WHOLE SHIP SOLO TRAVELERS
CRUISE OF THE RHONE RIVER, BURGUNDY, PROVENCE
AND ARDECHE GORGE OF FRANCE

April 3-10, 2024

FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FOR ALL PASSENGERS


THE PALACE OF THE POPES, WHICH WE WILL VISIT IN AVIGNON FRANCE, THE  HOME FOR THE PAPACY OF SEVEN POPES

FOLLOWING THE GREAT SUCCESS OF OUR 2022 AND 2023 WHOLE SHIP SOLO TRAVELERS ONLY CRUISES ON THE DANUBE RIVER, WE ARE OFFERING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IN 2024, THIS TIME ON ANOTHER OF THE MOST SCENIC RIVERS IN EUROPE, THE RHONE RIVER, FEATURING THE STUNNING ARDECHE GORGE OF FRANCE.

From the lush slopes of the scenic wine lands to the sun-baked hills of Provence and the wild beauty of the Ardèche Gorges to the medieval splendor of Avignon, enjoy a fascinating cruise to one of the most picturesque corners of France.

We start in France’s gastronomic capital and explore the beautiful Saone and Rhône rivers, the preferred route of traders and invaders alike since the dawn of recorded history. Everywhere there are reminders of the Romans and the greatest empire of the ancient world.

You will be staggered by the engineering genius of the staggering amphitheater at Arles and the huge aqueduct at the Pont du Gard. Avignon was the seat of the Papacy during medieval times, heralding a century of greatness crowned by the absorbing Papal Palace and its stunning renaissance art collection. Van Gogh created arguably his greatest works in Provence and all this is set in some of France’s most stunning natural beauty – all waiting to be discovered on this wonderful cruise

THE ENTIRE SHIP IS SOLO TRAVELERS.  EVERYONE ON THE SHIP WILL BE IN SINGLE OCCUPANCY WITH A FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT.

THIS MEANS YOU SAVE $$$ AND YOU HAVE MORE SPACE IN YOUR OWN CABIN AND IT MEANS THE SHIP SAILS WITH ONLY HALF ITS TOTAL CAPACITY, WHICH MEANS MORE SPACE FOR ALL PASSENGERS IN ALL THE PUBLIC AREAS ON THE SHIP.

NORMALLY HOLDING A TOTAL OF 140 PASSENGERS IN DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, THERE WILL BE ONLY 70 PASSENGERS ON THIS SAILING …AND ALL OF THOSE 70 WILL BE IN SINGLE OCCUPANCY!

DAILY SHORE EXCURSIONS ARE INCLUDED IN EVERY PORT AND THERE ARE NO AT SEA DAYS WITHOUT A SIGHTSEEING EXCURSION.

Weather in this region of France in April is ideal for sightseeing the winelands and other beautiful sites along this cruise itinerary, with average daytime temps in the mid 60’s(sometimes reaching the low 70s) and a dry climate.

INLCUDED BY THE CRUISE LINE ON OUR CRUISE:

• Seven nights on board in your choice of luxury cabin or suite, with river views 
• Seven visits and tours, including Lyon, Arles, Avignon and Vienne; a French wine tasting in Beaune, France and excursions to the Ardèche Gorges, Popes’ Palace and the Pont du Gard
• All meals on board from dinner on your day of arrival through to breakfast on your day of departure, including a welcome dinner, welcome cocktails and the Captain’s Dinner 
• Five-star service from an English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides
• Complimentary on-board tea and coffee 
• Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi 
•  Services of a Riviera River Cruises cruise director and concierge 

APRIL 3RD, 2024

EMBARK IN AVIGNON

Fly into  Marseilles, the third largest city in France, with convenient flight connections from European hub cities in Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt or London, to enable all to fly their preferred airline.

Upon arrival at the Marseilles airport, proceed via easy taxi or prearranged shuttle services to Avignon, approx. 50 minutes away, where your five-star floating hotel is moored in the picturesque historic center. The dedicated English-speaking crew will welcome you on board and help you to your cabin. After settling in to your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there’s time to familiarize yourself with this five-star floating hotel.

