Grand France with 3 Nights in London for Wine Lovers 2020 (Northbound)
18 days with Avalon Waterways Rating: Deluxe
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River Cruise Itinerary
Day 1 PORT ST. LOUIS, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)
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.
EVENING CRUISE TO ARLES (D)
Day 2 ARLES
Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights
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, OR:
DISCOVERY Attend a Painting Workshop to learn the style and techniques of Vincent van Gogh. You’ll create your own painting in the style of the classic master who took inspiration from the Provence light and landscape in Arles.
Consider a Guided Optional Excursion to the Carrières de Lumières (Cathedral of Images) to immerse yourself in a truly unique experience of art, sound, and light in the old quarries of Val d’Enfer.
Take advantage of any free time remaining with a stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine, to relax and watch the world go by, before sailing to Avignon.
DISCOVERY Join a lecture about wine hosted by your Master of Wine.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON (B,L,D)
Day 3 AVIGNON
The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence
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.
DISCOVERY Enjoy 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 (B,L,D)
Day 4 VIVIERS
World History in a Charming French Country Village
Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers.
CLASSIC Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on a late 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 This evening, join an onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by your Master of Wine.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNON (B,L,D)
Day 5 TOURNON
A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards
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.
DISCOVERY Enjoy an onboard chocolate and wine tasting hosted by your master of wine while sailing to Vienne.
VIENNE
Roman and Middle Age History
CLASSIC Join a Guided Walking Tour of Vienne and discover this charming little town surrounded by steep hills.
Enjoy live entertainment while sailing to Lyon.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON (B,L,D)
Day 6 LYON
Adventures in Food and Wine in the Gastronomy Capital of France
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 maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafés, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des Terreaux.
DISCOVERY Take a guided tour to the lovely Beaujolais area and learn more about its light and pleasant wine.
Spend free time riding a bike through Lyon’s town squares, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNUS (B,L,D)
Day 7 TOURNUS—ST. JEAN DE LOSNE
Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône
DISCOVERY Join an excursion that will take you to a Chardonnay cellar for a wine tasting.
Alternatively enjoy a leisurely cruising morning along the majestic Saône River on your way to St. Jean de Losne.
DISCOVERY Later, enjoy a delicious cheese and wine tasting hosted by your Master of Wine while sailing to St Jean de Losne.
Enjoy live entertainment on board this evening.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ST. JEAN DE LOSNE (B,L,D)
Day 8 ST. JEAN DE LOSNE (DISEMBARKATION) BEAUNE—DIJON—PARIS (EMBARKATION)
Drive to Beaune and take a High-Speed Train from Dijon to Paris.
CLASSIC Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgment and is one of France’s architectural highlights.
This afternoon, take a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris to board your Suite Ship®.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VERNON (B,D)
Day 9 VERNON
Monet’s Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du Jour
Start the day with a Morning Stretch with your Avalon Adventure Host.
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’s Most Beautiful Riverbends
CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France’s most picturesque spots on the Seine, OR:
ACTIVE Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CAUDEBEC (B,L,D)
Day 10 CAUDEBEC
Churches, Cherry Orchards, and White Cliffs of Normandy
ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Morning Jog in Normandy’s town of Caudebec.
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, OR:
ACTIVE Enjoy the natural wonders of the fascinating Marais Vernier wetlands on this half-day Guided Nature Walk on the outskirts of Caudebec.
This afternoon, you may choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur. Later enjoy live entertainment on board.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CAUDEBEC (B,L,D)
Day 11 CAUDEBEC. EXCURSIONS TO NORMANDY
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, the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, OR:
CLASSIC Join “A Taste of Normandy” Guided Tour for an in-depth look at this rich agricultural region. See the famous Bayeux Tapestry, visit the beautiful village of Beuvron en Auge and taste Calvados at a local distillery.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship.
EVENING CRUISE TO ROUEN (B,L,D)
Day 12 ROUEN
The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, and a Heroine for France
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.
Enjoy onboard entertainment before setting sail this evening.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CONFLANS (B,L,D)
Day 13 CONFLANS
In the Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV
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.
