Itinerary
- Day 1
Marseille to Arles
You'll arrive at Marseille airport and get transferred to Arles, where you'll board your Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. After settling into your cabin, there's a welcome reception and dinner with other guests this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome reception and dinner with fellow guests)
- Day 2
Arles
This morning you'll see Arles' 2,000-year-old Roman Amphitheatre and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Later, you'll learn about Vincent van Gogh's connection to the city and what inspired 'Starry Night Over the Rhône'. The afternoon is yours to walk around the city streets, and dinner features Provençal cuisine prepared by chef Fabien Morreale.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Provençal dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Arles with Olive farm visit
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)
Landmarks Arles Amphitheatre - Day 3
Avignon
You'll take a guided walking tour through Avignon's medieval center, including the ornate Gothic Palais des Papes, which housed seven consecutive Popes during the 1300s. This UNESCO site sits at the heart of a city connected to French Revolution history. After spending the afternoon at leisure, you'll attend a classical concert this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avignon with market visit
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 
- Day 4
Viviers
You're heading to Viviers, where pastel-colored buildings and narrow cobblestone streets define the landscape. A guided walking tour takes you through the Old Town, where you'll see the charm that makes this region so distinctive.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Viviers
Optional Activities
- Visit to Chauvet Pont D'Arc (extra expense)
- Day 5
Tournon
The ship sails down the winding Rhône River to Tournon, where a 16th-century castle sits high above the village. You can take a guided tour of the town to learn its history, or if you prefer something more active, there's a hike through local vineyards to see the region's natural landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournon with wine tasting
Optional Activities
- Guided hike through the vineyards
- Day 6
Vienne
You'll explore Vienne, an important Rhone-Alpes town with a history going back to the Allobroges tribe and Roman times. Your walking tour covers key monuments from both the Roman and medieval periods. Later, back on the ship, you'll have a cheese and olive tasting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Cheese and olive tasting on board)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Vienne
- Day 7
Lyon
Lyon is one of France's largest cities and a former Roman capital, known for its food scene. You can choose between a guided walking tour that includes the UNESCO-listed Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourviére, or an active bike tour highlighting architecture and historic sites throughout the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tastes of Lyon
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Lyon
- Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)
Landmarks Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière - Day 8
Lyon to Basel
After breakfast, you'll disembark the Emerald Liberte Star-Ship and travel by coach to Basel, where you'll board a new vessel to continue your river cruise.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 9
Breisach
You're visiting Freiburg in the Black Forest, exploring its historic center with colorful half-timbered houses and the main market square. There's a botanical garden to wander through with diverse plant collections, or you can choose an active bike tour around Breisach, a medieval town with Rhine River views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Freiburg visit with Botanical Garden
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour in Breisach
- Guided tour of Colmar (extra expense)
- Day 10
Strasbourg
The ship docks at Kehl and transfers you to medieval Strasbourg for a guided tour through cobbled squares with small shops and cafés. You'll check out the UNESCO Old Town and Petite France, where half-timbered buildings line the canals. Later you have free time, or you can join an active walk to Orangerie Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Strasbourg
Optional Activities
- Active walk to Orangerie Park
- Baden Baden Spa Experience (extra expense)
Landmarks Petite France 
- Day 11
Bad-Dürkheim
You'll visit Schwetzingen Palace and its gardens, a significant European cultural site with more than 100 sculptures and distinctive original design. If you prefer hiking, there's a guided option through vineyards near Bad-Dürkheim, a wellness town in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit to Schwetzingen Palace & Gardens
- Guided hike through a vineyard in Bad-Dürkheim
- Guided tour of Heidelberg (extra expense)
Landmarks Schwetzingen Palace - Day 12
Koblenz
As you sail through the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge, you'll see romantic castles on tree-covered hillsides and medieval villages that seem frozen in time. You arrive in Koblenz, an ancient city with vineyards and mountain ranges around it. An orientation walk takes you through cobbled squares to see the German Corner where two major European rivers meet, plus the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, one of Europe's largest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Orientation walk of Koblenz
Optional Activities
- A Moselle Valley & Cochem Castle visit (extra expense)
Landmarks German Corner Ehrenbreitstein Fortress - Day 13
Düsseldorf
You'll arrive in Cologne and can explore Germany's oldest city centered on its Cathedral, or take an active walk through beautiful gardens. Later, the ship sails north to Düsseldorf where a guided tour shows you this vibrant city, including the Japanese gardens, a peaceful spot within the urban setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Cologne Old Town
- Walking tour of Düsseldorf with visit to the Japanese Garden
Optional Activities
- Active walk to Cologne's Gardens
- Cologne Beer Experience (extra expense)
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral - Day 14
Keukenhof Gardens
You're visiting Keukenhof Gardens, which has more than 800 types of spring-flowering tulips arranged in traditional Dutch style. You'll see expertly displayed tulips, hyacinths, orchids in various colors, plus sculptures from recognized artists. You'll learn different planting methods and landscape architecture techniques. This afternoon, you'll do traditional Dutch clog painting back on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Clog painting on board)
Included Activities
- Visit to Keukenhof Gardens
Optional Activities
- Private hidden Gems tour of Amsterdam (extra expense)
Landmarks Keukenhof Gardens 
- Day 15
Departure
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to your fellow guests and leave the ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of spring flowers and charming cobblestone squares with you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
