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Grand France with 2 Nights in Nice (Southbound) 2024
17 Day River Cruise Paris to Nice
Tour Description:
Set sail on your Seine River cruise and sail to Vernon with your choice of a visit to Claude Monet’s Giverny or Bizy Castle, nicknamed “Normandy’s Versailles. In Caudebec, take an excursion to the historic Normandy Landing Beaches, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, or select an excursion for a traditional “Taste of Normandy.” Visit Joan of Arc’s Rouen, then choose between a visit to Vincent Van Gogh’s Auver-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s Malmaison. Return to Paris for your choice of sightseeing in the “City of Light”—discover the true heart of Paris on a guided walk through the sites of Paris’ rich history, or take a tour to see the iconic landmarks of the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and more. Board a high-speed train bound for Dijon, and transfer to Beaune to embark on your second Avalon Suite Ship® in Chalon-sur-Saône. Cruise to Lyon, is the gastronomic capital of France and a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Take a guided walk of Tournon, beautifully nestled among vineyards, to see its Roman ruins and fascinating 16th-century castle. On a guided tour of historical Avignon, see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes—the largest Gothic fortress in the world. Situated on the Rhône River, Arles is famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater. As a perfect finale to your French river cruise vacation, spend 2 nights in captivating Nice on the French Riviera along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea.*During the Olympics and Paralympic games some venues and areas might be closed or not accessible to groups, therefore the program might be subject to change.
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Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing| Day 1 Paris (Embarkation): | Onboard welcome reception |
| Day 2 Vernon–Les Andelys: | Choice of excursions to Giverny or Bizy Castle or walk with your Adventure Host; choice of guided walk, or guided hike in Les Andelys; onboard crêpe tasting and Pastry Demonstration |
| Day 3 Caudebec: | Choice of excursion along the “Normandy Abbeys Route” or bike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 4 Caudebec: | Choice of full-day excursions to Normandy landing beaches or "A Taste of Normandy" excursion |
| Day 5 Rouen: | Choice of guided sightseeing, see the Astronomical Clock and visit the cathedral or bike tour |
| Day 6 Conflans: | Choice of excursion to Auvers-sur-Oise or excursion to Napoleon and Josephine's Château de Malmaison or bike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 7 Paris: | Choice of guided sightseeing or historic sights of the 'Heart of Paris' walking tour or walk with your Adventure Host |
| Day 8 Paris (Disembarkation)–Dijon–Beaune–Chalon-sur-Saône (Embarkation): | High-speed train from Paris to Dijon; motorcoach transfer to Beaune and visit to the Hôtel-Dieu; onboard welcome reception |
| Day 9 Tournus: | Guided walk in Tournus; onboard cheese tasting |
| Day 10 Lyon: | Choice of guided sightseeing with picture stop on Fourvière Hill or bike with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture |
| Day 11 Lyon: | Culinary tour |
| Day 12 Tournon–Viviers: | Guided walk in Tournon; guided walk in Viviers, visit the Old Town and the cathedral |
| Day 13 Avignon: | Guided sightseeing, visit to the Palace of the Popes |
| Day 14 Arles: | Choice of guided sightseeing in Arles, visit the Roman Amphitheatre, or painting workshop or walk with your Adventure Host |
| Day 15 Arles (Disembarkation)–Nice: | Transfer to Nice |
| Day 16 Nice: | Guided tour |
| Day 17 Nice: | Your vacation ends this morning |
Notes:
- 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.
- During the Olympics and Paralympic games some venues and areas might be closed or not accessible to groups, therefore the program might be subject to change.
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1
PARIS, FRANCE (EMBARKATION) Welcome to France. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Flights into Paris must arrive by 2:30 pm.
Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Your day is free to explore the world’s most romantic city before starting your cruise on the Seine. Get acquainted with the City of Light today with some shopping, strolling, or with a croissant and café au lait to watch the world go by amid the Parisian cityscape.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VERNON
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Day 2
VERNON Monet’s Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du Jour
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
ACTIVE Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
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
ACTIVE Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France’s most picturesque spots on the Seine.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CAUDEBEC
*Monet’s House is closed in March and November. During this period this excursion will be replaced with a Guided Tour of La Roche-Guyon and its castle.
