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Save up to £700 per couple on CroisiEurope River Cruises

Ends 30 September

Rhône & Saóne River Delights

Name: Rhone & Saone River Delights
Brand: Newmarket Holidays
SKU: 97938

Glide past vineyards, Roman monuments and storybook towns on a leisurely journey through the heart of southern France.

Beginning in Lyon, you’ll discover historic cities boasting Roman and medieval architecture, from Vienne’s ancient theatre and temple to the grand papal city of Avignon and the charming streets of Viviers. Guided tours bring each destination to life, while scenic cruising reveals vineyard-clad hillsides, riverside villages and dramatic landscapes along the Rhône.

Along the way, you can enrich your journey with optional excursions, including the magnificent ruins of Cluny Abbey in Burgundy, wildlife-spotting in the wetlands of the Camargue, and a visit to Arles, famed for its Roman monuments and connection to Vincent van Gogh. Back on board, enjoy all-inclusive dining, drinks, onboard entertainment and a gala evening as you relax between destinations and soak up the scenery of southern France.

Price

from £2308 /pp

was £2565
Flights included
Dates Available

05 September 2027
Duration

8 days
Depart From

10 airports
Excursions & Visits

4 included
Meals

20 included
Operator

CroisiEurope
Ship

MS Rhône Princess
Ways to pay

Want to spread the cost? Choose our Easy Payment Plan and pay from £489.50 per month.

Explore the highlights of Lyon and uncover the city’s hidden traboules passageways

Low angle shot of a beige coloured stone palace, lit up with amber lights on the front. With pointy turrets in the middle and battlements on the left side. In front of a bright blue night sky.

Tour historic Avignon, visiting the grand Palais des Papes

Venture into the Camargue on an optional excursion to spot the region’s famous white Camargue horses

Viviers Cathedral, Viviers, Ardèche, Southern France

Discover Viviers, exploring Cathédrale Saint-Vincent and seeing views from the Belvédère

Arrive at Lyon airport, where you’ll be met by your tour manager and transferred to your ship. Depending on the time of your flight, you can explore France’s third-largest city.

This evening, board the ship, and after settling into the cabin, meet the crew with a welcome cocktail before dinner and entertainment.

Enjoy your first breakfast on the water before joining a guided tour of Lyon to discover its famous traboules, types of passageways that are typical of the city.

Begin with a stop at the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, set atop Fourvière Hill and overlooking the city. Take in the beautiful views of the city below while learning about how it was first dedicated to a saint and the Virgin Mary.

You’ll then board a coach and move on to Lyon’s old town centre. With your local guide, travel into the heart and discover the hidden passageways that pass through buildings and courtyards, connecting various streets and district. Believed to have originated in the 4th century to provide quick and easy access to the river, they were also thought to have been used for transporting silk during the Renaissance.

There will be some free time to wander around the charming Saint Jean district with its medieval and Renaissance architecture, cobblestone streets and riverside cafés. Later, return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon of relaxation as you continue cruising to Mâcon.

This evening, a night of dinner and dancing awaits.

After breakfast, you can relax this morning or join an optional excursion to Cluny to see Cluny Abbey in the Burgundy countryside. For more than 200 years, it was the largest church in the world until the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Much of the abbey was destroyed during the French Revolution, when it was sold and dismantled for building materials. Today, only about 10% of the original structure remains, but the ruins still show how vast the complex once was.

Return to the ship, where you’ll spend the afternoon cruising to Vienne, an ideal time to relax on the sundeck.

This evening, there will be dinner and entertainment before docking in Vienne.

Once you’ve had breakfast, leave the ship and join a walking tour of Vienne. This town was an important Roman city more than 2,000 years ago and later became a major religious and cultural centre in medieval France. Many impressive Roman structures remain today.

You’ll first stop by the expansive Antique Theatre, which seated about 13,000 spectators, before the Temple of Augustus and Livia, one of the best-preserved Roman temples in France. Lastly, a visit to the Cathedral of St Maurice, a UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral, will conclude this excursion.

Return to the ship this afternoon and spend the day cruising to Avignon. Dinner and an evening of entertainment await tonight.

Following breakfast, join a tour covering the old town of Avignon, built within well-preserved city walls. Your guide will lead you through Passage de l'Oratoire, a hidden alley into the heart of Avignon’s medieval centre. As you walk, you’ll be able to view the outside of 18th-century Chapelle de l’Oratoire and pretty shops lining this hidden walkway.

Continue to Cathédrale Notre‑Dame des Doms d’Avignon, the oldest in the city, and Place de l’Horloge, the charming town square, ringed by cafes and restaurants. Place du Palais is next, and this square is directly in front of Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), one of Europe’s largest Gothic palaces. You’ll get a chance to wander through the staterooms, with impressive frescos, the Grande Chapelle, and terraces, overlooking Avignon and the Rhône river.

Later, return to the ship before it cruises to Arles, where you can spend the afternoon relaxing or join one more optional excursion.

