Paris & Sensations of Lyon and Provence

Welcome to France and the beginning of your cruise. You'll be met by a member of our team at the airport and transferred to Arles, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting to welcome you on board your contemporary Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. This evening, enjoy a welcome reception and dine with your fellow guests.

Please book your flight to arrive into Nice prior to 12:00pm.

Reveal in the glory of the Roman Empire today during an insightful visit to Arles, including its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman and Romanesque monuments. Visit Arles Amphitheatre a 2,00-year-old structure where thousands of spectators once gathered to watch heart-pounding chariot races.

Enjoy learning about the time spent by Vincent van Gogh in the city, taking inspiration from his surroundings and using them to create many of his most iconic pieces of art, including ‘Starry Night Over the Rhone”. Then, enjoy some time to explore the beauty of Arles at your leisure.

Included Excursion: Guided tour of Arles with arena visit

EmeraldPLUS: A Provencal dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale

DiscoverMORE: In the footsteps of Van Gogh: painting workshop (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE: Provencal Cosmetics Workshop (extra expense)

Avignon has a long and storied history. This fortified town is the former residence of seven consecutive Popes in the 1300s who fled Rome to escape from the political pressures of the Roman Empire. The city went on to become an important location during the French Revolution.

Embark on a guided walking tour to witness its illustrious past, including the ornate Gothic exterior of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Palais des Papes, built by the Popes over two decades. This evening you are invited to join the unique experience of a classical concert in Avignon as part of our EmeraldPLUS program.

Included Excursion: Guided tour of Avignon

EmeraldPLUS: Classical concert in Avignon

EmeraldACTIVE: Canoeing excursion in Avignon

DiscoverMORE: Guided tour of the Pont du Gard (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE: Private hidden Gems tours of Avignon (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE: Visit to Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting (extra expense)

A snapshot of quintessential France awaits your arrival in Viviers, a town that perfectly encapsulates the medieval days of the region. Pastel coloured buildings gently faded by the sun line narrow cobblestone streets, and the heart of the Old Town is yours to explore today during a guided walking tour.

EmeraldPLUS: CD lecture Art & Culture in the South of France

Included excursion: Guided tour of Viviers

DiscoverMORE: Visit to Chauvet Pont D’Arc (extra expense)

As we sail down gently twisting Rhone River into Tournon, you’ll be treated to an extraordinary view of 16th-century castle overlooking the village and a pair of ancient watchtowers adorning the surrounding rural landscape.

Today, embark on a guided tour of Tournon and learn about its illustrious history and the culture of the people who call it home. If you would like to explore more of the region’s natural beauty, then you may instead choose to embark on an EmeraldACTIVE hike through some of the local vineyards.

Included excursion: Guided tour of Tournon

EmeraldACTIVE: Guided hike through the vineyards

Today we enjoy a relaxed morning sailing on the Saone river until we reach the lovely town of Macon. Here we will discover the Beaujolais wine region, renowned for its vibrant, fruity wines with Gamay grape variety. The extensive planting of the Gamay grape makes Beaujolais wine region one of the several regions on the planet to focus on a single grape variety. Red wine accounts for 99% of the total wine production of the region.

Included excursion: Beaujolais wine tasting

As one of the largest cities in France and a former Roman capital, many of the most important moments in French history have taken place in Lyon. But it’s Lyonnaise cuisine that has really put this city on the map, delighting gastronomists from around the world.

Join your local guide for a walking tour of the city, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière. If you’re feeling more active, then you may instead choose to embark on a guided bike tour, touching on its most prominent architectural wonders and moments from history.

Included excursion: Guided tour of Lyon

EmeraldACTIVE: Guided bike tour of Lyon

DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Perouges (extra expense)

DiscoverMORE: Private Culinary Charms of Lyon (extra expense)

After breakfast, bid farewell toyour contemporary Star-Ship in Lyon and relax as you transfer to Paris by train, where a distinctive Parisian atmosphere will be waiting to welcome you. Your itinerary includes a two-night stay in a well-appointed hotel.

Today, the wide and opulently adorned Parisian streets will be yours to stroll down with your local guide, as you visit highlights that include the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe. Continue on to explore the Seine River during a charming cruise, before finishing at the Eiffel Tower.

Included excursion: A guided tour of Paris and a Seine River cruise

After breakfast, its time to bid farewell to your fellow guests as you are transferred to the airport for your onward or homebound flight, taking memories of gastronomic delights and the iconic Eiffel Tower with you.