October 27, 2024 for 17 nights, River Cruising from Amsterdam to Provence, with 2 nights in Amsterdam pre-cruise and 2 nights in Nice post cruise
Immerse yourself in French and German culture on this fabulous 19 day Europe vacation along the Rhine, Saône, and Rhône Rivers. You’re the spectacular views of your Rhine & Rhône Revealed river cruise vacation begin with a two night stay in Amsterdam! Join us for an off-the-beaten-path guided walking tour through its cobblestone streets. Awaken the next day to explore Holland’s popular, modern capital of Amsterdam with a canal cruise to see the treasures of this 700-year-old city along the elegant Grachten. Cruise on your Avalon Suite Ship® to Cologne, Germany—a 2,000-year-old city best known for its Gothic architecture and famous twin-spired cathedral. See the city come alive on a guided walk. Sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, the most beautiful view of the Rhine River where ancient castles stand on cliffs 400 feet above the water. Strasbourg, France, located on the French-German border, perfectly blends the cultures of both countries. Stop in Breisach, Germany, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest—an area of unrivaled natural beauty.
A Master of Wine will accompany you on this portion of your cruise with presentations, tastings, and wine pairings along the way. It’s a bonus for wine lovers, but if you don’t care about wine, you don’t have to participate in this part. But maybe you should reconsider visiting France lol!
Cruise to Tournus for an excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar. Continue to Lyon— a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture— to explore the maze of medieval alleyways in Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a culinary walk and enjoy a tour of the famous wine region of Beaujolais. Continue to the city of Tournon beautifully nestled among vineyards to enjoy a guided walk with a wine-and-chocolate tasting or a walk in the vineyards. In Avignon, visit the Palace of the Popes and take a guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape. This remarkable river cruise will take you to Arles, the capital of the Provence region and famous for its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater. Enjoy two nights in Nice on the French Riviera. Relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea—a perfect ending to this once-in-a-lifetime European river cruise on three beautiful rivers—the Rhine, Saône, and Rhône Rivers!
By the way, you don’t need to be a wine lover to enjoy this river cruise – it’s just a bonus if you are! You can enjoy beer in Germany and the sights of Provence.
Day 0 – Bonus Day: Arrive in Amsterdam October 27th, 2024 (depart USA Oct 26th).
Day 1 Amsterdam:Free Day in Amsterdam
Day 2 Amsterdam (Embarkation):Off the beaten path walking tour; onboard welcome reception
Day 3 Amsterdam:Canal cruise
Day 4 Cologne:Choice of Cologne highlights walking tour or Jewish Heritage walking tour or bike with your Adventure Host
Day 5 Rhine Gorge-Rüdesheim:Cruise through the scenic Rhine Gorge with breathtaking views of ancient castles, towering cliffs, and the legendary Rock of the Lorelei; visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim or hike in the vineyards with your Adventure Host
Day 6 Mainz. Excursion to Heidelberg:Choice of guided walk in Mainz with a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, or a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle, see the Great Vat, or a hike up Philosophers’ Way
Day 7 Strasbourg:Choice of guided sightseeing, visit the La Petite France district and the Gothic cathedral or bike with your Adventure Host
Day 8 Breisach:Choice of excursion to Black Forest or visit to a local winery in Breisach
Day 9 Basel (Disembarkation)-Beaune-Chalon-sur-Saône (Embarkation):Transfer to Beaune, visit Hôtel-Dieu; onboard welcome reception
Day 10 Tournus:Guided walk in Tournus; onboard lecture about wine; Chardonnay excursion
Day 11 Lyon:Onboard cheese and wine tasting; choice of guided sightseeing with picture stop on Fourvière Hill or bike with your Adventure Host; onboard lecture
Day 12 Lyon:Culinary tour; guided tour to Beaujolais; onboard food and wine pairing dinner
Day 13 Tournon-Viviers:Guided walk in Tournon with wine and chocolate tasting or hike in the vineyards (weather permitting); guided walk in Viviers, visit the Old Town and the cathedral