EVENING CRUISE TO PARIS (B,L,D)
Day 14 PARIS
Cafés, Cathedrals, & Canvases—The City of Light Truly Shines
ACTIVE Take a Morning Walk with your Avalon Adventure Host to see Paris at first light.
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, that shows you the iconic sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and the famous Champs-Élysées.
Stroll through Paris on your own, or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS (B,L,D)
Day 15 PARIS (DISEMBARKATION)-LONDON
Say goodbye to the Avalon portion of your vacation after breakfast. An included transfer delivers you to the train station, where you join your Monograms package. Travel to London by high-speed Eurostar train (Standard class). Your Local Hosts will be on hand to help you make the most of your time. (B)
Day 16 LONDON
Morning guided sightseeing includes all of London’s famous landmarks. Drive past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben; Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were married; Whitehall’s mounted horseguards; the Prime Minister’s Downing Street; Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus. Take photos of the London Eye, the giant Ferris wheel situated on the river bank, and the Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe. Then, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral (except on Sundays). Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece with its world-famous dome is an iconic feature of London’s skyline. (B)
Day 17 LONDON
Your Local Hosts will help you make the most of your day. You could take a flight on the London Eye for fantastic views over the city, or visit Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were married, for a tour of the magnificent State Apartments. In the evening, see one of the dozens of celebrated West End shows, or enjoy dinner at a traditional London pub, followed by a relaxing night-time cruise on the Thames River. There are so many possibilities to make your stay unforgettable. (B)
Day 18 LONDON
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Tour Map
River Cruise Highlights
Day 1 Port St. Louis (Embarkation): onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Arles: choice of guided sightseeing, visit the Roman Amphitheatre, or painting workshop; onboard wine lecture
Day 3 Avignon: guided sightseeing, visit the Palace of the Popes; guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape
Day 4 Viviers: guided walk, visit Old Town and the cathedral; onboard food & wine pairing dinner
Day 5 Tournon–Vienne: guided walk in Tournon; onboard chocolate and wine tasting; guided walk in Vienne
Day 6 Lyon: guided sightseeing; picture stop on Fourvière Hill; guided tour to Beaujolais
Day 7 St. Jean de Losne: Chardonnay excursion; cheese and winetasting onboard
Day 8 St. Jean de Losne (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Dijon–Paris (Embarkation): visit the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune; TGV train from Dijon to Paris; onboard welcome reception
Day 9 Vernon–Les Andelys: choice of excursions to Giverny or Bizy Castle; choice of guided walk, or guided hike in Les Andelys; crêpes tasting on board
Day 10 Caudebec: choice of excursion along the “Normandy Abbeys Route”, or walk in the nature
Day 11 Caudebec: choice of full day excursions to Normandy landing beaches, or “A Taste of Normandy” excursion
Day 12 Rouen: guided walk, see the Astronomical Clock and visit the cathedral
Day 13 Conflans–Paris: choice of guided excursions to Auvers-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s Château de Malmaison
Day 14 Paris: choice of guided sightseeing or “Heart of Paris” walking tour to see Paris’ historic sights
Day 15 Paris (Disembarkation)–London: transfer to London by high-speed Eurostar train (standard class)
Day 16 London: guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral (except on Sundays)
Day 17 London: full day at leisure
Day 18 London: your vacation ends this morning
All This Included
This river cruise vacation showcases France’s charm, breathtaking views, and rich history. Your adventure begins on the Rhône River in Port Saint Louis.
Visit Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh—and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre. On a guided tour of historical Avignon, see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes and, later on, join an excursion to the wine region of Châteauneuf du Pape. The city of Tournon is beautifully nestled among vineyards and you’ll go on a guided walk of this medieval treasure with plenty of Roman ruins. Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital is a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Take then a guided tour to Beaujolais and the following day to Chardonnay, where you will have the opportunity to taste local wines. A Master of Wine will travel with you on this first portion of your cruise and will hold lectures, tastings and will introduce you to the concept of food and wine pairing. Continue on the Seine River, which offers a choice of excursion opportunities, such as a visit to the historic Normandy Landing Beaches, including Omaha Beach, the Point du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery; a visit to delightful Les Andelys, Joan of Arc’s Rouen, and the choice between a visit to Vincent van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s Malmaison. On this French river cruise, you’ll enjoy wine, cheese, beautiful scenery, and stops in charming and historical parts of France, but your adventure would not be complete without a visit to 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 showing you the iconic sites of the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and more. Then, transfer to London for three exciting nights.
