Grand France with 2 Nights in French Riviera (Southbound) 2026
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Set sail on your Seine River cruise and sail to Vernon with your choice of a visit to Claude Monet’s Giverny or Bizy Castle, nicknamed “Normandy’s Versailles. In Caudebec, take an excursion to the historic Normandy Landing Beaches, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, or select an excursion for a traditional “Taste of Normandy.” Visit Joan of Arc’s Rouen, then choose between a visit to Vincent Van Gogh’s Auver-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s Malmaison. Return to Paris for your choice of sightseeing in the “City of Light”—discover the true heart of Paris on a guided walk through the sites of Paris’ rich history, or take a tour to see the iconic landmarks of the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and more. Board a high-speed train bound for Dijon, and transfer to Beaune to embark on your second Avalon Suite Ship® in Chalon-sur-Saône. Cruise to Lyon, is the gastronomic capital of France and a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Take a guided walk of Tournon, beautifully nestled among vineyards, to see its Roman ruins and fascinating 16th-century castle. On a guided tour of historical Avignon, see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes—the largest Gothic fortress in the world. Situated on the Rhône River, Arles is famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheater. As a perfect finale to your French river cruise vacation, spend 2 nights on the French Riviera along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea.
- Day 1PARIS, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)Tue, Aug 18, 2026Welcome to France. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding.Flights into Paris must arrive by 2:30 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.Your day is free to explore the world’s most romantic city before starting your cruise on the Seine. Get acquainted with the City of Light today with some shopping, strolling, or with a croissant and café au lait to watch the world go by amid the Parisian cityscape.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VERNON(D)PARIS-CROISSANT.jpg
- Day 2VERNONWed, Aug 19, 2026Monet’s Muses, Castle Courtyards, and Crêpes du JourVisit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.ACTIVE Explore Vernon's Chateau des Tourelles by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of Giverny, home and inspiration of the master impressionist painter Claude Monet. Walk the grounds and see Monet’s charming residence, and the flower and water gardens captured in his masterpieces*, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Bizy Castle—called “Normandy’s Versailles” for its magnificent courtyard, water garden, and stables.DISCOVERY While sailing, enjoy a traditional French Luncheon of authentic French crêpes, followed by a Pastry Demonstration.This afternoon, enjoy a beautiful cruise to the picturesque town of Les Andelys.LES ANDELYSSerenity on the SeineACTIVE Join a Guided Hike up to the castle ruins of Château Gaillard—historic home of King Richard the Lionheart, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Les Andelys—one of France’s most picturesque spots on the Seine.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CAUDEBEC(B,L,D) *Monet’s House is closed in March and November. During this period, this excursion will be replaced with a Guided Tour of La Roche-Guyon and its castle.VERNON.jpg
- Day 3CAUDEBECThu, Aug 20, 2026Ancient Abbeys Along the SeineACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the river with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC 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.This afternoon, you may choose a Guided Optional Excursion to the old seaside town of Honfleur. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN CAUDEBEC(B,L,D)CAUDEBEC.jpg
- Day 4CAUDEBEC. EXCURSION TO NORMANDYFri, Aug 21, 2026Heroic Bravery on Normandy Beaches and French Farming TraditionsCLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Normandy’s WWII landing beaches, visit significant U.S. sites, including Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery, OR: CLASSIC Take a full-day Guided Tour of the British and Canadian commemorative sites, including the British cemetery, Pegasus Memorial, the seaside town of Arromanches, the Juno Beach Center, and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, OR: CLASSIC Join “A Taste of Normandy” Guided Tour for an in-depth look at this rich agricultural region. See the famous Bayeux Tapestry, visit the beautiful village of Beuvron en Auge and taste Calvados at a local distillery.Later, enjoy live entertainment on board your ship. EVENING CRUISE TO ROUEN(B,L,D)NORMANDY-OMAHA-BEACH.jpg
- Day 5ROUENSat, Aug 22, 2026The Cathedral of Our Lady and a Heroine for France ACTIVE Take a Guided Bike Tour to discover and explore the most famous monuments and the lesser known hidden gems of Rouen on two wheels, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Rouen—site of Saint Joan of Arc’s martyrdom—and see the medieval quarter with its 16th-century Astronomical Clock, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO CONFLANS (B,L,D)ROUEN.jpg
