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Portraits of Southern France Cruise
Discover the best of France’s countryside on this eight day cruise along the Saône and Rhône rivers. Try some Burgundy wines in the pretty town of Beaune, visit the Roman ruins in Vienne, find out what inspired Vincent van Gogh in the Provençal city of Arles, sample world famous cuisine in Lyon and take a tour of the Papal Palace in vibrant Avignon. Then travel back to London by TGV and Eurostar.
From $4,121 per person
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Itinerary - 8 Night Deluxe Holiday by Rail + Cruise - Lower Deck Category E Cabin
Day 1
London to Dijon
Travel by Eurostar from London to Paris, where you then transfer to the Gare du Lyon for the TGV train to Dijon which takes approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. On arrival in Dijon check-in at the Sofitel La Cloche Dijon for an overnight stay.
Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Dijon has a lovely old town with half timbered houses and stunning terracotta tiled roofs. There are also some great museums such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts housed in an old Dukes Palace. Take a walk in one of the many green spaces in the city. In the evening, try some great local specialities such as beef bourguinon with a glass of Burgundy.
Day 2
Board the ship
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel before you travel by train from Dijon to Chalon-sur-Sôane. On arrival you are transferred to the ship. Settle into your category E cabin before you have the rest of the afternoon to explore this pretty town.
Day 3
Beaune and Burgundy Wine Tour
After breakfast, enjoy the picturesque views as you drive along France’s Burgundy wine route. Travel through Pommard, Volnay and Meursault before you arrive in Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy. Enjoy a wine tasting at one of Beaune’s famous cellars before you return to the ship for lunch.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure or you may decide to take an optional excursion to the picturesque Burgundy towns of Tournus and Mâcon. Return aboard for dinner as the ship departs in the evening.
Day 4
Lyon
Sit back and enjoy the views as you cruise through the picturesque countryside and have lunch onboard. After lunch you are taken on a tour of Lyon which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour starts with a drive to the top of Fourvière Hill which gives you incredible views of the city.
Visit the Basilica of Notre Dame and the Palace of Justice as the tour continues into the afternoon. You then take a walking tour through the cobbled streets of Lyon's Old Town area before having free time to sample some of Lyon's world-famous French cuisine.
You then return to the ship for dinner.
Day 5
Lyon and Vienne
You have the morning to further explore this 2,000-year-old city before the ship departs at lunchtime. This afternoon, you are taken on a walking tour of Vienne, which is a beautiful town with an ancient Roman past. The tour includes visits to the Temple of Augustus & Livia, the Roman amphitheatre and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Maurice. After the walking tour you have the rest of the afternoon to discover more of this riverside town at your leisure.
Return to the ship for dinner as you depart in the evening and sail towards Tournon.
Day 6
Tournon and Viviers
You awake in Tournon and are taken on a guided tour of the area. You learn about the region’s winemaking traditions and taste some famous regional red wines. You then visit the Musée de Tain l’Hermitage which is located in the oldest house in the region.
Lunch is served onboard as you cruise through the afternoon before arriving after dinner in Viviers, a pretty town in a picturesque mountainous setting. Enjoy an evening stroll through the Old Town with its medieval and Renaissance buildings before returning back to the ship.
Day 7
Arles
Arrive in Arles during breakfast and enjoy a guided walking tour of the city. Experience the city’s vibrant colours and the striking quality of light that have inspired artists. You also get to visit the sites of some impressive Roman ruins, including Les Arènes, an arena that seats 20,000 and is still in use, as well as Romanesque monuments such as the Church of Saint-Trôphime, which was completed in the 15th century.
Return aboard for lunch followed by an afternoon at leisure to explore. Dinner is served as you depart Arles in the evening.
Day 8
Avignon
Enjoy breakfast on the ship before you go on a morning guided walking tour of Avignon. The city is nicknamed “City of Popes” because it was home to seven popes from 1309 to 1377.
Stroll through the historic city centre; stop at the picturesque Pont d’Avignon and wander around the Place de l’Horloge. The walking tour continues to the renowned Palace of the Popes for a guided tour. You can also choose to join the optional tour to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and visit the vineyards where you get to enjoy a tasting of these famous wines. Lunch and dinner are both served aboard. Your ship remains docked overnight for the last night of your holiday.
Day 9
Avignon to London
After breakfast, disembark the ship and enjoy the journey back to Paris via TGV train before catching the Eurostar back to London.
Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne, Dijon
Sofitel La Cloche Dijon
Viking Ship
Burgundy
Lyon
Lyon
Vienne
Arles
Palace of the Popes
Avignon
Dijon
Home of Dijon mustard, beef bourguignon and coq au vin, Dijon is the place to go for cuisine á la française. As the capital of the Burgundy region, it also has some of the best local wines in the world. But, though it might be tempting to while away your time in a restaurant in the old town, there are also plenty of other things worth doing here.
Dijon has a lovely old town with half timbered houses and stunning terracotta tiled roofs. There are also some great museums such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts housed in an old Dukes Palace. Take a walk in one of the many green spaces in the city. And then treat yourself to a glass of Burgundy.
