France, Uncorked: the Rhone, the Seine & Bordeaux

Welcome to France! Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Marseille must arrive by 3 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES

A Brush with Genius.

Visit the Adventure Center for today's activities with your Adventure Host.

• Active: Get your daily dose of exercise through a Power Walk in Arles with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Discovery: Attend a Painting Workshop to learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh. Create your own painting in the style of the legendary artist, OR:
• Classic: 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.

This afternoon, enjoy free time to shop, stroll, or just relax in a lovely park along Arles' Boulevard des Lices.

EVENING CRUISE TO AVIGNON

The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence

Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.

• Active: Discover Avignon by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: 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

World History in a Charming French Country Village

Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers.

• Active: Walk your way up to Vivier's hilltop Cathedral with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: 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.
• Discovery: Later, enjoy a tasting of Local Specialties on board your ship.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TAIN L'HERMITAGE

A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards.

Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.

• Active: Explore Tournon by foot as you follow your Adventure Host for a morning hike in this beautiful town along the Rhone, OR:
• Classic: Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon—one of France's oldest medieval cities. See its 16th-century castle, and Roman ruins between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage.

In the early afternoon, cruise to Lyon. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON

La Vie En Rose in Lyon

• Active: Discover Lyon's architectural district by bike with your Adventure Host, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet, OR:
• Classic: Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon from Fourvière Hill with its numerous churches. You'll also explore the Old Town with its lively cafés, monuments, and maze of medieval alleyways where history comes to life.

Spend free time biking 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

Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône

• Discovery: 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!

Enjoy a leisurely afternoon cruising along the majestic Saône River.

• Discovery: Later, enjoy a delicious Cheese Tasting on board your ship while sailing to Chalon-sur-Saone.

Enjoy live entertainment on board this evening.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE

Drive to Beaune and take a High - Speed Train from Dijon to Paris.

• Classic: Join a Guided Visit to Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne to discover Burgundy's rich wine culture through an immersive, interactive experience, and enjoy a wine tasting.

This afternoon, take a high - speed train from Dijon to Paris to board your Suite Ship®

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VERNON

Monet's Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du Jour

Visit the Adventure Center for today's activities with your Adventure Host.

• Active: Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: Take a Guided Tour of Giverny, home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the grounds and see Monet's charming residence, and the flower and water gardens captured in his masterpieces*, OR:
• Classic: Join a Guided Visit to Bizy Castle—called “Normandy's Versailles” for its magnificent courtyard, water garden, and stables.
• Discovery: While sailing, enjoy a traditional French luncheon of authentic French crêpes, followed by a Pastry Demonstration.

This afternoon, enjoy a beautiful cruise to the picturesque town of Les Andelys.

LES ANDELYS: Serenity on the Seine.

• Active: Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart, OR:
• Classic: Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France's most picturesque spots on the Seine.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CAUDEBEC

*Monet's House is closed in March and November. During this period, this excursion will be replaced with a Guided Tour of La Roche - Guyon and its castle.

Ancient Abbeys Along the Seine.

• Active: Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: Take a Guided Trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route—where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built along the Seine.

This afternoon, you may choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur.

• Discovery: Enjoy an onboard Lecture about the days before and after the Normandy landing of D-Day.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CAUDEBEC

Heroic Bravery on Normandy Beaches and French Farming Traditions

• Classic: Join a Guided Tour of Normandy's WWII landing beaches, visit significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, OR:
• Classic: Take a full-day Guided Tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites, including the British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial (from September replaced with a visit to the D-Day Museum), the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, OR:
• Classic: Join a Guided Tour to get a taste of authentic tradition in the beautiful region of Normandy. Toast the day with a brandy tasting in Calvados.

Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.

EVENING CRUISE TO ROUEN

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and a Heroine for France

• Active: Take a Guided Bike Tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels, OR:
• Classic: Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—home of the martyred Joan of Arc—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CONFLANS

The Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV

• Active: Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: Join a Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh, OR:
• Classic: Take a Guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison*—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine.

Perhaps, join a Guided Optional Excursion to the Palace of Versailles—home to a succession of French kings. This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.

AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO PARIS

*Château de Malmaison is closed the 1st Sunday of each month. On these dates, this excursion will be replaced by a visit to Château de Chantilly.

