PROVENCE AND SPAIN MAP

 
Included in your Amadeus Waterway Cruise
From the magic of Paris to the romance of Barcelona, this itinerary promises to be one of our most captivating yet. Start your vacation with three glorious days in Paris then travel in style aboard the high speed TGV train to Lyon, France's gastronomical capital. From here, cruise through beautiful wine growing regions where such famous wines as Beaujolais, Côte du Rhône and Chateauneuf-du-Pape are being produced. Explore marvelous Avignon and visit Mediterranean Arles, the city which Vincent Van Gogh captured in many of his master pieces. Disembark and continue to the medieval city of Carcassone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site close to the Pyrénées. Enjoy the grand finale of your vacation with three fascinating days in magnificent Barcelona.

• 3 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Paris including daily Buffet Breakfast
• TGV high-speed train from Paris to Lyon
• 7 night Deluxe Cruise in an Outside Stateroom
• Superb Dining with all Meals included during your Cruise
• Unlimited Wines from France's great Wine Regions with every Dinner onboard the Ship
• Cocktail Reception, Welcome Dinner & Captain's Gala Dinner
• Motorcoach from the Ship in Arles to Carcassonne and on to Barcelona
• 3 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Barcelona including daily Buffet Breakfast
• Daily Sightseeing Program as outlined in the Itinerary
• Special Highlights including Folklore Dances, Lectures, Theme Dinners, onboard Music Performances and afternoon & evening Piano Music
• Services of Professional Cruise Director
• All English Language onboard in a non-smoking Environment (smoking permitted only on the Sun Deck)
• All Transfers with the Purchase of Cruise, Land & Air package
• All local Taxes
  

 
ITINERARY

DAY 1   ARRIVE IN PARIS, FRANCE
Arrive in Paris and transfer to your hotel. Take the balance of the day to relax or explore the “City of Lights.”

DAY 2   PARIS
Enjoy Paris’ famous sights during this morning's guided tour. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, pass the Louvre Museum, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, La Madeleine, Les Champs Elysées and much more. The remainder of the day is yours to explore on your own. (B)

DAY 3   PARIS
Your last day in the “City of Lights” is free for you to enjoy. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World’s Fair or choose one of the various optional tours that are available (B)

DAY 4   PARIS - LYON
This afternoon, board the TGV train, where you’ll be transported at top speed (up to 186 mph) in smooth, quiet comfort to Lyon where the ship awaits you. Lyon not only marks the meeting of the Saône and Rhône rivers, but it is also the gastronomic capital of France. Its rich ancient history includes Roman ruins and early Christian sites. This afternoon’s city tour includes a stunning panoramic view of the entire city from the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière. You’ll also explore the Renaissance charm of Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) with its cobbled streets. Gather this evening onboard for cocktails and a Welcome Dinner. (B,D)

DAY 5   LYON - TREVOUX
Enjoy the morning at your leisure to explore Lyon further on your own. Return to the ship for lunch, and relax as we sail north along the Saône River to the small town of Trévoux. Enjoy free time this evening to explore the town on your own. (B,L,D)

DAY 6   TREVOUX - VIENNE
After breakfast, your morning tour takes you behind the village walls of Trévoux through Beaujolais, the Pays d’Or or “land of the golden stones” named for the ochre limestone of its homes and castles. Enjoy a visit with a local wine maker along “la route de vin” and sample the world renowned Beaujolais Nouveau. Return to the ship and continue cruising south from the Saône to the Rhône River towards Vienne. This evening stroll along the sidewalk cafés of this rural walking town. (B,L,D)

DAY 7   VIENNE - TOURNON
Situated between the wine regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Vienne, has a significant Roman history, which is highlighted by its marvelously preserved ruins and remains. This morning, take a mini train tour and see the 1stcentury Roman Temple of Augustus and the Medieval churches of St. Andre-Le-Bas and Abbey St. Pierre, before we cruise on to Tournon and Tain L’Hermitage. These twin towns face each other across the Rhône River and are linked by a 19th-century suspension bridge.

The fertile soil and ideal climate of the region has made Tain L’Hermitage the premier producer of the Côtes du Rhône wines. Enjoy free time this afternoon to visit the 16th-century castle which is now a town hall, or visit the chocolate shop for a taste of the confections once produced in Tournon’s famous factory. After dinner enjoy wine tasting onboard. (B,L,D)

DAY 8   TOURNON - BOUCIEU-LE-ROI  VIVIERS
On this morning’s adventure, you will get a personal look at a working farm located in the midst of the Ardéche Mountains and then take a scenic tour of the valley’s beautiful landscape. Enjoy a visit to Boucieu-le-Roi and its local market of handmade crafts, musical entertainment and wine tasting. Return to the ship for lunch as we cruise to Viviers. After dinner, enjoy an evening “ghost walk” through the largely abandoned Medieval town that once had more than 30,000 inhabitants. The ship moors overnight in Viviers. (B,L,D))

DAY 9   VIVIERS - AVIGNON
During breakfast, enjoy a scenic cruise to Avignon, arriving in the afternoon. Home to the papacy from 1309 to 1377, Avignon was an important center of the Catholic Church. Seven popes resided in the magnificent Gothic Papal Palace, which you will visit during your tour. You will also see the well preserved Medieval walls. Also, as your ship docks, look for the Avignon Bridge, made famous by the French children’s song "Sur le pont d'Avignon" ("On the bridge of Avignon"). The ship docks overnight in Avignon. (B,L,D)

DAY 10   AVIGNON - ARLES
This morning, travel by motorcoach to the villages of St. Remy & Les Baux. Enjoy the rich floral colors and amazing views from this village perched on the hill. This afternoon bathe in the Provençal light as you imagine how Vincent Van Gogh worked to capture the richness of every hue on your walking tour of Arles. While Van Gogh’s homes are no longer standing, you may glimpse the locales and vistas that inspired “Starry Night” or “Terrace de Café le Soir” as you pass Constantine’s Baths, the Romanesque cathedral and the Roman Amphitheater, which is still in use today. (B,L,D)

DAY 11   ARLES - DISEMBARK - BARCELONA, SPAIN
Transfer to Barcelona, capital of the Spanish region of Catalonia. Along the way, we will pass through Camargue on the southern coast and trace the ancient trade route linking the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas. As we approach the Pyrenees, we’ll stop in the medieval city of Carcassone, which is surrounded by a double ring of walls, a world UNESCO Heritage Site, complete with 52 towers that stretches for more than two miles around this strategic import city. Here, you will have free time for lunch and some exploring on your own. (B)

DAY 12   BARCELONA
Your full day in Barcelona begins with a driving tour to the top of Montjuic Hill where you will catch glorious views of the city below, including the Palau Nacional (the National Palace) and the Olympic Complex. Next, tour Placa Catalonia, and Las Ramblas, the promenade and center of Barcelona life. Later, see the Expiatori Temple de la Sagrada Família, designed by artist and architect Antonio Gaudí which is still incomplete. Take a walking tour of the Barrio Gotico (Gothic Quarter), King’s Square, and Tinell, the Royal Palace. (B)

DAY 13   BARCELONA
Enjoy a full day at your leisure in Barcelona; perhaps, take part in an optional tour. Or, return on your own to the markets of Las Ramblas, visit one of the many museums, or venture across the port for seafood in Barceloneta. (B)

DAY 14   DEPART BARCELONA
Your vacation comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

Email: enquiry@rivercruising.com
www.rivercruising.com