Rhine & Rhône Revealed for Jazz Lovers with 2 Nights in French Riviera (Northbound) 2025

Welcome to France! Start your journey in the beautiful city of Nice, nestled along the spectacular French Riviera. Enjoy the day at your leisure, soaking in the Mediterranean sun and exploring the city's vibrant streets and beaches.

Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Nice, exploring the narrow, winding streets and baroque churches of Vieux Nice, the old city. This area, which has changed little since the 1700s, offers a glimpse into the city's rich history. Enjoy a delicious breakfast before setting out on your adventure.

Today, you'll board a motorcoach for a scenic transfer to Arles. Once there, you'll board your Avalon Suite Ship, your home for the next few days. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast and dinner onboard as you prepare for the exciting journey ahead.

Immerse yourself in the captivating city of Arles. Choose from a variety of activities, including a power walk, a painting workshop, or a guided walking tour that includes a visit to the Roman Amphitheater. Take some free time to stop at Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine before sailing to Avignon. In the evening, enjoy live jazz entertainment onboard.

Take a guided sightseeing tour of Avignon, a fortress city encircled by ramparts. Visit the magnificent Palace of the Popes and take photos of the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet. 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 breakfast, lunch, and dinner onboard.

Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers. Choose to walk up to Viviers' hilltop Cathedral with your Adventure Host or explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on an afternoon guided walking tour. The city's Old Town is a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. After a day of exploration, sail to Tain L'Hermitage for an overnight stay.

Start your day with a morning hike in Tournon or take a guided walking tour to explore the city's 16th-century castle. During your sailing to Vienne, enjoy jazz entertainment onboard. In Vienne, join a guided walk through this charming French hill town and attend the well-known Vienne Jazz Festival in the evening.

Join a guided sightseeing tour to survey Lyon from Fourvière Hill and explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways. Spend free time riding a bike through Lyon's town squares, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. In the evening, enjoy Gypsy Jazz, a style of jazz that originated in France.

Travel into the rolling landscapes of the Mâconnais region to learn about its world-famous Chardonnay vineyards and attend a wine-tasting in the cellars of a real medieval castle. Later, enjoy a delicious cheese tasting onboard your ship. In the evening, enjoy live entertainment as you dock in Chalon-sur-Saône.

Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, a masterpiece of French architecture built in 1443. In the afternoon, travel by motorcoach to Basel, Switzerland, where you'll board your Rhine River cruise. Enjoy breakfast and dinner onboard.

Discover Strasbourg by bike or join a city sightseeing tour, including Strasbourg's Gothic, stained-glass cathedral and the magical La Petite France District. You may also choose to visit the historic Maginot Line or Alsace's wine country. In the evening, cruise to Mainz.

Join an inspiring walk in Heidelberg, visit the Heidelberg Castle, or enjoy a guided city walk including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum. In the evening, enjoy live entertainment onboard your ship after a short sailing to Rüdesheim.

Enjoy a bike ride in Cologne, choose a guided walking tour of the city's important Jewish heritage sites, or take a guided city walk of Cologne with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral. Spend free time over a glass of Kölsch pale lager, locally brewed for over 100 years. In the evening, cruise to Amsterdam.

Start your day with an early morning walk in Amsterdam or explore the iconic waterways of the city on a guided canal cruise. With a free day to explore before your cruise ends, take time to enjoy this charming city on your own or join a guided optional excursion to Zaanse Schans to see historic windmills and charming Dutch houses.