France River Cruises

Embark on a river cruise along the Seine, Rhône and Bordeaux regions of France. Delight in fresh produce and French cuisine and enjoy a glass of local wine on the deck or amidst the neat rows of vines. Glide past the lavender fields of Provence, visit historic sites including the Landing Beaches of Normandy, and take in Paris from the water on a river cruise of France.

Popular River Cruises View all

8 Days Paris to Paris

Operator: Avalon River Cruises

From 4,089
Save 2,335

8 Days Bordeaux to Bordeaux

Operator: Uniworld River Cruises

From 4,317
Save 1,328

8 Days Paris to Paris

Operator: Viking River Cruises

From 4,549
Save 1,046

11 Days Lyon to Lyon

Operator: Scenic

From 5,338
Save 2,907

France's Rivers View all

Seine River Cruises River Cruises)
Seine River Cruises
Rhône River Cruises River Cruises)
Rhône River Cruises
Bordeaux River Cruises River Cruises)
Bordeaux River Cruises
Saône River Cruises River Cruises)
Saône River Cruises
France's Rivers

Featured River Cruise OperatorsFeatured Operators View all

Scenic
With Scenic, it’s more than a 5-star river cruise...it’s a seamless journey from start to finish that places you, our guest, at the heart of everything...more we do. It’s taking you to extraordinary regions and immersing you in meaningful and enriching experiences. It’s exquisite cuisine, indulgent wellness, and a world-class team who will anticipate your every need. You'll find the difference is in the details with Scenic: the innovative ship design, expertly trained crew, immersive journey, and an unrivalled focus on health and safety protocols.
France Rivers456
Budget:Premium & Luxury
Known For:Luxury Cruising
Fleet Size:14
Amadeus
Why pay for other people’s drinks? Why pay for shore excursions that don’t interest you? Family-owned Amadeus has spent 40-years' perfecting the balance...more without compromising quality. Beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, but not during the day. Only pay for the shore excursions you want. Book an excursion package in advance for a discount or book individual excursions as you go. Gourmet dining, wi-fi, bottled water in cabins and of course one of the most luxurious five-star fleets on the European waterways. To quote a regular repeat guest “Amadeus are fantastic. A really great product and the crew are all so beautiful”. We look forward to welcoming you aboard.
France Rivers36
Budget:Premium
Known For:Austrian Heritage
Fleet Size:10
Emerald Cruises
From culture-rich cities to world-famous wine regions, Emerald Cruises represents a new chapter in the world of river cruising. Our deluxe fleet of revolutionary...more Star-Ships promise contemporary comfort and unique on-board innovations, while our generous offering combines affordability with great dining, exceptional service and immersive itineraries across Europe and Asia. With return flights, transfers, all on-board meals, complimentary drinks, tips and much more included in the price of an Emerald Cruises river cruise, we’ve taken care of everything. Our attentive team of crew, sommeliers and personal butlers are available day and night to ensure every minute on-board the Emerald Cruises fleet is as enriching, enjoyable and relaxing as possible.
France Rivers149
Budget:Premium
Known For:Affordable Luxury
Fleet Size:9

Discover Must do's to experience onboard your France river cruise

Monet’s Gardens at Giverny

Monet’s Gardens at Giverny

Claude Monet’s artworks leap off the canvas here, where you can wander the gardens that inspired some of his masterpieces. A truly beautiful experience.

Normandy’s Landing Beaches

Normandy’s Landing Beaches

Take a moving excursion to the WWII landing beaches where you can learn about the region’s sombre past and pay your respects at the war cemeteries.

Palais des Papes, Avignon

Palais des Papes, Avignon

Europe’s largest Gothic palace and once the pope’s residence, this sprawling monument is impressive in its grandeur, history, architecture and artistic frescoes.

The City of Light

The City of Light

Explore Paris by night, when it is illuminated by the warm glow of ornate street lamps. See the Champs-Élysées lit up in all its glory and watch as the city lights dance along the streets.

The French Art of Gastronomy

The French Art of Gastronomy

Join a chef at the Bordeaux markets to handpick produce that you’ll transform into delicious French fare under expert guidance. Pair it with some local wine and violà, a meal to remember. Bon appétit!