During your guided sightseeing of London, see the sights you cannot go home without seeing—Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, and more, including VIP access to St. Paul’s Cathedral. You’ll have plenty of free time and your Monograms Local Host® will help make your vacation what you want it to be!
Ship Amenities - Avalon Poetry II:
Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows
Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs, whirlpool, shade awnings, & outdoor deck game area
Non-smoking staterooms & ship interior
Convenient Elevator Service
Elegant, contemporary design
Outside viewing deck
Headsets for guided shore excursions
English-speaking friendly crew, staff & professional Cruise Director
Sightseeing with Expert Local Guides
Onboard lectures, activities & entertainment
Complimentary room service for Continental breakfast
Sky Deck whirlpool
Complimentary Wi-Fi access
Biking excursions available in Amsterdam and Breisach
Onboard Adventure Center with active gear, bikes, Nordic walking sticks, watercraft & maps
Casual dinner in the Panorama Bistro
Avalon Choice® cruising experience
Behind-the-scenes galley tour
Choice of Classic, Active or Discovery excursions so that you can experience your cruise your way
Nordic walking sticks available onboard for complimentary check-out
Onshore & Onboard experiences with regional customs, cultures & tastings with local artisans, experts & entertainers
Flatscreen satellite TV with English-speaking channels & over 100 free movie options
Onboard assistance is available to recommend, reserve and further personalize your cruise
Linger over several selections from the Panorama Bistro's tasting menu for a less formal "sit-down" atmosphere
Self-serve beverage station with complimentary tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees, including decaf options
Well-stocked library with books, cards, and board games
State-of-the-art fitness center
Complimentary bottled water, fresh fruit, and cookies available throughout the day
Full-size closet mirror
Ship Dining - Avalon Poetry II:
Avalon FreshSM healthy cuisine options at every meal
Self-serve beverage station with complimentary tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees, including decaf options
Welcome & farewell cocktails with sparkling wine & canapés
Spacious, open-seating Panorama Dining Room
Daily early-riser breakfast
Daily late-riser breakfast
Full buffet breakfast with sparkling wine and made-to-order egg station
Lunch buffet with carving and pasta stations
Al fresco lunch in the Sky Grill
Cocktails with a view on the Sky Deck
Healthy Corner options including low calorie, low fat, high fiber, low cholesterol, and high energy choices
Vegetarian options at every meal, as well as vegan and allergy-free selections
Afternoon Tea featuring tea, coffee, and sweet treats
Happy Hour every evening including featured drink specials
Seasonal cuisine featuring the freshest local ingredients
Chef-prepared onboard meals with regional cuisine and familiar favorites
Four-course dinners with choice of appetizers, soups, salads, entrées and desserts or cheese
Complimentary wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Complimentary room service for Continental breakfast
Panorama Lounge & Bar with premium spirits, cozy seating, panoramic windows & dance floor
Healthy meal options
Casual dinner in the Panorama Bistro
Linger over several selections from the Panorama Bistro's tasting menu for a less formal "sit-down" atmosphere
Tastings - sample the destination's famous delicacies
Coffee or tea after dinner
Light lunch in the Panorama Lounge
FlexDining flexible dining times with menu & venue options
Accommodations on this Tour
Cruising: Cabin onboard Avalon Poetry II, Avalon Tapestry II
London: Park Plaza County Hall
Notes
Cabin upgrades are available.
In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
Additional Price Details: Port charges: $364
Gratuities to Local Guides & Excursion Drivers are included on Avalon portion only.
Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.
Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.
Terms and Conditions
*
The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the trip origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package at the price quoted.
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