Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1, DEPART USA
Board your overnight flight to Barcelona, Spain.

DAY 2, ARRIVE IN BARCELONA, SPAIN
Arrive in Barcelona and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

DAY 3, BARCELONA
Your full day in Barcelona begins with a driving tour to the top of Montjuic Hill where you will catch glorious views of the city below, including the Palau Nacional (the National Palace) and the Olympic Complex. Tour Placa Catalonia, and Las Ramblas, the promenade and center of Barcelona life. See the Expiatori Temple de la Sagrada Família, designed by artist and architect Antonio Gaudí which is still incomplete. Take a walking tour of the Barrio Gotico (Gothic Quarter), King’s Square, and Tinell, the Royal Palace. (B)

DAY 4, BARCELONA
Enjoy a full day at your leisure; perhaps take part in an optional tour. Or return on your own to the markets of Las Ramblas; visit one of the many museums or perhaps venture across the port for seafood in Barceloneta. (B)

DAY 5, BARCELONA – EMBARKATION - ARLES, FRANCE
After breakfast, transfer to Arles, the gateway to Provence. Along the way, we will stop in the medieval town of Perpignan, France, close to the Mediterranean. Here, you will have free time for lunch and some exploring on your own. We continue along the ancient trade route linking the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas to Camargue on the southern coast, before entering Arles, a Mediterranean city situated at the mouth of the Rhône delta. Once onboard gather this evening for cocktails and a Welcome Dinner. (B,D)

DAY 6, ARLES – AVIGNON
This morning, travel by motor coach to the village of Les Baux. Enjoy the rich floral colors and amazing views from this village perched on the hill. You will also visit an olive farm. This afternoon bathe in the Provencal light as you imagine how Vincent Van Gogh worked to capture the richness of every hue on your walking tour of Arles. While Van Gogh’s homes are no longer standing, you may glimpse the locales and vistas that inspired “Starry Night” or “Terrace de Café le Soir” as you pass Constantine’s Baths, the Romanesque cathedral and the Roman amphitheater, which is still in use today. This evening cruise to nearby Avignon. (B,L,D)

DAY 7, AVIGNON- VIVIERS
Your morning tour of the “City of Popes” will take you through the narrow streets and elegant squares to the Papal Palace, which served as a fortress, a church and a residence to the Popes that once governed the Christian world. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy some scenic cruising to Viviers, arriving late this evening. After dinner, enjoy an evening “ghost walk” through the largely abandoned Medieval town that had once more than 30,000 inhabitants. The ship moors overnight in Viviers. (B,L,D)

DAY 8, VIVIERS - TOURNON
After breakfast, enjoy an excursion to Grignan, a charming hilltop village, dominated by a majestic castle. Grignan is a provincial gem and a tourist secret .The ship sails for Tournon during lunch and arrives in the early evening. You will enjoy a wine tasting in Tournon, where the ship moors overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 9, TOURNON- BOUCIEU LE ROI - VIENNE
On this morning’s adventure, you will get a personal look at a working farm located in the midst of the Ardèche Mountains, and then take a scenic tour of the valley’s beautiful landscape. Enjoy a visit to Boucieu-le-Roi and its local market of handmade crafts, musical entertainment and wine tasting. Enjoy lunch back onboard the ship as we cruise to Vienne this afternoon. Situated between the wine regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Vienne, like Lyon has a significant Roman history, which is highlighted by its marvelously preserved ruins and remains. (B,L,D)

DAY 10, VIENNE- TREVOUX
During this morning, take a mini train ride and see the 1st-century Roman Temple of Augustus, and the Medieval churches of St. Andre-Le-Bas and Abbey St. Pierre, before we cruise on to Trévoux, passing through Lyon to the Saône River. This evening, stroll along the sidewalk cafés of this rural walking town. (B,L,D)

DAY 11, TREVOUX - LYON
After breakfast, your city tour takes you behind the village walls of Trévoux and through Beaujolais, the Pays D’Or, or “land of the golden stones” so named for the ochre limestone of its homes and castles. Enjoy a visit with a local wine maker along “la route du vin” and sample the world renowned Beaujolais Nouveau. Return to the ship for lunch as you sail to Lyon. Lyon not only marks the meeting of the Saône and Rhône rivers, but it is also the gastronomic capital of France. Its rich ancient history includes Roman ruins and early Christian sites. For those not continuing on to Paris, you will disembark for a city tour of Lyon, while others have the evening at leisure. (B,L,D)

DAY 12, LYON- DISEMBARK – PARIS, FRANCE
After breakfast disembark for a city tour of Lyon, before transferring to Paris. Your tour includes a stunning panoramic view of the city from the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière. You’ll also explore the Renaissance charm of Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) with its cobbled streets. Your tour will also include a cooking demonstration. Later, board the TGV high-speed train for your transfer to Paris. (B)

DAY 13, PARIS
Enjoy Paris’ famous sights during this morning's guided tour. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, pass the Louvre Museum, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, La Madeleine, Les Champs Elysées and much more. The remainder of the day is yours to explore on your own. (B)

DAY 14, PARIS
Enjoy a full free day to explore the most romantic city in the world. Stroll through the Jardin de Tuilleries, gaze at impressionist masterpieces at the Musée D'Orsay, or visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair. Paris at night sparkles with possibilities for every taste. (B)

DAY 15, DEPART PARIS
Your splendid vacation comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)