Take a European river cruise with a 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 stay on the captivating Côte d’Azur, and relax along the blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. Sail on the Rhône River for Arles, France—inspirational setting for Van Gogh’s paintings, then to Avignon to see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes. Take an excursion to the Châteauneuf du Pape wine region, and cruise to the twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage for a guided walk of Tournon’s 16th-century sites.

Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône Rivers as a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Pose before the picture-postcard fountain of Place des Terreaux, then take a guided tour to Beaujolais, followed by the following day’s excursion to Chardonnay to enjoy local wines. A Master of Wine will travel on your cruise to hold lectures, tastings and share food and wine-pairing expertise.

After disembarkation, taste some of Burgundy wines before reaching Paris—one of the world’s most romantic and vibrant cities! The “City of Lights” is home to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre Museum, and you’ll take a guided sightseeing tour to see the iconic locations. Your Monograms European vacation package includes 3 days each in Venice and Rome. VIP guided sightseeing in Venice includes St. Mark’s Square, inside visits to the Basilica, Doges’ Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. Visit St. Peter’s Square in Rome, and go inside the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, and Roman Forum. Your Monograms Paris/Venice/Rome vacation includes flight from Paris to Venice with transfers; high-speed train (first class) from Venice to Rome; transfers to/from train stations.

City Highlights

Day 1 Côte d’Azur: welcome to FranceDay 2 Côte d’Azur–Transfer to Arles (Embarkation): onboard welcome reception; scenic cruising in the Camargue region (daylight permitting)Day 3 Arles: guided sightseeing, visit the Roman AmphitheatreDay 4 Avignon: guided sightseeing, visit Palace of the Popes; guided tour to Châteauneuf du PapeDay 5 Cruising–Viviers: onboard lecture; guided walk, visit the Old Town and the cathedralDay 6 Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Vienne: guided walk in Tournon; onboard chocolate and wine tasting; guided walk in Vienne; onboard food & wine pairing dinnerDay 7 Lyon: guided sightseeing, picture stop on Fourvière Hill; guided tour to BeaujolaisDay 8 Cruising–St. Jean de Losne: Chardonnay excursion; wine & cheese tasting on boardDay 9 St. Jean de Losne (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Dijon–Paris: choice of visit the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune or visit a wine cellar; TGV train from Dijon to ParisDay 10 Paris: choice of guided sightseeing or “Heart of Paris” walk, visit Notre Dame CathedralDay 11 Paris–Venice, Italy: flight to VeniceDay 12 Venice: guided sightseeingDay 13 Venice: full day at leisureDay 14 Venice–Rome: travel by high-speed train to Rome.Day 15 Rome: guided sightseeingDay 16 Rome: full day at leisure.Day 17 Rome: your vacation ends this morning.

Notes

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.Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.

PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WLJ2-T1-2019