My Unforgettable Rhone River Cruise: Days 5-8 of a Magical Journey with Riviera Travel
Let’s continue our incredible adventure along the Rhone! If you thought the first part was good, get ready, because the days from Avignon to Lyon were pure magic. Vineyards that looked like they were plucked from a postcard, Roman ruins that left you breathless, and of course, plenty of art, culture, and mind-blowing wines! And the journey didn’t end in Lyon; no, we ventured a bit further up the Saône.
I’ve already told you how impressive the Papal Palace in Avignon was, the amphitheater in Arles, and the majestic Pont du Gard. Not to mention the art: I could almost feel Van Gogh in Arles, I was left speechless by the 36,000-year-old paintings of Chauvet (the ‘world’s first masterpiece,’ no less!), and I delighted in Botticelli in Avignon. All of this, I assure you, was woven together perfectly. Riviera Travel knows what they’re doing—they’ve been at this for 40 years, and it showed in every detail. I shared this experience with lovely people from all over: many from Britain, but also Irish, Americans, Australians, Canadians, Chinese, and even a few fellow Spaniards. A fantastic mix!
DAY 5 – VIENNE
The fifth day, what a wonder! We arrived in Vienne around two in the afternoon, which meant we could take our time with breakfast. And what a breakfast… Freshly baked bread, cold cuts, pastries, fresh fruit, and a hot buffet that had everything, plus eggs made just how you liked them. After such a feast, Diana, our Cruise Director, gave us a fantastic introduction to the city’s history. I love how Riviera has everything so well organized!
In the morning, I took the opportunity to relax on board. You could go to the gym (I didn’t, to be honest), take a dip in the pool, practice on the putting green, or even enjoy a massage. But what really won me over was lunch at the Brasserie. What a cozy place, with only 24 seats and an open kitchen! It was like dining in a floating Parisian bistro. French onion soup? Goat cheese salad? Croque monsieur? Mussels in marinara sauce? Everything was exquisite! A word of advice, though: if you want to have dinner here, book in advance! It fills up fast.
I was surprised to learn that in ancient times, Vienne almost outranked Lyon as the most important Roman city in France. You can still see the remains: the Temple of Augustus, an amphitheater, an odeon, and parts of the city wall. Imagine the history it holds! Alison, our local guide, took us to the cathedral and told us fascinating stories, like the one about the centuries-old stained-glass windows that were destroyed by the Germans in 1944 and later replaced by those modern designs from the 50s. And the story of the Knights Templar, burned at the stake by the ‘righteous’ King Philip the Fair—what a character! His nickname, by the way, was for his handsome face, don’t let it fool you.
Back on the ship, just in time for cocktails, we were treated to a dance demonstration by Pierre and Nicole! She changed costumes and eras in the blink of an eye—it was amazing! And Pierre, who has danced even in Blackpool, humorously explained the differences between the strict British ballroom style and the more ‘relaxed’ French approach. We had a great laugh!
DAY 6 – CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE AND BEAUNE
On the sixth day, we awoke sailing north, and it was a beautiful sight to see the leaves on the trees turning those golden autumn hues. I was told that a month earlier, the Rhone was an aerial highway for millions of birds, like kites, cranes, and cormorants! I regretted not bringing binoculars; if you go in the spring or autumn, don’t forget them!
We left the Rhone behind and docked in Chalon-sur-Saône. Did you know that here, in 1824, Nicephore Niepce took the world’s first photograph? Although Daguerre got all the credit, Chalon pays him a well-deserved tribute with a statue, calling him a “serial inventor.” A true visionary!
Then we headed to Beaune, the Wine Capital of France—a paradise for lovers of fine wine! But what truly impacted me was the Hôtel-Dieu Museum, an absolute architectural gem! We were told it was called the “Hospital of God” because, in those days, God was the only hope of survival! Medicine was so rudimentary that patients even shared beds, can you imagine? The prayers and religious art were meant to prepare patients for what came next. And the “Last Judgment” altarpiece by Rogier van der Weyden, wow, it left me thinking: more people were going to hell than to heaven. What a bleak outlook!