- Day 6CONFLANSSun, Aug 23, 2026The Footsteps of Van Gogh, Bonaparte, and Louis XIV ACTIVE Enjoy a relaxing bike ride along the Seine with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Join a Guided Visit to Auvers-sur-Oise, home and resting place of Vincent van Gogh, OR:CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of the opulent Château de Malmaison*—home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine. Perhaps, join a Guided Optional Excursion to the Palace of Versailles—home to a succession of French kings. EVENING CRUISE TO PARIS(B,L,D)*Château de Malmaison is closed the 1st Sunday of each month. On these dates, this excursion will be replaced by a visit to Château de Chantilly.CONFLANS.jpg
- Day 7PARISMon, Aug 24, 2026Cafés, Cathedrals and Canvases in the City of LightJoin your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.ACTIVE Experience the Seine river by foot with your Adventure Host, OR:CLASSIC Discover the ancient heart of Paris on a captivating Guided Walk featuring the Palais-Royal, Louvre pyramid, ancient sites on Île de la Cité, the Left Bank, bustling Latin Quarter, and more, OR: CLASSIC 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, Opéra Garnier, and the famous Champs-Élysées. Stroll through Paris on your own, or linger over wine in a literary café on the Left Bank.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PARIS (B,L,D)PARIS-EIFEL-TOWER.jpg
- Day 8PARIS (DISEMBARKATION) DIJON–BEAUNE–CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE (EMBARKATION)Tue, Aug 25, 2026Take a High-Speed Train from Paris to Dijon, to drive on to Beaune. DISCOVERY Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement. This afternoon, travel to Chalon-sur-Saône to board your Suite Ship®. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN TOURNUS (B,D)BEAUNE-HOTEL-DIEU.jpg
- Day 9TOURNUSWed, Aug 26, 2026Pearl of Southern BurgundyVisit the Adventure Center for today’s activities with your Adventure Host.CLASSIC Tucked away in the southeast corner of Burgundy, Tournus is one of the oldest and most important monastic centers in the region, Our Local Guide will show the highlights of this delightful town.Consider a Guided Optional Excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar or to the Castle of Cormatin. DISCOVERY Later, enjoy a delicious Cheese Tasting on board your ship. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN TRÉVOUX(B,L,D)TOURNUS.jpg
- Day 10LYONThu, Aug 27, 2026La Vie En Rose in LyonSail for lovely Lyon this morning. ACTIVE Discover Lyon's architectural district by bike with your Adventure Host, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon with its numerous churches from Fourvière Hill. You’ll also explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafés, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des Terreaux.DISCOVERY Be our guest for a WWII & French Resistance lecture on board your ship.Later enjoy live entertainment after dinner.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON(B,L,D)LYON-CAFE.jpg
- Day 11LYONFri, Aug 28, 2026Adventures in Food and Wine CLASSIC Join a Culinary Walk through the city to discover why it is known as the gastronomic capital of France. The rest of your day is free to explore, relax, or shop in France’s third largest city. Take a bike from the ship and explore local produce markets and parks, or take a leisurely tour of the city’s more than 100 murals. EVENING CRUISE TO TOURNON(B,L,D)LYON-BRIDGE.jpg
- Day 12TOURNONSat, Aug 29, 2026A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards CLASSIC Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon—one of France’s oldest medieval cities with its 16th-century castle. Enjoy a leisurely sail to Viviers after lunch.VIVIERS World History in a Charming French Country VillageCLASSIC Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on a late afternoon Guided Walking Tour of this charming village. You’ll see its Romanesque cathedral and Old Town with a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences.Later, enjoy live entertainment onboard. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AVIGNON(B,L,D)VIVIERS-SCENIC.jpg
- Day 13AVIGNONSun, Aug 30, 2026The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities.CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the fortress city of Avignon—with its ramparts encircling the city—and a visit to the amazing Palace of the Popes.Guided 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 for a true taste of the Rhône wine region. Explore Avignon on your own for the city’s art and culture, theatre, and museums. Be sure to snap photos of the captivating countryside, historic monuments, and the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet. Later, enjoy onboard live entertainment. EVENING CRUISE TO ARLES(B,L,D)AVIGNON-BRIDGE.jpg
