Burgundy and Provence Wine Appreciation River Cruise with Avalon – Save up to $4,600 per couple*
PP From
$3,929
Duration
8 Days
Deal Type
River Cruise
Add Business Class flights to unlock an Exclusive Package discount
Embark on a delightful journey through the picturesque landscapes of Burgundy and Provence along the Rhône and Saône Rivers on an Avalon River Cruise.
🍷 Up to $4,600 per couple while earning up to 11,398 Qantas Frequent Flyer points ✈️ when you travel with Avalon Waterways on this Burgundy and Provence River Cruise.
Explore renowned French landmarks and discover hidden treasures guided by experts. Your river cruise in France will feature the expertise of a Master of Wine who will offer presentations, tastings, and wine pairings throughout the voyage.
🛳️ Explore historic Avignon with its majestic 14th-century Palace of the Popes, the largest Gothic fortress in existence.
🛳️ Discover Châteauneuf du Pape on a guided tour and delve into its rich history.
🛳️ In Tournon, surrounded by vineyards, wander through medieval streets adorned with Roman ruins and a captivating 16th-century castle.
🛳️ Lyon, renowned as France’s gastronomic capital, boasts a blend of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Visit the iconic Place des Terreaux and its famous fountain.
🛳️ End your adventure in Arles, celebrated for inspiring Van Gogh’s paintings and home to a 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre still used for cultural events.
Burgundy and Provence River Cruise
Included Items
7 Breakfasts
6 Lunches
7 Dinners
Transport: State-of-the-art, luxurious river cruise vessels with modern services and amenities
Signature Suite Ships℠ with spacious deluxe accommodations including Avalon's exclusive Comfort Collection Bed
Gourmet cuisine with all meals onboard, including regional wine & beer with lunch & dinner
Professional Cruise Director and friendly staff (English speaking) who deliver renowned onboard service and relaxed luxury
Panoramic windows throughout the ship
Club Lounge with 24-hour self-serve beverage station with complimentary cappuccinos, lattes, tea, hot chocolate and premium coffees, as well as treats throughout the day
Tour Company
Avalon Waterways
Tour Location
Europe
Deal Type
River Cruise
Map
Chalon to Arles
More Information
Cruise Itinerary +
DAY 1 – CHALON-SUR-SAONE, FRANCE (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to France. Your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Lyon must arrive by 2 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm.
Meals included: Dinner
Avalon Reception
DAY 2 – TOURNUS
Pearl of Southern Burgundy. Visit the Adventure Centre 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 centres in the region, Our Local Guide will show the highlights of this delightful town.
DISCOVERY – Join a lecture about wine hosted by your Master of Wine while sailing to Macon.
DISCOVERY – Join an excursion that will take you to a Chardonnay cellar for a wine tasting.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN TREVOUX.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3 – LYON
Sail for lovely Lyon this morning.
DISCOVERY – Enjoy an onboard cheese and wine tasting hosted by your Master of Wine while sailing to Lyon.
ACTIVE – Discover Lyon’s architectural district by bike with your Adventure Host, over bridges, and along the banks where the Rhone and Saone rivers meet.
CLASSIC – Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon from Fourviere Hill with its numerous churches. You’ll also explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafes, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des Terreaux.
DISCOVERY – Be our guest for a WWII & French Resistance your lecture on board your ship. Later enjoy live entertainment after dinner.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lyon
DAY 4 – LYON
Adventures in Food and Wine.
DISCOVERY – Join a Culinary Walk through the city to discover why Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France.
DISCOVERY – Take a guided tour to the lovely Beaujolais area and learn more about its light and pleasant wine.
DISCOVERY – This evening, join an onboard food and wine pairing dinner hosted by your Master of Wine.
EVENING CRUISE TO TOURNON
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 – TOURNON
A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards.
ACTIVE – Hike in the vineyards and take in the breathtaking views from the hills.
CLASSIC – Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon-one of France’s oldest medieval cities with its 16th-century castle. The tour also includes a wine and chocolate tasting at the Cite du Chocolat at Valrhona. Enjoy a leisurely sail to Viviers after lunch.
VIVIERS World History in a Charming French Country Village
CLASSIC – 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 on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AVIGNON
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6 – AVIGNON
The 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.