April 4th, 2024

The light catching the red roofs of Avignon’s majestic skyline is a sight to behold over breakfast, after which we embark on a guided tour of one of the most extraordinary and intriguing cities in France. Avignon’s destiny changed during the 14th century when the Pope’s court moved here to avoid strife in Rome. Igniting a century of prosperity, the Pontiff commissioned a host of ambitious building projects, and today the city is immaculately preserved, nestling behind its almost intact 14th-century walls and boasting more remarkable monuments, superbly decorated buildings, churches, chapels and convents than you can possibly count.

Most important is the stunning Popes’ Palace, made up of two buildings that together form the largest Gothic palace in the world. With turrets, towers, parapets, and other fortifications, its exterior resembles a mighty fortress, while the interior is a tour de force of medieval architecture and ornamentation, adorned with priceless frescoes, Gobelin tapestries, and graceful sculptures. The ceremonial hall, chapels, cloisters and private apartments are all un-missable. But to truly embrace the feel of papal Avignon, imagine yourself here during the Middle Ages amid the Palace’s rich furnishings and extravagant decoration, with cardinals, princes, and ambassadors milling about its candle-lit halls and corridors, while in the streets below countless pilgrims eagerly anticipate benediction. This was Avignon’s brief golden age when it was truly the center of Christendom.

After lunch you’re free to explore as you wish, perhaps visiting the nearby Petit Palais, the former home of the archbishops of Avignon, to cast a critical eye over the remarkable collection of over 300 paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, including works by Botticelli and Carpaccio. Or take a stroll on the iconic Pont d’Avignon, which, dramatically, ends halfway across the river, made famous by the melody we all recall from our first French lessons. It’s our final afternoon so you may wish to do some shopping, or just find a quiet café in a shady Provençal square to watch the world go by. Perhaps though, return to the luxurious surroundings of our ship, finding a quiet spot to contemplate the many wondrous places you’ve seen and experienced over a quiet cup of tea!

This evening we enjoy the sumptuous Captain’s Dinner, with the chef serving specialties of the regions you’ve visited during your voyage of discovery.

 
April 5th, 2024

ARLES & PONT DU GARD

Pont Du Gard

You awake under the azure skies of deepest Provence and amid the warm stone colors of Arles, many of whose historic monuments are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Although small in size, it was the key stronghold on the Roman road to Spain, one of the empire’s richest possessions. Seagoing ships could reach here and the city became a regional capital, briefly ruling over Gaul, Spain, and Britain.

Our guided tour will help you appreciate the finer points of Arles’s magnificent Roman remains, including the splendid amphitheater, one of the best-preserved in the world, the earlier theatre built during the reign of Augustus and the Alyscamps, the ancient necropolis with its extraordinary atmosphere. The disturbed but great genius of an artist Van Gogh lived in Arles for just over a year, from February 1888. It was his most prolific period and, inspired by Arles and the light and beauty of the Provençal countryside, he produced around 300 works, including The Night Café, The Sower and, of course, Sunflowers.

After lunch, we visit the amazing Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct, one of the wonders of the ancient world. No amount of fame can diminish the first sight of this 2,000-year-old structure, which was the highest bridge built in the Empire –the Romans themselves considered it the most important testimony to their greatness. Its statistics are staggering: over 900 feet long and almost 160 feet high, with its stones each weighing up to six tons. The situation is lovely too, with pine- and cypress-covered hills adding to the harmonious setting.

Rejoining the ship, we cruise along the Rhône and, during dinner, pass the imposing 15th-century castle at Tarascon standing guard on the river bank.

