Compare Burgundy to Provence Riverboat by Olivia vs A trip to admire the beautiful scenery of the Rhône valley by CroisiEurope
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| Trip |
0 | Poor
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 8 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 5,999 | $ 1,219 |
| Price Per Day | $ 750 | $ 203 |
| Highlights |
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CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS
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| Trip Style | Group tour | River cruise |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 7 Dinners |
N/A |
| Description |
Welcome to France! You’ll arrive in Paris and then continue on by motorcoach to fascinating Beaune for an included visit of Hôtel-Dieu, or you may choose a complimentary wine-tasting tour. Next, board your ship in quaint St. Jean de Losne and set sail for lovely Macon, France’s gastronomic capital of Lyon, as well as medieval Tournon, charming Viviers, Avignon, and Arles. Daylight permitting, sail into the peaceful Camargue area. Book early, as this trip sold out in 2018! |
Discover the authentic Provence combining style and refinement. Throughout this cruise, you will be able to admire the beautiful Rhone landscapes. Discover Les Baux de Provence, one of the most beautiful, majestic and exotic villages in France, and plunge into the heart of an extraordinary setting whose charm and fragrance will captivate you. Visit the Alpilles where nature and authentic traditions have been carefully preserved. |
Day 1: Paris—Dijon—Beaune—St. Jean de Losne (Embarkation)—Seurre
Meals: Dinner
This morning, transfer from Paris host hotel to Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Or area. Beaune owes its wealth to the production, aging, and selling of fine wines. Although life here centers around wine, Beaune offers much more. Today you have an included tour. Choose from a wine tasting in a local cellar, OR visit the HÔTEL-DIEU charity hospital, built in 1443 and paid for by the chancellor of Burgundy after the Hundred Years’ War left many of the town’s population destitute. Today it houses Van der Weyden’s painting of The Last Judgment and is one of France’s architectural highlights. Then, continue to St. Jean de Losne, where you’ll board your river cruise vessel. Before dinner, meet your Olivia staff and ship’s crew at a welcome reception as your ship departs for Macon.
Day 2: Seurre—Mâcon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Enjoy some leisurely cruising today and before lunch, enjoy an Onboard Cheese Tasting. In the late afternoon, arrive in Mâcon, a city that plays an important role in the wine trade. Free time allows you to explore on your own. Alternatively, you may choose to participate in one of the optional excursions offered, such as a visit to a wine cellar.
Day 3: Lyon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Lyon, France’s third-largest city and its gastronomic capital, was founded by the Romans in 43 B.C. The city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, excellent museums, and renaissance architecture delight visitors. A local guide joins you as you survey the city from Fourvière Hill and explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and Place des Terreaux, a popular area with lively cafés, monuments, and the famous fountain often depicted on postcards. Tonight, you may choose to participate in an optional tour to Paul Bocuse, 3-star Michelin Restaurant for the meal of a lifetime!
Day 4: Lyon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Enjoy a free day in this fascinating city to explore at leisure. Early risers might like to visit the local produce market. Perhaps wander through one of Lyon’s parks, discover some of the murals (there are over 100), or select one of the available optional excursions. Be sure to taste the gastronomic delights and sample Beaujolais, the wine of the region; wine connoisseurs know that the grapes must be hand-picked. Or take a bike ride along the river. Your Cruise Director will have plenty of suggestions for things to do.
Day 5: Tournon/Tain-L'Hermitage—Viviers
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. A local guide will show you Tournon, one of France’s oldest medieval cities, with its imposing 16th -century castle and Roman ruins. Your Olivia Cruise Director will take you to one of the best chocolate shops for some free tastings. Arriving in Viviers in the afternoon, a guided walk shows you this charming town that developed around its Romanesque cathedral. The Old Town has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. An included “Organ Concert” organized by Olivia will end the tour at the top of the hill with beautiful views.