Lyon
Situated in the heart of the Rhone-Alpes region, Lyon's is recognised as the capital of French gastronomy and much-admired for its famous wineries such as Beaujolais and Cotes De Rhone. The historic centre of Lyon is a UNESCO world heritage site due to the century old Roman artefacts and 12th Century Presqu'île architecture. Enjoy the views from Fourvière basilica and stroll through Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) before heading to a traditional bouchon restaurant for a tasty Lyonnaise dish.
Avignon
Avignon is a beautiful medieval walled city in the heart of Provence. The centre is dominated by the huge, Gothic Palais des Papes, the seat of Catholic popes during the 14th century. Wander the lovely streets of the old centre which are full of artists’ galleries, visit the colourful outdoor market on the Place Pie or come during July when the city hums with thousands of visitors to its annual, massive theatre festival.
The Viking Neptune Ship
The Viking Neptune ship was launched in 2001. The ship features a beautifully designed layout of public areas and a wraparound deck that allows guests to enjoy the views in the open air, even during canal lock transiting or while sailing under low bridges. The ship accommodates 150 guests in spacious staterooms, most with windows that open. This is the perfect way to see Europe on an elegant, versatile river cruise ship.
Food & Drink
The on board chefs freshly prepare the food for you. For breakfast choose from a selection of pastries, cereals, breakfast meats, fresh fruit and selected cheeses. Alternatively you can have a hot dish prepared to order. For lunch, you can select from the soup and sandwich bar, or a choice of entrées and dessert. For dinner enjoy a 5-course gourmet menu with regional specialities. There is also a choice of regional wines to complement your meal.
Staterooms
There are 5 different stateroom categories on this Viking Neptune deluxe ship. These range from category E staterooms to category A staterooms.
Category E Staterooms
Category E Staterooms are 120 sq ft in size and are all located on the lower deck of the ship. They have one Pullman bed and a sofa bed and a half high window that cannot be opened. They have a private bathroom with shower and they also have a telephone, in-room safe & hair dryer. Each stateroom has air-conditioning, space under beds for storing suitcases, a wardrobe and TV with CNN, BBC and other English channels.
Category D Staterooms
Category D Staterooms are 154 sq ft in size and are all located on the middle deck of the ship. They have hotel style beds and a large panoramic window that cannot be opened. They have a private bathroom with shower and they also have a telephone, in-room safe & hair dryer. Each stateroom has air-conditioning, space under beds for storing suitcases, a wardrobe and TV with CNN, BBC and other English channels.
Category C Staterooms
Category C Staterooms are 154 sq ft in size and are all located on the middle deck of the ship. They have larger hotel style beds and a large panoramic window that cannot be opened. They have a private bathroom with shower and they also have a telephone, in-room safe & hair dryer. Each stateroom has air-conditioning, space under beds for storing suitcases, a wardrobe and TV with CNN, BBC and other English channels.
Category B Staterooms
Category C Staterooms are 154 sq ft in size and are all located on the middle deck of the ship. They have larger hotel style beds and a large panoramic window that can be opened. They have a private bathroom with shower and they also have a telephone, in-room safe & hair dryer. Each stateroom has air-conditioning, space under beds for storing suitcases, a wardrobe and TV with CNN, BBC and other English channels.
Category A Staterooms
Category A Staterooms are 154 sq ft in size and are all located on the upper deck of the ship. They have hotel style beds and a large panoramic window that can be opened. They have a private bathroom with enclosed shower and they also have a telephone, in-room safe & hair dryer. Each stateroom has air-conditioning, space under beds for storing suitcases, a wardrobe and TV with CNN, BBC and other English channels.
Sofitel La Cloche Dijon 
The Sofitel La Cloche Hotel was built in 1884, and is listed as a heritage monument. The hotel is conveniently located close to the old town area of Dijon, offering easy access to Dijon's main sights and attractions.
Hotel Facilities
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Sauna
- Shoe Shine Machine
- Laundry
- Non-smoking Floors
Room Facilities
- Safe
- Air Conditioning
- Cable/Satellite TV
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Pay TV
- Non-smoking Rooms
Some facilities may be subject to an additional charge at the hotel.
8 Night Deluxe Holiday by Rail + Cruise - Lower Deck Category E Cabin
This package includes Eurostar travel from London to Paris, first class train travel from Paris to Dijon, 1 night accommodation with breakfast in Dijon, first class train travel from Dijon to Chalon-Sur-Saone, 7 nights on board the boat (excursions and meals as detailed in itinerary), first class train travel from Avignon to Paris, and Eurostar travel from Paris to London.
More dates and
prices available
Add extra nights to your holiday, stop off en route, or book train travel from a European train station.
Call us on (646) 770 2894, and let us help you plan your perfect holiday.
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Terms
Holidays can be tailor-made for you (including stopovers or additional nights) call us on (646) 770 2894.
Prices are subject to availability, based on 2 people sharing a twin / double room and based on best priced seats on trains.
Supplements may apply if best price travel not available. Supplements will apply for single occupancy.
Hotel and room facilities may be subject to an extra charge or are on request.
We accept all major credit and debit cards. If you pay by debit card there is no extra charge; if you choose to pay by credit card a 2% surcharge applies.
Holidays including flights are operated by our sister company Railbookers Signature Holidays, a trading name of Travel Definitions Limited which is ATOL protected, number 9040.
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