Recent France River Cruise Reviews What our clients are saying about their river cruises through France

Cruising the Seine before the Olympics     , SA, Australia, Jul 2024
The highlights for me included experiencing an organised bike tour for 3 hours during blocked Parisian streets before the Olympics, the Unusual Gardens of Etratat, historic Joan of Arc town of Rouen, and walking the path of Vincent van Gough. This is the second Avalon cruise I have done as I was able to avoid the solo supplement. I love the meals on ...read more board which are a contrast from my daily pre-packed dinners! I have already booked another Avalon cruise in France for 2025 with Hannah of Global Journeys who is always efficient and informative. (GJ: Great photo Alick!)
Great cruise to Normandy   , SA, Australia, May 2024
We had a wonderful cruise on the Scenic Gem from Paris to the beaches of Normandy and return to Paris. Crew were absolutely outstanding, they made us all feel like family. The free choice tours were very good, although we would have appreciated more time at the Sir John Monash Centre and Villers Bretonneux. Our guide, Ben who walked with us around Rouen ...read more and gave a couple of lectures on the cruise ship was excellent, one of the best guides we have ever had. He was also our guide when we toured the Palais Benedictine. A great tour, would recommend, especially those who are interested in WWI and WWII history.
Très bon! Cruising through the south of France was one highlight of our trip!   , TAS, Australia, May 2024
This was our second river cruise with Emerald and we had high hopes! In spite of the email a couple of days before we were to leave Paris, that said the cruise might not be able to go ahead because of high water, we barely noticed a glitch in the itinerary. We enjoyed the pre-cruise tour of Paris and then were taken to the ship at a different location ...read more and were bussed to the scenic spots. Once again, we could not fault the service of the wonderful staff on the Emerald. The attention to detail by the housekeeping staff, the kitchen and dining room staff and the activity staff was commendable. Of course, French foods and wine were fabulous and we also enjoyed being given 30 euro to spend on lunch in Lyon. Canoeing at Avignon, the Pont du Gard and the hospital at Beaune were also highlights! C'est la vie!
River cruise that did not cruise much   , NSW, Australia, Mar 2024
First of all, Hannah was wonderful in helping us organise this trip. The Global Journeys' booking system is also very systematic and informative.
The Amadeus cruise left much to be desired. Due to heavy rains in the Rhone River, we were anchored at Lyon and then at Viviers for three days each. All excursions were arranged from these two places. So, ...read more we hardly cruised but stayed on the ship for most part. Amadeus cruises need to consider making a number of changes to provide better experience for guests. I have made those suggestions directly to them. The following rating is for the cruise and not for Global Journeys.

Explore More Explore more Your guide to travelling through France

Celebrate France! Lyon: Gastronomic Capital of the World

09 July, 2024

Celebrate France! Lyon: Gastronomic Capital of the World

To celebrate France Month, Scenic is shining a spotlight on their collection of luxury France river cruises. Not only do these itineraries explore the rich history and culture of each region, they focus on the gastronomic excellence just waiting to be experienced by guests, onboard and ashore....

Burgundy & Provence by River

13 November, 2023

Burgundy & Provence by River

Journey through Burgundy and Provence on a scenic river cruise along the Saône and Rhône rivers. This extraordinary journey is filled with remarkable food, world-class wines, and a deep dive into history. Discover the highlights of this remarkable region and explore your next river cruise...

Bordeaux's Waterways & Wine

07 November, 2023

Bordeaux's Waterways & Wine

Nestled in the southwest of France, lies Bordeaux - a region renowned for its gastronomic prowess and world-class wines. Be treated to breathtaking views of lush vineyards, historic châteaux, and charming villages that dot the landscape. With a unique blend of natural beauty and culinary...

Sailing Along the Seine

07 November, 2023

Sailing Along the Seine

Embarking on a river cruise along the Seine is the perfect way to explore the heart of Paris and the northwest region of France. Offering travellers a unique and unforgettable journey, you’ll cruise through the Parisian cityscape to a backdrop of iconic landmarks. Further up river you'll...

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