Itinerary
- Day 1
Marseille to Arles
You'll be met at Marseille airport and transferred to Arles where the Emerald Cruises Star-Ship is waiting. After you get settled into your cabin, there's a welcome reception this evening followed by dinner with your fellow travelers. It's a chance to relax after travel and meet some people you'll be spending time with over the next week.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome reception and dinner with fellow guests on board)
Included Activities
- Welcome reception and dinner on board
- Day 2
Arles
A guided tour takes you through Arles' Roman sites, including the 2,000-year-old Amphitheatre. Your guide covers van Gogh's years here and the landscapes that inspired 'Starry Night Over the Rhône'. After the tour wraps up, the afternoon is yours to walk around on your own and see what else catches your eye in the old town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Provençal dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Arles with arena visit
- Provençal dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale
Optional Activities
- In the footsteps of Van Gogh: painting workshop (extra expense)
- Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)
- Provençal Cosmetics Workshop (extra expense)
- Provençal Soap Making Workshop (extra expense)
Landmarks Arles Amphitheatre - Day 3
Avignon
You'll head to Avignon to see the Palais des Papes, where seven popes lived during the 1300s. The guided walking tour covers this UNESCO World Heritage site with its Gothic architecture and the city's religious significance. Later in the evening, you can attend a classical concert included in the EmeraldPLUS program.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avignon
- Classical concert in Avignon
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
The ship takes you to Viviers, a medieval town with pastel buildings and narrow cobblestone streets winding through the old center. Your guided tour covers the main historic areas, then you have free time to wander around and explore the village at your own pace. It's the kind of place where getting a bit lost is half the fun.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Viviers
Optional Activities
- CD lecture Art & Culture in the South of France
- Visit to Chauvet Pont D'Arc (extra expense)
- Day 5
Tournon
After sailing down the Rhône to Tournon, you can pick what you want to do. There's a guided tour covering the town's history and the 16th-century castle that overlooks everything, or if you're more active, try the EmeraldACTIVE hike through the local vineyards to get a feel for the landscape and how the region produces wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournon
Optional Activities
- Guided hike through the vineyards
- Day 6
Mâcon
The ship sails at a relaxed pace on the Saône River toward Mâcon. Once you arrive, you have time to explore this lovely town and the surrounding Beaujolais wine region. The area is known for its Gamay grape and the fruity wines it produces, so if wine interests you, there's plenty to learn about and taste.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Beaujolais wine tasting
- Day 7
Lyon
You'll explore Lyon, one of France's biggest cities and a former Roman capital known for its food scene and Lyonnaise cooking. Take a guided walking tour that includes the UNESCO World Heritage Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, or go for a guided bike tour if you want a more active way to see the architecture and history. Both options cover a lot of ground.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Lyon
- Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)
- Lyon by Night (extra expense)
Landmarks Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière 
- Day 8
Lyon to Paris
After breakfast, you'll leave the Star-Ship behind in Lyon. The train ride to Paris gives you time to relax and take in some scenery. By the time you arrive in Paris, you'll check into your hotel for a two-night stay in this distinctive city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 9
Paris
Your local guide leads you down Paris's wide, tree-lined streets to see Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe. From there, you'll take a cruise on the Seine River to see the city from the water. The tour finishes at the Eiffel Tower, so you'll get time to see it up close and take photos.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Paris and Seine river cruise
Landmarks Notre-Dame Cathedral Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower 
- Day 10
Paris to Airport
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye to the people you've met and head to the airport for your flight home. You're leaving with memories of the food, the river, the historic sites, and all those iconic Parisian views from the past week.
- Meals
- Breakfast