April 6th, 2024

ARDÈCHE GORGES AND TOURNON

Pont d’Arc, Ardèche Gorges

This morning after breakfast, we will explore one of France’s most outstanding landscapes – the Ardèche Gorges, whose scale is a fitting reminder of Mother Nature’s awesome power. Sheer limestone cliffs plunge almost 1,000 feet to the river’s blue waters, which elegantly snake their way through stupendous rock formations, culminating in a huge natural arch, the Pont d’Arc. We will enjoy marvelous views of caves, grottoes, and natural sculptures at every turn before returning to the ship moored this afternoon in Le Pouzin.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on board – perhaps catching up on some reading or just lazing in the sun as the temperature rises, before we arrive in the pretty provincial town of Tournon with its lovely tree-lined avenues. Across the river, you’ll see the vine-covered hillsides producing Hermitage, yet another of the world’s most revered wines – a fitting view as we enjoy another exquisite dinner in the ship’s excellent restaurant.

April 7th, 2024

VIENNE

During breakfast this morning, we’ll slip our moorings and cruise north through one of the most spectacular sections of the Rhône Valley, as the river squeezes and twists pasts Condrieu, Saint-Rambert-d’Albon, and Saint-Vallier, with wooded cliffs rising high on both sides. Traditionally these stretches were the most dangerous due to fierce currents and varying water levels but, with the waters now tamed by a series of locks whose complex mechanisms never cease to fascinate, you can relax on the Sun Deck taking in the exceptional views.

After lunch we arrive in the ancient Roman stronghold of Vienne, first a Celtic settlement, then a Roman stronghold under Julius Caesar. Here you'll be taken by train for a captivating tour, hosted by a local expert.

Strikingly located in a narrow section of the Rhône, where the river meanders dramatically around a steep bluff, Vienne is a treasure trove of historic remains, including the stunning Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia, and a walk around its streets really brings its heritage to life.

You will also have some free time to explore at your leisure before returning to the ship for dinner, during which we commence our cruise towards Chalon-sur-Saône.

April 8th, 2024                                               

Beaune, France

Overnight we have made steady progress north and mid-morning we arrive in and berth in Chalon, the gateway to Burgundy and the home of Nicéphore Niépce, the inventor of photography. On today’s tour, we see some of the pretty yet surprisingly small villages that produce some of the world’s most sublime wines – Meursault, Volnay, Pommard, Gevrey-Chambertin and many more.

Nearby is medieval Beaune, Burgundy’s wine capital, which is wonderful to wander around.

A prestigious annual wine auction takes place here each November, with proceeds going to benefit the local Hospices and their charity work.

Of course, you can’t visit Burgundy without sampling its amazing wines, so we visit the cellars of a leading traditional winemaker for a tour and tasting.

Later we return to ship and as we slip our moorings once again, enjoy an aperitif with newly made friends in the convivial bar before tonight’s dinner.

April 9th, 2024

LYON

PICTURESQUE LYON FRANCE

After our first splendid breakfast, we have a leisurely start enjoying a guided tour of Lyon, one of France’s most fascinating cities. The Rhône Valley had been the route of choice for marauding armies and peaceful traders for centuries, and Lyon’s current site, at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône Rivers, cried out to be fortified. In 43 BC the Romans founded the city, which subsequently grew in importance; Emperor Claudius, the conqueror of Britain, was born here.

There are many Roman remains to see, but it was the production of silk that brought Lyon to prominence during the Middle Ages, and throughout the city, you can see signs of the wealth that poured in – Renaissance buildings, imposing churches and Europe’s largest pedestrian square, Place Bellecour, with a statue of Louis XIV as its focus.

The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is crammed with antique shops and intriguing traboules – narrow covered passageways enabling silk merchants to transport their wares to the river without getting wet – that today are a joy to amble through. As well as its glorious architecture, Lyon is generally acknowledged as France’s (and to locals the world’s) gastronomic capital. In fairness it has much to commend it: nouvelle cuisine was invented near here and the city boasts a huge array of specialty food shops and eateries, including 20 restaurants with one or more Michelin stars and countless little places to eat.

