Wine,
cuisine and culture
This
150-passenger riverboat cruise on the Rhône and Saône rivers
will take you past some of the most beautiful vineyards and vistas in southern
France.
You
will discover the sun-drenched hills of Provence, explore the wild scenery of
Ardèche and enjoy the famed wine region of Burgundy. Along the way, you
will see remnants of the early Roman influence and learn about the region's time-honored
traditions in winemaking.
In
Lyon you will have the opportunity to indulge your taste buds by sampling world-renowned
cuisine and fabled local wines. In beautiful Arles, see for yourself why this
city was such an inspiration to the Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh. In
Avignon, view the historic citadel with the medieval Papal Palace ("Palais
des Papes"), where seven popes lived and ruled Christendom in the 14th century.
This
riverboat cruise is a unique blend of ancient culture, cuisine and wine appreciation.
It will leave you with indelible memories.
TYPICAL
RIVER CRUISE ITINERARY
(actual program may vary)
B
= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Day
1 - Sunday: Chalon-sur-Saône
(D).
Optional transfer from Lyon airport (included with cruise and air package). Welcome
to Chalon-sur-Saône, one of the main centers of Burgundy's wine region.
Free time after boarding the river boat to explore this quaint town on the Saône
River.
Day
2 - Monday: Beaune and Burgundy Wine Tour
(B, L, D).
After breakfast, board a motor coach for a scenic drive along France's Burgundy
wine route through Pommard, Volnay and Meursault. Arrive in Beaune, wine capital
of Burgundy, for your guided tour of the Hôtel Dieu. Founded in 1443, it
is a fine example of Gothic architecture with a unique colorful tile roof. Explore
the well-preserved interior of this former hospital. Then enjoy wine tasting at
one of Beaune's famous wine cellars. Return to the riverboat for lunch. Enjoy
the rest of your day at leisure and enjoy dinner aboard as you cruise through
Burgundy.
Day
3 - Tuesday: Lyon (B,
L, D). After a morning cruise through the picturesque countryside and lunch on
board the boat, take an afternoon tour of Lyon, a 2,000-year-old city nestled
in the heart of France's Rhône-Alpes region. (Lyon is known as the gastronomic
capital of the country and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.) Your tour begins
with a drive to the top of Fourvière Hill for some amazing views of the
city. Continue with a guided visit of the Basilica of Notre Dame and a drive through
town passing the magnificent St. Jean Cathedral and the Palace of Justice. Then
take a walking tour through the cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon (the old town) with
some free time to explore on your own. Dinner is served on board the riverboat.
Day
4 - Wednesday: Lyon and Vienne
(B, L, D). After breakfast, your morning is free to further explore this remarkable
city. Depart just before lunchtime, and cruise south toward Vienne. This afternoon,
take a walking tour of this beautiful town surrounded by steep hills and filled
with lush gardens. Explore its ancient Roman past when you visit the Temple of
Augustus and Livia and the Roman amphitheater. You can also visit the Gothic Cathedral
of St. Maurice and enjoy some free time. Return to the river boat for dinner and
an evening departure.
Day
5 - Thursday: Tournon and Viviers
(B, L, D). Wake up in Tournon and board a motorcoach for your tour through Tournon
to Châteauneuf-sur-Isère near Tain L'Hermitage. During your guided
tour you'll learn more about viticulture and the region's long-standing traditions
in wine-making. Enjoy a wine tasting of some famous regional wines followed by
a visit to the Musée de Tain L'Hermitage, located in the oldest house in
the region. Have lunch on board the riverboat as you cruise through the afternoon.
Arrive in Viviers after dinner. Viviers is a quaint town set in the middle of
a mountainous region. Join your cruise manager for an evening stroll through the
old town, where you can see buildings dating back to the Middle Ages and some
fine examples of Renaissance architecture.
Day
6 - Friday: Arles
(B, L, D). Arrive during breakfast and meet your guide for a walking tour of Arles
with its diverse architecture. You will see Gallo-Roman ruins, including the Church
of St. Trophîme and Les Arènes, an ancient amphitheater that seats
20,000 and is still used for bullfights and plays. The city's vibrant colors and
striking quality of light were an inspiration for Vincent Van Gogh, who painted
Arles as a backdrop for many of his works. Return to the riverboat for lunch followed
by free time in the afternoon to shop for hand-crafted gifts or to try some local
pastries. Dinner will be served as you depart.
Day
7 - Saturday: Avignon
(B, L, D). This morning, set out on a guided walk of Avignon, nicknamed "City
of Popes" because it was home to seven Roman Catholic popes from 1309-1377.
Stroll through the historic center, stop at the Pont d'Avignon for amazing views
and walk the Place de l'Horloge. Continue to the famous Palace of the Popes for
a guided tour through the rambling maze of Gothic architecture which served as
papal residence, fortress, church and palace. After the tour, enjoy an afternoon
at leisure exploring Avignon. You can join the optional tour to Chateauneuf-du-Pape,
visiting the vineyards and tasting the famous wine. Both lunch and dinner will
be served on board. The river boat remains docked in Avignon overnight.
