DAY 1: Martigues / Mediterranean

Embarkation begins at 6:00 PM in Martigues. The crew will be introduced at A cocktail reception. Dinner and free time is available in this Mediterranean city as we put in for the night at the seaside in Martigues.

DAY 2:  Port St. Louis / Arles / Avignon / The Camargue 

Breakfast on board. Departure in the morning heading for Port St. Louis via the Fos Canal alongside the Mediterranean Sea. Call at Port St. Louis is at 9:00 AM. An optional sightseeing tour of The Camargue, a sprawling marshland inhabited by extraordinary wildlife, especially water birds, is available for cruise participants. The wild bulls and white Camargue horses that roam freely embody the charm of The Camargue. Free time is available on the tour in the wonderful city of St. Marie de la Mer, renowned for its gypsy pilgrimages. The cruise then goes on towards Avignon passing by the fortresses of Beaucaire and Tarascon. The ship puts in at Avignon around 4:00 PM. Free time for individual sightseeing is available. An optional guided tour is also offered of the Cite des Papes and its palace, a veritable citadel on a rocky peak surrounded by ramparts. This palace once hosted a rich court of artists and intellectuals. At the foot of the palace, you can admire the St. Bezenet bridge, also called Pont d'Avignon. Return onboard at dinner time. Overnight in Avignon.

DAY 3 Avignon / Viviers / Les Gorges De L'Ardeche

Breakfast onboard with departure of the ship early in the morning. The ship passes through the Bollene Lock which, at the time of its building in the 1950's, was a major feat of maritime architecture due to the significant gradient of 65 feet. After lunch onboard, we will call at Viviers around 2:00 PM with departure scheduled on an optional coach tour to visit the Gorge de l'Ardeche. Heading for Bourg St. Andeol, you will cross the Gras Plateau to reach Vallon Pont d'Arc. The Ardeche River has carved out a cliff forming a beautiful natural arch which is over 100 feet high. The itinerary follows the famous Gorges road. We will pass through Belvederes du Colombier and the Ranc pointu, also located on the high cliff road, which offers striking views of the Gorges. Return to the ship in late afternoon in Viviers with dinner onboard. You may then join an optional guided walking tour of this medieval village, an Episcopal seat since the 5th century. In its cathedral, you can admire the Gobelins tapestries given by Napoleon III and Monsignor Guibert. Overnight in Viviers.

DAY 4 Viviers / Tain L'Hermitage / Les Cotes Du Rhône

Breakfast and lunch onboard as the cruise continues. We head north on the Rhône passing the picturesque city of Montelimar which is famous for its nougat candy and its castle vault. Then past Valence with its majestic St. Apollinaire Cathedral and where the valleys of the Isere and the Drome Rivers open onto the plain. Across the way, the fortress of Crussol is one of the most grandiose sites of the Rhône Valley. Lunch is onboard and we dock at Tain l'Hermitage at about 3:00 PM. An optional walking tour through the famous Cotes du Rhône vineyards of the Hermitage region is offered. In Croizes Hermitage, there will be a visit to a wine cellar and wine tasting. Return on board for dinner and a night of entertainment. Overnight is in Tain l'Hermitage.

DAY 5  Vienne / Lyon / Collonges Au Mont D'Or

The ship sets sail early in the morning while breakfast onboard offers views of St. Vallier and the castle of Diane de Poitiers. Take a glance at the Serrieres

Gorge located in the town of Serrieres at the gate of the Vivrais and Condrieu in the heart of the Cotie Rotie vineyards. The ship docks in Vienne around 10:00 AM. You may join an optional tour of Vienne which was the capital of the Roman province called the Viennoise. Vienne was also the religious capital until the 15th century. Departure is around 12:30 PM as the ship cruises towards Lyon. At the confluence of the Rhône and the Saone Rivers in the Beaujolais region, is the beautiful city of Lyon. Arrival is around 3:00 PM with free time allowed for individual sightseeing or an optional tour of the "old town" St. Jean Quartier with its famous alleyways which must be explored on foot. Return onboard in time for dinner with the ship departing for an evening cruise along the Saone River passing the old quarters of Lyon which is beautifully lit at night and provides a truly unique view of the city. We dock this evening at Collognes in the Mont d'Or opposite the famous Paul Bocuse restaurant.

DAY 6 Collonges Au Mont D'Or / Macon / Chalon-sur-Saone / Burgundy & Beaujolais

Set sail early in the morning for Macon. While cruising on the Saone, you will be able to see the Beaujolais and Maconnais vineyards. There will be a stop in Macon and an optional sightseeing tour will be offered to Burgundy which will include; Buxy and its famous red tower, Givry, Chagny and the Castle de la Rochepot, along with Auxey-Duresses, Volnay and Pommard. Arrival in Beaunne for an optional guided visit to the hospices there, plus, a wine tasting in a fine wine cellar prior to returning to the ship at the end of the afternoon in Chalon-sur-Saone in time for dinner. Tonight is the Captain's dinner. Overnight is in Chalon.

DAY 7 Chalon-sur-Saon

After breakfast, it is time for disembarkation and the end of the Rhône/Saone River cruise.

Prices Include: Full board cruise from dinner of the first day to the breakfast of the last day in a double cabin with shower and toilets, welcome drink, entertainment, the Captain's evening, the assistance of our hostess on board, and port taxes.

Prices Do Not Include: Drinks, coffee with lunch and dinner, insurance and optional excursions.

For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, CroisiEurope and the Captain of the ship reserve the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.

Cruise code (CHA)

2009 Departures

Prices Include: Full board cruise from dinner of the first day to the lunch of  the last day in a double cabin with shower and toilets, welcome drink, entertainment, the Captain's Evening, the assistance of our hostess on board, and port taxes.

Prices Do Not Include: Drinks, coffee with lunch aneasons of navigation and passenger safety, CroisiEurope and the Captain of the ship reserve the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise. d dinner, insurance and optional excursions.