| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 16th16 | MayMay | 202424 | Lyon, France, embark on the MS William Shakespeare | | |
| Arrive for your flight to Nice, Marseille or Montpellier, where you will be met by a guide and escorted on a coach transfer to our ship moored in Avignon’s historic centre. 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 familiarise yourself with this five-star floating hotel. |
| 16th16 | MayMay | 202424 | Lyon, France | | |
| Arrive for your flight to Lyon, Marseille or Montpellier, or take the Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord, where you will be met by a guide and escorted on a coach transfer to Gare de Lyon to board a high-speed TGV to Lyon. On arrival we transfer by coach to our ship moored in Lyon’s historic centre. 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 familiarise yourself with this five-star floating hotel. |
| 17th17 | MayMay | 202424 | Mâcon, France | | |
| 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 unmissable. 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 candlelit 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 centre 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. 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. Returning on board for dinner, the ship sets sail towards our next destination, Arles arriving later that evening. |
| 17th17 | MayMay | 202424 | Mâcon, France | | |
| After our first splendid breakfast, we’ve 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; the Emperor Claudius, 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 speciality 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. |
| 18th18 | MayMay | 202424 | Chalon-sur-Saône, France | | |
| Rising this morning we’re berthed in Chalon, gateway to Burgundy and home of Nicéphore Niépce, the inventor of photography. On this morning’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. At its centre is the Hospices de Beaune, also known as the Hôtel-Dieu. Originally built in the 15th century as a hospital for the disadvantaged, it’s a jewel of High Gothic architecture, instantly recognisable for its colourful glazed roof tiles arranged in dazzling geometric patterns. A prestigious annual wine auction takes place here each November, with proceeds going to benefit the Hospices and its 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 before returning to the ship for lunch. |
| 18th18 | MayMay | 202424 | Chalon-sur-Saône, France | | |
| You awake under the azure skies of deepest Provence, amid the warm stone colours 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’ magnificent Roman remains, including the splendid amphitheatre, 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. To put this in perspective, the span of the Pont du Gard is greater than the width of the River Thames at London Bridge – and no mortar was used in its construction! The situation is lovely too, with pine- and cypress-covered hills adding to the harmonious setting. Re-joining the ship in Avignon, we cruise towards Viviers during dinner. |
| 19th19 | MayMay | 202424 | Tournon-sur-Rhône, France | | |
| This morning we disembark after breakfast and whilst our ship effortlessly cruises upstream towards Le Pouzin, 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 enjoy marvellous views at every turn of caves, grottoes and natural sculptures before returning to the ship moored 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. |
| 19th19 | MayMay | 202424 | Tournon-sur-Rhône, France | | |
| Overnight the ship has cruised almost imperceptibly downstream and we enjoy breakfast in Vienne before our guided tour. 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, one of only two edifices of this type in the whole of the country. From the ship, a little train will take you to the top of the city, the Mont Pipet hill, where the view onto the Rhône will inspire keen photographers. It’s also where the Romans chose to build the spectacular amphitheatre in the 1st Century AD, which could accommodate 13.500 spectators. As the train weaves through the charming, narrow streets of the old town, soak up the history of this fascinating place. We wander back to the ship for another superb lunch, during which we enter perhaps the most picturesque section of the Rhône as the river squeezes and twists past Condrieu, Saint-Rambert-d’Albon and Saint- Vallier, with wooded cliffs rising high on both sides. Later we moor in the pretty provincial town of Tournon, with its imposing castle and tree-lined avenues on one side of the river, while on the other are the steep vine-covered hillsides of Hermitage, where another of the world’s most revered wines is produced – a fitting view as we enjoy another exquisite dinner. |
| 20th20 | MayMay | 202424 | Viviers, France | | |
| This morning we cruise effortlessly downstream. In the distance you’ll catch glimpses of the Alps and, as we approach Valence, the landscape gradually becomes less green with more ochres and magentas, the houses have sloping terracotta roofs typical of the Mediterranean and the air carries heady aromas of pine and cypress. You can only be in the Midi or – as we call it – the south of France. It’s so relaxing to catch up on some reading or just laze in the sun. After lunch we 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. Caves, grottoes and natural sculptures create marvellous views at every turn before we return to the gentler slopes of the Rhône Valley, where our ship is moored in charming Viviers, a medieval town clustered around its 12th-century cathedral. We slip our mooring and proceed through the famous lock at Bollène, one of the deepest in France, as you relax over dinner. |
| 20th20 | MayMay | 202424 | Viviers, France | | |
| 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 trin 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. |
| 21st21 | MayMay | 202424 | Cruising | | |
| 21st21 | MayMay | 202424 | Cruising | | |
| 22nd22 | MayMay | 202424 | Avignon, France | | |
| 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 unmissable. 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 centre 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! |
| 22nd22 | MayMay | 202424 | Avignon, France | | |
| One of river cruising’s great pleasures is the fascination of waking in a completely different location and on waking this morning, the ship arrives in Lyon. After our last splendid breakfast, we’ve 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, 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 speciality food shops and eateries, including 20 restaurants with one or more Michelin stars and countless little places to eat. It’s our final afternoon in which you are free to explore Lyon further or perhaps though, return to the sumptuous surroundings of your ship, head up on to the Sun Deck and just contemplate the wondrous places you have seen and experienced over a quiet cup of tea. This evening the Captain’s dinner takes place, serving specialities of the regions you have visited during your voyage of discovery through this fascinating country. |
