Sunday - Visit Arles A champagne reception gives you a chance to meet the crew. A late afternoon cruise from Arles is your first taste of Rhone River cruising. After dinner, take a walking tour of Arles, famous for it's Roman ruins and also where Van Gogh spent much 1888 and '89 painting.
Monday - Visit St. Rémy. Cruise to Avignon Today, visit a traditional 18th century "Provencal Bastide" in St. Rémy for an olive oil tasting. Lunch on board. Relax during the afternoon cruise to Avignon and watch the scenery of the Rhône Valley drift by. Cruise past Le Pont St. Bénézet
(the famous Pont d'Avignon) before mooring up at the quay facing the gate to the walled city. Visit the Pont du Gard, part of the Roman aqueduct that transported spring water from Uzés to Nîmes. Return to the boat for drinks on the deck, followed by a wonderful dinner.
Tuesday - Cruise to St.-Etiennes-des-Sorts. Visit Avignon A walking tour introduces you to the walled city of Avignon, home of the Popes from 1309-77. A guided tour of the Palace of the Popes is followed by free time to enjoy some shopping or perhaps, to take a drink in a pavement cafe and watch the world go by. Return to the barge where lunch awaits and an afternoon cruise. Visit the world famous Cháteauneuf du Pape, summer home of the Popes from Avignon, for a wine tasting before continuing your cruise to the small village of St.Etienne des Sorts.
Wednesday - Cruise to Viviers. Visit Orange This morning your guide takes you on a tour of Orange, an important Roman city dating back to 100 BC. The historical town contains two of the finest Roman monuments in Europe. Lunch back on board and continue the cruise to the mooring at Viviers. This afternoon we pass through the lock of Bollene, one of the largest locks (Ecluse) in Europe with a drop of approximately 23 metres. There's time for a leisurely stroll around this charming medieval town.
Thursday - Visit Nyons. Lunch in Grignan. Cruise to La Voulte Today's visit is to the typical Provencal village of Nyons, set up high in the hills, to visit a working lavender distillery and tour an ancient XVIII century olive mill. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant in the very scenic village of Grignan, filled with small alley ways, famous for it's wild roses and with a medieval Château at the top of the town. In the afternoon, visit a truffle farm to learn all about the black diamond and taste this expensive and unusual mushroom. Rejoin the boat at La Pouzin, to continue the cruise to La Voite.
Friday - Cruise to Tain l'Hermitage/Tournon. Dégustation This morning, the chef walks you over to discover a traditional French market in La Voulte where you have the chance to pick out some local produce to enjoy back on board during a leisurely lunch. During this part of the cruise the river valley is flanked by the vineyards of the Côte du Rhône and has a completely different perspective. Mooring in Tain or Tournon you are escorted to Mr Ferraton's winery for your last dégustation. We enjoy a private tour and wine tasting just minutes from the boat. Meanwhile the chef is busy back on the boat preparing a Farewell gala dinner.
Saturday - Valence to Paris After breakfast disembark the Napoléon for your onward travel arrangements.
* Ports of call may vary based on itinerary and departure dates selected
Special 25% reduction offer!
Cruise quiet canals and majestic rivers with the Hirondelle, Fleur de Lys and Napoleon barges, and receive a 25% discount when travelling in April 2012.
Please quote code AC50 at the time of booking to take advantage of this offer.
Offer valid until 31st March 2012 and is subject to availability. Only valid on new bookings and cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Offer based on cabin only bookings for two persons sharing during April 2012.
Rates
6 Nights
2012
12 Passengers
$71,300
11 Passengers
$68,050
10 Passengers
$64,800
9 Passengers
$61,500
8 Passengers
$58,300
Individual Fare
$5,950
First class return TGV train tickets from Paris to local station,
transfers between local station and barge
Included in Charter and per person cost
* The Napoleon may be booked on a per cabin basis as a luxurious péniche-hôtel. Even on trips where unrelated people travel, there is ample opportunity for privacy. Whether in the spacious private cabins or relaxing on the sun lounges beneath striped umbrellas on deck, beauty and tranquility embrace you. However, the champagne reception is the perfect way to meet your fellow travellers and break the ice at the start of a delightful week together.
