Itinerary
- Day 1
Lyon
You'll arrive in Lyon before 7:00 PM and transfer to the Scenic Sapphire. After getting settled into your suite, the afternoon is yours to relax. Head up to the Sun Deck if you'd like, where you can take in views across the city, or just unwind in your cabin after traveling.
Landmarks Lyon 
- Day 2
Chalon-sur-Saône
The ship heads north into Burgundy, docking in Chalon-sur-Saône where you'll see half-timbered houses and a Gothic cathedral. You can pick from a guided wine estate visit, a tour through medieval Beaune and Les Hospices, or learn about WWII history in town. It's your choice depending on what interests you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Burgundy wine discovery at a local wine estate - vineyard tour, cellar visit, and guided wine tasting
- Guided tour of Beaune and Les Hospices de Beaune - medieval town tour and Gothic-style hospital museum
- WWII in Chalon-sur-Saône - French Resistance history and Demarcation Line walking tour
Landmarks Chalon-sur-Saône Beaune Les Hospices de Beaune - Day 3
Tournus - Tournon
You arrive early in Tournus, a Roman riverside town known for its grand Romanesque abbey and excellent restaurants. In the morning, choose between visiting Château de Cormatin, watching a cooking demonstration at Georges Blanc restaurant, or exploring a truffle farm. After lunch, you'll see a barrel-making demonstration before the ship continues to Tournon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cooperage demonstration - ancient craft of barrel making linked to wine production
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Château de Cormatin - Renaissance architecture with gilded rooms, moat, and manicured gardens
- Georges Blanc cooking demonstration - world's longest-standing Michelin-starred restaurant with gourmet village and museum visit in Vonnas
- Truffle Tasting - local truffle farm visit with truffle-hunting dogs and tasting
Landmarks Tournus Château de Cormatin Georges Blanc Restaurant Tournon 
- Day 4
Tournon
Tournon sits on a hillside in the Northern Rhône Valley with terraced vineyards and a 10th-century castle. You can do a wine tasting, hike through vineyards, walk the cobblestoned streets and see the suspension bridge, or cycle along the Rhône. The afternoon gives you free time, and later there's a dessert buffet featuring treats from a local pastry shop.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dessert buffet on board from a local pâtissier featuring delicate pastries, silky creams, and vibrant confections)
Included Activities
- Dessert buffet on board Scenic Sapphire from a local pâtissier
Optional Activities
- Côtes du Rhône Tasting - guided tasting with local wine expert
- Hiking through the vineyards in Tournon - vineyard walk with local wine production knowledge and tastings
- Walking tour of Tournon - visit the castle and cross France's oldest suspension bridge to Tain l'Hermitage and Valrhona chocolatiers
- Biking along the Rhône - Via Rhona bike route between Tournon and Gun with villages, orchards, and bridges
Landmarks Tournon Castle Tain l'Hermitage Valrhona Chocolate Company - Day 5
Avignon
Start with a relaxing morning on board, then dock in Avignon, the ancient City of the Popes. Choose a guided walk through historic streets and the Pope's Palace, visit the Pont du Gard aqueduct (you can kayak beneath it if you prefer), or explore on your own. Tonight there's an exclusive gala dinner inside the Palais des Papes with classical music.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Exclusive gala dinner inside Palais des Papes with classical quartet performance)
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich - Exclusive gala dinner inside Palais des Papes with classical quartet performance
Optional Activities
- Guided walking tour of Avignon - historic cobblestone streets to Pope's Palace (moderate fitness required)
- Excursion to Pont du Gard - ancient Roman aqueduct visit with museum
- Kayaking at Pont du Gard - paddle beneath the World Heritage aqueduct on the Gardon River
Landmarks Palais des Papes Pont du Gard Gardon River 
- Day 6
Avignon
Watch the sunrise over Avignon's rooftops, then decide how you want to spend your day. Try a wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, visit hilltop Luberon villages and Sénanque Abbey, shop and cook with a chef at Avignon Market, or discover the Lavender Museum and the ochre-colored village of Roussillon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Wines of the Popes - Wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards featuring grenache and other exclusive appellations
- Excursion to Luberon villages and Sénanque Abbey - drive to Gordes with abbey visit (exterior only on Sundays)
- Shop with a chef & Scenic Culinaire - Avignon Market shopping with interactive cooking demonstration (market closed Mondays)
- Lavender Museum with visit to Roussillon village - lavender field immersion and guided village tour with Ochre Trail
Landmarks Châteauneuf-du-Pape Gordes Sénanque Abbey Roussillon Lavender Museum - Day 7
Arles
You'll cruise south to Arles, the ancient Roman city that inspired Van Gogh's paintings. Pick between a Provence rosé wine tasting, a tour of Roman ruins and artistic sites, or visit the digital art installation at Carrières de Lumières and medieval Les Baux. The day also includes a painting workshop influenced by the region's landscape and light.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Learn about the artistic heritage of the region while painting a masterpiece of your own
