A Culinary Experience in Grand France (Northbound) 2025

Welcome to France! Your journey begins in the vibrant city of Marseille. Please ensure your flight arrives by 3 pm and that you are on board the ship by 5 pm. We set sail for Arles, where we will dock overnight. Dinner will be served on board.

Start your day with a power walk in Arles or attend a painting workshop inspired by Vincent van Gogh. Alternatively, join a guided walking tour to explore the city's Roman Amphitheater. Enjoy some free time at Le Café Van Gogh before we sail to Avignon. Onboard, savor a delicious crêpes lunch. We will dock in Avignon for the night.

Today, we delve into the history of Avignon. Join a guided sightseeing tour of the fortress city, including a visit to the magnificent Palace of the Popes. Optional excursions include a visit to the ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard or a trip to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Enjoy an evening of live onboard entertainment.

Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers. Choose between a guided walk through the Old Town with a tasting of local culinary delights or a hike up to Vivier's hilltop Cathedral. In the afternoon, you may opt for one of the offered excursions. We then set sail for Tain L'Hermitage, where we will dock for the night.

Explore Tournon on foot or join a guided walking tour to discover one of France's oldest medieval cities. Visit the 16th-century castle and Roman ruins before we cruise to Lyon in the early afternoon. Onboard, enjoy a pastry demonstration by a French chef. In the evening, savor a French cuisine tasting dinner with wine pairing.

Discover why Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France with a culinary walk or join a guided sightseeing tour to explore the city's iconic sites. Spend free time riding a bike through Lyon's town squares, over bridges, and along the river banks. In the evening, enjoy a unique onboard dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse as we sail to Tournus.

Travel into the rolling landscapes of the Mâconnais region, famous for its Chardonnay vineyards. Attend a wine-tasting in the cellars of a real medieval castle. Later, enjoy a delicious cheese tasting onboard. We will dock in Chalon-sur-Saône for the night.

Drive to Beaune and visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital, a masterpiece of French architecture. In the afternoon, take a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris, where you will board your Suite Ship. We will cruise to Vernon for the night.

Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles or take a guided tour of Giverny, the home and inspiration of Claude Monet. Alternatively, visit Bizy Castle, known as 'Normandy's Versailles'. After a traditional French luncheon, we cruise to the picturesque town of Les Andelys. Here, you can hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard or take a guided walking tour of the town. We then sail to Caudebec, where we will dock for the night.

Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river or take a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route, home to more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches. In the afternoon, you may choose to visit the old seaside town of Honfleur. We will dock in Caudebec for the night.

Join a guided tour of Normandy's WWII landing beaches or take a full-day guided tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites. Alternatively, join 'A Taste of Normandy' guided tour for an in-depth look at this rich agricultural region. Visit the famous Bayeux Tapestry and taste Calvados at a local distillery. In the evening, we cruise to Rouen.

Take a guided bike tour to explore Rouen's famous monuments and hidden gems or join a guided walking tour of the city, home of the martyred Joan of Arc. Visit the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral. In the evening, we cruise to Conflans.

Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine or join a guided visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh. Alternatively, take a guided tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison, home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine. You may also choose to visit the Palace of Versailles. In the evening, we cruise to Paris.

Experience the Seine river by foot or discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating guided walk. Alternatively, join a guided city tour that shows you the iconic sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and more. Stroll through Paris on your own or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank. We will dock in Paris for the night.

Your unforgettable French adventure comes to an end. After breakfast, you will disembark from the ship. We hope you enjoyed your journey and look forward to welcoming you again on your next adventure.