Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Paris
A representative from Emerald Cruises will meet you at the airport and get you to your hotel in central Paris. Your hotel sits right in the middle of the city where you can see all the major boulevards and landmarks from your location.
- Day 2
Paris
You'll start with a local guide who shows you around Paris, taking you past Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe. After lunch, you board a river cruise on the Seine that takes you out to the Eiffel Tower where you can see it from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Paris
- Seine river cruise
Landmarks Notre Dame Cathedral Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower - Day 3
Paris to Lyon
After breakfast in Paris, you take a train to Lyon. When you arrive, the captain and crew welcome you aboard the Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. That evening you'll have dinner on board and meet the other guests traveling with you on the cruise.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner on board with fellow guests)
- Day 4
Lyon
Lyon is France's third-largest city and used to be the capital under Roman rule, and it's known for its food scene. Your guide takes you through the UNESCO-listed Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière and the old cobblestone streets. You also have the option to do a guided bike tour instead if you prefer.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon
- Visit to Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Optional Activities
- Guided bike tour of Lyon
- Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)
- Lyon by Night (extra expense)
Landmarks Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière - Day 5
Beaujolais Wine Region
The ship sails gently along the Saône river toward the town of Mâcon. From there you can visit the Beaujolais wine region where they grow Gamay grapes and make light, fruity red wines that make up almost all the wine production there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Beaujolais wine tasting
Landmarks Beaujolais Wine Region 
- Day 6
Tournon
You arrive at Tournon, a small village right on the Rhône river with a 16th century castle sitting above it. Your guide shows you around and talks about the village's history and culture. Or you can skip the tour and do a guided hike through the vineyards in the area instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tournon
Optional Activities
- Guided hike through the vineyards
Landmarks Tournon Castle - Day 7
Viviers
Viviers is next, a town with lots of medieval character and one of France's oldest cathedrals. You get a walking tour that takes you past old monuments, fancy stained glass windows, and buildings with ornate stone work on their fronts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Viviers
Optional Activities
- Visit to Chauvet Pont d'Arc (extra expense)
Landmarks Viviers Cathedral - Day 8
Avignon
In Avignon, your guide walks you through the city where seven different Popes lived between 1309 and 1377. You see the UNESCO-listed Palais des Papes and Pont d'Avignon. Back on the ship that evening, a Top Chef finalist named Fabien Morreale cooks dinner with Provençal flavors, and then there's a classical music concert.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Provençal dinner hosted by local chef Fabien Morreale)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Avignon
- Provençal dinner hosted by local chef Fabien Morreale
- 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 Pont d'Avignon 
- Day 9
Arles
Arles was an important trading port for the Phoenicians and then the Romans, who left behind significant buildings that are now UNESCO-listed. You tour the 2,000-year-old Arles Amphitheatre and see locations connected to Vincent van Gogh. After the guided tour, the rest of the day is yours to wander around on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Arles with arena visit
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)
- Provencal Cosmetics Workshop (extra expense)
- In the footsteps of Van Gogh: painting workshop (extra expense)
- Provencal Soap Making Workshop (extra expense)
Landmarks Arles Amphitheatre 
- Day 10
Departure from Arles
After breakfast you say goodbye to the other guests and leave the Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport, bringing along memories of the French countryside and the food you've had over the past week.
- Meals
- Breakfast
