Cruise itinerary
16-Night Europe Cruise from Nice
16 nights · Europe · 19 ports of call
16-night Europe cruise aboard Avalon Poetry II, departing Nice and calling at Arles, Avignon, Viviers, Tournon-sur-Rhône, Vienne and Lyon and 12 more.
- Free advisor
- No booking fees
- 10,000+ sailings
At a glance
- Ship
- Avalon Poetry II
- Cruise line
- Avalon Waterways
- Duration
- 16 nights
- Region
- Europe · Western Europe · Rhine · Rhone
- Departs
- Nice
- 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
- History & Culture
- Music & Dance
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Nice
The capital of the French Riviera, curving along the pebbled Baie des Anges. The seafront Promenade des Anglais runs past the ochre lanes of the old town, and Monaco, Èze and the rest of the Côte d'Azur lie a short drive along the coast.
- Promenade des Anglais
- Vieux Nice
- Baie des Anges
- Day2
Nice
The capital of the French Riviera, curving along the pebbled Baie des Anges. The seafront Promenade des Anglais runs past the ochre lanes of the old town, and Monaco, Èze and the rest of the Côte d'Azur lie a short drive along the coast.
- Promenade des Anglais
- Vieux Nice
- Baie des Anges
- Day3
Nice
The capital of the French Riviera, curving along the pebbled Baie des Anges. The seafront Promenade des Anglais runs past the ochre lanes of the old town, and Monaco, Èze and the rest of the Côte d'Azur lie a short drive along the coast.
- Promenade des Anglais
- Vieux Nice
- Baie des Anges
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
- Day4
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
- Day5
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
- Day6
Viviers
A small town on the Rhône in southern France, set below a rocky bluff in the Ardèche. River ships moor here within reach of the lavender fields, vineyards and stone villages of Provence, with the cathedral town of Viviers itself just ashore.
- Rhône river
- Provence villages
- Ardèche country
- Day7
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
Vienne
- Day8
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
- Day9
Tournus
A medieval town on the Saône river in southern Burgundy, built around the great Romanesque abbey of St. Philibert. Its honey-stone streets and riverside setting sit at the edge of the Mâconnais vineyards, an easy reach from Cluny.
- St. Philibert Abbey
- Saône riverfront
- Mâconnais wines
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
- Day10
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
Beaune
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
- Day11
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
- Day12
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
- Day13
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
- Day14
Rüdesheim
A small wine town on the Rhine, set where the river enters its dramatic gorge. River ships call here for the half-timbered lanes of the Drosselgasse, the vineyards of the Rheingau and the cable car up to the Niederwald monument above.
- Drosselgasse
- Rheingau vineyards
- Niederwald monument
Rhine Gorge, Germany
A scenic stretch of the Rhine in western Germany, where the river cuts a steep gorge between vine-clad slopes. Castle after castle crowns the heights above the water, including the legendary Lorelei rock on a sharp bend.
- Clifftop castles
- Lorelei rock
- Riverside vineyards
Koblenz
A German city at the meeting of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, the point known as the Deutsches Eck or 'German Corner'. A cable car climbs from the headland to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress, and the town marks the northern end of the Rhine Gorge.
- Deutsches Eck
- Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
- Rhine cable car
- Day15
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
- Day16
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
- Day17
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
- 5 Jul 2026
- 27 Jun 2027
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
16-Night Europe Cruise from Nice FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 16-night Europe cruise calls at Nice, Arles, Avignon, Viviers, Tournon-sur-Rhône, Vienne, Lyon, Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saône, Beaune, Basel, Breisach, Kehl, Mainz, Rüdesheim, Rhine Gorge, Germany, Koblenz, Cologne and Amsterdam.
How many days are spent at sea?
This is a port-intensive itinerary with no full days at sea.
Where does this cruise depart from?
It departs from Nice and ends in Amsterdam.
How long is this cruise?
16 nights aboard Avalon Poetry II.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 5 Jul 2026 and 27 Jun 2027. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.