Avalon Waterways Burgundy & Provence – Northbound (WLJ)
11 days from Cote d'Azur to Paris
Take a wondrous journey through beautiful France along the Rhône and Saône Rivers with guided sightseeing in the well-known French treasures and some hidden gems too!Begin with an overnight on the captivating French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur. Explore this elegant area and relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. On the Rhône River sits Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and 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. The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage are beautifully nestled among vineyards and you’ll go on a guided walk of Tournon, 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 you’ve seen on postcards.This river cruise vacation across France would not be complete without a stay in Paris—one of the world’s most romantic and vibrant cities! The City of Light has Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre Museum with its elegant glass pyramid contrasting its ancient architecture. A city tour will show you all the must-see sights and you’ll have free time to bask in the lavish cafés and perhaps attend a famous cabaret show. Ships: Poetry II - Affinity
 Avalon Waterways Promotions & Special Offers- Single supplement waived on the cruise portion of select 2017 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*
- Save $500 per couple on select 2017 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*
- Save $1,000 per couple on select 2017 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*
Promotion Depatures (Land): 08/25/17 - Save 40% on select 2017 Avalon Waterways France river cruises (WPP, WPL, WLP, WJL, WLJ).*
- Save $2,000 per couple on select 2018 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*
Promotion Depatures (Land): 08/10/18 - Save $1,000 per couple on select 2018 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*
Promotion Depatures (Land): 09/21/18, 05/18/18, 06/01/18, 06/15/18, 09/07/18 - Save $500 per couple on select 2018 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*
- Single supplement waived on the cruise portion of select 2018 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*
- $299 air from select cities on select 2018 Avalon Waterways Europe cruises.*
Promotion Depatures (Land): 08/10/18, 04/06/18, 05/04/18, 07/13/18, 08/24/18, 10/05/18 - Save $1,500 per couple on select 2018 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises.*
Promotion Depatures (Land): 04/06/18, 05/04/18, 07/13/18, 08/24/18, 10/05/18
Restrictions May ApplyAvalon Highlights & Sightseeing Day 1 Côte d’Azur: welcome to France Day 2 Côte d’Azur–Transfer to Arles (Embarkation): onboard welcome reception; sail into the Camargue region (daylight permitting) Day 3 Arles: guided sightseeing, visit the Roman Amphitheater Day 4 Avignon: guided sightseeing, visit Palace of the Popes Day 5 Cruising–Viviers: guided walk, visit the Old Town and the cathedral Day 6 Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Vienne: guided walk in Tournon; guided walk in Vienne Day 7 Lyon: guided sightseeing; picture stop on Fourvière Hill Day 8 Cruising–St. Jean de Losne: day at leisure; cheese tasting Day 9 St. Jean de Losne (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Dijon–Paris: visit the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune; TGV train from Dijon to Paris: Day 10 Paris: choice of guided sightseeing or “Heart of Paris” walk, visit Notre Dame Cathedral Day 11 Paris: your vacation ends this morning Special Interest Departures 06/29/2018 - Sounds of Jazz from Burgundy & Provence
07/27/2018 - Burgundy & Provence for Wine Lovers
10/19/2018 - Burgundy & Provence for Wine Lovers
Related Avalon Tours WLJ0 - Save with the Cruise-Only Portion WLJ1 - Add London to Your Vacation WJL - Cruise from Paris to Côte d'Azur
Itinerary (2018)| Day 1 | Arrive in Côte d’Azur, France. | | | Welcome to France! Located between the mountains and the deep-blue Mediterranean Sea, the Côte d’Azur is synonymous with prestige and beauty—with its enchanting yachts, glamorous villas, and famous events. Time at leisure lets you get acquainted with this amazing place. | | Day 2 | Côte d’Azur–Arles (Embarkation). | | | This morning, enjoy free time to explore or join an optional excursion. In the early afternoon, transfer by motorcoach to Arles in the Provence region, where you’ll board your river cruise vessel. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception, then sail toward the mouth of the Rhône for a taste of the tranquil vistas of Camargue National Park (daylight permitting). (B,D) | | Day 3 | Arles. | | | In Arles, capital of the Provence region, join your Local Guide for a GUIDED CITY TOUR. See the church of St. Trophime, dating from the 12th century, and visit the ROMAN AMPHITHEATER. Still used today, the amphitheater dates to the 1st century, and was constructed to hold over 20,000 spectators. