Day 1 Paris | Embark
Welcome to France. Your suite ship is ready for boarding. Flights into Paris must arrive by 2:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Your day is free to explore the world's most romantic city before starting your cruise on the Seine. Get acquainted with the City of Lights today with some shopping, strolling, or with a croissant and café au lait to watch the world go by amid the Parisian cityscape.
Day 2 Vernon
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Start the day with a morning stretch with your Avalon adventure host
Classic: Take a guided tour of Giverny, home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the grounds and see Monet’s charming residence, and the flower and water gardens captured in his masterpieces, OR:
Classic: Join a guided visit to Bizy Castle called “Normandy’s Versailles” for its magnificent courtyard, water garden, and stables.
Discovery: While sailing, enjoy a traditional French Luncheon of authentic French crêpes, followed by a pastry demonstration.
This afternoon, enjoy cruising to the picturesque town of Les Andelys.
LES ANDELYS
Classic: Take a guided walking tour of Les Andelys, one of France’s most picturesque spots on the Seine, OR:
Active: Join a guided hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard, historic home of King Richard the Lionheart.
Day 3 Caudebec
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Active: Join your Avalon adventure host for a morning jog in Normandy’s town of Caudebec.
Classic: Take a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built along the Seine.
Active: Enjoy the natural wonders of the fascinating Marais Vernier wetlands on this half-day guided nature walk on the outskirts of Caudebec.
This afternoon, you may choose a guided optional excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur.
Day 4 Caudebec | Normandy
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Join a guided tour of the WWII landing beaches of Normandy, visit significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, OR:
Classic: Take a full-day guided tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites, including the British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, OR:
Classic: Join “A Taste of Normandy” guided tour for an in-depth look at this rich agricultural region. See the famous Bayeux Tapestry, visit the beautiful village of Beuvron en Auge and taste Calvados apple brandy at a local distillery.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.
Day 5 Rouen
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Take a guided walking tour of Rouen—site of Saint Joan of Arc’s martyrdom—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral, OR:
Active: Take a guided bike tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser-known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels.
Day 6 Conflans
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Join a guided visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh, OR:
Classic: Take a guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine.
Perhaps, join a guided sightseeing tour of the Palace of Versailles—home to a succession of French kings. Later enjoy live entertainment on board.
Day 7 Paris
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Active: Take a morning walk with your Avalon adventure host to see Paris at first light.
Classic: Discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating guided walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, bustling Latin Quarter, and more, OR:
Classic: Join a guided city tour, that shows you the iconic sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and the famous Champs-Élysées.
Stroll through Paris on your own, or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank.
Day 8 Paris | Disembark | Dijon | Beaune | St. Jean De Losne
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the last judgement.
This afternoon, travel to St. Jean de Losne to board your suite ship.
Day 9 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 10 Lyon
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sail for lovely Lyon this morning for French fare.
Classic: Join a guided sightseeing tour to survey Lyon with its numerous churches from Fourvière Hill. You’ll 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 biking 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 on board your ship.
Later enjoy live entertainment after dinner.
Day 11 Lyon
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Join a culinary walk through the city to discover why it 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 on board.
Day 12 Tournon
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Classic: Take a morning guided walking 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. You’ll see its Romanesque cathedral and Old Town with a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences.
Day 13 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 amazing 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 a true 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, historic monuments, and the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet.
Later, enjoy onboard live entertainment.
Day 14 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 own 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, before sailing to Avignon.
Day 15 Port St. Louis | Disembark
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Marseille airport before 10 am.
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