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2022 Season

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

cruise: WLPQ-T2
17 Day River Cruise Nice to Paris
This incredible European river cruise highlighting the best of France is certainly grand! Begin your adventure in captivating 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. Cruise on the Rhône River to Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh—and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater. On a guided tour of historical Avignon, see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes—the largest Gothic fortress in the world—and take a guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape. Take a guided walk through the city of Tournon, beautifully nestled among vineyards and a medieval treasure of Roman ruins and a fascinating 16th-century castle. Visit Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital and a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. 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. You’ll have the choice of seeing the historic Normandy Landing Beaches, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery; the delightful Les Andelys, Joan of Arc’s Rouen, Vincent Van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise, or Napoleon and Josephine’s Malmaison. On this French river cruise, you’ll enjoy wine, cheese, beautiful views, and stops in the most charming parts of France. Your vacation in France would not be complete without a stay in Paris—one of the world’s most romantic and vibrant cities! Discover its true heart on a guided walk through the sites of Paris’ rich history, or take a tour to see the iconic sites of the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and more. Walk in the footsteps of the great master artists, enjoy the delectable cuisine of France, and stand where heroes fought for freedom on the beaches of Normandy. This and so much more is waiting for you on your French cruise on the Seine!

cruise

at-a-glance

Day 1 Nice: Welcome to France

Day 2 Nice: Guided tour

Day 3 Nice–Port St. Louis (Embarkation): Transfer to the ship; onboard welcome reception

Day 4 Arles: 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–Vienne: Choice of guided walk in Tournon or bike with your Adventure Host; onboard chocolate and wine tasting; choice of guided walk in Vienne or hike with your Adventure Host

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

Day 9 Tournus–St. Jean de Losne: Chardonnay excursion; onboard cheese and wine tasting

Day 10 St. Jean de Losne (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: Guided tour, see the Astronomical Clock and visit to the cathedral

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 “Heart of Paris” walking tour or walk with your Adventure Host

Day 17 Paris (Disembarkation): 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 listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, 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 a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.