Call Us 800.528.9300
Rhine & Rhône Revealed with 2 Nights in Nice (Northbound) 2024
17 Day River Cruise Nice to Amsterdam
Tour Description:
Immerse yourself in French and German culture on this fabulous European river cruise vacation along the Rhône, Saône, and Rhine Rivers. Begin with two overnights in captivating Nice on the French Riviera, and relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. Embark on the Rhône River in Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and the site of its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater. Take a guided walk in Tournon, a medieval treasure beautifully nestled among vineyards. Lyon is a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Disembark and travel to Beaune, visit the Hôtel Dieu charity hospital before proceeding to Basel, Switzerland, to board your Rhine River cruise vessel. Your first stop is Breisach, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest, well known for Black Forest ham, cherry cake, and cuckoo clocks. In Strasbourg, France, stroll through the picturesque La Petite France district. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. A stay in Holland’s popular, modern capital of Amsterdam is the perfect way to end this sensational European river cruise. The best way to see the treas-ures of this 700-year-old city is on a canal cruise along the elegant Grachten lined with homes dating back to the city’s “Golden Age.”
Click for larger view.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing| Day 1 Nice: | Welcome to France |
| Day 2 Nice: | Guided tour |
| Day 3 Nice-Arles (Embarkation): | Transfer to the ship; onboard welcome reception |
| Day 4 Arles: | Choice of guided sightseeing, visit the Roman Amphitheatre, or painting workshop, or walk with your Adventure Host |
| Day 5 Avignon: | Guided sightseeing, visit the Palace of the Popes |
| Day 6 Viviers: | Guided walk, visit Old Town and the cathedral or walk with your Adventure Host |
| Day 7 Tain l'Hermitage: | Choice of guided walk in Tournon or hike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 8 Lyon: | Guided sightseeing, picture stop on Fourvière Hill |
| Day 9 Tournus–Chalon-sur-Saône: | Chardonnay excursion with tasting; Cheese tasting on board |
| Day 10 Chalon-sur-Saône (Disembarkation)-Beaune-Basel (Embarkation): | Visit the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune; transfer to Basel; onboard welcome reception |
| Day 11 Breisach: | Choice of excursion to Black Forest, or Freiburg sightseeing, or visit to a local winery in Breisach or bike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 12 Strasbourg: | Choice of guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 13 Mainz: | Choice of guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or walk Philosophers’ Way with your Adventure Host, or visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz |
| Day 14 Rüdesheim-Rhine Gorge-Koblenz: | Visit Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim; cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; free time in Koblenz |
| Day 15 Cologne: | Choice of “Cologne Highlights” walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host |
| Day 16 Amsterdam: | Choice of canal cruise or walk with your Adventure Host |
| Day 17 Amsterdam (Disembarkation): | 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.
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1
NICE, FRANCE Welcome to France.
Enjoy free time to discover the beauty of the spectacular French Riviera, which stretches along France’s Mediterranean coast from Toulon to the border of Italy.
NICE-BEACH.jpg
Day 2
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.
NICE-STREET-VIEW.jpg
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 3
NICE–ARLES (EMBARKATION) Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.
Join a motorcoach transfer to board your Avalon Suite Ship.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES
ARLES-SCENIC.jpg
Day 4
ARLES Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
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.
Take free time to stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine, before sailing to Avignon.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON
ARLES-PAINTING-CLASS.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 5
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.
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.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON
AVIGNON-BRIDGE.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 6
VIVIERS World History in a Charming French Country Village
Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers.
ACTIVE Walk your way up to Vivier's hilltop Cathedral with your Adventure Host, OR:
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.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TAIN L’HERMITAGE
VIVIERS.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 7
TAIN L'HERMITAGE A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
ACTIVE Explore Tournon by foot as you follow your Adventure Host for a morning hike in this beautiful town along the Rhone, OR:
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.
In the early afternoon, cruise to Lyon.
Enjoy live entertainment while sailing to Lyon.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON
TOURNON.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 8
LYON La Vie En Rose in Lyon
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.
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
LYON-BRIDGE.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 9
TOURNUS–CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône
DISCOVERY Travel into the rolling landscapes of the Mâconnais region to learn about its world-famous Chardonnay vineyards, the wines produced here, and to attend a wine-tasting in the cellars of a real medieval castle!
DISCOVERY Later, enjoy a delicious Cheese Tasting on board your ship.
Enjoy live entertainment on board this evening.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE
TOURNUS.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 10
CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (DISEMBARKATION)–BEAUNE–BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION) Drive to Beaune and transfer to Basel
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, travel by motorcoach to Basel to board your Rhine river cruise.
EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH
BEAUNE-HOTEL-DIEU.jpg
Day 11
BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST German Winemaking and the Beautiful Black Forest
Visit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.
ACTIVE Enjoy the view on a relaxing bike ride along the Rhine with your Adventure Host, OR:
DISCOVERY Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernhof open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, OR:
DISCOVERY Visit to a local winery in Breisach, where you will learn about German winemaking and enjoy a wine tasting, OR:
CLASSIC Join A Guided Tour to explore Freiburg’s medieval city center, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley.
You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar in the morning, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings.
EVENING CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
BLACK-FOREST-SCENIC.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 12
STRASBOURG, FRANCE A Grand Cathedral and La Petite France
ACTIVE Discover Strasbourg by bike with your Adventure Host, OR:
CLASSIC Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s Gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.
Choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the historic Maginot Line—the pre-WWII defensive designed to protect the eastern border of France, or visit Alsace’s wine country today.
Alternatively, take some free time in Strasbourg to visit a museum, or stroll across the city center.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAINZ
STRASBOURG-PETIT-FRANCE.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 13
MAINZ, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG Castle Walls and the World’s Biggest Wine Barrel
ACTIVE Join your Avalon Adventure Host for an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, the Philosophers' way, OR:
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel,” OR:
CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided City Walk including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship after a short sailing to Rüdesheim.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN RÜDESHEIM
HEIDELBERG.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 14
RÜDESHEIM–RHINE GORGE Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
ACTIVE Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim, OR:
DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; enjoy a tasting of the authentic Rüdesheimer coffee.
En route to Koblenz, sail through the Rhine Gorge (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Take in the breathtaking views of ancient castles perched on cliffs 400 feet above the water, and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei—where the mythological siren’s songs lured ill-fated sailors.
KOBLENZ
Travel Through 2000 Years of Monumental History
Enjoy free time in Koblenz before a relaxing evening on board with dinner and live entertainment.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN KOBLENZ
RUDESHEIM-VINEYARDS.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 15
COLOGNE Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland
Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.
ACTIVE Enjoy a bike ride like the locals in Cologne with your Adventure Host, OR:
DISCOVERY Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites. OR:
CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral.
Spend free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager—locally brewed for over 100 years!
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM
COLOGNE-BEER.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 16
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
ACTIVE Start your day joining your Adventure Host on an early morning walk in Amsterdam, OR:
CLASSIC Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.”
During tulip season, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year. Outside of tulip season, join a Guided Optional Excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses. You may also choose an Optional Biking Tour to discover the countryside.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
AMSTERDAM-CANAL-CRUISE.jpg
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 17
AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
AMSTERDAM-SUNRISE.jpg
Accommodations
Accommodations| Nice | Amsterdam |
Le Meridien Nice
First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
1, Promenade Des Anglais Nice Cedex 1 France
With a "touch of chic" inspired by the timeless elegance of the Côte d'Azur, Le Méridien Nice is an authentic jewel located facing the Mediterranean Sea on world famous Promenade des Anglais. It is a few steps from the pedestrian area with its many fashion boutique, shops, restaurants, and bars. The Old Town is also within walking distance. Discover signature cocktails at the bar or enjoy a tasty dinner inspired by the region on the panoramic rooftop restaurant while watching the sunset. Relax in the heated outdoor pool or exercise in the fitness centre. Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access is provided. The refined and exotic interior design inspired by the Golden Sixties gives each of the 318 guestrooms a unique sun-drenched style featuring soft Mediterranean blue and sandy beige shades. Fully air conditioned rooms include a flat-screen TV with international channels, coffee/tea maker facilities, in-room safe, minibar, iron and ironing board, and free wireless high speed internet access.
First-Class
Hotel as shown or similar
1, Promenade Des Anglais Nice Cedex 1 France
With a "touch of chic" inspired by the timeless elegance of the Côte d'Azur, Le Méridien Nice is an authentic jewel located facing the Mediterranean Sea on world famous Promenade des Anglais. It is a few steps from the pedestrian area with its many fashion boutique, shops, restaurants, and bars. The Old Town is also within walking distance. Discover signature cocktails at the bar or enjoy a tasty dinner inspired by the region on the panoramic rooftop restaurant while watching the sunset. Relax in the heated outdoor pool or exercise in the fitness centre. Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access is provided. The refined and exotic interior design inspired by the Golden Sixties gives each of the 318 guestrooms a unique sun-drenched style featuring soft Mediterranean blue and sandy beige shades. Fully air conditioned rooms include a flat-screen TV with international channels, coffee/tea maker facilities, in-room safe, minibar, iron and ironing board, and free wireless high speed internet access.
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.