- Day 14ARLESMon, Aug 31, 2026A Brush with GeniusACTIVE Get your daily dose of exercise through a Power Walk in Arles with your Adventure Host, OR:DISCOVERY Attend a Painting Workshop to learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh. Create your own painting in the style of the legendary artist, OR:CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour of Arles—the captivating city of the Provence region. You’ll visit the Roman Amphitheater in this visually stunning city that inspired the works of Vincent van Gogh.Take free time to stop in Le Café Van Gogh for a glass of wine to relax and watch the world go by.OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES(B,L,D)ARLES-PAINTING-CLASS.jpg
- Day 15ARLES (DISEMBARKATION)–FRENCH RIVIERATue, Sep 01, 2026Spectacular Seascapes of the Mediterranean CoastAfter breakfast this morning, you’ll drive to the spectacular French Riviera, which stretches along France’s Mediterranean coast from Toulon to the border of Italy.(B)NICE-RIVIERA.jpg
- Day 16FRENCH RIVIERAWed, Sep 02, 2026The “Queen of the French Riviera” CLASSIC Enjoy a Guided Sightseeing in Nice. Discover the narrow, winding streets and baroque churches of Vieux Nice, the old city—an area which has changed little since the 1700s.(B)NICE-STREET-VIEW.jpg
- Day 17FRENCH RIVIERAThu, Sep 03, 2026Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.(B)NICE-COASTLINE.jpg
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Inclusions
•In the event of technical or water level issues, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or alter the program, including hotel overnight when necessary.
•Guided Tours, Optional Excursions, activities, sailing and docking schedules may be contingent on weather conditions or other issues outside of our control and could therefore be subject to change at any time.
•Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
•Departures March 31st & November 10th will operate the itinerary in a revised order: Day 1 Paris, Day 2 Paris, Day 3 Conflans, Day 4 Les Andelys-Rouen, Day 5 Caudebec, Day 6 Caudebec. Normandy excursions, Day 7 Vernon, From day 8 back to regular program.
Accommodation Information
Port charges:
$462 are included.
Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).
Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.
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Ship Information
Cabins
Life on Board
Questions & Answers Ask A Question
Question: Will the day-by-day itinerary change?
Question: In what language is the river cruise conducted?
Absolutely pleased with the Avalon experience.
As a past Viking traveler, with this being my first Avalon trip, I still favor Viking. Both river cruise experiences were comparable but there were some procedural differences that I feel were handled better with Viking. I would travel with either cruise line in the future based on price and/or itinerary.
This was my fifth river cruise with Avalon, and I’ve loved everyone of them. The ship is beautifully designed for travelers; the staff is efficient, enthusiastic, and accommodating; the local guides are knowledgeable; and the food is quite good. I definitely would embark on another cruise with Avalon.
This is our third river cruise with Avalon Waterways and they have done an outstanding job on every cruise. Will recommend them without hesitation.
The trip was absolutely perfect. I have a long experience with Globus (17 trips) and more recently with Avalon Waterways (4 cruises), and I have never considered using another company because of the outstanding quality of the staff, the professionalism and helpfulness of everyone involved and the outstanding nature of activities. They are simply the best.
While our cabin had a 4 pm check-in, we were given a room as soon as we arrived... a nice perk after an overnight flight! This was our second time on an Avalon cruise and we noticed improvements in on-board electronic communications, kiosks, and TV displays with daily information. This cruise also included a daily happy hour.
Great food, beautiful scenery, friendly staff and travelers with similar travel plans make for a amazing vacation. I highly recommend it.
The staff was welcoming and accommodating to all our needs. They made the trip extremely pleasureable.
Was a great trip
We've sailed with Avalon before and love their ships.
Dinner, as with all river cruises, was later than we like. It became a matter of either eating dinner or managing to sleep. The food was good but not good enough to pass on sleeping.
Love Avalon river cruises. This was our third and we love it!!
Our river cruise was excellent especially visiting Omaha Beach which was the highlight of the whole experience. We enjoy meeting people from all over the world. The food was superb and our room was very comfortable.
All good. Stop at a gift shop in Normandy would be nice.
Avalon tours run smoothly. The ships, food, excursions, etc. are all first class.
Great trip, great service, couldn't visit Rouen because of a chemical fire, which we really missed. Had to stay on the boat at another small town because of this issue. Would have rather sailed more. This trip was pricey but we enjoyed it. Trip was suppose to include WiFi on the coaches but we did not have access to WiFi at all.
