Discover Provence on this 8 day cruise on the Rhone with stops at Arles, Avignon, Les Baux de Provence, Chateauneuf du Pape, le Camargue, Aigues-Mortes, Gourmey dining aboard our 'ship', Le Chardonnay, and wine and food adventures on dry land.
Limited to 20 passengers this will be an intimate experience to collect wonderful individual and collective memories-I guarantee it, as a former suit salesman ( George Zimmer, not me) famously said, although I too was once a suit salesman.
Day 1: Avignon (Embark)
♦ Arrive in Avignon, where your floating hotel “Le Chardonnay” is moored in the historic center opposite the Cité des Pape
♦ After comfortably settling into your cabins, enjoy a Welcome Cocktail on the sun deck
♦ Dinner on board
♦ Overnight in Avignon
Day 2: Chateauneuf Du Pape
♦ Breakfast on board and Morning cruise to Chateauneuf Du Pape
♦ VINEYARD ESCAPADE TO CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE:
Provencal Lunch at the “Chateau Des Fines Roches”
♦ Return cruise to Avignon and Dinner on board
♦ Overnight in Avignon
Château des Fines Roches
Located in the heart of the prestigious vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this castle built in the late 19th century was inhabited by the Marquis de Baroncelli and frequented by many Provencal poets.
Day 3: Avignon
♦ Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board
♦ STEP BACK IN TIME AND ENJOY THE AUTHENTIC PROVENCAL WAY OF LIFE:
Guided Tour of Historical Avignon
Visit L'Isle sur la Sorgue - Capital of antique dealers in Provence... village famous for antique shops and the weekly open air market which is one of the most colorful and typical in Provence
Discover the Most Beautiful Hilltop Village In Provence: Gordes, with its exceptional charm and magnificent views of the surrounding countryside of the Luberon
♦ 'Avignon by Night' cruise and overnight in Avignon
Day 4: Arles
♦ Breakfast on board
♦ Scenic morning cruise to Arles
♦ Lunch on board at Arles quay
♦ AFTERNOON IN ARLES – Visit and Free Time:
Guided Tour of Historic Arles, its history, its monuments, and his characters of yesterday and today
Return on board or explore further as you wish, perhaps the Van Gogh Tour, a marked walking tour to discover at your own rhythm the places which inspired the most beautiful paintings of the master artist
♦ Dinner on board with “Gypsy Kings” theme evening entertainment and overnight in Arles
Day 3: Avignon
♦ Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board
♦ STEP BACK IN TIME AND ENJOY THE AUTHENTIC PROVENCAL WAY OF LIFE:
Guided Tour of Historical Avignon
Visit L'Isle sur la Sorgue - Capital of antique dealers in Provence... village famous for antique shops and the weekly open air market which is one of the most colorful and typical in Provence
Discover the Most Beautiful Hilltop Village In Provence: Gordes, with its exceptional charm and magnificent views of the surrounding countryside of the Luberon
♦ 'Avignon by Night' cruise and overnight in Avignon
Day 4: Arles
♦ Breakfast on board
♦ Scenic morning cruise to Arles
♦ Lunch on board at Arles quay
♦ AFTERNOON IN ARLES – Visit and Free Time:
Guided Tour of Historic Arles, its history, its monuments, and his characters of yesterday and today
Return on board or explore further as you wish, perhaps the Van Gogh Tour, a marked walking tour to discover at your own rhythm the places which inspired the most beautiful paintings of the master artist
♦ Dinner on board with “Gypsy Kings” theme evening entertainment and overnight in Arles
Day 5: Les Baux-de-Provence
♦ Breakfast on board and departure to the medieval village of Les Baux-de-Provence
Visit the very picturesque Les Baux Village located on a rocky spur in the Alpilles mountain range, with its historical center and beautiful houses of the 16th century
♦ Continue to Saint Remy-de-Provence and enjoy a Traditional Provençal gastronomic experience in a charming 19th-century farmhouse
The ancient & picturesque village of St. Rémy is an invitation to enjoy the Provençal way of life. The town, which witnessed the birth of Nostradamus and where Vincent Van Gogh lived, was and still is a source of inspiration for many artists. Saint-Rémy is also in the heart of a land of gastronomy which offers a whole range of renowned olive oils and local wines, of which most of the vineyards are organically farmed.
A superb lunch in beautiful surroundings awaits you at “La Table d’Yvan” restaurant where you will be introduced to traditional Provençal classics.
♦ Mid-afternoon return on board to enjoy a scenic cruise to Aigues Mortes
♦ Dinner-Cruise and overnight in Aigues Mortes
Day 6: The Camargue
♦ After Breakfast on board depart to the most beautiful natural site of France
♦ EXPERIENCE “France's Wild West”: THE CAMARGUE
You will be invited to a typical Camarguais lunch buffet at a “Manade”, where Camargue bulls and horses have been bred traditionally for many generations. Here, France’s only cowboys - the “Guardians” – will share their History and Traditions.
Your Camargue experience will continue and become even more memorable as you will discover an otherworldly and protected landscape of pink flamingoes, herds of wild white horses, black bulls and more than 400 species of birds
♦ Return on board for Dinner and overnight in Aigues Mortes
Day 7: Aigues Mortes
♦ Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board
♦ Morning visit of this stunning walled town with a rich heritage. It was at one time on the coast, built by Louis IX in the 13th century as a port for departing crusaders
You can enjoy some free time in the fortified city; Cobbled streets inside the walls are lined with restaurants, cafes and bars, giving the old town a festive atmosphere
♦ Return to your “floating hotel” for lunch and scenic cruise to Avignon
While you enjoy your lunch the ship quietly slips its mooring. Cruising leisurely upstream for the rest of the day, we catch the wealth of Provence’s heritage, witness of 26 Centuries of history, combined with the diversity of its exceptional natural sites
♦ Enjoy your evening arrival to Avignon with a memorable 'Avignon by Night' Gala Dinner-Cruise on board
♦ Overnight in Avignon
Day 8: Avignon (Disembark)
Your cruise comes to an end...Enjoy one last breakfast on board before disembarking in Avignon for your onward travel arrangements
CRUISE-TOUR DATES: MAY 8 – 15, 2020
FARES-$3,850
(Reflects $430 Discount for The Paris Insider subscribers
Fares are per person in USD – Double Occupancy
SUPPLEMENT Single: + $570
SUPPLEMENT Main Deck Cabin with French balcony: + $275
INCLUDES:
A 8-day/7-night CruiseTour on board Le Chardonnay
Double-occupancy cabin with shower in private bathroom
All Excursions with transportation and English-speaking guide
All meals from dinner the first day to breakfast on last day (including lunches ashore at Chateauneuf Du Pape, Saint Remy De Provence and a typical Camarguais lunch buffet at a 'Manade' in Camargue)
Drinks with meal including Aperitif, Beer, Cote du Rhone Red/White Wine, Coffee/Tea
Welcome cocktail, Gala dinner and evening entertainment on board
All Port Fees & Taxes
EXCLUDED
Trip Cancellation & Travel insurance
Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
Transportation from Paris to Avignon and return
Bar Drinks
Personal expenses
Gratuities are not included. Tipping is entirely discretionary if you are fully satisfied with the level of service
INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS
(FRANCE CRUISES – USA)
Jean-Francois Dabrowski
Phone (toll-free): 1-866-498-3920 Email: info@FranceCruises.com
You may also contact your Host – Terrance Gelenter
Phone (Paris) 06-7098-1368
Email : Terrance@paris-expat.com