Optional Activities
- Provence in Pink - Rosé wine tasting from sun-drenched vineyards with terroir and grape variety discussion
- Guided tour of Arles - Roman ruins, vibrant light, and city history and culture insights
- Visit Les Baux with Carrières de Lumières - immersive 7,000-square-metre digital art space in former quarry and medieval village exploration
Landmarks Arles Carrières de Lumières Les Baux 
- Day 8
Viviers
Viviers arrives early and feels like stepping into history, founded in the fifth century with narrow lanes that haven't changed in 1,600 years. Choose a walking tour of medieval and Gothic architecture including St Vincent Cathedral, or learn about French Resistance history. The afternoon has a Côtes du Rhône wine tasting, time in Ardèche Nature Park and the Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum, or a trip to Grignan castle.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Viviers - architectural treasures and Cathedral of St Vincent with free exploration time
- French Resistance Walking Tour - WWII history and heroism during Nazi occupation with historic town exploration
- Côtes du Rhône Villages tasting - guided tasting with diverse terroir and winemaking traditions
- Ardèche Nature Park with Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum - natural beauty and Palaeolithic cave replica (largest in the world)
- Excursion to Grignan de Provence - castle and Collegiate Church of the Holy Saviour with leisure time
Landmarks Viviers Cathedral of St Vincent, Viviers Caverne du Pont-d'Arc Museum Grignan Castle Collegiate Church of the Holy Saviour, Grignan - Day 9
At Sea - Rhône Valley
Spend the day sailing back toward Lyon while enjoying the Rhône River scenery. You can attend wine tastings during lunch or join a French cooking lesson in the Scenic Culinaire kitchen. This evening brings an exclusive acapella choir performance in the grand Baroque Trinity Chapel, which is decorated with Carrera marble.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich - Exclusive acapella choir performance inside the grand Trinity Chapel (Baroque beauty with Carrera marble interior)
Optional Activities
- French cookery lesson in Scenic Culinaire
- Wine tastings over lunch
Landmarks Trinity Chapel - Day 10
Lyon
Your final day in Lyon, the culinary capital with thousands of restaurants including 20 Michelin-starred places. Take a coach tour to see Roman ruins, secret passageways called traboules, and Notre Dame Basilica, or walk through medieval Pérouges village, or try a silk painting workshop celebrating Lyon's textile history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Lyon - coach tour with Roman ruins, traboules (secret 4th-century passageways), and Notre Dame Basilica with city views
- Excursion to Pérouges - medieval walled village walking tour with vine-covered stone buildings, cobbled laneways, and centuries-old lime tree (high fitness level required due to uneven surfaces and uphill/downhill terrain)
- Silk painting workshop - immersive workshop on Lyon's 15th-century silk heritage with masterpiece creation
Landmarks Notre Dame Basilica, Lyon Pérouges - Day 11
Lyon to Bordeaux
You'll board an included flight from Lyon to Bordeaux. Once you arrive, transfer to the Scenic Diamond where the crew will welcome you on board the ship.
Landmarks Bordeaux 
- Day 12
Libourne
After lunch, sail to Libourne, a 13th-century port town and winemaking hub. Head to Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO-listed village with thousands of years of history and medieval architecture. The Monolithic Church is mostly underground, carved directly into limestone. The ship stays overnight in Libourne.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour to nearby Saint-Émilion - World Heritage village with historic Monolithic Church carved into limestone
Landmarks Libourne Saint-Émilion Monolithic Church, Saint-Émilion - Day 13
Fort Médoc
Explore Libourne this morning with options to take a guided walk through the historic port, do a countryside vineyard journey with Saint-Émilion wine tasting, cycle through vineyards to Château Siaurac with a tasting, or paint with watercolors and wine on the Sun Deck. The ship sets sail this afternoon for Fort Médoc where you'll dock overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Libourne - guided tour covering wool, wine, salt, and wood trade history
- Wines and Vineyards of Saint-Émilion - countryside vineyard exploration and wine tasting
- Biking and tasting at Château Siaurac - cycling through wine-growing region to impressive estate with tasting
- Paint and Pour - watercolour painting class on the Sun Deck with local artist while sipping local wines
Landmarks Château Siaurac Fort Médoc - Day 14
Fort Médoc
The Médoc region is known worldwide for red wine production with thousands of hectares of vineyards. Choose a coach wine tasting tour or e-bike cycling tour visiting grand châteaux and estates along the Route des Châteaux. Later, you'll enjoy a classical concert at 13th-century Château d'Agassac.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic Enrich - Classical Concert at Château d'Agassac - live musicians performing classical masterpieces in 13th-century setting
Optional Activities
- Médoc wine tasting by coach - Route des Châteaux tour through vineyards with local winery tasting
