Flavors of Burgundy with Geneva and Paris (Wine Cruise)

Check into your Geneva hotel for the beginning of your Essence of Burgundy & Provence pre-cruise land program.

Get acquainted with Geneva, the “Peace City,” and gateway to the Swiss Alps, on your guided walking tour. With traditions in both watchmaking and chocolate making, this beautiful city has a rich history, which you will glimpse during your excursion. (B)

Excursions:

• “The Peace Capital” city tour
• Free afternoon

Venture to Montreux and visit Chillon Castle, a picture-perfect medieval island fortress with three formal great halls, a chapel and beautifully arched underground rooms that once served as a prison. (B)

Excursions:

• Montreux and Chillon Castle visit

Board your ship in preparation for your 7-night Flavors of Burgundy cruise. (B/D)

Excursions:

• Transfer to ship via Annecy

Discover dynamic Lyon, starting with a tasting of Beaujolais wines at a traditional winery. In the afternoon, you may join a tour of Lyon that starts in Fourvière Hill, part of the city's historic region that is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the 19th-century basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Continue to the old town of Lyon, followed by a guided walk through the St. Jean district, where you will be introduced to the city's unique covered walkways, known as “traboules.” If you're a self-described foodie, our Les Halles Market tasting tour is for you, during which you'll have a chance to taste some of Lyon's local delights. Or get active a guided bike tour through the city designed with cyclists in mind. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Beaujolais wine tasting
• “France's Culinary Capital” city tour OR Les Halles tasting tour OR Lyon bike tour

Join a guided tour through the “South Burgundy City” of Mâcon, learning about its local vineyards, museums, historical sites and perhaps its famous son, the poet and minister Alphonse de Lamartine. Or venture somewhat off the beaten path to Cluny, known for its large abbey. Return to the ship and enjoy a scenic cruise to Tournus. Or, instead, join a guided bike tour from Mâcon to Tournus. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• “The South Burgundy City” Mâcon tour OR Cluny excursion
• Scenic cruising OR Mâconnais wine tasting OR Mâcon-Tournus bike tour

Let your knowledgeable guide lead you through Tournus and to its magnificent Benedictine Abbey of Saint Philibert. Or choose instead to visit the moated Château de Cormatin, which dates back to the early 17th century and features ornate apartments as well as a beautifully manicured garden. As an alternative, venture to the medieval village of Brancion with its preserved gateway, church and market hall. Later in the day, enjoy a scenic sailing to Chalon-sur-Saône, or learn about centuries old traditions while sampling the region's famous Chalonnaise wines. Alternatively, pedal from Tournus to Chalon-sur-Saône on an exhilarating guided bike tour. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Tournus city tour & Abbey of Saint Philibert visit OR Château Cormatin OR Medieval Brancion
• Scenic cruising OR Chalonnaise wine tasting OR Tournus-Chalon bike tour

Located in southern Burgundy at the heart of the Côte Chalonnaise wine region, Chalon-sur-Saône whispers the secrets of its medieval past which you will discover on your historic city tour. You may also choose to explore the city on a guided bike tour. Later in the day, enjoy a scenic sailing to Seurre. Alternatively, sample the highly esteemed vintages from the Côtes de Nuits region on a guided wine tasting, surrounded by the oaken casks and intricately tiled roofs that bring this sommelier's fantasy to life. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Historic city tour OR Chalon-sur-Saône bike tour
• Scenic cruising OR Côtes de Nuits wine tasting

Visit the town of Beaune, a walled town nestled in the heart of Cote d'Or vineyards where you'll stroll the cobblestone streets and take in such sights as the mosaic-tiled roof of the Hospices de Beaune, founded in the 15th century as a hospital for the less fortunate. Guests interested in wine making can learn more about cooperage, or the art of making wine barrels, in this interactive workshop that guides you through the process of crafting barrels through traditional methods. You may also join a guided tour through Seurre, unraveling its rich tapestry of heritage and charm. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic sailing or opt for a more active outing with a bike tour. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Beaune excursion OR Art du Tonneau Cooperage Experience OR Seurre walking tour
• Scenic cruising OR Seurre-Dijon bike tour

Famously known as the “Birthplace of Mustard,” Dijon was the home to the four Dukes of Burgundy from 1364 to 1477. On a guided tour, explore Dijon's medieval center which overflows with art and cultural heritage, showcased within several spectacular museums. Alternatively, embark on a guided bike tour along the Saône River and witness captivating sites such as the lock controlling the river's access to the Rhone-Rhine Canal. Or choose to visit the stunning Château d'Arcelot, with elements dating back to the 13th century. The Château d'Arcelot blends medieval religious structures, neoclassical architecture, and even a Chinese pavilion into a fascinating architectural marvel. (B/L/D)

Excursions:

• Dijon city tour OR Château d'Arcelot visit OR “Banks of the Saone” Bike tour

Disembark the ship, board your comfortable motorcoach to Paris and check into your hotel. (B)

Excursions:

• Motorcoach transfer to Paris

Enjoy taking in the signature sites of Paris in your guided city tour, including the awe-inspiring Arc de Triomphe and iconic Eiffel Tower. You'll see Champs Élysées with its cinemas, sidewalk cafes and luxury specialty shops. (B)

Excursions:

• “City of Light” tour

Enjoy a full day at your leisure to discover more of this romantic city, such as the world-renowned Louvre Museum or Musée d'Orsay. Perhaps go shopping in the Faubourg Saint-Honoré district or simply relax and spend the day like a local – by scoping out a local café for a café au lait, toasted baguette or croissant. In the evening, visit Montmartre, long known as the city's premier artist's enclave. During the mid to late 1800s, artists also began calling Montmartre home. Pissarro and Jongkind were two of the first to live there, followed by other notable artists, including Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Pablo Picasso. You'll be taken on an evening illumination tour, discovering why Paris is renowned as the “City of Light.” (B)

Excursions:

• Evening Montmartre and illumination tour

Bid farewell to Paris and prepare for your flight home.