7 Night Cruise sailing from Lyon roundtrip aboard Swiss Emerald. 2 night hotel stay pre-cruise in Paris.

When it comes to France cruises, it's hard to imagine a more enjoyable one than gliding along the Rhone through the vineyard country from which come some of the world's most exceptional wines. But first, spend two nights at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris, and perhaps discover things you don't yet know about the "City of Light." After riding the high-speed TGV through the French countryside to Lyon, embark ms Swiss Emerald to begin this crcme de la crcme of France cruises, as centuries-old towns, each with its own unique personality, compete for your attention... with private wine tastings at the source in Beaujolais and Châteaneuf-du-Pape... a tasting experience in Lyon's historic indoor food market... a cooking demonstration and wine and cheese tasting at an award-winning cooking school... a Provençal dinner overlooking the Pont du Gard, and so much more!

Day 1 Paris
Tauck's most memorable of France cruises begins at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris at 6:00 PM. You may want to relax a while before joining us for our special welcome cocktail reception and dinner at le Fouquet's on the Champs-Elysees, an iconic landmark for celebrity dining for over a century, followed by an Illuminations tour of the city's glittering lights!

Day 2 Paris
From the grand boulevards and manicured gardens of the Right Bank to the artsy Left Bank, favorite haunt of writers, dreamers and musicians, Parisian neighborhoods reflect the true essence of the city. Choose between a city orientation tour or a walking tour of Le Marais, with its stately mansions, half-timbered houses, covered passageways, and narrow cobbled streets, including Victor Hugo's home, the Place des Vosges, Village Saint-Paul and la rue des Roisers, Paris' medieval Jewish quarter. Then, Paris is yours to experience in whatever way pleases you for the rest of the day and evening. Perhaps you'll visit one of the city's lesser-known museums. a little jewel of a church tucked away on a quiet side street. or an agreeable sidewalk cafe for some Parisian-watching.

Day 3 Lyon (embark)
After a morning at leisure in Paris, travel first class to Lyon on the high-speed TGV train. With a 2,000-year-old history, Lyon grew up at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone Rivers; today it is France's third largest city with a heritage of Roman ruins and Renaissance-era architecture. Known historically for its prominent silk industry, the city's reputation today is as the gastronomic capital of France, a center of youthful design and futuristic architecture. You'll board your floating hotel ms Swiss Emerald in Lyon, then join us for a Captain's welcome reception and dinner to celebrate the start of your cruise in festive fashion.

Day 4 Lyon
Lyon is considered the "culinary capital of France" - quite a compliment in a country famed for its cuisine and fine vintages. Today includes a tasting lunch at the Les Halles de Lyon, the celebrated indoor food market that's been a fixture in Lyon since 1850 and offers an unbelievable array of breads, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, sausages, wines, chocolates and more. Everything is fresh and delicious, and it's said that the best chefs in Lyon shop here; you'll enjoy tastings of various goodies paired with appropriate wines! But Lyon is also a city with a venerable history and considerable charm, as you'll discover when you visit Vieux Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first protected historic district in France. Sightseeing also includes the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvicre, built atop the ruins of an ancient Roman forum. Then it's off to the celebrated wine-growing region of Beaujolais for a tasting in the countryside before continuing your cruise to Viviers.

Day 5 Viviers
The riverboat cruises this morning to Viviers, a walled city with origins in the 5th century on the right bank of the Rhone. Navigate its narrow streets on a walking tour with your local guide, viewing the 12th-century Cathedral of Notre Dame de Rhone and the richly detailed façade of the Maison des Chevaliers, home to an upwardly mobile salt merchant in the 1500s. Then learn to play the popular outdoor game of petanque; akin to playing a game of horseshoes, it's a pastime meant to be shared with friends - and a glass of pastis in hand. Spend the rest of the day and evening cruising as ms Swiss Emerald continues on to Arles in Provence.

Day 6 Arles
It may seem that the Romans were everywhere along the Rhone, and Arles is no exception, as is witnessed by the triumphal arch, circus and baths they left behind - and an arena in which gladiators fought and is still a venue for performances and bullfights today - as you explore the city on a sightseeing tour and time on your own. Look beyond the city walls at the incredible quality of the light here that so enraptured Vincent van Gogh - and the landscapes of yellow rocks, red soil and lilac mountains that inspired in the Dutch artist a newfound creativity, and led to one of the most productive periods of his short life. This afternoon, ms Swiss Emerald heads for Avignon; upon arrival this evening, you'll have a chance to take a stroll through this well-preserved medieval city.

Day 7 Avignon
Although the fortified city of Avignon was undoubtedly a pleasant place before they arrived, the 13th-century popes, who spent less than a century here when Rome became "tedious" for them, really put it on the map, and cultivated the local wine industry (Châteauneuf-du-Pape). Sightseeing today includes the Palais des Papes, the vast, fortress-like palace that they built for themselves during that time. After discovering more of Avignon on your own during leisure time this afternoon, visit the Pont du Gard - a famous Roman aqueduct over the River Gardon. This evening, this engineering marvel becomes the amazing backdrop for a special treat for Tauck guests only... a festive Provençal-style reception and dinner accompanied by fine local wines and entertainment.

Day 8 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
This most extraordinary of France cruises takes you into the Luberon region of Provence, welcomed by trees sculpted by the mistral wind, ancient vines, narrow winding roads and tidy stone structures. Here, the village of Roussillon, with its lovely central square, seems to have evaded time itself. Surrounded by richly colored cliffs and quarries blazing against the azure sky, the town sits in the middle of one of the world's largest deposits of ochre... reflected in the façades of its buildings, their subtle colors offset with brightly painted shutters. Follow a walking path to the old quarry for insights on why the town's livelihood was once intertwined with this colorful natural pigment. After lunch on board, head to the hillside village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape - once encircled by a wall that included the château built by the popes of Avignon as a summer palace, and home to flourishing vineyards as early as the 13th century - known for growing and producing wine of the same appellation; enjoy a tasting before returning to the riverboat.

Day 9 Tournon
Tournon-sur-Rhone is a perfect spot to start the final day of your Rhone cruise with a guided walking tour; wind your way up to high ground and admire the views of lush Cotes du Rhone vineyards and dramatic river vistas of this medieval town. Across the river, visit the home of Valhrona Chocolates (subject to Monday closings), respected for quality around the world, for a tasting. Then journey to Valence - a major hub for fresh Rhone Valley produce and home to some of France's finest culinary artists - for an education in epicurean delights. Attend a multi-course tasting presentation at an award-winning restaurant and cooking school in town; learn how seasonal ingredients, contrasting flavors and time-tested techniques can combine to create mouth-watering local specialties. Celebrate one of Tauck's most remarkable France cruises with the Captain's farewell reception and dinner aboard ship.

Day 10 Lyon (disembark)