Day 6: Avignon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse region, the most picturesque part of Provence with its intact ramparts encircling the entire city, cobblestone streets and squares, and private mansions built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Known as the “City of Popes,” it was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century. During your guided tour, you may choose to join an included visit of the Palace of the Popes, built in the 14th century as the sovereign popes’ residence. A photo of the famous Pont Saint Bénezet (Saint Bénezet Bridge), of the popular song Sur le Pont d’Avignon, is a must. Optional excursions to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are available for purchase.
Day 7: Arles
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, wake up early to the tranquil vistas of Camargue National Park (daylight permitting) before arriving in Arles after breakfast. Located on the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is capital of the Provence region. Your local guide will show you highlights of the city and you’ll visit the Roman Amphitheater. Still used today, it dates to the 1st century and was constructed to hold more than 20,000 spectators. Visit areas where Van Gogh lived and painted.
Day 8: Port Saint-Louis (Disembarkation)
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, disembark home, or to your next destination, or join us on our extended stretcher to Marseille to enjoy Bastille Day in France!
Day 1 LYON
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 4:00 p.m.After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Dinner tonight will be following by an evening of entertainment. Our ship will cruise through the night.
Day 1 LYON
Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 4:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Dinner tonight will be following by an evening of entertainment. Our ship will cruise through the night.
Day 2 AVIGNON - ARLES
This morning will be spent cruising to Avignon.Join us for the excursions proposed:CLASSIC: Guided tour of Avignon and the Papal Palace.DISCOVERY: Hike along the Pont du Gard and visit to the museum.Our ship will cruise to Arles.In the evening, join us on an CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Guided tour of Arles, a highly cultural town enriched with vestiges from the Roman Empire.
Day 2 AVIGNON - ARLES
This morning will be spent cruising to Avignon.Join us for the excursions proposed:CLASSIC: Guided tour of Avignon and the Papal Palace.DISCOVERY: Hike along the Pont du Gard and visit to the museum.Our ship will cruise to Arles.In the evening, join us on an CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Guided tour of Arles, a highly cultural town enriched with vestiges from the Roman Empire.
Day 3 ARLES - PORT-SAINT-LOUIS - MARTIGUES(1)
Join us for the excursions proposed:CLASSIC: Discover the Camargue. We'll visit a "manade" (bull breeding farm) and learn about how a manadier works with the animals.DISCOVERY: Discovery in jeeps through the Camargue for an original immersion in the wilderness.The afternoon will be spent cruising to Martigues. Enjoy some free time exploring the city on your own before we set off once again for Arles.
Day 3 ARLES - PORT-SAINT-LOUIS - MARTIGUES(1)
Join us for the excursions proposed:CLASSIC: Discover the Camargue. We'll visit a "manade" (bull breeding farm) and learn about how a manadier works with the animals.DISCOVERY: Discovery in jeeps through the Camargue for an original immersion in the wilderness.The afternoon will be spent cruising to Martigues. Enjoy some free time exploring the city on your own before we set off once again for Arles.
Day 4 ARLES - VIVIERS
Join us for an CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Discover the Baux-de-Provence.This afternoon will be spent cruising to Viviers.
Day 4 ARLES - VIVIERS
Join us for an CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion for both packages: Discover the Baux-de-Provence.This afternoon will be spent cruising to Viviers.
Day 5 VIVIERS - LA VOULTE - The Vercors Plateau - TAIN-L'HERMITAGE
This morning will be spent cruising to La Voulte.Join us on an CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Discover the Vercors and taste the famous Clairette de Die*. Tonight is our gala dinner and evening.Our ship will cruise to Lyon.
Day 5 VIVIERS - LA VOULTE - The Vercors Plateau - TAIN-L'HERMITAGE
This morning will be spent cruising to La Voulte.Join us on an CLASSIC/DISCOVERY excursion : Discover the Vercors and taste the famous Clairette de Die*. Tonight is our gala dinner and evening.Our ship will cruise to Lyon.
Day 6 LYON
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.
