary
- Day 1
Lyon
You'll arrive in Lyon and transfer to the Scenic Sapphire. Spend your afternoon getting to know the ship. Your suite is ready for relaxing, or head to the Sun Deck if you'd rather take in the views of this historic city from the water.
Landmarks Lyon - Day 2
Chalon-sur-Saône
The ship cruises toward Chalon-sur-Saône through riverside scenery, with half-timbered houses and a Gothic cathedral waiting in this Burgundy wine region town. Pick from a guided tour of Beaune and Les Hospices, a wine tasting at a local estate, or learn about WWII history along the Franco-German demarcation line.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Beaune and Les Hospices de Beaune
- Burgundy wine tasting at a local estate in Côte de Beaune
- WWII walking tour - Life on the Franco-German demarcation line in Chalon-sur-Saône
Landmarks Chalon-sur-Saône Beaune Les Hospices de Beaune - Day 3
Tournus
After waking to river views, you'll arrive in Tournus, founded by Romans with a Romanesque abbey. Choose a château tour, truffle tasting with a local farmer, or cooking demonstration at a three-star Michelin restaurant. Everyone gets to see a cooperage demonstration showing traditional barrel making.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cooperage demonstration - ancient craft of barrel making
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Château de Cormatin - historic castle built in 1606 with gardens
- Truffle tasting with local truffle farmer
- Georges Blanc cooking demonstration at three-star Michelin restaurant in Vonnas with village museum visit
Landmarks Tournus Château de Cormatin Vonnas - Day 4
Tournon
This hillside village offers terraced vineyards, a 10th-century castle, and cobblestoned streets to explore. Take a walking tour, hike through vineyards with wine tasting, or bike along the Rhône River. Later you'll have free time, then gather for an aperitif on the castle terrace overlooking vineyards and the river below.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Aperitif on the terrace of Tournon Castle with views over Rhône River and terraced vineyards
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Tournon including the castle (10th-16th centuries) with free time to explore and cross France's oldest suspension bridge to Tain l'Hermitage
- Hiking through the vineyards in Tournon with wine tasting
- Biking along the Rhône River to nearby village of Glun
Landmarks Tournon Castle Tain l'Hermitage Rhône River Glun - Day 5
Avignon
You'll dock in Avignon, the City of the Popes, with medieval walls and World Heritage architecture. Choose from a walking tour with the Pope's Palace, a visit to the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard, or kayaking beneath it. By evening, enjoy an exclusive private gala dinner with classical concert in the Pope's Palace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Gala dinner at Palais des Papes)
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich - Exclusive gala dinner with classical concert by trio of musicians in Palais des Papes
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Avignon including Palais des Papes (Pope's Palace) - requires moderate fitness
- Guided excursion to Pont du Gard - ancient Roman aqueduct dating to first century
- Kayaking at Pont du Gard on the Gardon River beneath the World Heritage-listed aqueduct
Landmarks Palais des Papes Pont d'Avignon Pont du Gard Nîmes 
- Day 6
Avignon
Spend a full day in Avignon exploring Provence. Options include visiting Gordes and Sénanque Abbey, shopping at the market with a cooking demonstration, touring a lavender museum and Roussillon village, or wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Luberon villages of Gordes and Sénanque Abbey - exterior visit on Sundays when abbey is closed to public
- Shop with a chef and Scenic Culinaire - local market shopping and interactive cooking demonstration at Scenic Culinarie cooking school
- Lavender Museum with visit to village of Roussillon - visit local lavender producer and guided tour of Roussillon village
- Wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape - sample region's celebrated wines at Côte du Rhône vineyards
Landmarks Gordes Sénanque Abbey Roussillon Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Day 7
Arles
Head south to Arles near the Mediterranean, founded by Julius Caesar around 56 BC. This city has extensive Roman ruins, ancient theatres, and Van Gogh history from 1888. Choose from a walking tour including the amphitheatre, the medieval village of Les Baux with an immersive art installation, an olive farm visit, or lavender workshop. You'll have free time in the afternoon or can join an on-board painting class.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Arles - visit ancient Roman amphitheatre Arènes d'Arles
- Visit Les Baux with Carrières de Lumières - medieval village with 7,000 square-metre immersive visual and musical art installation
- Ancestry of the Kitchen with olive mill - visit local olive farm learning olive oil production with traditional Provençal recipes
- Lavender fields to cream, A Provence Herbal Workshop - visit organic farm specializing in essential oils from lavender, thyme, rosemary and other herbs, create your own lavender-based cream (seasonal: typically late June to mid-August)
Landmarks Arles Arènes d'Arles Les Baux Carrières de Lumières - Day 8
Viviers
Arrive in Viviers, an open-air museum with 1,600 years of medieval heritage and narrow winding lanes. Pick from a guided walking tour or a French Resistance tour about WWII. Afternoon choices are Ardèche Nature Park with a Palaeolithic cave replica, Madeleine Caves, or an excursion to Grignan de Provence with castle and church.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Viviers - explore monuments and Cathedral of St. Vincent (11th century, 18th-century Gothic style with Renaissance facade) with free time
- French Resistance walking tour of Viviers - WWII stories, Demarcation Line, French Resistance heroism and daring missions
- Ardèche Nature Park with Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum - explore mountains and medieval fortress ruins, visit largest decorated Palaeolithic cave replica in the world
- Ardèche National Park and Madeleine Cave - drive through Ardèche Gorge to Madeleine Caves with rock formations, stalagmites, stalactites and underground lakes - requires moderate fitness and sturdy shoes
- Excursion to Grignan de Provence - guided tour of provincial town with castle and Collegiate Church of the Holy Saviour with free time
Landmarks Viviers Cathedral of St. Vincent Ardèche Nature Park Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum Madeleine Cave Grignan Collegiate Church of the Holy Saviour - Day 9
Rhône River Cruise
Relax on board as the ship cruises back toward Lyon along the Rhône River. Bask on the Sun Deck, try the Salt Therapy Lounge, or join a French cookery lesson. By evening, enjoy an exclusive acapella choir performance in Trinity Chapel, a 17th-century Baroque building with Carrara marble.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich - Acapella choir performance in Trinity Chapel - exclusive to Scenic guests
Optional Activities
- French cookery lesson in Scenic Culinaire
Landmarks Trinity Chapel - Day 10
Lyon
Wake in Lyon, founded by Romans in 43 BC, now France's culinary capital with 4,000 restaurants including 20 Michelin-starred places. Choose from a guided tour exploring historic traboules and secret passageways with the Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière, visit the medieval walled village of Pérouges, or take a silk painting workshop exploring Lyon's 500-year silk tradition.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon - explore hidden traboules and secret passageways dating to fourth century with Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourviére
- Excursion to Pérouges - medieval walled village atop hill overlooking Ain River with vine-covered stone buildings, cobbled laneways and centuries-old lime tree market square - high fitness level recommended due to uneven surfaces and hill walking
- Silk painting workshop - learn about Lyon's silk production heritage dating back five centuries with hands-on painting experience
Landmarks Lyon Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourviére Pérouges Ain River - Day 11
Lyon to Porto
Board an included flight from Lyon to Porto and embark on the Scenic Azure for a 7-night cruise down the Douro River through Portugal.
