Grand France

Arrive at Marseille Airport. If you have arranged a Uniworld arrival transfer, a Uniworld representative will be on hand to greet you and transfer you to S.S. Catherine, docked in Arles.

Explore a sun-drenched Provençal town with an allure all its own. Known for its remarkable Roman ruins, Arles so inspired Van Gogh that he painted some 200 paintings here. The city has existed since the sixth century BC, when ancient Greeks founded it and named it Theline, and it was here that the Romans built their first bridge across the Rhône River. Choose between two excursions.
Arles Walking Tour (included): Van Gogh paid tribute to Arles’ atmospheric beauty in 200 paintings including Starry Night Over the Rhône. Walk with a local expert through a district where medieval houses crowd among ancient structures and 13th-century city gates still stand. Pause before the town hall, built with stone from the Roman theatre, and the Romanesque St. Trophime Church, erected in the 12th century. Walk in Van Gogh’s footsteps past the cheerful yellow Café de Nuit, still open and still the same shade it was when he painted it.
Van Gogh Painting Class: Create a Van Gogh-inspired painting in the very town that inspired the master, led by local artists from La Couverture Verte in a step-by-step class exploring his expressive style through colour and texture.

The walled city of Avignon is one of the most fascinating towns in southern France — the city of the popes — with UNESCO-designated ramparts, a near-impregnable fortress and centuries of history to explore. Choose between four excursions.
Avignon Walking Tour with Palace of the Popes: Stand below the high, thick walls of the papal fortress to appreciate just how daunting these fortifications were, then climb through the Palace of the Popes — the huge, near-impregnable fortress that dominated medieval Avignon. Explore the charming Clock Tower Square and the cobblestone alleys of the old papal city.
Let’s Go: Kayak to Roman Ruins: Paddle the waters of the Gardon River to one of the finest examples of Roman engineering still standing — the Pont du Gard, a tri-level limestone aqueduct bridge constructed in the first century AD to supply water to the city of Nîmes. An extraordinary perspective on a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Let’s Go: Biking Avignon: Explore the city and its surroundings by bicycle.
Pont du Gard Roman Aqueduct Visit: A thousand workers quarried 50,000 tons of soft golden limestone to construct — without mortar — this magnificent tri-level bridge that still spans the Gardon River. An expert guide explains the engineering techniques behind a structure that has withstood 2,000 years of floods, then the museum reveals the full story of the 30-mile Roman aqueduct it anchored.

An enchanting village where time seems to have stopped centuries ago, Viviers has a history stretching back more than 1,600 years and an architectural heritage to match.
Village Day: Ardèches (included): A local expert leads you through fountain squares in the Old Town, along cobblestone lanes so narrow you can touch the medieval houses on either side, and up to the 12th-century St. Vincent’s Cathedral — the smallest cathedral in France. Meet local residents, visit a working pottery, and try a game of pétanque on the way back to the ship. All visits include an aperitif.
Nights Out: Private Concert (included): A private concert in one of Viviers’ historic settings.

The twin villages of Tournon and Tain-l’Hermitage sit on opposite banks of the Rhône in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône, a paradise for connoisseurs of fine wine. Choose between three excursions.
Tournon and Tain-l’Hermitage Twin Villages Stroll with Wine Tasting: Cross the flower-decked Marc Seguin suspension bridge to Tain-l’Hermitage to visit local wine cellars and taste the region’s famous Côtes du Rhône, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage wines, produced from Syrah grapes grown on steep slopes above the river. Afterwards, browse the shops and visit the Valrhona chocolate factory.
Let’s Go: Hermitage Terrace Vineyards Hike with Wine Tasting: Hike the precipitous terraced slopes above the river where the world-famous Hermitage wines are produced, then taste the finished results.
Valrhona Chocolate Workshop: Visit the Cité du Chocolat discovery centre of iconic French chocolatier Valrhona, whose name comes from the Vallée du Rhône. Create your own selection of treats in a hands-on workshop led by an expert chocolatier.

