Itinerary
- Day 1
French Riviera
You'll arrive in France ready to explore the French Riviera. This Mediterranean coastal region stretches from Toulon all the way toward the Italian border, and you've got free time to check out whatever interests you most along this beautiful stretch of coast.
Optional Activities
- Explore the French Riviera at your own pace
- Day 2
Nice
Head into Nice, known as the Queen of the French Riviera. You'll walk through the narrow, winding streets of Vieux Nice, the old city, where baroque churches and centuries-old architecture still look much like they did back in the 1700s. There's plenty to see as you wander around on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing in Nice
Landmarks Vieux Nice (Old Town) 
- Day 3
French Riviera to Arles
A motorcoach picks you up and heads toward Arles, but you'll stop in Aix-en-Provence first for a guided tour of Cézanne's hometown. After that, you'll continue on to Arles where your Avalon Suite Ship is waiting. You'll board and settle in for the night docked there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to Arles
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Aix-en-Provence
Landmarks Aix-en-Provence 
- Day 4
Arles
You've got several options in Arles today. Take a power walk through the city, join a painting workshop and create something in van Gogh's style, tour a rural Provence farm with olive oil tasting, or go on a guided walk featuring the Roman Amphitheater. Later, grab wine at Le Café Van Gogh before the ship sails to Avignon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Arles
Optional Activities
- Power Walk in Arles with Adventure Host
- Painting Workshop learning Vincent van Gogh techniques
- Rural Provence farm visit with olive oil tasting
- Stop at Le Café Van Gogh for wine
Landmarks Roman Amphitheater of Arles Le Café Van Gogh - Day 5
Avignon
Avignon, the City of Popes, offers multiple ways to spend your day. Bike through the city with your Adventure Host, join a market walk and French cooking class, or take a guided tour of the ramparts and Palace of the Popes. If you want more, there are optional excursions to the Pont du Gard aqueduct or Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars. You'll also have time to explore the city's art scene and catch live entertainment on board this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Avignon and Palace of the Popes
Optional Activities
- Bike tour of Avignon with Adventure Host
- Guided walk through Les Halles market with French cooking class
- Visit to Pont du Gard ancient Roman aqueduct
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine cellars tour and tasting
- Explore Avignon's art galleries, museums, and theatre
- Free time to photograph medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet
Landmarks Palace of the Popes Pont Saint-Bénézet Pont du Gard Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Day 6
Viviers
Start your morning with a crepes demonstration from a French chef right on the ship as you sail to Viviers. Once there, choose between a guided walk up to the hilltop cathedral or a tour through the charming Old Town with local food tastings. Later, you'll cruise overnight to Tain l'Hermitage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Crepes demonstration on board
- Guided walk of Viviers Old Town with local culinary tastings
Optional Activities
- Guided hike up to Viviers hilltop Cathedral with Adventure Host
Landmarks Viviers Old Town Viviers Cathedral - Day 7
Tain l'Hermitage to Mâcon - Excursion to Tournon
In Tournon this morning, select from a guided hike, a tour of the Valrhona Chocolate Factory and Museum, or a walking tour of this medieval city and its 16th-century castle. By early afternoon, the ship cruises to Mâcon. On board, you'll have a pastry demonstration, then dinner featuring French cuisine with wine pairings chosen by your Sommelier, plus live entertainment afterward.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (French cuisine tasting dinner with wine pairing)
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Tournon
- Pastry demonstration on board
- French cuisine tasting dinner with wine pairing
Optional Activities
- Morning hike in Tournon with Adventure Host
- Valrhona Chocolate Factory and Museum tour
Landmarks Tournon Valrhona Chocolate Factory and Museum - Day 8
Mâcon
You'll travel into the Mâconnais region to learn about the famous Chardonnay vineyards and taste wine in a medieval castle's cellars. Back on the ship, there's a cheese tasting while you sail to Lyon. Dinner this evening is inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Unique dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse)
Included Activities
- Wine tasting in medieval castle cellars of Mâconnais region
- Cheese tasting on board
- Onboard dinner inspired by chef Paul Bocuse
Landmarks Mâconnais vineyards - Day 9
Lyon
Lyon, France's gastronomic capital, gives you several ways to spend the day. Go on a bike tour across the city's bridges and along the Rhône and Saône rivers, try a culinary walk to explore the famous food scene, or take a guided tour of Fourvière Hill and the Old Town with its churches, cafés, and medieval alleyways. You'll have free time to cycle through town squares and enjoy live entertainment on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon including Fourvière Hill
Optional Activities
