Provence and Spain 2009

15 Days Paris/Barcelona
from $3719 cruise only

YOUR TRAVEL VALUE INCLUDES

• Airport transfers in Paris on day 2 and Barcelona on day 15
• 3 nights hotel accommodation in Paris including buffet breakfast daily
• TGV high-speed train from Paris to Lyon
• 7 nights deluxe cruise accommodation in outside cabin with hotel-style beds
• Superb dining with all meals included while cruising, quality wine with dinner
• Captain's Welcome and Farewell Dinners
• Motorcoach from the ship in Arles to Carcassonne and on to Barcelona
• 3 nights hotel accommodation in ­Barcelona including buffet breakfast daily
• Sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
• Special highlights including local entertainment and enriching lectures
• Services of a professional Cruise Manager throughout your cruise
• On board facilities including a beauty salon and souvenir shop
• All English language on board in a non-smoking environment (smoking only on the Sun Deck)
• All local taxes
• Portfolio of travel documents

ITINERARY

• DAY 1 DEPART USA*
  Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
• DAY 2 ARRIVE IN PARIS, FRANCE
  Arrive in Paris and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is free.
• DAY 3 PARIS
  Enjoy Paris’ famous sights during this morning's guided tour. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, pass the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Champs Elysées and more. The rest of the day is free. (B)
• DAY 4 PARIS
  A free day to explore the most romantic city in the world. Stroll through the Jardin de Tuilleries, gaze at impressionist masterpieces at the Musée d'Orsay, or visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair. (B)
• DAY 5 PARIS / LYON / EMBARK SHIP
  Savor your last morning in Paris and then board the TGV train. You’ll be transported at top speed (up to 186 mph) in smooth, quiet comfort to Lyon where the ship awaits you. Gather this evening on board for a Welcome Dinner. (B,D)
• DAY 6 LYON / TREVOUX
  This morning’s tour includes a view of the city from the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere. You’ll also explore the Renaissance charm of Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) with its cobbled streets. Return to the ship and sail north to Trevoux. This evening, there is free time to explore the town on your own. (B,L,D)
• DAY 7 TREVOUX / VIENNE
  Enjoy a visit with a local wine maker and sample the world renowned Beaujolais Nouveau. Return to the ship and continue cruising south from the Saône to the Rhône River towards Vienne. This evening, stroll along the sidewalk cafés of this rural town. (B,L,D)
• DAY 8 VIENNE / TOURNON
  Situated between the wine regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Vienne has an important Roman history. On this morning’s walking tour, see the 1st-century Roman Temple of Augustus and the medieval churches of St. Andre-Le-Bas and Abbey St. Pierre. Then cruise to Tournon and Tain L’Hermitage. These twin towns face each other across the Rhône River and are linked by a 19th-century suspension bridge. There is free time this afternoon. After dinner, enjoy a wine tasting on board. (B,L,D)
• DAY 9 TOURNON / CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
  On this morning’s adventure, travel via a 19th century steam train to the woods of Ardêche along the Doux River. Return to the ship and enjoy lunch as you cruise to Chateauneuf-du-Pape. (B,L,D)
• DAY 10 CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE / AVIGNON
  Your morning walking tour of the “City of Popes” will take you through the narrow streets and elegant squares to the Papal Palace, which served as a fortress, a church and a residence to the Popes who once governed the Christian world. Enjoy a wine tasting before returning to the ship for the cruise to Avignon. (B,L,D)
• DAY 11 AVIGNON / ARLES
  Arrive this morning in Arles, a Mediterranean city situated at the mouth of the Rhône delta. This was once the home of the world famous artist Vincent Van Gogh. On a walking tour, watch for some of the locales and vistas that inspired his View of Arles with Irises or The Café Terrace on the Place du Forum. See Constantine’s Baths, the Romanesque Cathedral and the Roman Amphitheater. This afternoon, coach to the delightful villages of St. Remy, where Van Gogh spent much of the last year of his life, and picturesque Les Baux, enjoying the spectacular views. (B,L,D)
• DAY 12 ARLES / DISEMBARK SHIP / BARCELONA, SPAIN
  Disembark after breakfast, heading southeast. Pass through the Camargue on the southern coast and trace the ancient trade route linking the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Stop in the medieval city of Carcassone, which is surrounded by a double ring of walls, complete with 52 towers. After some free time here, continue to Barcelona. (B)
• DAY 13 BARCELONA
  Your full day in Barcelona begins with a drive to the top of Montjuic Hill where you have glorious views of the city below. Next, tour Placa Catalonia and Las Ramblas. Later, see the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, designed by artist and architect Antonio Gaudí, which is still incomplete. Take a walking tour of the Barrio Gotico (Gothic Quarter), King’s Square, and Tinell, the Royal Palace. (B)
• DAY 14 BARCELONA
  A full day at leisure in Barcelona. You might want to join an optional morning tour of Parc Güell to see some of Gaudí’s sculptures and architectural structures. This evening, perhaps join in an optional dinner show featuring fiery Flamenco dancers. (B)
• DAY 15 DEPART BARCELONA
  Transfer for your onward flight. (B)

2009 Cruises

These dates operate in reverse: "May 12, 2009;eptember 15, 15, 2009; October 13, 2009" Barcelona to Paris with slight modifications. Cruise only sails from/to Lyon to/from Arles. The above prices are per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement for cruise: 50% of twin price; Jr. Suites 100% of twin price. Reduction for 3rd person in triple cabin: $500 off Category D price. Port charges: $98 per person. *Your Brendan Specialist will quote you the lowest airfare available from your hometown at the time of booking.