Riviera Travel Grand Cruise of France

• Enjoy guided tours of some of France’s most interesting towns and cities, including Paris, Avignon, Rouen, Honfleur, Arles, Lyon and Vienne.
• Visit historic Normandy, including the D-Day beaches, Arromanches and Bayeux.
• Drive to Giverny to visit Monet’s house and garden and explore Vernon’s quaint buildings.
• Sample delicious local wines with a wine-tasting in Burgundy’s wine capital, Beaune, and enjoy performances from French musicians on board your ship.
• Glide through the natural beauty of the French countryside, and visit the magnificent Ardèche Gorges, one of France’s most outstanding natural landscapes, and the breathtaking Pont du Gard.

• Return flights/Eurostar and transfers
• 14nts on board 5* ships
• Full board (except two lunches)
• All-inclusive (2026) drinks package
• 20 experiences
• Services of an expert Riviera Cruise Director & Concierge
• All port charges
• Checked luggage

Day 1: Arrive in Avignon
Travel to Avignon by flight or train and transfer to your ship.

Day 2: Avignon
This morning, choose between a guided tour of Avignon, exploring the Pont Saint-Bénézet and the UNESCO-listed Pope’s Palace, or a scenic ride on the petit train through the city. After lunch, enjoy free time to visit the Petit Palais, stroll the Pont d’Avignon, shop, or relax in a café. Return to the ship for dinner as we sail to Arles, followed by an onboard performance by a local pianist.

Day 3: Arles & Pont Du Gard
Wake up in the sunlit city of Arles, where many historic monuments are UNESCO-listed, and choose between a guided tour of its Roman heritage—including the amphitheatre, Augustan theatre, and Alyscamps—or a Van Gogh-focused tour exploring the artist’s prolific year in the city. After lunch, visit the spectacular Pont du Gard, a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct standing 160 feet high and over 900 feet long, set among pine- and cypress-covered hills. Return to the ship to cruise along the Rhône, passing the 15th-century castle at Tarascon during dinner.

Day 4: Ardèche Gorges & Tain l’Hermitage
This morning, disembark after breakfast to explore the dramatic Ardèche Gorges area.. Choose between a leisurely visit to a lavender farm with a museum and boutique, or a challenging trek through the prehistoric Grotte de la Madeleine. After returning to the ship, enjoy a relaxing afternoon cruising toward Tain l’Hermitage, set among vine-covered hills, and visit a local winery to learn about and taste Syrah wines.

Day 5: Vienne
During breakfast, we cruise north through the scenic Rhône Valley. After lunch, arrive in Vienne, an ancient Roman stronghold with Celtic roots, where you can explore at leisure the Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia, the 1st-century amphitheatre, and the charming old town, or head to Mont Pipet for panoramic views of the Rhône. Return to the ship for dinner, enjoy a ballroom dancing performance with a chance to try the French madison line dance, and then continue cruising toward Chalon-sur-Saône.

Day 6: Beaune
After lunch in Chalon-sur-Saône, the gateway to Burgundy, tour the region’s renowned wine villages, including Meursault, Volnay, Pommard, and Gevrey-Chambertin. Nearby Beaune, Burgundy’s wine capital, offers a guided visit to the 15th-century Hospices de Beaune with its iconic glazed roof tiles, followed by free time to explore and enjoy wine tastings in local cellars. Return to the ship for dinner before continuing an overnight cruise back to Lyon.

Day 7: Lyon
Enjoy a morning of cruising, arrive in Lyon in the afternoon. Take a guided tour of the city before free time. This evening, enjoy the Chef’s Dinner.

Day 8: Lyon to Paris
Bid a fond farewell to your ship as you disembark and travel to Paris. After arriving in Paris, you’ll be transferred to the MS Jane Austen for the second half of the grand cruise on the River Seine.

Day 9: Les Andelys
Indulge in a delicious breakfast as you sail serenely towards Les Andelys. On arrival, soak up the fascinating history of the Chateau Gaillard while on a guided visit.

Day 10: Rouen
Awake in Rouen and enjoy a guided tour of this lovely historic city before another afternoon cruising this spectacular river. Later,  moor in the pretty village of Caudebec.

Day 11:
Bayeux & Arromanches or Taste of Normandy
After breakfast, choose between a D-Day beaches tour or a Normandy tasting tour. The beaches tour visits Bayeux, the War Cemetery, Arromanches museum, and the British Normandy Memorial at Gold Beach, returning via Pegasus Bridge. The tasting tour includes a cheese dairy, medieval Lisieux, and a seaside estate for cider and calvados sampling. Lunch is not included on either option.

Day 12: Honfleur
Enjoy a guided tour of Honfleur with its charming waterfront of pastel-coloured 18th-century houses and traditional shops. Later return to the ship for lunch and a relaxing afternoon of cruising towards Vernon.

Day 13: Giverny & Vernon
This morning’s tour is to Giverny and the home of the great Impressionist painter Claude Monet with one of the most famous gardens in the world. After lunch explore the quintessentially half-timbered houses and ancient winding streets of Vernon. Enjoy another Chef’s Dinner tonight

Day 14: Paris
You’ll have the option to either take a coach tour or a walking sightseeing tour of this iconic city: Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Élysées, Sacré-Coeur, the Eiffel Tower, we see all these and more. After lunch enjoy the free time exploring this unique and beautiful capital.

Day 15: Return home
The journey unfortunately comes to an end at this stage as you prepare to travel home.

MS Lord Byron

MS Jane Austen

• Currency: Euro
• Flight Time: Approx. 1 hr 50 mins to 2 hrs
• Eurostar & TGV Journey Time: Approx. 7 hrs
• Language: French
• Time Zone: GMT+1
• Country: France

*All transfer times listed here are approximate and dependent on traffic

Important Information: Prices are available on request and will include all mandatory charges, taxes, and fees applicable to your booking. Some destinations may have local taxes or resort fees payable on arrival; these will be clearly confirmed in your personalised quote.