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2024 Season

Grand France with 2 Nights in Nice & 3 Nights in London for Wine Lovers (Northbound)


cruise: WLP1-T1
20 Day River Cruise Nice to London
This fantastic European river cruise vacation showcases France’s breathtaking views, amazing history, and legendary culture. Your adventure begins with two overnights in Nice on the French Riviera. A Master of Wine will accompany you on your cruise on the Rhône River with presentations, tastings, and wine pairings along the way. Board your Avalon Suite Ship® in Arles, then sail to Avignon, and take a guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape. Continue to delightful Viviers, and medieval Tournon. In Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, take a guided tour to Beaujolais and the following day to Chardonnay, where you will have the opportunity to taste local wines. Cruise to Mâcon for an excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar.

Take a high-speed train to Paris and embark your second ship to begin your Seine River cruise into the picturesque Normandy region. In Vernon, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s stunning gardens at Giverny or magnificent Bizy Castle. Continue to Les Andelys, home of dramatic Château Gaillard, then on to Caudebec, with your choice of an excursion to Normandy’s historic landing beaches or an interesting “Taste of Normandy” tour. Visit Joan of Arc’s historic Rouen and, in Conflans, choose between excursions to Vincent van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s elegant Château de Malmaison. Return to Paris for guided sightseeing and take in the most famous sights of this magnificent city. Then, transfer to London for three exciting nights.

Your vacation in London includes guided sightseeing to see the must-see sights—Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, and more, including VIP access to St. Paul’s Cathedral. The perfect end to a remarkable river cruise vacation!

About Masters of Wine
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. A truly exclusive experience for wine lovers!

cruise

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Day 1 Nice: Welcome to France

Day 2 Nice: Guided tour

Day 3 Nice–Arles (Embarkation): Transfer to the ship; onboard welcome reception

Day 4 Arles: Choice of guided sightseeing, visit the Roman Amphitheatre or painting workshop, or walk with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture about wine

Day 5 Avignon: Guided sightseeing, visit the Palace of the Popes; guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape

Day 6 Viviers: Guided walk, visit Old Town and the cathedral or walk with your Adventure Host; onboard food and wine pairing dinner

Day 7 Tournon: Choice of guided walk in Tournon or hike with your Adventure Host; onboard chocolate and wine tasting

Day 8 Lyon: Guided sightseeing, picture stop on Fourvière Hill; guided tour to Beaujolais

Day 9 Tournus–Chalon-sur-Saône: Chardonnay excursion with tasting; onboard cheese and wine tasting

Day 10 Chalon-sur-Saône (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Paris (Embarkation): Visit the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune; TGV train from Dijon to Paris; onboard welcome reception

Day 11 Vernon–Les Andelys: Choice of excursions to Giverny or Bizy Castle or walk with your Adventure Host; choice of guided walk or guided hike in Les Andelys; onboard crêpe tasting and Pastry Demonstration

Day 12 Caudebec: Choice of excursion along the “Normandy Abbeys Route” or bike with your Adventure Host

Day 13 Caudebec: Choice of full-day excursions to Normandy landing beaches or “A Taste of Normandy” excursion

Day 14 Rouen: Choice of guided tour, see the Astronomical Clock and visit to the cathedral or bike tour

Day 15 Conflans: Choice of excursion to Auvers-sur-Oise or excursion to Napoleon and Josephine’s Château de Malmaison or bike with your Adventure Host

Day 16 Paris: Choice of guided sightseeing or historic sights on “Heart of Paris” walking tour or walk with your Adventure Host

Day 17 Paris (Disembarkation)–London: Transfer to London by high-speed Eurostar train (Standard class)

Day 18 London: Guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul's Cathedral (except on Sundays)

Day 19 London: Full day at leisure

Day 20 London: Your vacation ends this morning

Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. Plus, we offer independent exploration options and the use of our exclusive AvalonGO APP on most of our cruises. 

Below are 3 types of included shore excursions for you to experience.

The "Starting at" or "From" listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on double occupancy and any applicable non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes limited-time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.