European Wine Discovery River Cruises

Embarkation: St. Jean de Losne (airport, Paris)
Disembarkation: Port St. Louis (airport, Marseille)
2020 Dates: 27 October

Prices starting at CA$4,715 – twin, per person, based on two people sharing a twin cabin (Category D or E).

Take a delightful river cruise through France along the Rhône and Saône Rivers with guided sightseeing in known French treasures and some hidden gems too! Soak in the sights of the beautiful countryside, quaint villages and towns, as you sail through the most captivating views of France. Join a lovely excursion to the Chardonnay wine area. Then reach Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, founded by the Romans in 43 BC, which sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône Rivers and is a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Visit the popular Place des Terreaux with its lively cafés and monuments and stand in front of the famous fountain you’ve seen on postcards. You’ll have plenty of time to explore this historical city further and be sure to join the guided tour to Beaujolais, for a tasting of its famous wines.

Beautifully nestled among vineyards, you’ll find the city of Tournon, a medieval treasure with plenty of Roman ruins and a fascinating 16th-century castle, where you’ll go on a guided walk, which will also include a wine and chocolate tasting. Alternatively, you can join a guided hike in the vineyards. Continue your river cruise to historical Avignon and see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes—the largest gothic fortress in the world. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Châteauneuf du Pape region and taste some of its wines. On the Rhône River sits Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh and its 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre, which hosts plays and concerts to this day.

A Master of Wine will travel with you on this cruise and will hold lectures, tastings and will introduce you to the concept of food and wine pairing.

There is an option to add some nights in Paris before your cruise departure date. Please ask us for information and pricing for this option.

This itinerary may also be done as a 9 day/8 night cruise, beginning with an overnight in Marseille, embarkation Port. St. Louis and ending in St. Jean de Losne (airport, Paris). Prices are slightly higher for the reverse itinerary beginning in Marseille.

Prices starting at CA$4,960 – twin, per person, based on two people sharing a twin cabin (Category D or E).

For a similar cruise with a culinary focus, take a look at our European River Cruises Focus on Food page.

Paris, France (2 nights): Bienvenue en France! Take free time today to fall in love with the world’s most romantic city. Get inspired by its architectural icons, exquisite cuisine, chic boutiques, and priceless artistic treasures. Join a Guided City Tour that shows the iconic sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and the famous Champs-Élysées. Spend your free time strolling through the Champs-Élysées for café au lait and croissants, see the exhibits at the Louvre, or visit Montmartre’s Basilica of the Sacré Cœur. Consider browsing Paris’ classic shopping avenues and literary cafés for a true Parisian experience, or have your portrait sketched by a Parisian artist in the square at Place du Tertre.

Aix-en-Provence & Nice, France (4 nights): Upon disembarkation in Port St. Louis you will take the included transfer to Aix-en-Provence and begin your touring program. Your guided walking tour includes a visit to the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, known for its interesting combination of architectural styles and The Burning Bush triptych art masterpiece by Nicolas Froment. Enjoy a full day at leisure in Cézanne’s hometown. Your Local Host will help you get the most out of your stay. Travel by high-speed TGV train (first class) to Nice. Your guided sightseeing features the Promende des Anglais, originally built in the second half of the 18th century and the most famous boulevard in Nice, and a walk through the charming Old Town. Your Local Host has recommendations for your full day at leisure on the beautiful Côte d’Azur.

Nice, France and Barcelona, Spain (5 days/4 nights): An included transfer takes you from the port to Nice, where you will join your Monograms vacation. Guided sightseeing features the Promende des Anglais, originally built in the second half of the 18th century and the most famous boulevard in Nice, and a walk through the charming Old Town. Your Local Host has recommendations for your full day at leisure on the beautiful Côte d’Azur. Transfer to Nice airport for your flight to Barcelona. Your morning guided sightseeing includes a drive along elegant Passeig de Gràcia to see the captivating façades of Gaudí’s La Pedrera and Casa Batllò, and an inside visit of the extraordinary Sagrada Familia Basilica. Your Local Host has many recommendations for your day at leisure.

Please inquire for pricing details for this or any other extensions to your river cruise. All extensions may be personalized to include exactly the places you want to visit and the things you want to do.

Embarkation: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Disembarkation: Port St. Louis (airport, Marseille)
2020 Dates: 20 October

Prices starting at CA$9,803 – twin, per person, based on two people sharing a twin cabin (Category D or E).

This fabulous European river cruise along the Rhine, Saône, and Rhône Rivers combines the best of Holland, France, and Germany. Begin in Holland’s vibrant capital of Amsterdam, with a canal cruise through the 700-year-old city. Visit Cologne, Germany, a 2,000-year-old city known for its gothic architecture and famous twin-spired cathedral, and sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge. Strasbourg, France, located on the French-German border, perfectly blends the cultures of both countries, and Breisach, Germany, is the gateway to the unrivaled natural beauty of the Black Forest. Taste some of Burgundy wines on board your ship, and visit the Chardonnay wine region. Cruise to France’s culinary capital of Lyon, and visit the Place des Terreaux fountain of famous postcards, then visit the Beaujolais region to taste famous wines.

