CRUISE CONNECTIONS CANADA

Burgundy & Provence – August 6, 2012

11 days from Côte d’Azur to Paris

1 Pre-Hotel night in Cote D’Azur at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, 7 night River Cruise, 2 Post Hotel nights in Paris at the Pullman Paris Montparnese

FREE Roundtrip Air from Toronto and Montreal

FREE French Balcony Upgrade

FREE Shore Excursions and more...

Low Airfare from $99/person available from other Canadian gateways

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Cruise Overview

Opportunities abound on this grand vacation to learn about France and to taste its sumptuous wines and cuisine. Your adventure begins with an overnight on the French Riviera, also known as the Cote d’Azur. Then travel to Port St. Louis in the Provence region to board your ship and sail north up the scenic Rhône and Saône Rivers. Along the way, explore Arles, Avignon, charming Viviers, medieval Tournon, Vienne, France’s gastronomic capital of Lyon, as well as Mâcon, Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saône, and fascinating Beaune. Your vacation ends in Paris with two overnights, guided sightseeing, and free time to explore the remarkable “City of Light” on your own! You’re sure to return home from this vacation with lots of memories and photos to share.

Meals

Full buffet breakfast in Côte d’Azur and Paris; superb dining with all meals on board featuring full breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including a welcome reception, Captain’s reception and farewell dinner; quality wines from France’s most famous wine regions with every dinner; one sitting with open seating arrangements.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

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Day 0 - Fly FREE from Toronto or Montreal to Nice.  From Nice airport, you will be transferred to the luxurious Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel in Cote d’Azur where you will enjoy an overnight stay prior to your cruise.

Day 1 - Arrive in Côte d’Azur, France - Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel

Welcome to France! Time at leisure to get acquainted with your new surroundings.

Day 2 - Côte d’Azur–Port St. Louis (Embarkation)

This morning, enjoy free time before transferring by motorcoach to Port St. Louis in the Provence region, where you’ll board your river cruise vessel. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception and enjoy tranquil scenes as you gently sail through Camargue Regional National Park northward to Arles. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 3 - Arles

On the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is the capital of the Provence and was once known as the “Little Rome of Gaul.” See the church of St. Trophime; “Les Alyscamps,” the remains of the Gallo-Roman burial road; and visit the ROMAN AMPHITHEATER. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the special light of the Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. The “Foundation Vincent Van Gogh” is a tribute to the artist. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4 - Avignon

The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse region, the most picturesque part of Provence. Also referred to as the “City of Popes,” it was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century and the city landscape is dominated by the grandiose Palace of the Popes.  A photo of the bridge of the popular song is a must, and optional outings to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are available this afternoon. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5 - Cruising–Viviers

A leisurely morning on board to relax and enjoy the passing scenery as you glide gently by. The charming town of Viviers was developed around its Romanesque Cathedral, and the Old Town has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 - Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Vienne

The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Tournon, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins, is one of France’s oldest medieval cities. This afternoon, enjoy Vienne, another charming little town surrounded by steep hills. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7 - Lyon

Lyon is France’s second-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial, and banking activities. Roman remains, many excellent museums, and much renaissance architecture delight the visitor. Survey the city from Fourvière Hill and explore the Old Town, a  UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways, Place des Terreaux, and the beautiful Place Bellecour. Beaujolais is the wine of the region and wine connoisseurs will know that the grapes must be hand picked. Tradition dictates that the “Beaujolais Nouveau” is tasted for the first time on the third Thursday of November each year. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 - Mâcon–Tournus–Chalon-sur-Saône

Wake up this morning in Mâcon on the Saône River, a city that plays an important role in the wine trade. There’s free time for exploring after breakfast, then enjoy a short cruise to Tournus. Here, the cloister of St. Philibert or the Burgundy Museum’s folklore collection, located in an old family mansion, are worth a visit. A choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available. Before dinner, arrive in Chalon-sur-Saône. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9 - Chalon-sur-Saône (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Paris

After breakfast, head for Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Or area which produces the Burgundy region’s finest vintages. Its most famous historical site, the Hôtel-Dieu charity hospital, houses Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement and is one of France’s architectural highlights. After lunch, continue north past the forest of Fontainebleau to Paris, the “City of Light.” You will be transferred to the luxurious Pullman Paris Montparnese Hotel where you will enjoy a 2-night stay prior to flying back to Toronto. (Breakfast)

Day 10 - Paris, France - Pullman Paris Montparnese Hotel

Paris’ famous sights are living history: your included city sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colorful nightlife that includes some of the world’s most famous cabaret shows. (Breakfast)

Day 11 - Paris, France

All good things must come to an end.  Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

You will be transferred from the hotel to the airport for your FREE flight  back to Toronto or Montreal. We hope you enjoyed your voyage. It will be time to say goodbye for now but we look forward to welcoming you back on your next cruise.