- Médoc wine tasting by bicycle - e-bike exploration of countryside with grand châteaux and prestigious estate wine sampling
Landmarks Château d'Agassac - Day 15
Cadillac
Relax on board while sailing to Cadillac. You can get spa treatments or take a French cooking lesson in Scenic Culinaire. The ship arrives after lunch in this picturesque town founded in 1280. Cadillac's name actually inspired the Cadillac automobile, named after French explorer Antoine de la Mothe.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Spa treatment
- French cuisine lesson in Scenic Culinaire
Landmarks Cadillac 
- Day 16
Cadillac
Cadillac sits close to the Sauternes wine region famous for its sweet, fortified wines. The morning offers coach or cycling wine tours, and in the afternoon you can visit ancient Roquetaillade Castle (where the current family still lives), cycle through Loupiac vineyards with views of Château Benauge, or tour Château Toulouse-Lautrec with the famous painter's historic apartments.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Sauternes by coach - vineyard coach tour with wine tasting
- Sauternes by bike - cycling tour through rolling vineyards with tasting
- Roquetaillade Castle - guided tour with family whose ancestors have lived there 700+ years
- Biking in the Loupiac wine region - cycling through Gironde landscapes with views of Château Benauge
- Château Toulouse-Lautrec - guided tour of historic estate including apartments of famous painter
Landmarks Roquetaillade Castle Château Benauge Château Toulouse-Lautrec - Day 17
Bordeaux
Your day in Bordeaux starts with choosing how you want to spend your time. Take a guided city tour if you want to see the Gothic cathedral and Place de la Bourse, or go for a cycling tour where you'll sample local canelé cakes and other treats along the way. Another option is to shop with the onboard chef at a local market, then head back to the ship for a cooking demonstration. You'll get to taste fresh oysters from Arcachon Bay as well. Later in the evening, you have an exclusive after-hours visit to Bassins des Lumières, a former WWII submarine base that's now a digital art installation, and champagne is included with that experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bordeaux - highlights including Gothic cathedral and Place de la Bourse
- Cycling tour of Bordeaux with sampling of local canelé pastries
- Shop with a chef at local food market and French cooking demonstration on board
- Tasting of fresh oysters from Arcachon Bay
- Afterhours access to Bassins des Lumières with champagne and exclusive digital art show
Landmarks Bordeaux Cathedral Place de la Bourse Bassins des Lumières Arcachon Bay - Day 18
Bordeaux
Continue exploring Bordeaux or try something different. Visit the interactive Cité du Vin Museum via local tram, take a thrilling motorcycle and sidecar tour through the city, or head to the charming bayside town of Arcachon with its Baltard market food hall. The afternoon is leisurely on board as you sail toward Bourg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Cité du Vin Museum - local tram ride and interactive wine discovery journey
- Tour Bordeaux by motorbike & sidecar - cruise through Bordeaux in motorcycle sidecar or back
- Visit Arcachon - guided walking tour of bayside town with Baltard market undercover food hall
Landmarks Cité du Vin Museum Arcachon Baltard Market, Arcachon - Day 19
Bourg
Dock in Bourg, a picturesque town on a rocky promontory with ancient alleyways and bell towers on the Dordogne. You can visit the Carriages Museum in Bourg Castle grounds, tour historic Saintes with 2,000 years of history, or take a full-day excursion to Cognac for a town tour, Rémy Martin estate tour, and brandy tastings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Bourg with Carriages Museum - museum visit inside Bourg Castle grounds with collection of horse-drawn carriages
- Historic Saintes - guided tour of charming Charente-Maritime town with 2,000 years of history and lush gardens
- Full day excursion to Cognac - fortified city walking tour, lunch, Rémy Martin estate tour, and brandy sampling
Landmarks Bourg Bourg Castle Carriages Museum, Bourg Saintes Cognac Rémy Martin Estate - Day 20
Blaye
Arrive in Blaye, home to a UNESCO-listed citadel built to protect Bordeaux from attacks. Choose a relaxed walking tour of charming streets with views over the Gironde Estuary, an active walking tour learning about architect Sébastien Vauban's defense system, a cycling tour along the Captain's Road, or visit Château de la Roche Courbon with fortifications and manicured gardens.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walking tour of Blaye - gentle stroll through charming city with World Heritage-listed monument overlooking Gironde Estuary
- Active walking tour of Blaye - vigorous citadel tour with Sébastien Vauban defence system education
- Cycling along the Captain's Road - active cycling tour
- Visit Château de la Roche Courbon - guided tour of fortified castle transformed to historic estate with sprawling gardens
Landmarks Blaye Citadel Château de la Roche Courbon Gironde Estuary - Day 21
Bordeaux
Your cruise ends this morning in Bordeaux. After breakfast you'll disembark, taking with you memories of France's wine regions and the incredible food you've experienced along the rivers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Bordeaux
