| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 23rd23 | AprApr | 202020 | Lyon, France, embark on the Scenic Sapphire | | |
| Arrive in Lyon where you'll be warmly welcomed on board your Scenic Space-Ship. |
| 24th24 | AprApr | 202020 | Lyon, France | | |
| Set on the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon is renowned as the gastronomic heart of France. Freechoice: Walk Lyon's hidden traboules, then continue to Notre Dame Basilica, which offers fabulous views across the city or join a guided bike ride to Lyon's Botanical Gardens and Zoo. Alternatively, walk the cobblestone paths in the medieval hilltop town of Pérouges. This afternoon set sail for Mâcon. Watch the scenery float by from the sun deck or Panorama Lounge, relax in the Wellness centre or perhaps take a lesson in French cookery in Scenic Culinaire. |
| 25th25 | AprApr | 202020 | Mâcon, France | | |
| Freechoice: Travel to the "Golden Stone' region of Beaujolais, and enjoy a tasting of the region's wines. Or, explore charming Cluny, built around the great Benedictine Abbey. Alternatively, visit Château de Cormatin, boasting beautiful gardens and 17th century architecture. Exclusive event: Today esteemed chef, author and TV Presenter Rick Stein will join you on board for a gastronomic treat. With him he will bring some local delicacies from the region for a food presentation and tasting session. He will also hold an informal talk about his life, career and passion for French food. |
| 26th26 | AprApr | 202020 | Vienne, France | | |
| Freechoice: Take a walking tour in Vienne including a visit to the Roman amphitheatre and uncover the fascinating history of this quaint riverside town, once conquered by Julius Caesar. Or, for the more active, take in the picturesque landscapes of this region on a bicycle. Exclusive event: The Rhône region is the epicentre of Gallic gastronomy and, as such, is one of Europe's ultimate destinations for foodies. Rich Burgundy wines, fine cheeses, zesty rosé from Provence and what better way to experience this than alongside Rick Stein. This afternoon, Rick will host a fun and interactive cooking demo inspired by French cuisine and his latest book "Rick Stein's Secret France', you will even get to sample his cooking. Tonight, join Rick in our Panorama Lounge for a special drinks reception and raise a toast together with a glass of champagne. Afterwards, head down to our Crystal Dining Restaurant for an exclusive gala dinner in which Rick will offer his meal choices and recommendations. |
| 27th27 | AprApr | 202020 | Avignon, France | | |
| Freechoice: This morning, enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town of Viviers, nestled between hill and river, and visit its imposing cathedral or visit the beautiful provincial town of Grignan. Scenic Culinaire will be hosting a lesson in French cuisine this afternoon. |
| 28th28 | AprApr | 202020 | Avignon, France | | |
| Freechoice: Shop with a Chef at the market then cook up a storm in Scenic Culinaire, or explore Avignon's Palais des Papes. Alternatively, take an excursion to Uzès and Pont du Gard, the impressive ancient Roman aqueduct or sample the celebrated wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape at a Côtes du Rhône vineyard. This afternoon enjoy free time to explore on your own. Enrich After the doors close to the general public at Avignon's prestigious Palais des Papes, you'll be invited for an exclusive concert inside this elegant 14th century palace. |
| 29th29 | AprApr | 202020 | Tarascon, France | | |
| Freechoice: Visit Les Baux, and drop into a local olive farm, or follow in the footsteps of Van Gogh during an excursion to Saint-Rémy and Saint-Paul de Mausole Monastery. Alternatively, visit Arles Arena on your tour of this once thriving Roman city. This afternoon is at your leisure. Perhaps explore the medieval charm of Tarascon on board an e-bike or stay on board for a Provençal Soap Making workshop. |
| 30th30 | AprApr | 202020 | Marseille, France, disembark the Scenic Sapphire | | |
| Since being designated a European Capital of Culture for 2013, with an estimated €660 million of funding in the bargain, Marseille has been in the throes of an extraordinary transformation, with no fewer than five major new arts centers, a beautifully refurbished port, revitalized neighborhoods, and a slew of new shops and restaurants. Once the underdog, this time-burnished city is now welcoming an influx of weekend tourists who have colonized entire neighborhoods and transformed them into elegant pieds-à-terre (or should we say, mer). The second-largest city in France, Marseille is one of Europe's most vibrant destinations. Feisty and fond of broad gestures, it is also as complicated and as cosmopolitan now as it was when a band of Phoenician Greeks first sailed into the harbor that is today's Vieux Port in 600 BC. Legend has it that on that same day a local chieftain's daughter, Gyptis, needed to choose a husband, and her wandering eyes settled on the Greeks' handsome commander Protis. Her dowry brought land near the mouth of the Rhône, where the Greeks founded Massalia, the most important Continental shipping port in antiquity. The port flourished for some 500 years as a typical Greek city, enjoying the full flush of classical culture, its gods, its democratic political system, its sports and theater, and its naval prowess. Caesar changed all that, besieging the city in 49 BC and seizing most of its colonies. In 1214 Marseille was seized again, this time by Charles d'Anjou, and was later annexed to France by Henri IV in 1481, but it was not until Louis XIV took the throne that the biggest transformations of the port began; he pulled down the city walls in 1666 and expanded the port to the Rive Neuve (New Riverbank). The city was devastated by plague in 1720, losing more than half its population. By the time of the Revolution, Marseille was on the rebound once again, with industries of soap manufacturing and oil processing flourishing, encouraging a wave of immigration from Provence and Italy. With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Marseille became the greatest boomtown in 19th-century Europe. With a large influx of immigrants from areas as exotic as Tangiers, the city quickly acquired the multicultural population it maintains to this day. After breakfast, disembark and transfer to Marseille or Nice airport. |
