MEALS

Buffet breakfast (B) in Paris and Nice; superb dining with all meals on board, including a welcome reception, welcome dinner, Captain's dinner, one sitting with open seating arrangements; quality wines from France's most famous wine regions with every dinner on board

SUPERIOR HOTELS

Paris Le Meridien Montparnasse (SF), Nice Area Boscolo Plaza (SF)

INSIDE VISITS

Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

Itinerary

Day 1

(Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2Nice, France

(Mon.) Welcome to France! Time at leisure to get acquainted with the "Queen of the Riviera." This evening an optional excursion to Monte Carlo in the Principality of Monaco is available.

Day 3Nice-Arles (Embarkation)

(Tue.) This morning, enjoy a guided stroll through the narrow, winding streets of the OLD TOWN. After lunch, transfer by motorcoach along the Cote d'Azur into the Provence region to Arles, where the crew of your river cruise vessel awaits to welcome you on board! (B,D)

Day 4Arles

(Wed.) On the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is the capital of the Provence and was once known as the "Little Rome of Gaul." See the ROMAN AMPHITHEATER, the church of St. Trophime, and "Les Alyscamps," the remains of the Gallo-Roman burial road. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the special light of the Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. The "Foundation Vincent Van Gogh" is a tribute to the artist. (B,L,D)

Day 5Avignon

(Thu.) The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse region, the most picturesque part of Provence. Also referred to as the "City of Popes," it was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century and the city landscape is dominated by the grandiose PALACE OF THE POPES. A photo of the BRIDGE of the popular song is a must, and optional outings to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Chateauneuf-du-Pape are available this afternoon. (B,L,D)

Day 6Cruising-Viviers

(Fri.) A leisurely morning on board to relax and enjoy the passing scenery as you glide gently by. The charming town of Viviers was developed around its ROMANESQUE CATHEDRAL, and the OLD TOWN has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. (B,L,D)

Day 7Tournon/Tain L'Hermitage-Vienne

(Sat.) The twin cities of Tournon and Tain L'Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhone River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Tournon, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins, is one of France's oldest medieval cities. This afternoon, enjoy Vienne, another charming little town surrounded by steep hills. (B,L,D)

Day 8Lyon

(Sun.) Lyon is France's second-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city's prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, many excellent museums, and much renaissance architecture delight the visitor. Survey the city from FOURVIERE HILL and explore the Old Town, a The World Heritage List includes over 800 properties with cultural and/or natural heritage of global significancewith its maze of medieval alleyways, Place Terraux, and the beautiful Place Bellecour. Beaujolais is the wine of the region and wine connoisseurs will know that the grapes must be hand picked. Tradition dictates that the "Beaujolais Nouveau" is tasted for the first time on the third Thursday of November each year. An optional dinner gives gourmets insight into the local haute cuisine. (B,L,D)

Day 9Macon-Tournus

(Mon.) Playing an important role in the wine trade, Macon, situated on the River Saone, has a rich history. See the OLD SAINT VINCENT, the cathedral founded in the 6th century and now a symbol of the city; La Charite; the Town Hall; and the Half-Timbered House, dating from the 15th to 16th centuries. A number of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, are available. This evening, free time to explore the lovely town of Tournus. (B,L,D)

Day 10Chalon-sur-Saone (Disembarkation)-Beaune-Paris

(Tue.) After breakfast, head for Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Cote d'Or area which produces the Burgundy region's finest vintages. Its most famous historical site, the hotel-dieu charity hospital, houses Van der Weyden's painting of the Last Judgement and is one of France's architectural highlights. After lunch, continue north past the forest of Fontainebleau to Paris, the "City of Light." (B)

Day 11Paris

(Wed.) Paris' famous sights are living history: your included city sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Madeleine, Champs Elysees, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colorful nightlife that includes some of the world's most famous cabaret shows. (B)

Day 12Paris

(Thu.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Airport transfers may be included when you make your flight arrangements.