Immerse yourself in French and German culture on this fabulous European river cruise vacation along the Rhône, Saône, and Rhine Rivers. Begin your adventure on the captivating French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur. Explore this elegant area and relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. On the Rhône River sits Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh—and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater, which hosts plays and concerts to this day.

Take a guided tour of historical Avignon, an excursion to the wine region of Châteauneuf du Pape, and a guided walk of Tournon in the twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage, beautifully nestled among vineyards. Cruise to Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital at the junction of the Rhône and Saône Rivers, and take a guided tour to Beaujolais, followed by a day’s excursion to the Chardonnay region for wine tastings. A Master of Wine will travel with you on this first portion of the cruise and will hold lectures, tastings and will introduce you to food and wine pairing.

Your next stop is Breisach, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest. You’ll travel to Strasbourg, France, and stroll through the picturesque La Petite France district. Sail through the stunning Rhine Gorge, and complete your European river cruise with a stay in Holland’s popular, modern capital of Amsterdam. Take a canal cruise through the 700-year-old city.

Transfer to Paris by high-speed train for your Monograms vacation package, complete with accommodations, breakfasts, and sightseeing with local experts. Your Local Host is on hand for free-time suggestions, dining recommendations or assistance during your stay in the “City of Lights.” You’ll then take a high-speed train to spend three nights in the fantastic city of London!

City Highlights

Day 1 Côte d’Azur: welcome to FranceDay 2 Côte d’Azur–Transfer to Arles (Embarkation): onboard welcome reception; scenic cruising in the Camargue region (daylight permitting)Day 3 Arles: guided sightseeing, visit the Roman AmphitheatreDay 4 Avignon: guided sightseeing, visit Palace of the Popes; guided tour to Châteauneuf du PapeDay 5 Cruising–Viviers: onboard lecture; guided walk, visit the Old Town and the cathedralDay 6 Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Vienne: guided walk in Tournon; onboard chocolate and wine tasting; guided walk in Vienne; onboard food & wine pairing dinnerDay 7 Lyon: guided sightseeing, picture stop on Fourvière Hill; guided tour to BeaujolaisDay 8 Cruising–St. Jean de Losne: Chardonnay excursion; wine & cheese tasting on boardDay 9 St. Jean de Losne (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Basel (Embarkation): choice of visit the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune, or visit a wine cellar; transfer to the shipDay 10 Breisach. Excursion to Black Forest: choice of excursion to Black Forest, or guided tour in ColmarDay 11 Strasbourg: guided sightseeing, visit La Petite France district and the gothic cathedralDay 12 Excursion to Heidelberg. Mainz: guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat; visit the Gutenberg Museum in MainzDay 13 Rüdesheim–Rhine Gorge–Koblenz: visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim; special treat; scenic cruise through the Rhine Gorge; guided walk in KoblenzDay 14 Cologne: choice of “Cologne Highlights” walking tour, or Jewish Heritage walking tourDay 15 Amsterdam: canal cruiseDay 16 Amsterdam (Disembarkation) –Paris, France: travel to Paris by high-speed trainDay 17 Paris: guided sightseeingDay 18 Paris–London, England: travel to London by high-speed trainDay 19 London: guided sightseeingDay 20 London: your vacation ends with morning

Notes

In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.

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