Burgundy & Provence
+ French Riviera
10 Days, 9 Nights
May 11 to May 20, 2025
A River Cruise for Wine Lovers!
Your vacation in France begins with two overnights in the French Riviera. Relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea before your French river cruise. Take a wondrous journey through beautiful views of France along the Rhône and Saône Rivers with guided sightseeing in the well-known French treasures and some hidden gems too! Embark your Avalon Suite Ship in Arles—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and for its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater, which hosts plays and concerts to this day. On a guided tour of historical Avignon, see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes—the largest Gothic fortress in the world. Take a guided walk through Tournon, beautifully nestled among vineyards and a medieval treasure with plenty of Roman ruins and a fascinating 16th-century castle. Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône Rivers and is a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Visit the popular Place des Terreaux and stand in front of the famous fountain seen on postcards.
Avalon Waterways invites the Anthem Ranch Wine Club to join a Wine-Lovers
river cruise. Whether you have a nose for the perfect Burgundy, or if everything
you know about wine could fit in a shot glass of Chardonnay, you are invited to
sniff, swirl, and sip your way through Burgundy and Provence’s legendary and
picturesque vineyards. Cruise with a certified Master of Wine or world class
sommelier who gives new meaning to the phrase “wine and dine.”
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Learn to perfectly pair wines with dinner, cheeses, and chocolates
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Sample local vintages in legendary cellars
Book quickly, as these special cruises are sure to be best cellars!
Masters of Wine & Certified Sommeliers
Seldom do travelers get the chance to learn about wines from a master! Avalon invites you to sail in the company of a Master of Wine (MW) who shares elite experience, unsurpassed knowledge, and personal passion for wines on board your ship. With only 450 Masters of Wine in the world, Avalon Waterways is honored to welcome a Master of Wine on board our Wine-Lovers cruises to share their rigorous training and prestigious expertise recognized globally across the wine industry. We are also honored to have the expertise of certified sommeliers who join select cruises to share their insights and inspiration in all things wine. Truly exclusive experiences for wine lovers!
Itinerary
Day 1 — French Riviera
Welcome to France.
Enjoy free time to discover the beauty of the spectacular French Riviera, which stretches along France’s Mediterranean coast from Toulon to the border of Italy.
Day 2 — French Riviera
The “Queen of the French Riviera”
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Enjoy a Guided Sightseeing in Nice. Discover the narrow, winding streets and baroque churches of Vieux Nice, the old city—an area which has changed little since the 1700s.
Day 3 — French Riviera - Arles | Embarkation
Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Join a motorcoach transfer to board your Avalon Suite Ship.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES
Day 4 — Arles
A Brush with Genius
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
ACTIVE EXCURSION
Get your daily dose of exercise through a Power Walk in Arles with your Adventure Host, OR:
DISCOVERY EXCURSION
Attend a Painting Workshop to learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh. Create your own painting in the style of the legendary artist, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour of Arles—the captivating city of the Provence region. You’ll visit the Roman Amphitheater in this visually stunning city.
Take free time to a stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine, before sailing to Avignon.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON
Day 5 — Avignon
The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the fortress city of Avignon—with its ramparts encircling the city—and a visit to the amazing Palace of the Popes.
Guided Optional Excursions include a visit to the ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard, or a trip to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a true taste of the Rhône wine region.
Explore Avignon on your own for the city’s art and culture, theatre, and museums. Be sure to snap photos of the captivating countryside, historic monuments, and the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet.
Later, enjoy onboard live entertainment.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON
Day 6 — Viviers
World History in a Charming French Country Village
Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers.
ACTIVE EXCURSION
Walk your way up to Vivier's hilltop Cathedral with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on an afternoon Guided Walking Tour of this charming village. You’ll see its Romanesque cathedral and Old Town with a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TAIN L’HERMITAGE
Day 7 — Tain L'Hermitage
A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
ACTIVE EXCURSION
Explore Tournon by foot as you follow your Adventure Host for a morning hike in this beautiful town along the Rhone, OR:
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon—one of France’s oldest medieval cities with its 16th-century castle.
In the early afternoon cruise to Lyon.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON
Day 8 — Lyon
Adventures in Food and Wine in the Gastronomy Capital of France
CLASSIC EXCURSION
Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon from Fourvière Hill with its numerous churches. You’ll also explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafés, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des Terreaux.
Spend free time riding a bike through Lyon’s town squares, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet.
Enjoy live entertainment while sailing to Tournus.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNUS
Day 8 — Tournus - Chalon-Sur-Saône
Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône
DISCOVERY EXCURSION
Travel into the rolling landscapes of the Mâconnais region to learn about its world-famous Chardonnay vineyards, the wines produced here, and to attend a wine-tasting in the cellars of a real medieval castle!
DISCOVERY EXCURSION
Later, enjoy a delicious Cheese Tasting on board your ship.
Enjoy live entertainment on board this evening.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE
Day 8 — Chalon-Sur-Saône
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Lyon airport before 8 am.
Route Map
Double Occupancy:
$4,758 for Small-window Cabin
(Per Person)
$6,557 for Deluxe Panorama Suite
(Per Person)
Both include two nights in Nice.
Options are available to include extra nights in Paris at the end.
The total prices are inclusive of gratuities, taxes, and a $250 non-refundable deposit.
Please note that airfare is not included, but we are happy to help you make your air bookings.
The Ship
AVALON POETRY II
The Avalon Poetry II offers a delightfully intimate cruise setting. Like its sister Suite Ships, the Poetry II features two full decks of Panorama Suites with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that create river cruising's only Open-Air Balcony. With a spacious 200 square feet, Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than the industry standard. Stretch out at day's end and wake to the world at your feet with Comfort Collection bed that faces the view. It truly is a view with a room! Onboard amenities include an alternative dining option in the Panorama Bistro, complimentary computer use in public areas and complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi access, a Fitness Center, and a spacious Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs, whirlpool, and light al fresco lunches at the Sky Bistro. The Avalon Poetry II truly is poetry in motion!