Tour/Cruise priced from $3,959 to $4,608 (plus airfare).

In addition to being your host throughout the entire cruise, Burt will conduct the following special events:

1. A Tasting of the Wines of the Region.
2. A Talk on Understanding and Buying the Wines of the Region.
3. A Talk on Understanding European Architecture.
4. A Talk on Pairing Food and Wine.
5. A Talk and Tasting of Pastis and Absinthe.
6. A Talk on How his Public Television Programs are Produced.

In advance of the trip Burt will send you his detailed research reports on each of the cities and towns on the itinerary. These reports were prepared by Burt and cover the local art, architecture, food, shopping, museums, points of historic interest, nature, sports, entertainment and performing arts and annual events.

• Prior to the cruise, Burt will mail each guest a packet of his research and background material about the tour locations, and a DVD of one of his programs that relates to the tour. These materials are his personal evaluation of the area – the history, art, architecture, what to eat, what to buy, and what to see. It will give you detailed background information on the places we are going to visit. It will also give you some ideas for things you might like to do in your free time.
• Onboard, Burt will present an overview of the area and give a number of talks about the importance of the locations we will be visiting.
• Cruising through France on the Sâone and Rhône Rivers is a perfect combination of cruising and touring with a pace you set yourself.
• Unlike ocean cruising, our river cruise often docks right in the city centers and the old towns. You can tour close to the ship or venture further into town.
• The ship’s entire interior is non-smoking and all announcements are in English.

Board overnight flight from the United States to Nice.

The city of Nice is located on the French Riviera. With its sunny temperate climate, Nice appeals to visitors from around the world. Among its many attractions are its beaches, seaside promenade, museums, and excellent food and wine. Free time lets you get acquainted with the “Queen of the Riviera.”

After breakfast there is a guided tour of the Old Town. This afternoon we will take a motorcoach along the Côte d’Azur from Nice to Arles where we board our ship, Avalon Scenery. This evening we will attend a reception and welcome dinner onboard our ship.

Arles is the capital of Provence and was once a major Roman settlement. We will have a guided sightseeing tour to the Church of St. Trophime and “Les Alycamps” with a visit to the ancient Roman Amphitheater. The most famous paintings of Vincent Van Gogh were inspired by Arles.

The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the region and one of the most picturesque parts of Provence. During the 14th century it was the residence of the Pope and his palace dominates the city’s skyline. We will have a guided tour of the city and visit the palace. Châteauneuf du Pape is the wine of the region and the basis for our afternoon tasting of the wines of the area.

A leisurely morning cruise to Viviers. The town of Viviers was built around a Romanesque Cathedral and its Old Town is a blend of Roman, Christian and Medieval influences.

The twin cities of Tournon and Tain L’Hermitage are situated in the vineyard country between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of Hermitage. We will take an orientation walk through Tournon, one of France’s medieval cities, with Roman ruins and a 16th century castle.

A leisurely morning cruise to the ancient city of Lyon, which was founded by the Romans in the year 43. It is the second largest city in France, and the nation’s gastronomic capital. A guided walking tour will show us the Roman ruins, the Renaissance architecture, and the Old Town which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a free day set aside for you to explore Lyon at leisure. Sites of interest include the Place Terraux, the beautiful Place Bellecour, and many excellent museums.

Explore Mâcon with a guided walking tour of the Old Town including the Old St. Vincent Cathedral founded during the 6th century, and the ancient Town Hall. Sail to Tournus, where we will have free time to explore. Of particular interest is the cloister of St. Philibert. St. Philibert’s Church was built primarily in the 11th century and is one of the largest Romanesque monuments in France.

After breakfast, we drive north into Burgundy where we stop in the city of Beaune, take a walking tour of the old quarter, taste the wines of the area and visit the Hôtel-Dieu (a 15th century hospital and one of the architectural wonders of France). After lunch we drive past the forest of Fontainebleau (the favorite hunting grounds of the French kings) to Paris.

After breakfast we begin touring the city. Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower.

Home bound flights will arrive back in the U.S. on the same day (Thursday 4 June).

The trip as outlined above contains all the elements that I consider essential. However, having taken the cruise before, I realized that there were a number of excursions that might prove interesting to some (but not all) of our passengers. I was reluctant to add the cost of these excursions to the general trip, but felt they should be offered to fellow passengers who might find the subjects inviting.

