Itinerary
- Day 1
Lyon
You'll arrive in Lyon and transfer to Scenic Sapphire, your home for the next week. After checking into your suite, the afternoon is yours to settle in and explore the ship. Head to the Sun Deck if you want views of the city, or just relax in your accommodations and get oriented before the cruise starts.
- Day 2
Mâcon
The ship heads south toward Mâcon through the Burgundy countryside. Once you arrive, pick one experience: tour the Renaissance Château de Cormatin with its ornate rooms and gardens, watch a cooking demo at the Michelin-starred Georges Blanc, visit a truffle farm and taste truffles, or drive through the Beaujolais wine region. There's time to explore Mâcon's old town if you finish early.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Château de Cormatin with guided visit and garden exploration
- Georges Blanc cooking demonstration at Michelin starred restaurant with village exploration
- Truffle tasting at local farm with truffle butter and chocolate mousse paired with local white wine
- Beaujolais Region tour with local vintner meeting and wine sampling
Landmarks Château de Cormatin 
- Day 3
Vienne
You'll dock in Vienne, which has impressive Roman ruins and medieval character. Choose a morning activity: take a guided walk through the ancient Roman theatre that once held 10,000 people, go on an easy 19km bike ride past Roman temples and archaeological sites, or do a private wine tasting of local Condrieu and Saint-Joseph wines at a vineyard. The ship continues to Tournon later, so you'll have time to wrap up before heading back.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Vienne with Roman Theatre including city gardens and historic streets
- Cycling tour of Vienne and Saint-Romain-en-Gal (19 km easy route) visiting Roman ruins and Gallo-Roman museum
- St-Joseph Côte-Rôtie wine tasting at Chavanay vineyard with Condrieu and Saint-Joseph wines
Landmarks Roman Theatre of Vienne Temple of Augustus and Livia - Day 4
Tournon
Tournon sits on hillsides covered with steep vineyards and overlooks a 10th-century castle. You'll pick a morning activity: taste famous Côtes du Rhône wines with a local expert, hike through the terraced vineyards, walk through town and the castle with a stop at the suspension bridge, or cycle the Via Rhona route. The afternoon is free to wander around. By evening, head back for a dessert buffet featuring creations from a local pastry chef.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dessert buffet on board from local pâtissier)
Included Activities
- Dessert buffet on board from local pâtissier
Optional Activities
- Côtes du Rhône wine tasting with local wine expert
- Hiking through Tournon vineyards with wine tasting
- Walking tour of Tournon including castle and France's oldest suspension bridge
- Biking along Via Rhona route between Tournon and Tain l'Hermitage
Landmarks Tournon Castle - Day 5
Avignon
After lunch, you'll arrive in Avignon, the former papal seat. Select a morning activity: take a guided walk to the Palais des Papes (requires moderate fitness), visit the ancient Pont du Gard aqueduct and its museum, or kayak underneath the 2,000-year-old Roman structure. Evening is special: you'll have a gala dinner inside the Pope's Palace banquet hall with a classical quartet performing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Exclusive gala dinner inside Palais des Papes banquet hall with classical quartet performance)
Included Activities
- Exclusive gala dinner inside Palais des Papes banquet hall with classical quartet performance
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Avignon to Palais des Papes (moderate fitness required)
- Excursion to Pont du Gard aqueduct with museum visit
- Kayaking at Pont du Gard beneath the World Heritage aqueduct
Landmarks Palais des Papes Pont du Gard 
- Day 6
Avignon
You have the full day in Avignon and can pick an excursion: taste grenache wines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, visit hilltop villages like Gordes and see Sénanque Abbey, shop at the market with a chef and then cook together at Scenic Culinaire, or tour the Lavender Museum and the colorful village of Roussillon. Each option gives you a different side of the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape discovering grenache and exclusive appellations
- Excursion to Luberon villages and Sénanque Abbey (exterior visit on Sundays)
- Shopping with chef at Avignon Market and cooking demonstration at Scenic Culinaire (market closed Mondays)
- Lavender Museum with guided tour of Roussillon village and Ochre Trail
Landmarks Sénanque Abbey Gordes - Day 7
Arles
The ship heads south toward Arles, founded by Julius Caesar over 2,000 years ago. Pick an activity: do a rosé wine tasting from Provence, take a guided tour of Roman ruins and the colorful streets that inspired Van Gogh, or visit the medieval village of Les Baux with its digital art installations. You'll also join a painting workshop during the day to try your hand at art.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Provence in Pink - Rosé wine tasting discovering Provence vineyard terroir
- Guided tour of Arles visiting Roman ruins and experiencing artistic heritage
- Visit Les Baux with Carrières de Lumières immersive 7,000 square-metre digital art space
Landmarks Arles Amphitheatre Les Baux-de-Provence Carrières de Lumières - Day 8
Viviers
After cruising overnight, you'll arrive in Viviers, a town with narrow streets that haven't changed much in 1,600 years. Choose a morning option: walk through the Cathedral of St Vincent and other architectural sites, take a French Resistance tour learning WWII stories, or explore Viviers' role in a WWII battle. The afternoon has other choices like a wine tasting, visiting the Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum, or heading to the castle town of Grignan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Viviers visiting Cathedral of St Vincent with free exploration time
- French Resistance walking tour with tales of WWII heroism
- WWII in Viviers tour tracing Battle of Montélimar and liberation history
- Côtes du Rhône Villages wine tasting with guided experience
- Ardèche Nature Park with Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum (world's largest decorated Palaeolithic cave replica)
- Excursion to Grignan castle and Collegiate Church of the Holy Saviour
Landmarks Cathedral of St Vincent Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Grignan Castle - Day 9
Lyon
You'll spend the day on the ship heading back toward Lyon. Relax on deck watching the Rhône River pass by, join a wine tasting over lunch, or take a French cooking class. That evening, visit the Trinity Chapel for an acapella choir performance in its ornate Baroque interior.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exclusive acapella choir performance at Trinity Chapel with Baroque interior decor
Optional Activities
- French cookery lesson at Scenic Culinaire
- Local wine tasting over lunch
Landmarks Trinity Chapel - Day 10
Lyon
Your last morning in Lyon offers three choices: take a coach tour of Roman ruins and hidden passageways called traboules plus the Notre Dame Basilica for city views, visit the medieval village of Pérogue with its cobblestone streets and old lime tree (this one requires good fitness due to uneven terrain), or learn silk painting and the city's textile history dating back to the 15th century.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon including Roman ruins, traboules secret passageways, and Notre Dame Basilica
- Excursion to Péroguès medieval walled village with walking tour (high fitness required for uneven surfaces and steep terrain)
- Silk painting workshop learning Lyon's textile heritage and creating personal masterpiece
Landmarks Notre Dame Basilica Péroguès - Day 11
Lyon
Your cruise ends this morning as you say goodbye to fellow passengers and the crew. You'll head home with memories of the Rhône Valley, its wines, food, and the people you met along the way.