Cabin Pricing
Ports
Arles
Enjoying more than 300 days of sunshine a year Arles is regarded as the land of light. Both Picasso and Cezanne tested their artistic flair in Arles but it was Vincent Van Gogh who completely fell in love with this region and created over 200 pieces in just one year. Despite Van Gogh creating so many of masterpieces in Arles none of his works have remained in the area.
Country - France Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 35kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest Van Gogh Foundation, Bullfighting Arena, Roman Baths
Avignon
Take your time wandering about the streets of Avignon, The ancient streets, the courtyards of the private mansions, the renovated facades will all charm you! One of the most elegant streets is the rue Joseph Vernet, adjacent to the Calvet museum and the Requien Museum. Don't miss the Antiquaire quarter, the Place de l'Horloge or the Chemin de Ronde which will take you to the Rocher des Doms. From the top of the ramparts you can understand why the site was chosen for a fort: Avignon stands high above the immense plains of the Rhône River and is the strategic point of the whole valley.
Country - France Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 8kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest
Palace of the Popes, Opera House, Museum of Painting and Sculpture, Pont d'Avignon
Viviers
Viviers consists of a lower town, where tradesmen and artisans once lived, and an upper or religious town that was the seat of a bishop during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance The upper walled town is an attractive warren of narrow cobbled streets with stone houses, a cathedral, and a castle terrace that offers spectacular views of the rooftops and river below.
Country - France Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport - 85kms Currency - Euro (EUR)
Places of Interest The House of the Knights, Roman Bridge, The Tower of the Michaelmas
Tournon
A pretty town with wide tree-lined avenues it is proud of its historical heritage and 11th-16th-century chateau which houses a museum of local history. To the north of the Grand Rue on Place St Julien lies Collegiale St Julien with its imposing bell tower. It serves as an example of the Italian influence on architecture in the area in the 14th-century.
Country - France Distance from port to City - 0kms Distance from Port to Airport -92kms Currency - Euros (EUR)
Places of Interest Collegiale St Julien, Vallee du Doux
Afloat in France - Napoleon Barge Cabin Info
View Another Cabin:
Cruise line info
Orient Express Trains & Cruises
Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises. A name synonymous with the ultimate in luxury and service for over 25 years, Orient-Express owns and manages hotels, trains, cruises and restaurants in some of the most magical locations our planet has to offer.
Orient-Express now encompasses myriad luxury travel experiences to suit all tastes, in settings as diverse as Peru, Botswana, Tahiti, Portugal and Australia.
Ship info
Afloat in France - Napoleon Barge
Europe's finest river cruiser, the Napoleon combines the luxury of a hotel by Orient-Express with the friendly ambience of a country inn. Voyage along the River Rhone while reclining on deck or seated in the lavish salon, then step out into sun-drenched landscapes that inspired Cezanne and Van Gogh.
Time melts away as you gaze on unsurpassed views of the French countryside. Endless vistas of tiled roofs, historic monuments, lavendar fields and olive groves are all typical of this part of Provence, a region with a sophistocated culture dating back to Roman times.
Excursions lead to the wine region of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and the delightful towns of Avignon and Arles. Visits to St Remy, birthplace of Nostradamus and the ancient sites of Pont du Gard and Glanum are also part of the action packed agenda.
The Napoleon can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests on three spacious levels. A sun deck with Jacuzzi and exercise equipment is located at the top deck. The main deck contains the salon, dining room and one state cabin. On the lower deck you will find the remaining five guest cabins. The boat is airconditioned throughout.
Facilities
Peaceful hours lounging by the sundeck can be interspersed with lively excursions ashore. Bikes are stored on board, ready for a gentle peddle to a nearby country market.
On board facilities include:
Air conditioning
Games
Bose iPod docking station
Bicycles and Maps
Tennis Rackets and Balls
Hifi/Stereo (in Salon)
Intercom
Piano (keyboard)
Shaver Socket 110-220V (converter available)
Hairdryer
Television (in cabin)
DVD (in cabin)
Writing desk
Guest computer with Internet access (in Salon)
Onboard Services
Mail Service/Stamps for sale
Newspaper
Photo film for sale
Souvenirs
Telephone
Guest Computer with Internet access (in Salon)
Safe - one central for Barge
Offboard Services
Dry Cleaning
Hair Dresser
Religious Services
Restaurants - reservations can be made
Doctor/Dentist/Nurse