Following are my comments on those excursions. The additional cost for each excursion is $25 per person. You can sign-up for these optional excursions while you are onboard and pay at the end of the cruise. I will be onboard to answer any additional questions.

ARLES
VAN GOGH
For me the most interesting aspect of Arles is that it was the town where Vincent Van Gogh created many of his most famous works. He arrived in February of 1888 and in the 15 months that he lived here, produced over 300 paintings and drawings---it was the most productive period of his life. This tour take’s you to some of the places that became the subjects of his paintings, including The Drawbridge, the Montmajour Abbey and The Café at Night. We used the tour for a television segment that compared the paintings with the scenes as they presently exist.

AVIGNON
Avignon offers two optional excursions. They are run at the same time so you must choose between them.

PONT DU GARD
About a hundred years before the birth of Christ, the inhabitants of this area became Roman subjects. The largest town in the colony was Nimes which had over 50,000 inhabitants. That meant that each day the town had to be supplied with about 45,000 cubic meters of water. Roman engineers solved the problem by building a fifty kilometer long aqueduct. The most spectacular part of the structure is the Pont du Gard. It is an amazing structure and was included in our television program about Avignon.

OR

TASTING OF CHÂTEAUNEUF DU PAPE
During the 1300s Rome was in such chaos that the Pope decided to get out of town and the new town he chose for the Papal court was Avignon. The Papal estates included a group of vineyards that produced wine for the court. Called Châteauneuf du Pape, this wine has become one of France’s most famous. The tour takes you to the vineyards of one of the oldest producers who will explain the history of the wine, and its production, while offering a tasting of his various vintages.

LYON
Lyon offers two optional excursions. They are run at the same time so you must choose between them.

THE TRABOULES
The traboules are hidden passageways constructed by the rich silk weavers of the 1700s. They were designed to protect the weaver’s cloth from rain as they moved through the city. They also came to be used as secret corridors for clandestine meetings---lovers, businessmen, and the French resistance during World War II. The tour takes you through the traboules and the silk weaver’s museum.

OR

PÉROUGES
Perched on a hill, Pérouges is a perfect example of a French village of the Middle Ages. Filled with farmers and linen weavers, it was never under the control of a lord; its inhabitants enjoying communal freedom as early as 1236. Conserved since 1911 by the French Beaux Arts Commission and it’s own Historical Defense Committee, Pérouges has attracted film makers who have used it as a location for French productions, including The Three Musketeers.

MÂCON
Macon offers two optional excursions. They are run at the same time so you must choose between them.

THE PALACE OF CORMATIN
Cormatin was built in the early 1600s as a private residence of the Marquis de Huxells, whose great triumph in life was marrying the daughter of the Finance Minister to King Louis XIII. The palace is a magnificent castle surrounded by a moat and a park filled with flowers and sculptures. The rooms give you a clear idea of what life was like for the very rich during the time of the Three Musketeers. Thedrive to the palace takes you through some of France’s most picturesque countryside. I thought Cormatin was fascinating and shot a segment about the palace for my PBS series.

OR

CHARDONNAY TASTING
We drive through the rolling hills that produce the grapes for the world’s most famous white wine. Our destination is a vineyard where we taste examples of the area’s wines. The day before the excursion, I will provide everyone with a copy of my research notes on the area and Chardonnay wines. Additional information will be given by the vineyard guides.

PARIS
THE LOUVRE
A well-designed tour of the “highlights” of the world’s largest and probably most famous museum. It contains over 35,000 works organized in the following categories: Egyptian antiquities, Oriental and Islamic arts, Greek, Roman and Etruscan, French paintings of the 17th through the 19th century, French Sculpture, Italian and Spanish paintings, Northern European paintings of the 18th and 19th century, Decorative arts and Graphic arts. It’s your chance for a close-up look at the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and Venus de Milo.

One of the most popular aspects of a Burt Wolf river cruise is the excellence of the food and free wine onboard. Each full day on board, there is a full breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is a cocktail reception, welcome dinner, and Captain’s dinner --- one sitting with open seating arrangements (non-assigned). At dinner, each evening, there is a selection of a red wine and a white wine from Europe’s most-famous wine regions, which are served throughout the meal without charge.