- Bike tour of Lyon with Adventure Host
- Culinary walk through Lyon to explore gastronomic capital
- Free time biking through town squares and along rivers
Landmarks Fourvière Hill Lyon Old Town - Day 10
Lyon to Paris
You'll disembark in Lyon and board the TGV train to Paris. The rest of the day belongs to you. Browse the classic shopping avenues, sit in literary cafés, and get a real feel for the City of Light at your own pace. Later, you'll board a new ship for an overnight cruise to Vernon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Paris shopping and cafés
Landmarks Paris - Day 11
Vernon
Pick your Vernon morning activity: bike through Normandy countryside to Monet's gardens and home, tour Giverny to see the impressionist painter's residence and water gardens, or visit Bizy Castle, known as 'Normandy's Versailles'. You'll have a traditional French crêpes lunch and pastry demonstration on board. Later, head to Les Andelys and choose between a guided hike to Château Gaillard ruins or a walking tour of this charming Seine town. The evening brings live entertainment as you cruise overnight to Caudebec.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional French crêpes), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Tour of Giverny
- Traditional French crêpes luncheon on board
- Pastry demonstration on board
- Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys
Optional Activities
- Guided Bike Tour through Normandy countryside to Giverny
- Guided Visit to Bizy Castle
- Guided Hike to Château Gaillard castle ruins
Landmarks Monet's Gardens and House Giverny Bizy Castle Château Gaillard Les Andelys - Day 12
Caudebec
Choose between a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host or a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route, exploring medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys built along the Seine. Afternoon brings an optional excursion to the seaside town of Honfleur. Later, attend an onboard lecture about D-Day and the Normandy landings, then settle in for live entertainment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Trip along Normandy Abbeys Route
Optional Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the river with Adventure Host
- Guided Optional Excursion to Honfleur
- Onboard lecture about D-Day and Normandy landing
Landmarks Normandy Abbeys Honfleur - Day 13
Caudebec - Normandy Excursions to Rouen
You have three guided tour options exploring Normandy's heritage. Visit WWII landing beaches like Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc with the American Cemetery, explore British and Canadian commemorative sites including Pegasus Memorial and Juno Beach Center, or experience authentic Normandy traditions with brandy tasting in Calvados. This evening the ship cruises to Rouen.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided Tour of WWII landing beaches including Omaha Beach
- Guided Tour of British and Canadian commemorative sites
- Guided Tour of Normandy traditions with Calvados brandy tasting
Landmarks Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc American Cemetery Pegasus Memorial Juno Beach Center Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery Arromanches - Day 14
Rouen
In Rouen, select between a guided bike tour exploring famous monuments and hidden corners, or a guided walking tour featuring Joan of Arc's martyrdom site, the medieval quarter, the 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral. After exploring, you'll cruise overnight to Conflans.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walking Tour of Rouen including Notre-Dame Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Guided Bike Tour of Rouen
Landmarks Notre-Dame Cathedral of Rouen Astronomical Clock Rouen Medieval Quarter - Day 15
Conflans
Follow the footsteps of van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV through various activities. Relax on a bike ride along the Seine, visit Auvers-sur-Oise where van Gogh lived and was buried, or tour Château de Malmaison, home of Napoleon and Josephine. If you want more, the Palace of Versailles is available as an optional visit. You'll enjoy live entertainment on board as you cruise toward Paris this afternoon and evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Relaxing bike ride along the Seine with Adventure Host
- Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise
- Guided tour of Château de Malmaison
- Guided Optional Excursion to Palace of Versailles
Landmarks Auvers-sur-Oise Château de Malmaison Palace of Versailles - Day 16
Paris
Paris offers multiple ways to spend your time. Take a river walk along the Seine, try a guided walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, Île de la Cité, Left Bank, and Latin Quarter, or go on a guided city tour of Paris's iconic romantic sites. You can also stroll through the city at your own pace and linger in literary cafés on the Left Bank.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walk of Paris featuring Palais-Royal, Louvre, Île de la Cité, and Latin Quarter
Optional Activities
- River walk along the Seine with Adventure Host
- Guided City Tour of Paris iconic sites
- Explore Paris independently and visit literary cafés
Landmarks Palais-Royal Louvre Île de la Cité Latin Quarter - Day 17
Paris
Your vacation wraps up this morning with breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