Landmarks Porto - Day 12
Douro Valley to Pinhão
The ship meanders through the Douro Valley toward Pinhão, with steep riverbanks lined with terraced vineyards. You'll dock in Pinhão, set among vineyards that produce Port wine. Visit the charming riverside train station decorated with hand-painted azulejo tiles and try painting your own tiles at a workshop.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Azulejos (hand-painted tiles) painting workshop
Landmarks Douro Valley Pinhão - Day 13
Provesende
Visit the charming village of Provesende on a plateau with spectacular views of rolling landscape. Wander through, see the church, discover the old bakery, watch traditional handicraft being made, and tour the historic manor house Morgadio da Calçada where you'll have a tasting of bola.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to charming village of Provesende with church, old bakery, traditional handicraft demonstrations, and historic manor house Morgadio da Calçada
- Tasting of bola at Morgadio da Calçada
Landmarks Provesende Morgadio da Calçada - Day 14
Salamanca or Freixo de Espada à Cinta
You get to pick your own path today. If you head to Salamanca, you'll walk through the two cathedrals, browse the market for local food specialties, and grab lunch whenever you feel like it. The other option takes you to Freixo de Espada à Cinta, where you can see traditional hand-processed silk at the museum and sample regional products at a local estate. Either way, you'll head back to the ship for lunch.
- Meals
- Lunch (On board the ship after excursion)
Included Activities
- Salamanca full day excursion - visit two cathedrals, local market sampling
- Freixo de Espada à Cinta guided tour - silk museum visit and regional produce tasting at local Quinta
Optional Activities
- Lunch at leisure in Salamanca
Landmarks Salamanca Cathedral Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, Lamego Freixo de Espada à Cinta - Day 15
Pocinho to Régua
Starting in Pocinho at the old Douro Railway terminus, you'll choose between checking out the Côa Valley Museum with its prehistoric rock art site and workshop, or spending time in the valley itself at Casa Painova estate to watch sugared almond production and try local products. After that, the ship cruises toward Régua, the biggest town along the river and where Port wine comes from, with those famous terraced vineyards visible from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (On board the ship), Dinner
Included Activities
- Côa Valley Museum visit with pre-historic workshop
- Village life in the Côa Valley guided tour - Casa Painova estate visit with sugared almond production demonstration and tasting
Landmarks Côa Valley Museum Freixo Numão Douro Valley Régua - Day 16
Régua to Porto
While docked in Régua, you'll pick a morning activity: visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies in Lamego to see the blue and white tiled staircase and taste local produce, kayak on the Pinhão River, or tour Mateus Palace with its Baroque architecture. Later, the ship heads back to Porto where you'll attend a classical concert inside São Francisco Church, a 13th-century Gothic building with gilded interior details.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Excursion to Lamego - Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies visit and local produce tasting at Bodega
- Kayaking along the Pinhão River
- Mateus Palace visit
- Classical concert in São Francisco Church
Optional Activities
- Walk down the zigzag staircase at Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies
Landmarks Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies Lamego Pinhão River Mateus Palace São Francisco Church - Day 17
Porto
Explore Porto's culture and history. Choose from a guided tour of the Palácio da Bolsa with free time at Bolhão Markets, a day excursion to Guimarães with the Ducal Palace and World Heritage city, or visit Quinta da Aveleda, a 150-year-old wine producer with tour, tasting, and gardens.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Porto - visit iconic Palácio da Bolsa with free time to explore historic Bolhão Markets
- Excursion to Guimar\u00e3es - visit World Heritage-listed city, Ducal Palace (seat of first King of Portugal), with free time to explore
- Quinta da Aveleda - coach transfer to 150-year-old wine producer for tour, tasting, and enchanting gardens
Landmarks Palácio da Bolsa Bolhão Markets Guimarães Ducal Palace Quinta da Aveleda - Day 18
Porto
Your cruise ends this morning in Porto. Disembark and take lifelong memories of your journey across France and Portugal.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Porto