Ancient Lyon is a city of tantalising contrasts, from Roman roots to stunning modern architecture and Renaissance flair in between. The epicentre of French gastronomy, Lyon is the ideal place to lunch on your own at one of the many traditional bouchons. Choose between three excursions.
Lyon Panoramic Tour with Traboules Visit: Take in the view from the top of Fourvière Hill before riding through the streets to the riverbanks and discovering les traboules, the city’s secret passageways in the historic quarter. Walk the quays or settle in for lunch at a traditional bouchon.
Silk Weavers Walking Tour (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER): Jump on a tram to the historic Saint-Jean Quarter and visit a workshop keeping Lyon’s centuries-old silk weaving tradition alive, commissioned for the Versailles restoration project. Then walk through the traboules, the secret passageways silk weavers once used to keep their delicate fabrics out of the rain.
Let’s Go: Lyon Peninsula Bike Tour: Pedal along the banks of the Rhône, over the Raymond Barre Bridge, past the Museum of Confluences and along the peninsula between the Saône and the Rhône, where houseboats tie up and swans float on the water.

The pace of life is decidedly more relaxed in Burgundy, where endless rows of vines line the hills. The capital of the region’s wine trade, Beaune is renowned for its history, its wine and its extraordinary medieval hospital. Choose between two excursions.
Burgundy Landscapes, Beaune and the Hospices (included): Tour the magnificent Hospices de Beaune (Hôtel-Dieu), instantly recognisable by its dazzling multicoloured-tile roof, founded in 1443 as a charitable institution and still a working hospital funded by one of the world’s most prestigious wine auctions. Afterwards, browse the open-air farmers’ market spilling through the Old Town, piled with cheeses, fruits, vegetables, local sausages and breads.
Secrets of Burgundy Scavenger Hunt: A playful adventure through Beaune’s cobblestone streets and postcard-worthy architecture, uncovering hidden gems, solving riddles and learning fascinating stories about the town’s Roman and ducal history.

Lyon, the capital city in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Its center reflects 2,000 years of history from the Roman Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, medieval and Renaissance architecture in Vieux (Old) Lyon, to the modern Confluence district on Presqu’île peninsula. Traboules, covered passageways between buildings, connect Vieux Lyon and La Croix-Rousse hill.

Disembark S.S. Catherine in Lyon and transfer to Paris by high-speed TGV train. S.S. Joie de Vivre awaits on the Seine for the northern leg of this grand French adventure.

A day celebrating northern France’s natural beauty — a splendid château in a grand setting followed by an immersion in the very landscapes that inspired Impressionist master Claude Monet. Choose between four excursions.
Château de La Roche-Guyon: Walk through the elegantly designed garden and beautifully panelled rooms of this extraordinary château, which began as a cave dwelling, became a medieval fortress against marauding Vikings and served as Rommel’s WWII headquarters, its ancient fortifications providing unrivalled security.
Let’s Go: Hike on the Crests Trail: A scenic hike through the village of La Roche-Guyon, past a restored 17th-century garden, the Saint-Samson church and the old dungeon. Note: may be cancelled in the event of rain.
Monet’s Gardens at Giverny: Monet lived and worked in Giverny for more than 40 years, transforming an orchard into the enchanting garden he immortalised on canvas. Stroll through the grounds, see the famous Japanese bridge and water garden shaded by weeping willows, and visit his house, still furnished as it was in his lifetime with his precious collection of Japanese engravings.
Let’s Go: Bike Ride from Vernon to Giverny: Pedal the country roads between Vernon and Giverny to the village where the artist lived for decades, passing the church and cemetery where Monet is buried and arriving at his house and garden for a tour.

Vernon is a commune in the department of Eure in the Normandy region in northern France. It lies on the banks of the river Seine, about midway between Paris and Rouen. The city is known for its production of engines by the SNECMA group.

Giverny is a village in the region of Normandy in northern France. Impressionist painter Claude Monet lived and worked here from 1883 until his death in 1926. The artist’s former home and elaborate gardens, where he produced his famed water lily series, are now the Fondation Claude Monet museum. Nearby, the Musée des impressionnismes Giverny highlights the Impressionist art movement.