| 23rd23 | MayMay | 202424 | Avignon, France | | |
| For those continuing with our three-night extension, we depart the ship in beautiful Lyon and head northeast to Geneva into the Bugey region. As we leave the city behind for the landscapes of the Haut-Rhone you’ll enjoy some of Europe’s most wonderful scenery so have your camera at the ready. The views are breathtaking, with gorges, lakes and marshes, interspersed with rich forest and pristine meadows and the world-famous alpine backdrop on the far horizon. We break for some free time and lunch at leisure in the delightful alpine town of Annecy where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River. Wander the quaint cobbled streets of its charming old town where its winding canals weave their way amongst the pastel-coloured facades. The beautifully restored medieval stone walls and terracotta roofed turrets of the Château d’Annecy, once home to the Counts of Geneva, stands proud over the town. Today it contains a museum with a substantial collection of religious artworks, furniture and regional art and natural history exhibits. Sample some typical Savoie cuisine – a hearty bowl of gratin de crozets, a take on macaroni cheese with lardons, cream and local pasta made from buckwheat or perhaps indulge in a classic fondue! Afterwards you might want to walk it off with a visit to the art and history museum housed in a medieval prison in the middle of the canal. We continue our scenic drive this afternoon arriving in Lausanne or Montreux on the edge of spectacular Lake Geneva, the largest lake in Switzerland. The chic Montreux Riviera is renowned for its picture-perfect landscapes of glass lakes, pristine meadows and a sensational mountain backdrop that has attracted artists, writers and travellers through the ages in search of tranquillity and inspiration. We arrive at our hotel for the next three nights in either Montreux, or Lausanne. Enjoy dinner at leisure this evening and perhaps take a lakeside stroll along the palm-studded shores of this glistening lake. (B) |
| 23rd23 | MayMay | 202424 | Avignon, France | | |
| After breakfast you bid farewell to the ship and her dedicated crew, before transferring to the airport for your return flight or to Avignon for your high-speed rail journey home. |
| 24th24 | MayMay | 202424 | Lausanne, Switzerland | | |
| After breakfast we depart on a scenic journey to Chillon Castle. This striking medieval fortress dating back to the 12th century is dramatically located on a rocky promontory, enjoying exceptional views over the crystal water. It was once the residence and toll station for the Counts of Savoy and today is the most visited historic building in Switzerland. We enjoy a guided tour with a local expert learning more of its fascinating past and exquisite surroundings. Later we embark on a superb cruise of the lake, as we sail the clear glistening waters encased by high snow-capped peaks, whose fertile foothills are draped in row upon row of lush, neatly terraced regiments of vines and the views simply take your breath away. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore Lausanne under your own steam. Home to the International Olympic Committee headquarters, you might fancy visiting the Olympic Museum or head for the old town with its medieval labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets lined with traditional little shops, at the centre a fine 12th-century Gothic cathedral with strikingly ornate façade. Perhaps head for the 19th-century Palais de Rumine, an elegant Florentine Renaissance building housing impressive historic, scientific and fine art collections or simply unwind with a little café culture over tea and cake in the sun in this most refined city. If staying in Montreux, a return transfer to the hotel is included. Enjoy dinner at leisure; seek out a cosy restaurant serving locally inspired dishes, a fusion of French and Swiss cuisine – try papet Vaudois, a sausage with cabbage in it and leeks and potatoes cooked together, or malakoff, pieces of cheese battered and fried. Don’t forget to sample some of the exceptional local wines, the best known is produced from the white Chasselas grape; wine production in the Lavaux dates from the 11th century and today these painstakingly tended vineyards, creating a striking pattern on the landscape, are UNESCO protected. Only 1% of Swiss wine is exported - and when you taste it, you’ll realise why it’s such a well-kept secret! (B, L – Lunch is on 2023 departures only) |
| 25th25 | MayMay | 202424 | Lausanne, Switzerland, disembark the MS William Shakespeare | | |
| This morning we head to Col du Pillon and take a memorable cable car ride into this world-famous alpine landscape. Prepare for an onslaught of jaw-dropping views from all sides as we climb 3000 metres to Glacier 3000, the highest point of the Vaudois Alps, their lofty summits iced with snow. Excitement mounts as we reach the summit with increasingly stunning views of the most iconic peaks in the world - the mighty Eiger, Jungfrau and Matterhorn. When we arrive there’s free time for lunch and to enjoy some of the activities on offer in this winter wonderland. Not for the faint-hearted, try the exhilarating Peak Walk – a 107 metre suspension bridge and the only one in the world linking two summits! Enjoy a thrilling ride on the Alpine Coaster which is the highest situated toboggan run in the world! Later we continue to the smart resort of Gstaad in the heart of the Bernese Oberland to board the magnificent Golden Pass train, one of the world’s greatest rail journeys. Sit back and savour the views from the train’s panoramic windows of this exquisite mountain scenery – a fairytale landscape where the sheer mountainsides are cloaked with dark pine forest and laced with surging mountain streams, bubbling springs cascade into the valley below, and dotted here and there, picturesque mountain villages nestle into the slopes as we journey over high bridges and through incredibly engineered tunnels. As we pass through the Jaman tunnel, you’ll spot the names of the villages change from German to French and we begin to descend into a lush Mediterranean landscape once again as we approach Montreux. On arrival in Montreux departures staying in Lausanne will take the short journey back to the hotel. Tonight, enjoy dinner at leisure after which perhaps a final stroll by the lake to soak up the views before a digestif in the hotel’s bar. |
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