Breakfast: 7:00am – 8:30am
A buffet table includes a wide variety of breads, cereals, fruit and fruit salad, cold cuts, smoked salmon, cheeses, pastries, yogurts, and juices. Scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, and other hot items can vary from day to day. The chef will prepare fresh omelets and other egg dishes to order.

Lunch: Usually served at 12:30pm depending on the cruise schedule
Buffet-style with appetizers, soups, sandwiches, cold cuts, breads, salad bar, two main courses (one of which may be a carving station), dessert table, cheese board, and fresh fruit.

Afternoon Tea:
Coffee, tea and cake will be served either in the lounge or on the Sun or Sky Deck.

Dinner: Usually served at 7:30pm depending on cruise schedule.
Dinner is traditionally four courses including a vegetarian selection. Choice of entrees with every dinner including complimentary red and white wines from the region.

On Day 3: Buffet breakfast will be offered at our Nice hotel.

Since 1982, Burt has written and produced over 4,000 segments for Cable News Network (CNN), 800
segments for ABC (the American Broadcasting Company), 125 half-hour programs for the travel division of
The Discovery Channel, 25 half hours for the Family Channel, and 250 half hours for Public Broadcasting. He
has been nominated for two Cable Ace Awards and a national Emmy in connection with culture and history.

Burt is presently in production with his ongoing series entitled Travels & Traditions. Shot entirely onlocation,
this series travels throughout the world looking at the history, architecture, culture, customs, foods,
and festivals of many of the world’s most interesting locations.

Air Transportation between the U.S./Nice and Paris/U.S. can be made privately or through Avalon Waterways/Globus who offer competitive air-inclusive prices, including Business Class. Avalon Waterways/Globus offers free airport transfers (5/25/09 Nice airport to Nice hotel; 6/4/09 Paris hotel to Paris airport) when you book your transatlantic flights with Avalon Waterways/Globus. Those wishing to extend their stay (arriving earlier and staying later) may make those arrangements on their own or may book with Avalon Waterways/Globus.

The Land/Cruise cost (including hotels in Nice and Paris), per person (based on double occupancy):

Cabins are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Expenses not included in the Land/Cruise cost include: roundtrip airfare, travel insurance, port tax (approx. $98.00); 2 lunches and 1 dinner in Nice (Days 2-3); 1 lunch in Beaune (Day 10); 1 lunch and 2 dinners in Paris (Days 10-11); miscellaneous expenses onboard (laundry, internet, telephone, minibar, liquor/food not on the regular menu, porters at airports, excess baggage fees, gratuities to your Cruise Director, guides and ship’s crew), passport, airport transfers in Europe (approximately $70.00 per person), and all other items of a personal nature. If you book your air with Avalon Waterways/Globus the airport transfer fee is waived).

Burt evaluated dozen of ships before selecting the Avalon fleet. The Avalon Scenery introduces a new type of ship to cruising. The navigational bridge is located in the stern, behind the passenger section, allowing for a more spacious interior. The lounge and restaurant, located in the front of the vessel, give unimpeded views of the passing landscape. In addition, the Sky Deck is a vast space for sunning, taking pictures, or simply relaxing. Avalon Scenery features the Silent Drive System (SDS). The ship’s engines are located at the back of the ship and are separated from the passenger compartment which produces a quieter cruise than traditional small ships.

Built: 2008; Length: 361 ft.; Crew members: 39; Staterooms: 67; Jr. Suites: 2

	1 Sky Deck with Deck Chairs 2 Navigating Bridge 3 On-board Camera 4 Sky Lounge 5 Fun Pool 6 Reception 7 Foyer 8 Lobby 9 Lounge 10 Bar 11 Club Lounge 12 Hairdresser 13 Elevator 14 Restaurant 15 Galley 16 Fitness Centre
Royal Deck	Sapphire Deck Forward
Royal Deck	Indigo Deck Forward
Sapphire Deck Aft
Cabins
Staterooms 172 sq. ft. 1 Bed 2 Toilet 3 Washbasin 4 Shower 5 Closet 6 Writing Desk 7 Sliding glass doors	Suites 258 sq. ft. 1 Bed 2 Toilet 3 Washbasin 4 Shower 5 Closet 6 Writing Desk 7 Sliding glass doors 8 Sofa 9 Coffee Table