Beautifully nestled among vineyards, you’ll find the twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage, where you’ll go on a guided walk of 16th-century sites in Tournon, followed by a wine and chocolate tasting. Cruise to historical Avignon and see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes and enjoy a wine tasting on a visit to the Châteauneuf du Pape wine country. Sail on the Rhône River to Arles, France—famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh. In the second portion of your cruise a Master of Wine will travel with you and share lectures, tastings and food and wine pairing expertise. As a perfect finale to your Seine river cruise vacation, spend time in the captivating Marseille. Explore this elegant area and relax along the remarkably blue water of the Mediterranean Sea.

This itinerary also operates in reverse, northbound, beginning at Port St. Louis (airport, Marseille) and ending in Amsterdam with two 2020 dates offered, 06 and 20 October. Please inquire for prices.

Nice, France (2 nights): After disembarkation at Port St. Louis, an included transfer takes you to Nice, where you will join your touring program. Guided sightseeing features the Promende des Anglais, originally built in the second half of the 18th century and the most famous boulevard in Nice, and a walk through the charming Old Town. Your Local Host has recommendations for your full day at leisure on the beautiful Côte d’Azur.

Barcelona, Spain (2 nights) (from Nice): Transfer to Nice airport for your flight to Barcelona. Your morning guided sightseeing includes a drive along elegant Passeig de Gràcia to see the captivating façades of Gaudí’s La Pedrera and Casa Batllò, and an inside visit of the extraordinary Sagrada Familia Basilica. Your Local Host has many recommendations for your day at leisure.

Marseille, France (1 night): Northbound itineraries Enjoy free time to explore this vibrant city on your day of arrival. The following day your local guide will take you on a sightseeing tour along the spectacular seascapes of the Mediterranean Coast, before you join your transfer to the ship.

Embarkation: Budapest, Hungary
Disembarkation: Deggendorf, Germany  (airport, Munich)
2020 Dates: 29 October

Prices starting at CA$4,101 (October) – twin, per person, based on two people sharing a twin cabin (Category D or E).

Cruise along the peaceful Danube River through Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany—stopping at some of Central Europe’s most splendid capitals and charming towns along the way. Begin this timeless European river cruise in Budapest, where guided sightseeing acquaints you with the highlights of the vibrant capital of Hungary and a local expert will give you an introduction to the city including the must-see sights and will take you to a secret wine cellar for a tasting. Set sail on the Danube, take pictures of the impressive views of the Parliament Building as you leave Budapest, and head for Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Here enjoy a guided walk through the delightful Old Town and visit the gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. Vienna, Austria, the “City of Music,” makes an immediate impression with its lavish Habsburg Imperial Palace and neo-renaissance Vienna Opera House.

Enjoy the magnificent views as your river cruise takes you through the picturesque wine region of the Wachau Valley, with stops for a guided walk in Dürnstein, a wine experience in a 900 years old wine cellar and a visit of the impressive Benedictine Abbey of Melk. In Linz, walk around the Hauptplatz, Austria’s largest medieval square, which forms the center of the city. Take a guided walk around Passau, Germany, known for its maze of narrow cobblestone streets and St. Stephen’s Cathedral—a masterpiece of baroque architecture. A memorable last stop on this delightful Danube River cruise vacation!

A Master of Wine will travel with you on this cruise and will hold lectures, tastings and will introduce you to food and wine pairing.

Add some days in Budapest before your cruise and in Munich afterwards to complete your holiday. We can quote you on any options you may wish to include.

Prague, Czech Republic (2 nights). You may also choose to add on a visit to this scenic city. We can arrange for you to travel by motor coach to Prague with a two-night stay in the “Golden City”. Prague is a 1,200-year-old city preserved in time, and, unlike other Central European capitals, it was not bombed during the 20th-century wars. A local guide shows you its best-known treasures, such as the Old Town’s Astronomical Clock, built in 1410 and once the envy of all of Europe; Hradcany Castle grounds; St. Vitus Cathedral; and the Charles Bridge, the oldest bridge in Prague. Browse the shops for hand-cut crystal or art books. Mix with the locals in Wenceslaus Square, an important meeting point where people demonstrated against the communist regime; or watch performers on Charles Bridge.

Dresden and Berlin, Germany (2 nights): From Prague travel by motor coach to Dresden, a city badly damaged by Allied bombing during WWII. During your guided walk visit the courtyard of the Zwinger Palace to admire its impressive architecture, see the magnificent baroque Semper Opera, built in 1841, destroyed once by fire and once by bombing and finally restored in 1985; and the newly rebuilt Frauenkirche. Enjoy free time during lunch before continuing to Berlin, Germany’s reunited capital, where you arrive in the late afternoon. The following day join a Local Expert for a guided tour of the major sites of this metropolis, including the restored Reichstag building, Charlottenburg Palace, and the elegant Kurfürstendamm. See the Holocaust Memorial and the 210-foot Victory Column and make a picture stop at monumental Brandenburg Gate, one of the best-known landmarks of Germany where President John F. Kennedy once famously said “I am a Berliner”. Visit the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church with its bomb-damaged tower, drive along Unter den Linden boulevard and pass the State Opera House and Checkpoint Charlie. This afternoon is free for your own exploration.

Please inquire for pricing details for this or any other extensions to your river cruise. All extensions may be personalized to include exactly the places you want to visit and the things you want to do.