Cafés, Cathedrals and Canvases in the City of Light.

Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.

• Active: Experience the Seine river by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Classic: Discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating Guided Walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, bustling Latin Quarter, and more, OR:
• Classic: Join a Guided City Tour, featuring the iconic sites of Paris, which make the City of Light the most romantic and remarkable city in the world.

Stroll through Paris on your own or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS

Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.

This morning, travel to Bordeaux to board your Suite Ship® and start your cruise on the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers. This evening, enjoy a very special scenic sailing in Bordeaux.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BORDEAUX

On the Steps of Montesquieu.

• Discovery: Join a delicious onboard experience in Bordeaux wines with a presentation by a worldclass wine sommelier.
• Classic: Take a guided tour of Château de la Brède—birthplace of Montesquieu—political philosopher and author of “The Spirit of Law.” Visit the fortress - style castle still reflected in its impressive moat, OR:
• Discovery: Join a guided visit with wine tasting at a local wine estate. Sip the sweet notes and fresh acidity of Sauternes, the beloved golden - yellow wine.

This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board your Suite Ship®

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PAUILLAC

Bikes, Vines, and Wines

This morning, enjoy a leisurely sailing to Cussac Fort Médoc. Visit the Adventure Center for today's activities with your Adventure Host.

• Active: Enjoy a relaxing E-bike guided tour in Bordeaux's finest wine region. You will be amazed by the picturesque countryside while you enjoy a wonderful ride through the vineyards, OR:
• Discovery: Join a guided tour to discover the culture and traditions of the southern Médoc region at one of Margaux' beautiful château and enjoy a wine tasting, OR:
• Classic: Take a scenic drive through the famed Médoc wine country and enjoy a tasting of their wonderful wines, with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as protagonists.

This evening, enjoy a brief sailing to Blaye.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BLAYE

Fine Art, Fine Bubbly, and a Fine Day for a Drive.

Ask your Adventure Host for today's special activities.

• Active: Join a refreshing power walk through the historic Citadel of Blaye with your Adventure Host, OR:
• Discovery: Join a guided tour to discover Blaye from a different perspective, including a visit to a local art gallery with wine tasting, OR:
• Classic: Take a panoramic drive following the famed Route de la Corniche along the right banks of the River Dordogne, followed by a guided visit to the Citadel of Blaye, an UNESCO World Heritage site.

Relaxing afternoon sailing on the Dordogne River to Bourg.

• Active: Alternatively, bike from Blaye to Bourg with your Adventure Host.
• Classic: Take a wonderful walking tour in the Citadel of Bourg on the banks of the Dordogne River and visit the carriage museum.

Alternatively, join an optional guided excursion to learn how the Fine Champagne of Cognac is made while enjoying a Rémy Martin tasting.

Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BOURG

The Village Amid the Vineyards.

• Discovery: Enjoy a guided visit to Saint - Émilion to discover one Bordeaux' must - see wine-growing towns and celebrate your day with a wine tasting, OR:
• Classic: Join a guided tour of the medieval village of Saint - Émilion—a UNESCO World Heritage site of legends and legendary landscapes, OR:
• Classic: Take an orientation walking tour to discover the history and beauty of Libourne, where wine and wonderful views are cherished in the 12th-century fortified town.
• Discovery: Onboard lecture about WWII hosted by a history expert.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LIBOURNE

Bordeaux Sights and Brilliant Lights

Join your Adventure Host for today's special activities.

• Discovery: While sailing to Bordeaux, enjoy a pastry demonstration.
• Active: Join your Adventure Host for a bike ride along Bordeaux' postcard river views of the Les Quais, OR:
• Classic: Join a guided walking tour to discover the heart of Bordeaux with a stroll amid its stunning squares, avenues, and cathedrals sights.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BORDEAUX

Seas, Shells, and Sips

• Classic: Take a guided tour to La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux's iconic wine museum and cultural center, OR:
• Classic: Join a full-day guided tour of the seaside resort of Arcachon on the Atlantic coast. Gaze upon its 19th-century architectural treasures and taste its local delicacy of oysters and wine.

OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BORDEAUX

Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning.