Belle Epoch: London to Monte-Carlo

23 days
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River Cruise
Embark on one of the world's great river cruise experiences that brings you an in-depth look at France, north to south. Begin in London... cruise through the beautiful countryside of France along the River Seine... explore the magic of Paris... take a high-speed train to Lyon... enjoy river cruising once again along the Rhône and Saône rivers... and complete ...

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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Private cheese and chocolate tasting tour
    • private visit to the Absinthe Museum
    • private dinner with music at Château de Bizy
    • early opening visit to Claude Monet's home
    • two nights London at The Savoy
    • wine tastings
    • food tastings
    • a visit to a farm in La Camargue
    • two nights in Monte-Carlo at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo

What's this trip about?

    Embark on one of the world's great river cruise experiences that brings you an in-depth look at France, north to south. Begin in London... cruise through the beautiful countryside of France along the River Seine... explore the magic of Paris... take a high-speed train to Lyon... enjoy river cruising once again along the Rhône and Saône rivers... and complete your journey in Monte-Carlo. 23 days, 3 countries, two capital cities, and 3 of the most popular rivers in Europe...

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityLondon, England
End CityMonte Carlo

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • United Kingdom
  • England
  • France
  • Monaco

Attractions

  • Arles
  • Avignon
  • Burgundy
  • Giverny
  • London
  • Lyon
  • Paris
  • Rouen
  • Vienne

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director All private Tauck shore excursions Two nights in London at The Savoy, one of the world's most prestigious hotels, and two nights at the Fairmont Monte Carlo Tauck Exclusive: Presentation by Celia Sandys, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill Tauck Exclusive: Private tasting tour at a goat farm in Étretat that makes cheese and chocolate or a guided visit to seaside Honfleur, home of the Impressionist movement Tauck Exclusive: Private visit to the Absinthe Museum in Auvers-sur-Oise Tauck Exclusive: Private dinner (with music) at Chateau de Bizy Visit to artist Claude Monet's house and gardens in Giverny Visit to Château Gaillard for cider and calvados tasting Exploration of the Rhône and Saône wine country with vineyard visits and wine tastings in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Mercurey La Camargue excursion to meet the family of a working farm for a Provençal lunch & a cowboy demonstration with prized black bulls Tasting tour of local food shops in Chalon-sur-Saône Visits to historic Cluny Abbey, Avignon's Palais des Papes, and France's renowned Haras National de Cluny equestrian center Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks Airport and train station transfers upon arrival and departure as noted 58 meals; beer and wine with lunch or dinner on the riverboat; service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharge

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive London

Tour begins: 7:00 PM, London, England. A transfer is included from London's Heathrow Airport to The Savoy, one of the world's most prestigious hotels, situated on the banks of the Thames in the heart of the city; check-in begins after 4:00. Settle in at The Savoy, a l...

Day 2 A day in London... well spent

Morning sightseeing gives you a good introduction to the major landmarks, after which you're free to explore on your own. What to do? Your hotel's wonderful central location puts you in easy reach of most of famed sites such as the Tower of London, the British Museum,...

Day 3 Under the Channel to France by high-speed train and embark ms Swiss Sapphire

Depart London this morning for passage to France, by way of high-speed train under the English Channel. Within a couple of hours you'll arrive at the Paris Nord station, and from there a transfer takes you to the Seine, where your riverboat awaits. Settle in, then join us for dinner aboard ship.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : ms Swiss Sapphire

PORTOFCALL : Paris, France

Day 4 C'est Paris... and a choice of museum visit

Take a guided orientation tour of Paris this morning, then have your choice of museum visits (subject to opening times and days): Musée National de l'Orangerie, designed by Monet for display of his large water lily paintings; or the Musée d'Orsay, Impressionist and Po...

Day 5 In Paris - a military museum and a visit to the Marais District

Visit the palatial War Museum, Musée de l'Armée, with its astonishing collection of military weapons from different time periods; aptly, Napoleon's tomb is here, at the Church of the Invalides. Or you can choose a tour of the exclusive Marais District, with its wealth...

Day 6 Auvers-sur-Oise, Vincent van Gogh - and absinthe

Dock in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, then drive to the town of Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent van Gogh spent his last days. The town has hardly changed since, so you'll be able to recognize scenes from his paintings, including the view of the town hall, seen from the upp...

Day 7 Explore Giverny, where it's all about Claude Monet, and a special evening at a castle

Leave your riverboat for a visit to Giverny and Claude Monet's house and exquisite gardens. The gardens were personally designed by the artist as subjects for his paintings, where he could rearrange the composition at will, and they've been maintained as he originally...

Day 8 Medieval Rouen

This morning, sail to Rouen, which Victor Hugo called "the city of a hundred bell towers". Once the prosperous medieval capital of Normandy, Rouen still bristles with spires and entices with Gothic churches, impeccably restored half-timbered houses, and picturesque co...

Day 9 Exploring Étretat and Honfleur with a visit to a chèverie

This morning, visit Étretat on Normandy's Alabaster Coast, where sheer white cliffs plunge to the blue sea, and the elements have carved astonishing giant arches from the cliffside rock; an orientation tour of the town, once a magnet for artists like Boudin and Monet,...

Day 10 World II history and the beaches of Normandy

Leave the ship in Le Havre for a tour of the beaches where the D-Day landings occurred on June 6, 1944. See Omaha Beach and Pointe-du-Hoc, where American troops scaled sheer cliffs with ropes and fire ladders to reach enemy artillery batteries, and visit the American ...

Day 11 In Paris - a military museum or the Marais District

Arrive in Les Andelys, two fishing villages at a scenic bend in the river where the imposing ruins of Château Gaillard rise on a cliff. The castle was built in 1198 by Richard the Lionhearted, Duke of Normandy, to defend against an invasion from the King of France; it...

Day 12 A high-speed TGV train to Lyon... and your cruise along the Rhône begins!

Say au revoir to the River Seine as you arrive in Paris this morning and board the high-speed TGV train to Lyon, home to a bounty of wines produced by local vineyards, locally produced cheeses, spicy sausages, warm-from-the-oven baguettes... You'll return to Lyon in a...

Day 13 Food and wine in Chalon-sur-Saône and Mercurey

Chalon-sur-Sâone on the River Saône lies in the heart of southern Burgundy. Although its history dates back to the time of Charlemagne, it has another significant claim to fame - this is considered the birthplace of photography. You have local inventor Nicéphore Niépc...

Day 14 A day well spent in the south of Burgundy

This morning, head out to explore the beautiful wine producing region of southern Burgundy, where history lies around every corner (this was a major crossroads during Roman times), and vineyards are everywhere. Picture in your mind what a typical French vineyard looks...

Day 15 A historic abbey, the equestrian life and a wine tasting

Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, France experienced hundreds of years of unstable government; the only constant was the church. And so during the reign of Charlemagne (742 - 814), monastic influences inspired a great revival in art, education and culture. T...

Day 16 Spend the day in Lyon, culinary capital of France

Ahh, Lyon. If you're a serious foodie, Lyon is the place for you! Regarded as the culinary capital of France, there are more restaurants here per capita than anywhere else in the country. But of course there is more to this 2,000 year-old city, a UNESCO World Heritage...

Day 17 Roman Vienne and cruising the Rhône

Impressive Roman ruins, like the virtually intact Temple of Augustus and Livia and the 13,000-seat Theater cut into the hillside, chronicle Vienne's importance as a springboard for Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul during the 1st century; see them on a guided walking t...

Day 18 Vibrant Viviers and the pleasures of cruising

In the Middle Ages, the town of Viviers on the banks of the Rhône had two distinct parts which reflected the equally distinct social divide of the time. "Common folk," artisans and trades persons lived in the Lower City on the river plain, while the bishop and his cir...

Day 19 Avignon and the Palais des Papes, then on to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and a wine tasting

Papal fervor put Avignon on the map some 700 years ago when safety-seeking pontiffs reigned here in the 14th century. Evidence of their rule comes to life during a guided tour of the impregnable Gothic-style Palais des Papes and at an afternoon wine tasting at one of ...

Day 20 Arles and a trip to a working farm in the Camargue

Wake up in Arles and walk into town with our local guide. See firsthand what drew the Romans and artists like van Gogh to this riverfront town and visit sites they immortalized while they were here. Explore the Roman arena, built in the 1st century BC and still in use...

Day 21 Disembark in Arles and travel to Nice and Monte-Carlo

Upon disembarking ms Swiss Emerald in Arles, travel to Nice. Explore the city on a walking tour before time at leisure to spend as you please. Continue to Monte-Carlo for two nights at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, where guests in Category 7 suites on the riverboat will e...

Day 22 A day in the magic of Monte-Carlo and a roof-top farewell dinner

Few places are as sophisticated as Monte-Carlo, a favorite playground for jet setters and celebrities from around the world. Here mega-yachts anchor in the harbor, an amazing fleet of cars... think Porsches, Lamborghinis and Ferraris à la James Bond... park in front o...

Day 23 Journey home

Tour ends: Monte-Carlo. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Fairmont Monte Carlo to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, the Nice Ville Train Station (TGV) or the Nice Riquier Train Station is included; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Monte Carlo

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Dates & Availability

Price From $11,990
Price per day$521
Last Updated: 3/14/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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Logistics

Ship & cabin information
MS SWISS EMERALD
MS SWISS EMERALD One of our 361-foot riverboats, ms Swiss Emerald and her sister ships accommodate no more than 118 guests, while similar-sized riverboats average about 160. Guest amenities inside her 14 lush 300-square-foot suites include brocade upholstery, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, spacious marble baths with full-size tubs, and two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to idyllic riverscapes. She also sports seven 183-square-foot cabins, similarly furnished. Standard cabins (150 square feet) are cozy and comfortable and are similar in décor and style to our larger suites. 85% have floor-to-ceiling windows with real French balconies that open on to a balcony in the fresh air; all have in-room movies, minibar, adjustable heating and cooling, private bathroom and shower with pampering toiletries.
MS SWISS EMERALD
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
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Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
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Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-RQS2016

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