Normandy’s medieval capital is a treasure trove for the culturally curious, with a historic quarter that remains remarkably intact. Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, Gustave Flaubert and Claude Monet are all woven into the fabric of this extraordinary city. Choose between two excursions.
Rouen Walking Tour (included): Victor Hugo called Rouen the city with a hundred bell towers, the most famous of which rises above Notre Dame Cathedral. Walk past the apartment Monet used as a studio and gaze at the cathedral as the Impressionist master saw it, explore the cobblestone alleyways and half-timbered houses of the Old Town, and see the bronze cross marking the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.
Camembert Cheese Farm (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER): Visit a sustainably-minded family farm producing AOC-designated Camembert in Normandy, learning how it is made before tasting a variety of their delicious cheeses, washed down with local apple cider.
Nights Out: Private Concert at Rouen Cathedral (included): Walk through the streets of Rouen at night to the famous cathedral for a private concert, appreciating the long musical heritage of a choir and grand organ that date back several hundred years. Note: layering is advised as there is no heating in this historic building.

From the lovely town of Caudebec-en-Caux, drive through the beautiful Calvados countryside to Honfleur, a delightful seaside harbour beloved by painters for centuries.
Honfleur Walking Tour (included): Begin at the Vieux Bassin, the former smugglers’ harbour and the most frequently painted scene in Honfleur, which looks much as it did a century ago. Wind through tiny lanes past a jumble of architectural styles before arriving at St. Catherine’s Church, built in the 15th century by shipwrights who gave it an oak ceiling shaped like the hull of a boat.

A full day at the Normandy beaches — moments that move travellers on an otherworldly level. Choose between three carefully curated excursions, each concluding with a private memorial ceremony.
Normandy Beaches: Highlights of American Sites: Visit historic Utah Beach and the Airborne Museum, then the American Cemetery, concluding with a private memorial ceremony at Omaha Beach. Note: lunch on own.
Normandy Beaches: Highlights of British and Commonwealth Sites: Visit the remnants of the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches — code-named Gold Beach — and immerse yourself in the tactics, courage and human cost of the 1944 Allied invasion. Note: lunch on own.
Normandy Beaches: Highlights of Canadian Sites: Walk the shoreline where the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division landed on D-Day and visit Juno Beach Center, dedicated to the one million Canadians who served in WWII. Note: lunch on own.

Step inside the lavish Palace of Versailles, the official residence of French kings and queens from 1682 until the revolution, and gain access to areas not open to individual visitors.
Versailles Palace Secret Apartments (included): Tour the lush silk draperies, gilded beds, Aubusson carpets and exquisite furnishings of the palace, climb to the jaw-dropping Hall of Mirrors where France’s absolute rulers held court for ambassadors from across the world, then enjoy a private guided tour of the King’s Private Apartments — accessible only to Uniworld guests — with more time to admire the details and hear stories of the monarchs who lived here.

Whether visiting Paris for the first time or returning, there is something for everyone in the City of Light. Choose between two excursions.
Paris City Tour: Drive along the Seine past Pont Alexandre III with its sculpted nymphs and Art Nouveau lamps, the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde. Pass the Opéra Garnier, Place Vendôme, the Louvre and the Sorbonne before arriving at the Champ de Mars, the perfect vantage point for Paris’s most iconic structure.
Paris Walking Tour of the Latin Quarter: Take the Métro to the Latin Quarter and wander through narrow streets where Matisse, Picasso, Hemingway and Fitzgerald once lived and worked, ending with a view of Notre Dame Cathedral — officially the geographic centre of France.
This evening, the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner.

Disembark the ship and transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport for your flight home — or extend the journey with an optional post-cruise extension to Athens (3 nights) or Athens and Santorini (5 nights). A pre-cruise extension to Mediterranean Cassis (2 nights at Hotel les Roches Blanches) is also available. Speak with a Cruiseabout consultant for availability and details.