DAY 1 / LYON / EMBARKATION 

After boarding in Lyon in the late afternoon, settle into your cabins, meet the crew, and enjoy a welcome cocktail before dinner is served. Tonight, you’ll be treated to an evening of entertainment.

DAY 2 / ARLES / THE CAMARGUE 

In the morning, the winding Rhône River reveals orchards and vineyards between some of Southern France’s most pleasant towns. Experience the Bollène lock, the largest on the Rhône, which raises and lowers vessels an astonishing 20 meters. Arriving in Arles, you’ll visit the Camargue natural region, which is home to more than four hundred species of birds, including the greater flamingo. The afternoon is yours to explore the enchanting town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a biannual pilgrimage site for European gypsies. In the evening, take a tour of Arles, with its artistic legacy and Roman-era treasures. Mooring in Arles.

DAY 3 / AVIGNON / VIVIERS 

Embark on an excursion to Avignon, which hosted the papacy from 1309 to 1377, after which the Vatican City became the primary papal residency. Set atop a rocky outcrop and surrounded by fortifications, Avignon’s Palais des Papes is a pinnacle of Gothic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, cruise to Roquemaure, where you will travel by coach to the breathtaking Gorges de l’Ardèche, a series of gorges known locally as the European Grand Canyon. Here, you’ll also discover the Caverne du Pont d’Arc, a replica of the caves containing the earliest-known and best-preserved figurative cave paintings in the world. Return to the ship in Saint-Étienne-des-Sorts and enjoy dinner on board on the way to Viviers. Mooring overnight.

DAY 4 / VIVIERS / TAIN L’HERMITAGE 

As you pass through La-Voulte-sur-Rhône, savour the fresh morning air and admire the scenery from the deck of the ship. In the afternoon, travel to Vercors, an impressive mountain range, including a stop at a wine cellar, where you’ll taste Clairette de Die, a renowned sparkling white wine from one of the highest-altitude winemaking regions in France. After boarding the ship again in Tain L’Hermitage, celebrate your last evening with a gala dinner.

DAY 5 / LYON / DISEMBARKATION 

Savour a buffet breakfast on board the ship, then say farewell to crew members and fellow travellers and disembark in Lyon.

• The cruise on a full board basis, with meals commencing with dinner on Day One and ending with breakfast on the final morning
• Drinks including water, wine, beer, fruit juices and coffee served by CroisiEurope during meals on board; drinks served at the bar (excluding Champagne and wines on the wine list)
• Double-occupancy cabin with shower in private bathroom
• The excursions mentioned in the program
• Onboard entertainment
• Assistance from our onboard multi-lingual host/hostess
• Welcome cocktail
• The gala dinner and evening
• Travel assistance and repatriation insurance
• All port fees

Travel Documents / Visas

1. Passport

Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the last date of travel to enter France (EU).

Citizens of other countries should consult with their travel agent or our office.

Please note that if you are commencing this itinerary in Geneva, Switzerland, it is not part of the EU and different entry requirements may exist for non-Canadians.

2. Visa

No visa is required for citizens of Canada travelling to France or Switzerland for leisure stays of up to 90 days.

Packing List

A handy checklist of what to bring on your trip can be downloaded here.

Insurance

We very strongly recommend the purchase of appropriate travel insurance for any trip outside of Canada. Information on travel insurance options can be found here.

Smoking

Not permitted anywhere indoors. There are designated areas on the outside decks.

Weather

April / May – cool days in the high 10’s and low 20’s. Occasional rain but seldom steady.

June to September – warm days in the mid to high 20’s and cool evenings. Mostly dry.

October – cool days in the mid to high 10’s. Occasional frost but mostly dry.

Arrival / Departure

Upon booking, we will provide detail instructions on how to meet your ship on embarkation day. If you have not made any pre or post tour arrangements with us, you will have to arrange your own transportation to and from the port of embarkation. We are happy to provide advice or to assist in arranging transfers.

The ship will not be ready for check-in before mid-afternoon. If you have luggage that you need to deposit so you can enjoy some free time in port, the purser may be able to accommodate you provided we know in advance.

The cruise will finish in the morning (usually around 9am) on the final day. It is necessary to have settled your onboard account and to have disembarked by this time as instructed by the cruise director on the day before.

Money

The currency is the EURO. It is uncommon for local shops and restaurants to accept any other currency.

Credit cards are acceptable for larger purchases in retail shops, but often not in restaurants or cafés.

ATM’s accepting most international debit and credit cards can be found in abundance.

Gratuities (Tipping)

As always, gratuities are at your own discretion. If you feel the service has met or exceeded your expectations, the ship suggests an amount of EURO $ 5-10 per person per day.

Laundry

Unfortunately there are no laundry facilities on board so bring what you need for the cruise.

Excursions

Most of our programs include a full complement of excursions. Some additional excursions may be available on board at an extra cost. Please check with us or consult the purser onboard for additional information.

Excursions will usually involve a lot of walking, often on cobblestone streets. If you have difficulty walking any distance, please let us know in advance and we will advise how best we can accommodate you.

Regrettably, most of our excursions are not suitable to those confined to a wheelchair.

Activity Level / Strenuousness

Light – At most, participation in the shore excursions requires the ability to walk reasonable distances and some stairs.

Food

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in your cruise fare so you shouldn’t be too hungry. It is worthwhile to sample the local cuisine though. Lyon, the starting or ending point for most Rhone cruises, is the culinary capital of France.

There are so many tasty things to try. You might consider ‘saucisson de Lyon’, a type of air-dried sausage which comes in various dishes. ‘Quenelles de brochuet’ which are dumplings made from pike fish, are also a local specialty.

There is also the cheese of course with the best of the region being Saint Marcellin which is a soft goat’s cheese.

The wines are also not to be missed. Côte du Rhone wines are world renowned, with the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape being the most recognized.

Language

Your shipboard staff all speak English of course, but when you are wandering through the shops in small villages, the local folk may have little English. Time to brush up on that high school French or bring along a phrasebook or translation app.

Medical Facilities

There are no medical personnel onboard the ship. However, the purser can contact onshore medical people for emergency and non-emergency situations and rapid evacuation can easily be facilitated in the most urgent cases.

Phone & Internet

There is a phone in each cabin. As is typical, the charges for overseas calls are relatively high.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the main public areas of the ship but not necessarily in all cabins. As internet is provided through a mobile network, bandwidth (speed) will vary depending on the number of concurrent users, the proximity to a cell tower and other factors.

If you would like to have regular data and phone connection, we suggest either arranging an overseas roaming plan with your mobile operator, or pick up a local SIM card if you have an unlocked phone.

Health / Vaccinations

There are no vaccinations required to travel to France. As always, we recommend being in good health prior to any long distance travel. Consult your physician with any specific concerns in regard to this program.

Safety & Security

Despite recent events, France is extremely safe. Particularly the small cities and towns on this voyage, you should have nothing to be concerned about. This being said, being constantly aware of your surroundings and not taking unnecessary valuables with you is always recommended. Leave your passport, extra money and any other belongings you do not need during the day in the safe in your cabin.

You can access current information about the security situation in France by referring to the Canadian government travel advisory site at https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/france 



Suggested Reading

In the Valley of the Rhone

Wines of the Northern Rhone

Rough Guide to the Rhone Valley