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Stop in Avignon on your cruise of the Rhône river.

Burgundy and Provence

Southbound - Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Avalon Poetry II
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Board Avalon Poetry II and start exploring the beautiful sites of France as you sail along the Rhône and Saône Rivers. Visit Lyon and marvel at the medieval and Renaissance architectures. Find Tournon along the way,  a medieval treasure with plenty of Roman ruins and a fascinating 16th-century castle, where you’ll go on a guided walk. Continue your river cruise to historical Avignon and see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes. You cruise through Burgundy and Provence comes to an end in Port-Saint-Louis.
Explore Roman ruins in Southern FranceArles overviewOverview of Tournon, FranceThe Palais des Papes dominates the Avignon skylineStop in Avignon on your cruise of the Rhône river.
Highlights
  • Visit the Palace of the Popes and much more during a Avignon walking tour
  • Discover Chardonnay wine cellar in Mâcon along Saône River
  • Explore Lyon's Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways
  • See the pale-stone buildings of the charming village in Viviers
Activities
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: St. Jean De Losne | Embark

Welcome to France. Your suite ship is ready for boarding. Flights into Lyon must arrive by noon. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

Day 2: Mâcon

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enjoy leisurely cruising en route to Mâcon along the majestic Saône River. Consider a guided optional excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar, or to the Castle of Cormatin.

Discovery: Later, enjoy a delicious cheese tasting on board your ship.

Enjoy live entertainment while sailing for Trévoux this evening.

Day 3: Lyon

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sail for lovely Lyon this morning.

Classic: Join a guided sightseeing tour to survey Lyon from Fourvière Hill with its numerous churches. Also, explore the old town with its maze of medieval alleyways and the lively cafés, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des Terreaux.

Spend free time riding a bike through Lyon’s town squares, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet.

Discovery: Be our guest for a WWII & French resistance lecture onboard your ship.

Later enjoy live entertainment after dinner.

Day 4: Lyon

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Discovery: Join a culinary walk through the city to discover why Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France.

The rest of your day is free to explore, relax, or shop in France’s third-largest city. Take a bike from the ship and explore local produce markets and parks, or take a leisurely tour of the city’s more than 100 murals.

Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.

Day 5: Tournon

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Take a morning guided walking tour to explore Tournon, one of France’s oldest medieval cities. See its 16th-century castle and Roman ruins between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage.

Enjoy a leisurely sail to Viviers after lunch.

VIVIERS
Classic: Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on a late afternoon guided walking tour of this charming village. See its Romanesque cathedral and old town with a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences.

Day 6: Avignon

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Take a guided sightseeing tour of the fortress city of Avignon with its ramparts encircling the city and a visit to the impressive Palace of the Popes.

Guided optional excursions include a visit to the ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard or a trip to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for an authentic taste of the Rhône wine region.

Explore Avignon on your own for the city’s art and culture, theatre, and museums. Be sure to snap photos of the captivating countryside, historical monuments, and the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet.

Later, enjoy onboard live entertainment.

Day 7: Arles

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Active: Join your Avalon adventure host for a morning walk.

Classic: Enjoy a guided walking tour of Arles, the captivating city of the Provence region. Visit the Roman Amphitheater in this visually stunning city, OR:

Discovery: Attend a painting workshop to learn the style and techniques of Vincent van Gogh. Create your painting in the style of the classic master who took inspiration from the Provence light and landscape in Arles.

Consider a guided optional excursion to the Carrières de Lumières (Cathedral of Images) to immerse yourself in a truly unique experience of art, sound, and light in the old quarries of Val d’Enfer.

Take advantage of any free time remaining with a stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine, to relax and watch the world go by.

Day 8: Port St. Louis | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. Flights should not leave Marseille airport before 10 am.

Ship/Hotel

Avalon Poetry II

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
Select a Date
Cat. E
Avalon Deluxe Stateroom: 172 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Complimentary bottled water, Individual climate control, Mirror in the bathroom, Full shower with glass door, Vanity, Memory foam mattress, European-style duvets.
Select a Date
Cat. D
Avalon Deluxe Stateroom: 172 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Complimentary bottled water, Individual climate control, Mirror in the bathroom, Full shower with glass door, Vanity, Luxurious mattress, European-style duvets.
Select a Date
Cat. B
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, In-room safe, Contemporary design, Marble countertops in the bathroom, 6-person sitting area, Writing desk, Sofa, Memory foam mattress, European-style duvets.
Select a Date
Cat. A
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, In-room safe, contemporary design, Marble countertops in the bathroom, 6-person sitting area, Writing desk, Sofa, Luxurious mattress, European-style duvets.
Select a Date
Cat. P
Panorama Suite: 200 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, Well-stocked minibar, In-room safe, Contemporary design, Marble countertops in the bathroom, 6-person sitting area, Writing desk, Sofa, Memory foam mattress, European-style duvets
Select a Date
Royal Suite
Royal Suite: 300 SQ. FT. Comfort Collection Beds, Bedside tables with reading lamps, L'Occitane bath products, Under-bed luggage storage, Telephone, Well-stocked minibar, Marble countertops in the bathroom, Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Window with Open-Air Balcony, Full shower with glass door, Luxurious mattress toppers, European-style duvets.
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Onboard Adventure Center with active gear, bikes, maps, canoe, kayak and jogging excursions
  • Wifi
  • Complimentary fresh fruit available daily
  • Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions
  • Club Lounge with 24-hour self-serve beverage station with complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees, as well as treats throughout the day
  • Panoramic windows
  • Friendly, English-speaking crew & Cruise Director
  • Sky Deck with whirlpool, shade awnings, game area and premium lounges
  • Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; wine, beer, or soft drinks with every lunch and dinner
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or on board your vessel
  • Port Fees
  • Porterage
  • Passport or Visa fees

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The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
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