Day 14 Avignon:Guided sightseeing, visit to the Palace of the Popes; guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape
Day 15 Arles:Choice of guided sightseeing in Arles, visit the Roman Amphitheater, or painting workshop, or walk with your Adventure Host
Day 16 Arles (Disembarkation)-Nice:Transfer to Nice
Day 17 Nice:Guided tour
Day 18 Nice:Your vacation ends this morning
(FULL ITINERARY PDF AT THE END OF THIS PAGE)
Your Avalon river cruise will bring new tranquility to your traveler’s soul, but you’ll also find plenty of ways to excite your adventurous spirit to cruise your way! While on board, enjoy the intimate setting of the Avalon Tranquility II with two full decks of Panorama Suites with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that create river cruising’s only Open-Air Balcony. Spanning 200 square feet, the Passion’s Panorama Suites are 30% larger than the industry standard. It’s the perfect place to stretch out on your window-facing Comfort Collection bed with the world at your feet. Host a private cocktail party in the spacious sitting area-comfortably accommodating six guests. On board, passengers enjoy free Wi-Fi access, complimentary computer use in public areas, a Fitness Center with state-of-the-art equipment, an elevator, and an expansive Sky Deck with shade system, premium lounge chairs, whirlpool, deck games, and the delightful Sky Bistro for al fresco lunches of light grill fare. Relaxed luxury and new discoveries await from ship to shore on the Avalon Tranquility II.
The Avalon Poetry II offers a delightfully intimate cruise setting. Like its sister Suite Ships, the Poetry II features two full decks of Panorama Suites with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that create river cruising’s only Open-Air Balcony. With a spacious 200 square feet, Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than the industry standard. Stretch out at day’s end and wake to the world at your feet with Comfort Collection bed that faces the view. It truly is a view with a room! Onboard amenities include an alternative dining option in the Panorama Bistro, complimentary computer use in public areas and Wi-Fi access, a Fitness Center, and a spacious Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs, whirlpool, and light al fresco lunches at the Sky Bistro. The Avalon Poetry II truly is poetry in motion!
Avalon Suite Fleet
*In lieu of the special discount offer, the Single supplement can be waived on the cruise portion of select 2024 Avalon Waterways Europe river cruises, based on availability. For example, using this Waiver offer, the total price for a SOLO in an “A” category is only $12,154 (and as you can see an A above is $15,387 per person with double occupancy). Limited solo waivers available.
Both cruises include FREE Pre-paid Gratuities.
Prices are Per Person, estimated and subject to change prior to deposit, based on availability and double-occupancy. They include cruise, land, taxes and fees. Does not include Airfare. Optional insurance available (for residents of most states) but may need to be adjusted for airfare. Deposits and fares are non-refundable so you will need the insurance to cancel. The insurance is not “cancel for any reason”; cancellation is only reimbursed for a covered reason. Call for limited Solo Traveler Pricing if available. The Deposit amount (and total price shown) already includes a $100 per person nonrefundable professional fee paid to MGA Travel. Please note that until deposited, pricing is subject to change and based on availability.
Want to go? Simply complete this Secure Payment Form to authorize nonrefundable deposit of $350 per person (plus $479 per person if you’d like the recommended Avalon insurance, making the total deposit $829 per person) = $1658 per cabin. For the name of the trip put “Wine lovers 3 Rivers 2024”. Unless we already have it, please complete this Secure Passport Form for each passenger. Questions simply call us 843-279-0310 or email office@mgatravel.com . Final Payment will be due July 1, 2024.
Cruise and land itineraries are subject to change at any time. This itinerary is not finalized and pricing may be adjusted for fuel or inflation.
We covered this trip in our Bon Voyage December 2023 Hot List edition!
Except for Day “0” – your bonus Day – arrive Sunday October 27th, here is the rest of the story:
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