Cruise itinerary
13-Night Rhone Cruise from Arles
13 nights · Rhone · 13 ports of call
13-night Rhone cruise aboard Avalon Poetry II, departing Arles and calling at Avignon, Viviers-sur-Rhone, Tournon-sur-Rhône, Lyon, Chalon-sur-Saône and Basel and 6 more.
- Free advisor
- No booking fees
- 10,000+ sailings
At a glance
- Ship
- Avalon Poetry II
- Cruise line
- Avalon Waterways
- Duration
- 13 nights
- Region
- Rhone · Rhine · Europe
- Departs
- Arles
- Returns
- Amsterdam
How NestCruise works:we're advisor-led, not a booking engine. No fares are listed and there are no booking fees — tell an advisor your dates and party and they price your exact Avalon Poetry II sailing, typically within 24 hours.
Where this voyage takes you
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Arles
A Provençal town on the Rhône River in southern France, ringed by Roman monuments. Its great amphitheatre still hosts events, and the surrounding light and streets inspired the painter Van Gogh during his year in the town.
- Roman amphitheatre
- Van Gogh sites
- Place du Forum
- Day2At sea
- Day3
Avignon
A walled city on the Rhône in Provence, southern France, once the seat of medieval popes. The vast Palais des Papes dominates the centre, and the broken Pont d'Avignon reaches partway across the river below the ramparts.
- Palais des Papes
- Pont d'Avignon
- City ramparts
- Day4
Viviers-sur-Rhone
- Day5
Tournon-sur-Rhône
A small town on the Rhône in southern France, facing the steep Hermitage vineyards across the river at Tain. A medieval castle overlooks the water, and the surrounding northern Rhône slopes are known for their Syrah wines.
- Hermitage vineyards
- Hilltop château
- Rhône wines
- Day6
Lyon
A French city at the meeting of the Rhône and Saône rivers, long regarded as the country's gastronomic capital. Its Renaissance old town hides covered passages called traboules, while the Fourvière basilica crowns the hill above the two rivers.
- Vieux Lyon traboules
- Fourvière Basilica
- Bouchon dining
- Day7
Chalon-sur-Saône
A town on the Saône in the Burgundy region of eastern France, birthplace of the photographic pioneer Nicéphore Niépce. Its riverside quays and old town sit at the southern gateway to the Côte Chalonnaise vineyards and the wider Burgundy wine country.
- Niépce Museum
- Saône quays
- Burgundy vineyards
- Day8
Basel
A Swiss city on the Rhine where Switzerland, France and Germany meet, and a common starting point for Rhine cruises. Its old town climbs from the river to a red sandstone cathedral and a medieval market square ringed by guild houses.
- Basel Münster
- Old town
- Rhine starting point
- Day9
Breisach
A small town on the Rhine at the edge of Germany's Kaiserstuhl wine country, just across the river from France's Alsace. It is crowned by the St. Stephan minster on its hilltop and serves as the river gateway to Freiburg and the southern Black Forest.
- St. Stephan minster
- Kaiserstuhl vineyards
- Black Forest gateway
- Day10
Kehl
A German town on the right bank of the Rhine, directly across the river from Strasbourg in France. A bridge and garden link the two banks, and the riverside park makes it a crossing point for cruises between Germany and Alsace.
- Two Banks Garden
- Rhine bridge
- Strasbourg nearby
- Day11
Mainz
A city on the Rhine in western Germany, where the river meets the Main. It is the birthplace of Gutenberg and movable-type printing, with a Romanesque red sandstone cathedral and a market square at the heart of the old town.
- Mainz Cathedral
- Gutenberg Museum
- Old town market
- Day12
Rüdesheim am Rhein
A wine town on the Rhine in Germany's Rheingau, set among steep Riesling vineyards. Its narrow Drosselgasse lane is lined with taverns, and a cable car rises to the Niederwald monument overlooking the river gorge.
- Drosselgasse lane
- Niederwald monument
- Rheingau vineyards
- Day13
Cologne
A Rhineland city dominated by its twin-spired Gothic cathedral, the tallest in Germany when built. River cruises call beside the old town, where the cathedral, riverside promenade and 12 Romanesque churches sit within easy walking distance.
- Cologne Cathedral
- Old town
- Rhine promenade
- Day14
Amsterdam
The Dutch capital, laced with concentric canals and gabled merchant houses from its 17th-century golden age. Most river sailings depart from here, leaving time for the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House or a stroll through the Jordaan before lines cast off.
- Rijksmuseum
- Anne Frank House
- Jordaan canals
Upcoming departures
- 26 May 2026
- 23 Jun 2026
- 7 Jul 2026
- 21 Jul 2026
- 4 Aug 2026
- 18 Aug 2026
- 1 Sep 2026
- 29 Sep 2026
- 13 Oct 2026
- 27 Oct 2026
- 10 Nov 2026
- 23 Mar 2027
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
13-Night Rhone Cruise from Arles FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 13-night Rhone cruise calls at Arles, Avignon, Viviers-sur-Rhone, Tournon-sur-Rhône, Lyon, Chalon-sur-Saône, Basel, Breisach, Kehl, Mainz, Rüdesheim am Rhein, Cologne and Amsterdam.
How many days are spent at sea?
1 day is spent at sea; the rest are in port.
Where does this cruise depart from?
It departs from Arles and ends in Amsterdam.
How long is this cruise?
13 nights aboard Avalon Poetry II.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 26 May 2026, 23 Jun 2026, 7 Jul 2026 and 21 Jul 2026. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.