Begin your European holiday with two overnights in Nice on the French Riviera on the blue Mediterranean. Transfer to Port-Saint-Louis to board your Avalon Suite Ship for your French river cruise. Take in the beautiful countryside, quaint villages, and towns, as you sail through the most captivating views of France. Indulge in the legendary cuisine of France on this culinary focused cruise through Burgundy and Provence. With a Master of Wine on board and special culinary highlights throughout your cruise, you’ll sample regional French specialties with onboard wine tastings with cheese and chocolate and wine-and-food pairings. Enjoy a pastry demonstration by a French chef and attend a cooking class. You’ll sail to beautiful Arles, Avignon and Lyon where you will enjoy guided city sightseeing tours. Continue to Dijon for a high-speed train ride to Paris - “The City of Light,” to embark on your Seine River cruise.
See the home of master artist Claude Monet and stroll his magnificent gardens and charming residence at Giverny. Cruise on the Seine to Caudebec and take an excursion to Normandy. Here, you may select from two guided tours - Normandy’s historic beaches and WWII monuments, or a “Taste of Normandy” with a day in its beautiful agricultural region. Continue to Rouen, for a guided walking tour. Next, you’ll sail to Conflans, for an excursion to Auvers-Sur-Oise - the village where Vincent Van Gogh painted, lived, and died - or to Château de Malmaison, the legendary home of Napoléon Bonaparte.
After returning to Paris, fly to Venice to begin your Monograms holiday package with three nights each in Venice & Rome. Enjoy included guided sightseeing and ample free time with helpful onsite support from expert Local Hosts in both cities. Your French river cruise, Normandy Beaches tour, and Italian holiday in Venice and Rome, will be hard to match for the beauty, culture, and new sights to recall for years to follow.