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 3
CAUDEBEC Ancient Abbeys Along the Seine
ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, OR:
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.
This afternoon, you may choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CAUDEBEC
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 4
CAUDEBEC. EXCURSION 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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 5
ROUEN The Cathedral of Our Lady and a Heroine for France
ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels, OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—site of Saint Joan of Arc’s martyrdom—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CONFLANS
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 6
CONFLANS The Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV
ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, OR:
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
*Château de Malmaison is closed the 1st Sunday of each month and on 22nd September. On these dates, this excursion will be replaced by a visit to Château de Chantilly.
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 7
PARIS Cafés, Cathedrals and Canvases in the city of Light
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
ACTIVE Experience the Seine river by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:
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
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 8
PARIS (DISEMBARKATION) DIJON–BEAUNE–CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (EMBARKATION) Take a High-Speed Train from Paris to Dijon, to drive on to Beaune.
DISCOVERY Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement.
This afternoon, travel to Chalon-sur-Saône to board your Suite Ship®.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN TOURNUS
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Day 9
TOURNUS Pearl of Southern Burgundy
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
CLASSIC Tucked away in the southeast corner of Burgundy, Tournus is one of the oldest and most important monastic centers in the region, Our Local Guide will show the highlights of this delightful town.
Consider a Guided Optional Excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar or to the Castle of Cormatin.
DISCOVERY Later, enjoy a delicious Cheese Tasting on board your ship.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN TRÉVOUX
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 10
LYON La Vie En Rose in Lyon
Sail for lovely Lyon this morning.
ACTIVE Discover Lyon's architectural district by bike with your Adventure Host, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon with its numerous churches from Fourvière Hill. 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 Be our guest for a WWII & French Resistance lecture on board your ship.
Later enjoy live entertainment after dinner.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 11
LYON Adventures in Food and Wine
CLASSIC Join a Culinary Walk through the city to discover why it is known as the gastronomic capital of France.
The rest of your day is free to explore, relax, or shop in France’s third largest city. Take a bike from the ship and explore local produce markets and parks, or take a leisurely tour of the city’s more than 100 murals.
EVENING CRUISE TO TOURNON
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 12
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.
Enjoy a leisurely sail to Viviers after lunch.
VIVIERS
World History in a Charming French Country Village
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.
Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AVIGNON
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 13
AVIGNON The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
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.
Guided Optional Excursions include a visit to the ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard, or 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.
EVENING CRUISE TO ARLES
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 14
ARLES Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights
ACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise through a Power Walk in Arles with your Adventure Host, OR:
DISCOVERY Attend a Painting Workshop to learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh. Create your own painting in the style of the legendary artist, OR:
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 that inspired the works of Vincent van Gogh.
Take free time to stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine to relax and watch the world go by.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES
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BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 15
ARLES (DISEMBARKATION)–NICE Spectacular Seascapes of the Mediterranean Coast
After breakfast this morning, you’ll drive to Nice on the spectacular French Riviera, which stretches along France’s Mediterranean coast from Toulon to the border of Italy.
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Day 16
NICE The “Queen of the French Riviera”
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Sightseeing in Nice. Discover the narrow, winding streets and baroque churches of Vieux Nice, the old city—an area which has changed little since the 1700s.
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Breakfast
BreakfastDay 17
NICE Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
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Breakfast
Breakfast Accommodations
Accommodations| Paris | Paris | Nice |
Pullman Paris Montparnasse
First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
19 Rue Du Comm.Mouchotte Paris 14 France
This plush 953 room hotel offers a perfect base in the city's chic artistic hub. Free Wi-Fi access is available in all the guestrooms and public areas of the hotel. A fitness room, contemporary style restaurant with traditional French cuisine and a trendy lobby lounge serving drinks, snacks and cocktails complete the amenities.
First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
19 Rue Du Comm.Mouchotte Paris 14 France
This plush 953 room hotel offers a perfect base in the city's chic artistic hub. Free Wi-Fi access is available in all the guestrooms and public areas of the hotel. A fitness room, contemporary style restaurant with traditional French cuisine and a trendy lobby lounge serving drinks, snacks and cocktails complete the amenities.
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