Choose to explore Camargue National Park, an expanse of rivers, marshes, and salt and rice fields. Keep an eye out for pink flamingos and indigenous Camargue horses, before visiting a manade (a bull breeding farm). The term comes from the Provençal word manada, meaning “herd” or “group. As you watch a demonstration, learn about the work of a manadier and how they raise these animals in semi-wild conditions. After the visit, enjoy a cocktail on the patio, while enjoying the views of the ranch.

Travel back to the ship in the evening for dinner and traditional Provençal entertainment.

Today, after breakfast, you can enjoy a leisurely morning or join an optional excursion. You’ll depart by foot to Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famed for its vast assortment of Roman architectural highlights. This beautiful city inspired Vincent van Gogh, who painted over 300 works here between 1888-1889.

Later, travel by coach to the nearby town of Tarascon, where you’ll visit an olive estate, home to an orchard of 150,000 trees. Journey by trailers pulled by tractors across the property, learning about the production of olive oil before sitting down to taste the products in a Provencal country house. Return to the ship in the afternoon and then continue cruising to the village of Viviers.

Once you’ve arrived in Viviers in the evening, you’ll leave the ship for a walking tour encompassing the medieval streets, stone houses and France’s smallest cathedral, Cathédrale Saint-Vincent de Viviers. The excursion will conclude with a stop at a scenic viewpoint, Belvédère.

After breakfast, the ship will cruise towards riverside town of Tournon. If you’d like to do some exploring, join an optional excursion to walk around with a local guide. On foot, head towards the old town, pausing at the Château Museum, a castle and museum, dating back to the 10th century. Constructed on a high granite rock overlooking the town, this imposing structure promises beautiful views. The visit will end with a tasting or regional delicacies and wines before you can return to the ship at your own pace.

Your final evening will feature a special gala dinner as you cruise back to Lyon during the night.

Basilica Of Notre Dame De Fourvière, Lyon

Old Town Lyon With Saint Jean Cathedral And Saone River

Outdoor seating outside The Palais Des Papes, that has white umbrellas, street lighting and trees above. A cream, wide manor is at the end of the road, and the edge of palace on the left.

View of the Pont D’Avignon bridge, with the river water in the forefront and a boat coming from the right. In the distance, on the other side of the bridge is a grey palace. The sky is blue.

Take an optional excursion to Cluny Abbey in the Burgundy countryside

Discover Vienne’s Roman heritage, including the impressive Roman Theatre

Explore Arles on an optional excursion, covering the Théâtre Antique and the Roman Baths of Constantine

Opt to visit Tarascon and a local olive estate, learning about olive oil production

Stroll through Tournon-sur-Rhône, visiting the Château Museum, historic streets, and Saint-Julien Church

Seven nights’ all-inclusive accommodation on board MS Rhône Princess
Seven breakfasts, six lunches, seven dinners, and unlimited service on drinks (excluding premium labels)
Welcome cocktail
Gala dinner and evening
All port fees
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board your ship
Headsets are included for excursions
Guided tour of Lyon
Guided tour Vienne
Tour of Avignon with visit to Pope’s Palace
Guided tour of Viviers
Return flights to Lyon
Comfortable coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager, and the services of a multi-lingual crew (French and English-speaking as standard) on your river cruise

Dates & Prices

Want to spread the cost? Choose our Easy Payment Plan.

Departure point	Departure date	Price (per person)	Availability
Aberdeen	September 2027	from £2582.00 pp	1 date available
Aberdeen	05 Sep 2027 Sunday 8 days 12 Sep 2027 Sunday	from £2582.00 was £2869.00
Birmingham	September 2027	from £2573.00 pp	1 date available
Birmingham	05 Sep 2027 Sunday 8 days 12 Sep 2027 Sunday	from £2573.00 was £2859.00
Bristol	September 2027	from £2713.00 pp	1 date available
Bristol	05 Sep 2027 Sunday 8 days 12 Sep 2027 Sunday	from £2713.00 was £3015.00
Edinburgh	September 2027	from £2609.00 pp	1 date available
Edinburgh	05 Sep 2027 Sunday 8 days 12 Sep 2027 Sunday	from £2609.00 was £2899.00
Glasgow	September 2027	from £2429.00 pp	1 date available
Glasgow	05 Sep 2027 Sunday 8 days 12 Sep 2027 Sunday	from £2429.00 was £2699.00
Humberside	September 2027	from £2470.00 pp	1 date available
Humberside	05 Sep 2027 Sunday 8 days 12 Sep 2027 Sunday	from £2470.00 was £2745.00
London Heathrow	September 2027	from £2308.00 pp	1 date available
London Heathrow	05 Sep 2027 Sunday 8 days 12 Sep 2027 Sunday	from £2308.00 was £2565.00
Manchester	September 2027	from £2650.00 pp	1 date available
Manchester	05 Sep 2027 Sunday 8 days 12 Sep 2027 Sunday	from £2650.00 was £2945.00
Newcastle	September 2027	from £2582.00 pp	1 date available
Newcastle	05 Sep 2027 Sunday 8 days 12 Sep 2027 Sunday	from £2582.00 was £2869.00
Norwich	September 2027	from £2560.00 pp	1 date available
Norwich	05 Sep 2027 Sunday 8 days 12 Sep 2027 Sunday	from £2560.00 was £2845.00

MS Rhône Princess, CroisiEurope France The MS Rhône Princess features welcoming interiors with wood flooring and chic leather furnishings. Capable of holding 138 passengers, the vessel offers a quieter and more relaxed way to experience the Rhône and Saône rivers.  

