Opportunities abound on this delightful river cruise vacation to learn about France and the French. Your adventure begins with an overnight on the French Riviera—the inimitable Côte d’Azur. Then, travel to Arles in the Provence region to board your ship and sail into the peaceful Camargue area during dinner (daylight permitting) before returning to Arles. Avignon, charming Viviers, medieval Tournon, Vienne, France’s gastronomic capital of Lyon, St. Jean de Losne, and fascinating Beaune await you. Take the TGV train from Dijon to Paris for two overnights, guided sightseeing, and free time to explore the remarkable “City of Light” on your own. Then, trade your “Bonjours” for “Cheerios” as you are whisked away to London for three exciting nights.

Your Monograms package includes hotel reservations, guided sightseeing, daily breakfasts, a destination guide to familiarize you with the city, and best of all—the services of a Monograms Local Host® to welcome you and lend a helping hand throughout your stay! This “friend in the city” can answer your questions, offer suggestions, and help make your vacation what you want it to be. In this exciting city, guided sightseeing will help you to see all the famous sights—Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, and more. Enjoy VIP access to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece and the wedding site for Lady Diana and Prince Charles. You’ll have plenty of free time to perhaps visit Madame Tussauds celebrity wax figure museum, join a London pub dining experience, or enjoy an illumination cruise on the Thames. Day trips are available out of the city to mysterious Stonehenge, the pretty Cotswolds, or Windsor Castle to visit the State Apartments. Monograms offers over 40 exciting activities and excursions, so there’s plenty to choose from to make your vacation perfect for you!

For specific details on this special interest river cruise, please view the day-by-day itinerary.

City Highlights

Day 1 Côte d’Azur: welcome to FranceDay 2 Côte d’Azur–Transfer to Arles (Embarkation): onboard welcome reception; sail into the Camargue region (daylight permitting)Day 3 Arles: guided sightseeing, visit the Roman AmphitheaterDay 4 Avignon: guided sightseeing, visit Palace of the Popes and a winery in Châteauneuf du PapeDay 5 Cruising–Viviers: onboard chocolate and wine tasting; guided walk, visit the Old Town and the cathedralDay 6 Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Vienne: guided walk in Tournon; guided walk in VienneDay 7 Lyon: guided sightseeing; picture stop on Fourvière Hill; excursion to Beaujolais; onboard food and wine pairing dinnerDay 8 Cruising–St. Jean de Losne: day at leisure; onboard cheese and wine tastingDay 9 St. Jean de Losne (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Dijon–Paris: visit the Hôtel-Dieu or wine tasting in Beaune; TGV train from Dijon to ParisDay 10 Paris: choice of guided sightseeing or “Heart of Paris” walk, visit Notre Dame CathedralDay 11 Paris–London: travel to London by HIGH-SPEED EUROSTAR TRAIN (Standard class)London: 3 nights hotel accommodation with buffet breakfast; Monograms Local Host Service & Destination Guide with city map; guided sightseeing, inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE; high-speed Eurostar train from Paris to London (standard class*) with porterage for one suitcase; transfers to/from train stations.

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.In the event that a high-speed train is unavailable due to strikes or technical reasons, the route will be operated by motorcoach.

PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WLJ1-T2-2018