Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. There are three types of included shore excursion on every Europe cruise:
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Active
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Day 1 MARSEILLE, FRANCE
Welcome to Marseille. Enjoy free time to explore this vibrant city.
Day 2 MARSEILLE—PORT ST. LOUIS (EMBARKATION)
Spectacular Seascapes of the Mediterranean Coast
Join your expert Local Guide for an included sightseeing before joining a motorcoach transfer to board your Avalon Suite Ship.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ARLES
Day 3 ARLES
Inspiring Sights and Avant-Garde Lights
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Enjoy a Guided Walking Tour of Arles—the captivating city of the Provence region. You’ll visit the Roman Amphitheater in this visually stunning city, OR:
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON
Day 4 AVIGNON
The City of Popes in Picturesque Provence
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the fortress city of Avignon—with its ramparts encircling the city—and a visit to the amazing Palace of the Popes.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AVIGNON
Day 5 VIVIERS
World History in a Charming French Country Village
Enjoy a leisurely morning sail to Viviers.
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Explore the pale-stone buildings of Viviers on a late afternoon Guided Walking Tour of this charming village. You’ll see its Romanesque cathedral and Old Town with a mix of historical Christian, Roman, and medieval influences.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNON
Day 6 TOURNON
A Rendezvous with Castle Views and Vineyards
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Take a morning Guided Walking Tour to explore Tournon—one of France’s oldest medieval cities. See its 16th-century castle, and Roman ruins between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage.
VIENNE
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Join a Guided Walking Tour of Vienne and discover this charming little town surrounded by steep hills.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN LYON
Day 7 LYON
Adventures in Food and Wine in the Gastronomy Capital of France
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour to survey Lyon from Fourvière Hill with its numerous churches. You’ll also explore the Old Town with its maze of medieval alleyways, and the lively cafés, monuments, and famed fountain of Place des Terreaux.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO TOURNUS
Day 8 TOURNUS—ST. JEAN DE LOSNE
Wine and Cheese on the Stunning Saône
Consider a Guided Optional Excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar, or to the Castle of Cormatin. Alternatively enjoy a leisurely cruising morning along the majestic Saône River on your way to St. Jean de Losne.
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Later, enjoy a delicious Cheese Tasting on board your ship.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN ST. JEAN DE LOSNE
Day 9 ST. JEAN DE LOSNE (DISEMBARKATION) BEAUNE— BASEL, SWITZERLAND (EMBARKATION)
Drive to Beaune and transfer to Basel
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Visit the Hôtel-Dieu Charity Hospital in Beaune, built in 1443, today home of the Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgment and is one of France’s architectural highlights.
EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH
Day 10 BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Join a full-day Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience the Vogtsbauernohf open-air-museum, visit an authentic water mill, and see a traditional butter-making demonstration, OR: Visit to Badische Winzerkeller, the largest German wine producer in Europe. Discover Germany’s southernmost wine country in Baden—ideally situated between the hills of the Black Forest and the Rhine River. Learn about the vintners’ process in the vineyards here, and enjoy a wine tasting.
EVENING CRUISE TO STRASBOURG
Day 11 STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Gothic Giants, Petite France, and Varietal Vintages
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Join a City Sightseeing Tour, including Strasbourg’s s gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock or the Synagogue, as well as the magical La Petite France District and the Jewish quarter with its streets which are among the oldest in France.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LUDWIGSHAFEN
Day 12 LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG
Castle Walls and the World’s Biggest Barrel of Wine
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Enjoy a Guided Tour to Heidelberg Castle to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat, the “World’s Largest Wine Barrel,” OR:
Active
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
Join your Avalon Adventure Host for a Hike up Philosophers’ Way for an inspiring view of the city below.
MAINZ
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Enjoy a Guided City Walk including a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the captivating history of printing.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN MAINZ
Day 13 RÜDESHEIM—RHINE GORGE
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Take a Guided Tour of the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience; based on your departure enjoy a local special treat, OR:
Active
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go - from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
Enjoy a hike with your Avalon Adventure Host through the picturesque vineyards of Rüdesheim.
KOBLENZ
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN KOBLENZ
Day 14 COLOGNE
Prost! Celebrate in the Rhineland
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Take a Guided City Walk of Cologne—with its soaring twin-steepled gothic cathedral, OR:
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Choose a Guided Walking Tour of Cologne’s important Jewish heritage sites.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO AMSTERDAM
Day 15 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
Canals of Colorful Amsterdam
Discovery
We’ve found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests - from cooking classes, to painting workshops - to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Join an exclusive private visit to the house where Anne Frank and her family lived for more than 2 years before being betrayed and turned in to the Nazis.
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You’ll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Explore the iconic waterways of Amsterdam on a Guided Canal Cruise past stately homes of Amsterdam’s “Golden Age". Learn more about the Jewish culture while exploring the Jewish quarter.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN AMSTERDAM
Day 16 AMSTERDAM (DISEMBARKATION)
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.