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Explore medieval Rouen on a guided walking tour and take in its major sights under your own steam

8 days from £2,218 pp

was £2,465 pp

Flights included
Dates Available

April 2027 - September 2027
Duration

8 days
Depart From

10 airports
Excursions & Visits

3 included
Meals

20 included
Operator

CroisiEurope
Ship

MS Seine Princess

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8 days from £2,172 pp

was £2,469 pp

Flights included
Dates Available

May 2027 - October 2027
Duration

8 days
Depart From

13 airports
Excursions & Visits

3 included
Meals

20 included
Operator

CroisiEurope
Ship

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See the medieval wonders of elegant Cologne and see its towering Gothic cathedral on an included excursion
Embrace Strasbourg’s elegant highlights on an included canal cruise and marvel at the city’s famous cathedral
Discover Colmar, one of the most picturesque towns in Alsace, on an optional excursion

8 days from £2,362 pp

was £2,625 pp

Flights included
Dates Available

April 2027 - September 2027
Duration

8 days
Depart From

12 airports
Excursions & Visits

2 included
Meals

20 included
Operator

CroisiEurope
Ship

MS Symphonie

Explore

While visiting certain landmarks featured on the included and optional excursions, customers are advised to adhere to the dress codes of each venue (where applicable). For more information, please speak to our holiday planners or your tour manager while on your cruise.

The dress code on board and ashore is comfortable and casual; we recommend that you bring sturdy footwear for excursions. For the restaurant we recommend smart casual dress. Please remember to bring warmer clothes for evenings out on deck.

Tipping is not compulsory, but from experience we know that many passengers like to leave gratuities for the crew. At the end of the cruise you will find a tip box for the entire crew at the reception and the suggested amount is five Euros per guest per day. Of course, you are free to tip individual crew members at any time, should you wish.

In your cabin you will find a safe installed in the wardrobe, a hairdryer, bathrobes and slippers, insect screens and pool towels. The power supply in your cabin is 220 V/50 Hz. All sockets are European two-pin, meaning you will need to bring an adapter.

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel.

Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.

Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you arrive (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").

Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational at all EU borders on 10 April 2026.

EES is a digital border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay across the external borders of most European countries. It replaces passport stamping. When you go through passport control on arrival, as well as producing your passport for checking, you will have your photograph taken and fingerprints scanned. The system registers your entry and exit, and you will only need to complete this biometric registration on your first entry into Europe.

Please note: Irish passport holders or British Passport holders with an EU residency are currently excluded.

For those travelling via Eurostar, there is a dual British and French/Belgian border in operation at St Pancras International. Therefore the EES system will be in place at the station, you will not need to be checked again on arrival at the other side.

The latest information can be found at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees.

For further information please visit the ABTA website.

Following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, changes have been planned which affect the eligibility of citizens of the United Kingdom to have visa free travel to the EU. ETIAS travel authorisation is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the European Union and Schengen countries.

ETIAS is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026 (exact date to be confirmed). We recommend applying in good time once the system goes live. ETIAS is expected to cost €20 per person. If you are aged under 18 or over 70, the fee is waived. Please note: ETIAS will not be required for UK citizens travelling on our UK and Ireland tours.

The latest information can be found at www.etias.com.

Newmarket Holidays will not be able to undertake ETIAS applications on your behalf, so have instead instructed the services of the Travel Visa Company to provide help, should you need it. You can find more information about this service at https://thetravelvisacompany.co.uk/newmarket-holidays/?sup=NMH

All mandatory local taxes and charges are included in the price of your holiday as per the itinerary. Prices for any optional excursions are listed separately. Any suggested free-time activities, attractions, meals or entertainment are not included (unless otherwise stated), and may be subject to local charges. Please note that tipping is optional and as such, is typically not included in the price of your holiday (unless otherwise stated).

Terms & Conditions

Save up to £700 per couple offer is valid on 2027 CroisiEurope river cruise bookings made between 01 July and 30 September 2026 inclusive, and cannot be retrospectively applied to bookings already confirmed. All offers are subject availability and may be withdrawn without notice at any time. Discount amounts are already included in advertised fares, these may vary on selected departures, are not combinable with any other offers and apply to full-paying passengers only. These offers do not apply to any other Newmarket Holidays products.

Cruises are provided by CroisiEurope river cruises. CroisiEurope river cruises reserves the right to cancel, change or amend any cruise at short notice. Holidays booked with Newmarket Holidays are financially protected in accordance with ABTA, ATOL & ABTOT regulations. Newmarket Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 02238316.

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Rhône & Saóne River Delights

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