DAY 1 – NICE – ARIES
Welcome to France and the beginning of your cruise. You’ll be met by a member of our team at the airport and transferred to Arles, where your friendly captain and crew will be waiting to welcome you on board your contemporary Emerald Cruises Star-Ship. This evening, enjoy a welcome reception and dine with your fellow guests.
Please book your flight to arrive into Nice prior to 12:00 PM. Speak to a Tour + Cruise expert here at Flat Beds to discuss booking your Business Class airfares.
Inclusions: Dinner
DAY 2 – ARIES
Revel in the glory of the Roman Empire today during an insightful visit to Arles, including its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman and Romanesque monuments. Visit Arles Amphitheatre, a 2,000-year-old structure where thousands of spectators once gathered to watch heart-pounding chariot races.
Enjoy learning about the time spent by Vincent van Gogh in the city, taking inspiration from his surroundings and using them to create many of his most iconic pieces of art, including ‘Starry Night Over the Rhône’. Then, enjoy some time to explore the beauty of Arles at your leisure.
EmeraldPLUS: A Provençal dinner hosted by chef Fabien Morreale
Included Excursion: Guided tour of Arles with arena visit
DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3 – AVIGNON
Avignon has a long and storied history. This fortified town is the former residence of seven consecutive Popes in the 1300s who fled Rome to escape from the political pressures of the Roman Empire. The city went on to become an important location during the French Revolution.
Embark on a guided walking tour to witness its illustrious past, including the ornate Gothic exterior of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Palais des Papes, built by the Popes over two decades. This afternoon is yours to leisurely explore, perhaps crossing the 12th-century Stone Bridge.
EmeraldACTIVE: Canoeing excursion in Avignon
Included Excursion: Guided tour of Avignon
DiscoverMORE: Guided tour of the Pont du Gard (extra expense)
DiscoverMORE: Classical concert in Avignon (extra expense)
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4 – VIVIERS
A snapshot of quintessential France awaits your arrival in Viviers, a town that perfectly encapsulates the medieval days of the region. Pastel coloured buildings gently faded by the sun line narrow cobblestone streets, and the heart of the Old Town is yours to explore today during a guided walking tour.
Included Excursion: Guided tour of Viviers
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 – TOURNON
As we sail down the gently twisting Rhône River into Tournon, you’ll be treated to an extraordinary view of a 16th-century castle overlooking the village and a pair of ancient watchtowers adorning the surrounding rural landscape.
Today, embark on a guided tour of Tournon and learn about its illustrious history and the culture of the people who call it home. If you would like to explore more of the region’s natural beauty, then you may instead choose to embark on an EmeraldACTIVE hike through some of the local vineyards.
Later, a guided bike tour to Glun will introduce you to the French countryside and provide priceless insight into the lives of the people who live there.
EmeraldPLUS: Regional wine tasting on board
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided bike tour to Glun
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided hike through the vineyards
Included Excursion: Guided tour of Tournon
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6 – LYON
As one of the largest cities in France and a former Roman capital, many of the most important moments in French history have taken place in Lyon. But it’s Lyonnaise cuisine that has really put this city on the map, delighting gastronomists from around the world.
Join your local guide for a walking tour of the city, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière. If you’re feeling more active, then you may instead choose to embark on a guided bike tour, touching on its most prominent architectural wonders and moments from history.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided bike tour of Lyon
Included Excursion: Guided tour of Lyon
DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Pérouges (extra expense)
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7 – CHALON-SUR-SAONE – BEAUNE
The birthplace of photography and the centre of Burgundy’s wine region is yours to discover today as you travel by road to the quaint village of Beaune. Stop to visit the Hospices de Beaune, one of the best-preserved examples of 15th-century French architecture and home to one of the most popular wine auctions in the country.
EmeraldPLUS: Cheese and olive tasting on board
Included Excursion: Visit to the Hospices de Beaune
Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 – LYON
After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to your fellow guests and disembark the Star-Ship for your transfer to the airport, taking memories of French architecture and sun-kissed vineyards with you.
Please book your flight to depart out of Lyon after 10:00 AM. Speak to a Tour + Cruise expert here at Flat Beds to discuss booking your Business Class airfares.
This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.
Inclusions: Breakfast