DISCOVERY – Enjoy a trip to the famed wine cellars of Chateauneuf-du-Pape for a true taste of the Rhone wine region. Later, enjoy live onboard entertainment.
EVENING CRUISE TO ARLES
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Avignon
DAY 7 – ARLES
Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights.
ACTIVE – Get your daily dose of exercise through a Power Walk in Arles with your Adventure Host.
DISCOVERY – Attend a Painting Workshop to learn techniques of Vincent van Gogh. Create your own painting in the style of the legendary artist.
CLASSIC – Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour of Arles – the captivating city of the Provence region. You’ll visit the Roman Amphitheatre in this visually stunning city. Take free time to stop in Le Cafe van Gogh for a glass of wine.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 – ARLES (DISEMBARKATION)
Your cruise ends with breakfast this morning. Flights should not leave Marseille airport before 10am.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Ship Information +
Avalon Poetry II
The Avalon Poetry II offers a delightfully intimate cruise setting. Like its sister Suite Ships, the Poetry II features two full decks of Panorama Suites with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that create river cruising’s only Open-Air Balcony.
With a spacious 200 square feet, Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than the industry standard.
Stretch out at day’s end and wake to the world at your feet with Comfort Collection bed that faces the view. It truly is a view with a room!
Onboard amenities include an alternative dining option in the Panorama Bistro, complimentary computer use in public areas and Wi-Fi access, a Fitness Center, and a spacious Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs, whirlpool, and light al fresco lunches at the Sky Bistro. The Avalon Poetry II truly is poetry in motion!
Suites & Staterooms
Open–Air Balconies and Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows in all Panorama SuitesSM
Comfort Collection BedsSM with choice of mattress firmness
Egyptian super-combed cotton linens
Soft & firm pillows
Nightly turn-down service
Bedside tables with reading lamps
Individual climate control and in-room safe
Full-size closet and mirror
Additional under-bed luggage storage
Flatscreen satellite TV with wide selection of free movie channels and English-speaking TV
Direct-dial telephone
Complimentary filtered water
Well-stocked mini bar
USB Ports
Bathrobes & slippers
Premium L’Occitane® bath products & hairdryer
Large bathroom featuring shower with glass door
Panorama Suite
Dining
Chef-prepared onboard meals with regional cuisine and familiar favourites
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 appetisers, 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, cosy seating, panoramic windows & dance floor
Welcome & farewell cocktails with sparkling wine & canapés
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 flavoured and infused water available throughout each day
Avalon Poetry II Deck
Fitness & Wellness
Active shore excursions, both included and optional
Fitness Center
Avalon Adventure Center
Your place for active gear* and activities through your Avalon Adventure HostSM, including:
Bikes
Maps for hiking, biking and jogging routes
Canoe and kayak excursions
Fitbits®
Walking sticks
Binoculars
Daypacks
Yoga mats
Fitness bands
Booking Terms & Conditions
Advertised price based on 18 November 2025 departure in Cat D cabin, price is per person twin share and reflects the $2,300 per person saving*. Pricing is correct as of 3 January 2025, subject to availability at the time of booking. Offers may be withdrawn or prices updated by the supplier at any time, so please enquire with our expert consultants for the latest pricing, terms and conditions. Single supplement may also apply. *Special Offer: Offer valid for new 2025 and 2026 bookings made and deposited by 28 February 2025 or until sold out. Non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $750 per person/per cruise required at time of booking to secure reservation and offers. Offers can be withdrawn or amended at any time without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Tour Code: WJLW.
Save up to $6,000 per couple and earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points when you travel from Budapest to Amsterdam with Avalon Waterways. With many exciting stops along the way, you’ll be immersed in the culture of Central Europe in a unique way on this timeless European river cruise holiday.
HUGE Viking Sale! - Cruise Plus AU$2,500 Airfare Credit Per Person.
Travel through the heart of Europe on this 15-day journey. Our most iconic itinerary traces the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers between the windmill-dotted waterways of Holland and the stunning landscapes of Hungary, with engaging encounters at every bend.
Save up to $4,600 per couple and earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points when you travel along the Danube River with Avalon Waterways. With many exciting stops along the way, you’ll be immersed in the culture of Central Europe in a unique way on this timeless European river cruise holiday.
