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

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Description

Summary

Starts
Nice
Duration
17 days
Languages
English
Difficulty
Easy

Description

Embark on a 17-day journey through the heart of Europe, exploring the rich history, diverse culture, and stunning landscapes of France, Germany, and the Netherlands. This multi-day tour offers a unique blend of guided sightseeing, immersive activities, and leisure time to explore at your own pace. From the sun-kissed French Riviera and the charming medieval towns of Provence to the majestic Rhine River and the vibrant city of Amsterdam, this tour is a feast for the senses. Enjoy a variety of activities, including painting workshops, wine tastings, bike rides, and jazz music performances. Stay in comfortable accommodations, savor delicious meals, and enjoy the convenience of a well-planned itinerary. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or an adventure seeker, this tour offers something for everyone.

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Included

Chef-prepared onboard meals with regional cuisine and familiar favorites

Seasonal cuisine featuring the freshest local ingredients

Avalon Fresh® healthy cuisine options at every meal

Spacious, open-seating Panorama Dining Room

Daily breakfast buffet with full range of classic breakfast items, healthy Avalon Fresh® options and daily a la carte specials

Complimentary room service for Continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Daily lunch buffet featuring regional specialties, classic dishes, healthy Avalon Fresh® options and rotating chef’s features including carving & pasta stations. Alternatively, you may dine al fresco at our Sky Grill on the Sky Deck (weather and itinerary permitting) or enjoy a light lunch in the Panorama Lounge.

Afternoon Tea featuring tea, coffee, and sweet treats

Four-course dinners with choice of appetizers, soups, salads, entrées and desserts or cheese

Linger over several selections from the Panorama Bistro's tasting menu for a less formal "sit-down" atmosphere

Complimentary wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner

Avalon FlexDining® flexible dining times with menu & venue options

Vegetarian options at every meal, as well as vegan, low calorie, low fat, high fiber, low cholesterol, high energy and allergy-free selections

Panorama Lounge & Bar with premium spirits, cozy seating, panoramic windows & dance floor

Welcome & farewell cocktails with sparkling wine & canapés

New in 2023 - included Happy Hour every evening featuring house beer, wine, cocktails and a drink of the day

Cocktails with a view on the Sky Deck

Specialty coffees, espresso drinks and beWell Essence flavored and infused water available throughout each day

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Avalon Poetry II or Avalon View

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2 Nights in Nice

14 nights onboard accommodation

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Friendly, English-speaking crew & Cruise Director

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Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship

Panoramic windows throughout the ship

Elegant, contemporary design & decor

Sky Deck with whirlpool, shade awnings, game area and premium lounges

Covered Observation Lounge

Club Lounge with 24-hour self-serve beverage station with complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate & premium coffees, as well as treats throughout the day

Elevator

Non-smoking interior and staterooms

Avalon Waterways offers a selection of included excursions in every port of call, with something for everyone within their "Classic", "Discovery" and "Active" collections

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Destinations

Mainz - city in GermanyMainz
View of Mediterranean luxury resort and bay with yachts. Nice, Cote d'Azur, France. Nice
Amsterdam Netherlands dancing houses over river Amstel landmark in old european city spring landscape.Amsterdam
View of the Old Town of Basel with red stone Munster cathedral and the Rhine river, Switzerland.Basel
Beaune - city in FranceBeaune
Photo of traditional half-timbered houses on picturesque canals in La Petite France in the medieval fairytale town of Strasbourg, France.Strasbourg
Tain-l'Hermitage
The City of Lyon in the daytime.Lyon
Photo of aerial view of the historic city center of Freiburg im Breisgau from famous old Freiburger Minster in beautiful evening light at sunset, Germany.Freiburg im Breisgau
Arles - city in FranceArles
Cologne Aerial view with trains move on a bridge over the Rhine River on which cargo barges and passenger ships ply. Majestic Cologne Cathedral in the background.Cologne
Avignon - city in FranceAvignon