While you enjoy your first lunch the ship quietly slips its mooring. Cruising upstream, we catch the first glimpses of the vine-clad slopes of the hazy green Beaujolais hills as we approach one of the world’s most revered red-wine-producing regions. On our left, we see the picturesque villages of Morgon, Fleury, Juliénas, Chénas and many more, while on the right you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of snow-capped Mont Blanc – Western Europe’s highest mountain. As the afternoon drifts into evening and we cruise past the town that gives them their name, the white wines of Mâcon hold sway – and what could be better than a cool, crisp glass in the lounge before enjoying this evening’s culinary delights in the restaurant, prepared by our outstanding chef.

April 10th, 2024

DISEMBARK IN LYON FRANCE

After breakfast this morning, the crew bids you farewell before you disembark the ship, with time to look back on great memories from a superb trip.  Transport from the ship to the airport can be arranged by the cruise staff upon request, the day before your cruise ends.

Since our cruise remains docked here the previous night, you can book your return flight to depart any time on April 10th and make your own arrangement for the best time to be picked up at the ship for transport to the airport for your flight time.

You should book your flight from Lyon, the second largest city in France, with easy connections in major air gateways such as Paris, Frankfurt or London with each major airline.

Price Includes

Prices are per person based on one person in sole occupancy, in a cabin normally designed for two people.  . The price includes: 

• Full board of all meals each day, from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day;
• Morning/afternoon tea and coffee
• Daily shore excursions with All visits and excursions as mentioned 
• Coach travel as mentioned
• WI-FI at all times onboard the ship.
• The services of a Riviera River Cruises cruise director and concierge

Emerald deck cabins with a window $3279

Ruby deck cabins with a window and French Balcony $4019

OUR SHIP – THE LORD BYRON OF RIVIERA RIVER CRUISES

How can one adequately sum up the wonderfully elegant, five-star MS Lord Byron? How can we describe this extraordinary vessel that’s truly one of the finest ships of its type afloat anywhere in the world?

Quite simply, every single aspect and element is designed to the highest possible specification and our own exacting standards to bring you the very best and most enjoyable river cruising experience, in the most luxurious comfort.

We have worked tirelessly with our Swiss partner Scylla AG, one of the world’s most experienced luxury river ship builders with a pedigree stretching back over nearly 40 years, to design the perfect vessel, with virtually no expense spared.

You’ll feel the unmistakable understated opulence of this extraordinary vessel as you board through the spacious, marble-floored lobby. Stylish furnishings using environmentally friendly materials are beautifully combined with the most advanced safety systems… and the work of a wonderful designer’s eye conjuring up the classic lines and sophistication of a luxurious ocean liner. As always, the finesse is in the detail - beautifully crafted tropical hardwoods, wrought iron, highly polished copper and brass, all beautifully illuminated then added to soft leather furnishings and imaginative color schemes, promotes a subtle, chic ambience of exceptional taste.

Intuitive, unobtrusive service is graceful, efficient yet friendly as you might expect from a Swiss operated ship with 36 staff serving just 140 guests. This outstanding ratio of 4:1 allows a personal touch which makes such a difference to your cruise. Plus unlike other vessels typically carrying up to 200 passengers, you’ll enjoy simply far more space – as well as a smaller, more intimate dining experience.

Our Optional Drinks Package

7 night drinks package available from $179 per person

Tea, coffee and water will be served complimentary throughout your cruise, but should you wish to indulge in a glass of wine or a beer with your lunch or dinner, we would recommend adding our drinks package to your booking.

Simply relax and when it’s time to dine in the restaurant, take your pick from a range of: draught beer; non-alcoholic beer; sodas; juices; red, white and rosé house wines; and wine recommendations from the menu by the glass.

If you choose not to purchase a drinks package, there is a vast selection of drinks on board each ship available for individual purchase. View the example bar list.

Wi-Fi

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship for the duration of your cruise.

PAYMENTS AND CANCELATIONS

A $600 deposit is due within 7 days of booking and will be charged by the cruise line to your card of choice. This deposit is non-refundable, but upon request, the cruise line may allow you to transfer it to another sailing on the same cruise line.

The balance payment is due November 15th and is non-refundable.

Travel Insurance is available upon request.  Ask for rates if desired.