We returned to the ship by driving through the impressive Grand Cru vineyards of the Côte d’Or. Here, the grapes are harvested by hand, a monumental task! I was told that with climate change, winemakers are finding it increasingly difficult, and some are already considering planting vineyards in the south of England! Who would have thought!
The evening ended with a few farewell toasts and words of thanks to the fantastic crew. Afterwards, the Captain’s Dinner! A four-course banquet that was the perfect finishing touch to an unforgettable day.
DAY 7 – LYON
While we slept, the ship headed back south, sailing down the Saône to Lyon. The way they describe it is beautiful: the Saône, with its feminine soul, meets the more masculine Rhone, and together, like two lovers, they ‘flee towards the Mediterranean.’ How poetic!
Up on the hill, the Basilica of Lyon is a marvel; it looks like a giant wedding cake! From the adjacent square, with spectacular views of the city, we learned about Lyon’s charming habit of giving nicknames to its buildings: a slender office building is ‘The Pencil,’ the one next to it ‘The Eraser,’ the Opera House, which glows red at night, is ‘The Toaster,’ and the columns of the City Hall… ‘The Radiator’! Walking through the cobbled streets of Old Lyon, between Renaissance houses and little shops with gourmet products, there’s no doubt this is the gastronomic capital of France. And to think it was also the world’s silk capital—I could almost hear the clatter of the looms on every corner!
But Lyon’s history goes far beyond silk. In the afternoon, we visited the Lugdunum Museum, which is ingeniously built into the same hillside where the amphitheater stands. There we discovered how this city became a crucial Roman colony, key to supplying the entire northern part of the Empire. A living history lesson!
DAY 8 – DEPARTURE
On the last day, with a slightly heavy heart, it was time to pack our bags. We left them in the hallway and went to enjoy one last breakfast, while the ever-attentive crew took care of transferring all the luggage to the bus waiting to take us to the airport. Impeccable service right to the very end!
THE COST
In case you’re inspired to live this adventure, an 8-day cruise like this starts from around £1,899, sharing a cabin, of course.
FINAL VERDICT
Look, if there’s one thing I can highlight about Riviera Travel, it’s that they take all the worries off your shoulders. You don’t have to think about itineraries, tickets, or finding guides… They take care of everything, and with exceptional quality! This is a river cruise that feels like it was planned by the Roman gods, popes of old, and master winemakers themselves. Simply stunning!
In fact, a fellow traveler, who was a Riviera veteran, put it plainly: “The Rhone is even better than the Danube and the Rhine—it has much more variety and better wines!” And he wasn’t wrong. He was so convinced that he had already booked another cruise for the following spring, including a stop in the Camargue!
Disclaimer: My stay was courtesy of Riviera Travel.
ABOUT ME
By the way, I’m Michael Edwards, a travel writer from Oxfordshire, UK. I’ve been discovering and sharing luxury gems for nearly four decades. There’s always something new to explore!
RESOURCES FOR PLANNING YOUR 2025 TRIP
If your curiosity is piqued and you want to start planning your own adventure for 2025, here are some tools that might be very useful:
- Luxury Hotel Deals: Booking
- Vacation Rentals: VRBO
- Flights: KIWI
- Private Jets: Private Jet Finder
- Airport Parking: ParkVia
- Airport Lounges: Priority Pass
- Airport Taxis: Welcome Pickups
- Car Rentals: Discover Cars
- Luxury RV Rentals: RVshare
- Cruises: Cruise Direct
- Ferries: Direct Ferries
- Attraction Tickets: Tiqets
- Tours: Viator or GetYourGuide
- Travel Insurance: Safety Wing
- Medical Insurance: World Nomads
- Luggage: Case Luggage
- Luggage Storage: Stasher
- Travel Guides: Lonely Planet
- eBooks: Kindle Unlimited
- Audiobooks: Audible
- Movies: Prime Video UK
- Music: Amazon Music UK
- Travel Currency: Wise
- SIM Cards: SimOptions
- VPNs: ExpressVPN or NordVPN
- Visas: iVisa