Map

Attractions

#ILoveNICE, Vieux Nice, Nice, Maritime Alps, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Metropolitan France, France#ILoveNICE
photo of Palace of the Popes (Palais des Papes), once fortress and palace, one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe, at morning, Avignon, France.Palais des Papes
photo of Haarlem attraction, Amsterdamse Poort gateway at morning, Netherlands.Amsterdamse Poort, Haarlem
Heidelberg Palace, Altstadt, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyHeidelberg Palace
Photo of Cologne Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Gothic cathedral in Cologne, Germany.Cologne Cathedral
photo of the Roman Arles Amphitheatre in the Old Town of Arles in France.Arles Amphitheatre
Gutenberg MuseumGutenberg Museum
Église Saint-Thomas, Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, Grand Est, Metropolitan France, FranceSt Thomas Church
photo of the equestrian monument of King Louis XIV in Place Bellecour at morning in Lyon, France.Place Bellecour
Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes MittelrheintalWelterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 – Day 1: Arrival in France and Exploration of Nice

  • Nice - Arrival day
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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.

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Day 2

Day 2 – Day 2: Discovering the Old City of Nice

  • Nice
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  • #ILoveNICE
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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.

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Day 3

Day 3 – Day 3: Transfer to Arles

  • Nice
  • Arles
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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.

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Day 4

Day 4 – Day 4: Exploring Arles and Transfer to Avignon

  • Arles
  • Avignon
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  • Arles Amphitheatre
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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.

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Day 5

Day 5 – Day 5: Discovering the Fortress City of Avignon

  • Avignon
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  • Palais des Papes
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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.

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Day 6

Day 6 – Day 6: Exploring Viviers and Transfer to Tain L'Hermitage

  • Tain-l'Hermitage
  • Avignon
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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.

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Day 7

Day 7 – Day 7: Exploring Tournon and Transfer to Vienne

  • Tain-l'Hermitage
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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.

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Day 8

Day 8 – Day 8: Discovering Lyon and Transfer to Tournus

  • Lyon
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  • Place Bellecour
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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.

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Day 9

Day 9 – Day 9: Wine and Cheese Tasting in Chalon-sur-Saône

Day 9: Wine and Cheese Tasting in Chalon-sur-Saône

  • Cluny Abbey
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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.

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Day 10

Day 10 – Day 10: Exploring Beaune and Transfer to Basel

  • Beaune
  • Basel
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  • Hôtel-Dieu Museum - Hospices de Beaune
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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.

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Day 11

Day 11 – Day 11: Exploring the Black Forest and Transfer to Strasbourg

  • Freiburg im Breisgau
  • Strasbourg
  • Basel
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Join a full-day guided tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernhof open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration. Alternatively, explore Freiburg's medieval city center. You may also choose to visit the charming village of Colmar. In the evening, cruise to Strasbourg.

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Day 12

Day 12 – Day 12: Discovering Strasbourg and Transfer to Mainz

  • Strasbourg
  • Mainz
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  • St Thomas Church
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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.

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Day 13

Day 13 – Day 13: Exploring Heidelberg and Transfer to Rüdesheim

  • Mainz
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  • Heidelberg Palace
  • Gutenberg Museum
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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.

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Day 14

Day 14 – Day 14: Exploring Rüdesheim and Transfer to Koblenz

Day 14: Exploring Rüdesheim and Transfer to Koblenz

  • Gutenberg Museum
  • Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal
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Enjoy a hike through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim or take a guided tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum. En route to Koblenz, sail through the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and pass the legendary Rock of the Lorelei. Enjoy free time in Koblenz before a relaxing evening onboard with dinner and live entertainment.

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Day 15

Day 15 – Day 15: Discovering Cologne and Transfer to Amsterdam

  • Cologne
  • Amsterdam
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  • Cologne Cathedral
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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.

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Day 16

Day 16 – Day 16: Exploring Amsterdam

  • Amsterdam
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  • Amsterdamse Poort, Haarlem
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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.

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Day 17

Day 17 – Day 17: Departure from Amsterdam

  • Amsterdam - Departure day
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Your unforgettable European journey comes to an end. After breakfast, prepare for your onward journey. We hope you've enjoyed your tour and look forward to welcoming you back on your next adventure.

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