The entire trip was incredible with the exception of one excursion. We not only took this trip for our 50th Anniversary but the experience of the 75th Anniversary of D-Day was of equal importance as my wife and I both had relatives involved in the campaign. The excursion for that purpose was a tremendous disappointment. The entire day was dedicated for that excursion, so we anticipated we would stop for lunch. During the morning leg of the tour we made a stop for more than an hour at the British landing area to basically go to a museum and as the tour guide suggested, to shop for souvenirs. Lunch wound up being another long drawn out affair as we had a three course meal with coffee which encompassed more than another hour. In my opinion a box lunch with a beverage would have been totally appropriate and saved a lot of time. As we started our afternoon travel, the tour guide started complaining that we were behind schedule and would have to make up time somewhere. When we finally arrived at Omaha Beach, which should have been the focal point of the day, we were told we had to be back on the bus in 15 minutes. Mostly everyone on the bus were irritated at this announcement. As we entered Omaha Beach we passed what looked to be large museum with lots of artifacts in front. We drove right past it on the way in and again on the way out. This entire day tour was entirely mismanaged and poorly timed out. We did not go on this particular excursion to go shopping or for a 3 course meal as our priority. Our priority was to spend the majority of our time experiencing the D-Day Anniversary, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. Very sad to not get what we expected.
We had a wonderful time on this trip. I am an experienced traveler although this was my first River Cruise. Rest assured it won't be my last. Ed has traveled in this country, but this was his first overseas adventure. He can't wait to go back. My only criticism is I would have preferred the extra days at the end of the trip instead of the beginning. After being awake all night(I don't sleep on planes), we were in no shape to tour museums, and they are closed on Mondays. If our two days were at the end of the trip, we would not have been tired on arriving from the ship and in better shape to tour that day. Other than that, we couldn't have been happier. The crew, the accommodations, the food, and the tours were all excellent. We are planning on making our next trip on Avalon.
I did not like that the back of the boat had a private party sign posted at least twice and may more so I could not access the coffe station and pastries. This is why I gave Avalon a agree instead of a strongly agree. Maybe I would try another cruise line.
Absolutely wonderful cruise!!! Accommodations were lovely and service by all crew was beyond what one might ever expect. The food was incredible and the waiters were so much fun. The excursions were very good! This historian who was on the cruise was extremely knowledgeable and the evening lectures very good!
A very well tenet mean and courteous staff that is willing to see to tour every need.
Vivian was wonderful - top notch for her service. She answered emails on weekends and days off. Could not have asked for more.
Avalon Tapestry II is a beautiful ship w generous rooms and balcony windows. Staff is courteous and very helpful.
We were treated like royalty! Everything was wonderful from start to finish. Lots of time to just relax and enjoy the view as we floated by.
Transportation from Paris airport to boat was delayed by at least an hour and no one could tell us why Little disappointed with food on the ship
While the crew, ship and itinerary met and sometimes exceeded my expectations, booking another trip with Avalon would depend on price and itinerary offered.
Avalon rocks!! After the flooding in Paris made it impossible to proceed with the published itinerary, we were give the choice to leave & receive a full refund or embark on a modified itinerary at a large discount. We chose to remain and are very glad we did. The staff went out of their way to ensure we still had a wonderful time and did it in a very organized & efficient manner. We will definitely travel with them again.
This was our 3rd Avalon cruise and hopefully will not be our last. Great company!
Avalon's Tapestry II is a new ship that reflects improvementrs over their earlier ships. These improvements are quite positive, from the increase in size of the rooms to the increase in size of the Bathrooms, all very difficult to accomplish on a River Ship that is limited in it's overrall size due to the Locks it must negoptiate on the Rivers. The Staff was warm, friendly and helpful and the food was very good..
Everything went exactly as planned and we really enjoyed the experience. The tour director and all of the guides were exceedingly helpful and the towns and sites that we visited were just excellent. We will definitely recommend this trip and Affordable Tours. Thank you
We had a wonderful time and we look forward to our next trip overseas. Thank you for assisting us on our Danube River Cruise, we cannot wait until our next trip!
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The accommodations were very spacious and appealing. The crew and staff excellent and attentive. The menu at at night was varied and the food was very good. Tours were well organized and the guides very knowledgeable.