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the special light of Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. (B,L,D) | | Day 4 | Avignon. | | | On your GUIDED TOUR, you may choose to join an included visit of the PALACE OF THE POPES, built in the 14th century as the sovereign popes’ residence. With a living space equivalent to four gothic cathedrals, it is the largest gothic fortress in the world. Alternatively, you may opt for only city sightseeing and more free time to explore on your own, or to join an optional outing to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. (B,L,D) | | Day 5 | Cruising–Viviers. | | | A leisurely morning on board to relax and enjoy the passing scenery. After lunch, join your LOCAL GUIDE for a walk around the charming town of Viviers, which developed around its ROMANESQUE CATHEDRAL. The OLD TOWN has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. (B,L,D) | | Day 6 | Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Vienne. | | | The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Enjoy a GUIDED WALK of Tournon, one of France’s oldest medieval cities, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins. Arriving in Vienne in the late afternoon, a GUIDED WALK shows you the charming little town surrounded by steep hills—one of the oldest towns in the region. Explore the town center to see the Roman Theater, which once held 13,000 spectators, and the Augustus and Livia Temple, built around 20 BC and converted into a church in the Middle Ages. (B,L,D) | | Day 7 | Lyon. | | | Lyon is France’s third-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, many excellent museums, and much renaissance architecture delight visitors. You are joined by a LOCAL GUIDE as you survey the city from Fourvière Hill and explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways and Place des Terreaux, a popular area with lively cafés, monuments, and the famous fountain often depicted on postcards. Be sure to sample Beaujolais, the wine of the region. (B,L,D) | | Day 8 | Cruising–St. Jean de Losne. | | | A leisurely day today as your final day on board. If you prefer to stay busy, a choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available. While cruising to St. Jean de Losne, enjoy an onboard CHEESE TASTING. (B,L,D) | | Day 9 | St. Jean de Losne (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Dijon–Paris. | | | After breakfast, head by motorcoach to Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Or area and Burgundy’s wine capital. Although life here centers around wine, Beaune offers much more with its ramparts, medieval houses, cobblestone streets, and historical monuments. Visit the HÔTEL-DIEU charity hospital, built in 1443 and paid for by the chancellor of Burgundy after the Hundred Years’ War left many of the town’s population destitute. Today, it houses Van der Weyden’s painting of The Last Judgment and is one of France’s architectural highlights. After lunch, continue to Dijon, where you board the TGV to Paris, the “City of Light.” (B) | | Day 10 | Paris. | | | Known as one of the world’s most romantic and lively cities, Paris delights the senses. Your included CITY SIGHTSEEING shows you magnificent must-see sights, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. Alternatively, you may wish to join a GUIDED WALK through historic Île St. Louis with its narrow one-way streets and Île de la Cité, the center of Paris where the medieval city was founded and home to NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL. In your free time, stroll down the Champs-Elysées with its lavish cafés, or perhaps visit the world-famous Louvre or Montmartre with its gleaming white Sacré Coeur Basilica and bevy of artists on Place du Tertre. (B) | | Day 11 | Paris. | | | Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
Avalon Pricing Details Port charges:$168Gratuities to Local Guides & excursion drivers are included. Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.Extra nights per person in Côte d’Azur:in single room from $290 to $695, in twin room from $165 to $355 Extra nights per person in Paris:in single room from $440 to $790, in twin room from $225 to $410Prices shown above include cruise in Category E in a deluxe outside stateroom on Indigo Deck.To upgrade to a higher category, add per person: Category / Decks / PriceD / Indigo / Deck / $199B / Sapphire Deck / 1,149A / Sapphire Deck / $1,199P / Royal Deck / $1,299Royal Suite / Royal Deck / $1,999 NOTE:- Departure June 29 is offered as an exclusive Jazz Cruise, including special music features at no additional cost. On our Jazz Cruise, attend the annual Jazz Festival in Vienne, France, and enjoy lively entertainment as local jazz musicians come on board your ship at several ports.
- Departures July 27 and October 19 are offered as exclusive Wine Appreciation Cruises, including special lectures and tastings at no additional cost. Your palate will applaud as you learn what to look for in a good wine. A distinguished wine authority will teach you the ropes as you visit a wine village and attend tastings to test your newfound talent.
Avalon Notes - Departure June 29 is offered as an exclusive Jazz Cruise, including special music features at no additional cost. On our Jazz Cruise, attend the annual Jazz Festival in Vienne, France, and enjoy lively entertainment as local jazz musicians come on board your ship at several ports.
- Departures July 27 and October 19 are offered as exclusive Wine Appreciation Cruises, including special lectures and tastings at no additional cost. Your palate will applaud as you learn what to look for in a good wine. A distinguished wine authority will teach you the ropes as you visit a wine village and attend tastings to test your newfound talent.
- In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.
- Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.
- In the event that a high-speed train is unavailable due to strikes or technical reasons, the route will be operated by motorcoach.
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