Day
8 - Sunday: Avignon
(B). Morning disembarkation. Optional transfer to Marseille airport. (Transfer
is included with cruise and air package).
On
alternate weeks, cruise will be in the reverse direction. Actual port sequence
and times may vary.
Please
note:
Schedule, excursions and activities are subject to change depending on river water
levels, port accessibility and weather conditions. Excursions often include walks
over cobblestones, steps and uneven ground. You must be in good physical condition
to participate in the tours. For safety reasons, sun deck access may be limited
during times of high water levels/low bridge clearance on the rivers.
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Included:
- 7-night
cruise with river-view cabin
- All
meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Hot
coffee and tea available all day
- Daily
tours with English-speaking guides (total 6 included)
- Free
shipwide wireless Internet
Available
at Additional Cost
- Roundtrip
air from many US cities
-
Transfers to/from the river boat (included with air package)
- Pre-cruise
or post-cruise stay in Paris (3 nights) and/or Nice (3 nights)
- Soft
drinks and alcoholic beverages (corkage fee applies to alcohol not purchased on
board the ship)
- Telephone
services, computer rental and laundry
- Optional
activities when available
- Health
and travel insurance
Not
Included
- Crew
gratuities (suggested amount $70-85 per passenger)
- Personal
expenses
- Other
items not listed in "Included" above
Riverboat
Features
- 75
staterooms/150 passengers/40 crew members
- Sun
deck with chairs and canopy
- Restaurant,
lounge and bar with panoramic windows
- Open
restaurant seating at tables of 4, 6, and 8 places
- Library/game
room and boutique
- All
outside cabins with river view
- Category
A and B cabins (154 sq. ft.) have large windows (3.6 ft x 7.3 ft) that open. Hotel-style
beds are 6.6 ft x 5.3 ft x 1.8 ft and can be separated into two twin beds. Underbed
storage for suitcases (13" high). Closet is 3.4 ft wide. Dresser plus desk
with chair.
- Category
C and D cabins (154 sq. ft.) have smaller fixed windows (3.1 ft x 4.7 ft). Hotel-style
beds are 6.6 ft x 5.3 ft x 1.5 ft and can be separated into two twin beds. Underbed
storage for suitcases (13" high). Closet is 3.4 ft wide. Dresser plus desk
with chair.
- Category
E cabins (120 sq. ft.) have small fixed windows (1.4 ft x 4.7 ft). There is a
sofa bed (6.2 ft x 2.6 ft) and a Pullman bed (5.6 ft x 2.6 ft) Closet is 2.2 ft
wide. Small desk with chair.
- Private
bathroom with shower
- Converter
in the bathroom outlet
- TV,
phone, safe and hairdryer
- Individual
climate control
2010
Cruise Departure Dates and Prices (US$)
| Itinerary |
Cruise Departure Dates |
| Chalon-sur-Saône
to Avignon | Apr
4, 18; May 2, 16, 30; Jun 13, 27;
Jul 11; Aug 8, 22; Sep 5, 19;
Oct 3,
17, 31; Nov 14 |
| Avignon
to Chalon-sur-Saône | Mar
28; Apr 11, 25; May 9, 23;
Jun 6, 20; Jul 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29;
Sep 12,
26; Oct 10, 24; Nov 7 |
US
dollar prices in the chart below are per person double occupancy, for the cruise
only, and include port charges. They are valid for USA and Canadian residents
only. Limited single pricing is available; contact
us for details.
Roundtrip
air and transfer packages are available starting at $1,195, including taxes and
fees. If you prefer to book your own air, transfers to/from Lyon and Marseille
airports may be purchased separately for $120 per person, per direction. These
transfers are available only on cruise start and end dates.
Prices
in red apply if paid in full at time of booking and expire July 30, 2010. These
prices also include complimentary wine with dinner (2 glasses per person).
For
November departures only: Up to half off airfare with Category A, B, or C.
Cruise
Dates* | Stateroom
Category |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
| Mar
28 | SOLD
OUT |
| Apr
| SOLD
OUT |
May
- Jun
| SOLD
OUT |
Jul
- Aug
| SOLD
OUT |
Sep
5 - Oct 10
| SOLD
OUT |
| Oct
17, 24 | $6,199
$3,156 | $5,799
$2,956 | $5,399
$2,756 | $5,199
$2,656 | $4,199
$2,156 |
| Oct
31 | $5,599
$2,856 | $5,199
$2,656 | $4,799
$2,456 | $4,599
$2,356 | $3,599
$1,856 |
| Nov
7, 14 | $4,799
$2,456 | $4,399
$2,256 | $3,999
$2,056 | $3,799
$1,956 | $2,799
$1,456 |
*Every Sunday except as indicated. Air departure from USA and Canada one
day earlier.
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