A Culinary Experience in Grand France with 3 Nights in London (Northbound) 2025

Welcome to France! Your journey begins in the vibrant city of Marseille. Please ensure your flight arrives by 3 pm. From there, you'll board your Suite Ship® and set sail for Arles, where you'll dock overnight. Enjoy a delicious dinner onboard.

Start your day with a power walk in Arles or attend a painting workshop inspired by Vincent van Gogh. Explore the captivating city of Arles on a guided walking tour, visiting the Roman Amphitheater. Enjoy some free time at Le Café Van Gogh before sailing to Avignon. Savor a crêpes lunch onboard and dock overnight in Avignon.

Discover the fortress city of Avignon on a guided sightseeing tour. Visit the magnificent Palace of the Popes and capture photos of the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet. Optional excursions to the ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard or the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are available. Enjoy live entertainment onboard and dock overnight in Avignon.

Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers. Choose between a guided walk to Vivier's hilltop Cathedral or an extraordinary guided walk through the Old Town with a tasting of local culinary delights. In the afternoon, you may join an optional excursion. Cruise to Tain L’Hermitage for an overnight stay.

Explore Tournon on foot or join a guided walking tour to see the city's 16th-century castle and Roman ruins. In the early afternoon, cruise to Lyon. Enjoy a pastry demonstration hosted by a French chef onboard. Your Master of Wine will guide you through a French cuisine tasting dinner with wine pairing. Dock overnight in Lyon.

Discover why Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France on a culinary walk or join a guided sightseeing tour to explore Lyon's iconic sites. Spend free time riding a bike through Lyon's town squares and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. In the evening, enjoy a unique dinner inspired by legendary chef Paul Bocuse. Sail to Tournus for an overnight stay.

Travel into the Mâconnais region to learn about its world-famous Chardonnay vineyards and attend a wine-tasting in the cellars of a medieval castle. Later, enjoy a delicious cheese tasting onboard. Enjoy live entertainment on board this evening. Dock overnight in Chalon-sur-Saône.

Drive to Beaune and visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital, a highlight of French architecture. In the afternoon, take a high-speed train from Dijon to Paris to board your Suite Ship®. Cruise to Vernon for an overnight stay.

Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles or take a guided tour of Giverny, home of Claude Monet. Alternatively, visit Bizy Castle, known as 'Normandy’s Versailles'. Enjoy a traditional French luncheon of crêpes, followed by a pastry demonstration. Cruise to the picturesque town of Les Andelys. Join a guided hike to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard or take a guided walking tour of Les Andelys. Cruise to Caudebec for an overnight stay.

Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river or take a guided trip along the Normandy Abbeys Route, where more than 100 medieval Benedictine and Augustine abbeys and churches were built along the Seine. In the afternoon, you may choose a guided optional excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur. Dock overnight in Caudebec.

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. Enjoy live entertainment onboard and cruise to Rouen for an overnight stay.

Take a guided bike tour to discover Rouen's famous monuments and hidden gems or take a guided walking tour of Rouen, home of the martyred Joan of Arc. Visit the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Cruise to Conflans for an overnight stay.

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 a guided optional excursion to the Palace of Versailles. Cruise to Paris for an overnight stay.

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. Dock overnight in Paris.

Say goodbye to your Avalon portion of your vacation after breakfast. An included transfer delivers you to the train station. Travel to London by high-speed Eurostar train. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Enjoy a morning guided sightseeing tour including all of London’s famous landmarks. Drive past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall's mounted horseguards, the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus. Then, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Enjoy a free day to explore this spectacular city at your own pace. You could take a flight on the London Eye for fantastic views over the city, or visit Windsor Castle for a tour of the magnificent State Apartments. In the evening, see one of the dozens of celebrated West End shows, or enjoy dinner at a traditional London pub, followed by a relaxing nighttime cruise on the Thames River.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. We hope you enjoyed your journey through France and England and look forward to welcoming you on your next adventure.