Joie de Vivre & Catherine, Grand France ex Paris to Avignon – 12 Sep 2021

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Award-winning luxury river cruises in Europe, Russia, Egypt, and China for the discerning traveller.

“Uniworld’s “Six-Star Experience” represents a core value in delivering the highest standards of EXCELLENCE in the six most important aspects of luxury river cruising: Expertise, Service, Unique, Culinary, Choice & Truly All-Inclusive Europe River Cruising.

For nearly four decades, Uniworld has taken guests to the world’s greatest destinations—Europe, Egypt, and China. Since 2006, when Uniworld was acquired by Travel Corporation, parent company of many popular travel companies such as Trafalgar, Insight, Brendan, and Contiki, as well as Red Carnation Hotels—the award-winning five-star luxury hotel collection—Uniworld has made major investments in its ships and its people. The ultimate goal of these investments—a first-class European river cruise boutique hotel-style experience. The winning combination of Uniworld’s sister companies’ expertise in tour planning and in first-class hotel management coupled with Uniworld’s decades of superior nautical experience has created a new dimension in river cruising.

Boutique hotel designers often invest a lot of thought, time, and resources into an interior decor reflective of a destination, as well as the amenities that assure an elegant, relaxed, and intimate experience. This is apparent on each of Uniworld’s nine company-owned ships. Over the course of the last couple of years, Uniworld’s ships have been completely refurbished to the highest standard of comfort, so guests travel from one exciting destination to the next with access to stylish lounges, cozy libraries, panoramic restaurants offering sumptuous cuisine and inviting riverview staterooms.

Complimentary airport transfers on arrival and departure days.

All tips and gratuities included (excluding optional extensions.)

Free onboard Internet and Wi-Fi Access.

In 2014 – Uniworld Boutique River Cruises introduces All-Inclusive European River Cruises

All gratuities for all onboard and onshore services; unlimited fine wine, beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages; shore excursions with local experts as your guide; free Internet and Wi-Fi; and all arrival and departure day transfers.

Note: Unlimited beverages do not include premium wine and premium spirits.

Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (162-180 sq ft – 15-17 sq m).

Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment centre and satellite, and bottled water.

Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cosy bathrobes and slippers.

Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms (194 sq ft – 18 sq m) with a French balcony.

Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment centre and satellite, and bottled water.

Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cosy bathrobes and slippers.

Lavishly appointed riverview staterooms (194 sq ft – 18 sq m) with a French balcony.

Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment centre and satellite, and bottled water.

Marble bathroom with Asprey bath and body products, plush towels, towel warmer, cosy bathrobes and slippers.

Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (260 sq ft – 24 sq m) with a French balcony.

Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment centre and satellite, and bottled water.

Lavishly appointed riverview stateroom (410 sq ft – 38 sq m) with a French balcony.

Handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, built-in closet, hair dryer, safe, individual thermostat, flat-screen TV with infotainment centre and satellite, and bottled water.

The Grand Suite offers extra benefits, including a separate spacious living room, bathroom with a separate rain shower and tub, and secluded toilet and bidet area.

Joie de Vivre - Jules Verne Deck

Joie de Vivre - Balzac Deck

Joie de Vivre - Victor Hugo Deck

Uniworld’s newest Super Ship—S.S. Joie de Vivre—is designed to reflect the “joy of living” as it cruises the Seine River in northern France. This luxurious 128-passenger vessel is a showcase for handcrafted furniture, sumptuous fabrics, beautiful antiques, gilded accents and every modern convenience. The Salon de Toulouse features a full-service bar and art and antiques curated from renowned auction houses and private collections. Enticing dining venues include Le Restaurant Pigalle, Bistro Saint-Germain and Café Flore. Intimately scaled so it can dock in the heart of Paris, the Joie de Vivre features two Royal Suites, eight Junior Suites, and 54 staterooms, all with made-to-order Savoir of England beds and marble-lined bathrooms.

Ship Profile & Stats

  • Length: 410 ft
  • Maiden Voyage: 2017
  • Passenger Capacity (dbl): 128

Ship Facilities

  • Salon de Beaux-Arts
  • La Cave Du Vin
  • Claude’s Supper Club
  • L’Espirit Bar
  • Massage
  • Fitness Centre
  • Swimming Pool
  • Main Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Bistrot Saint-Germain
  • Club L’Esprit Spa and Wellness Centre
  • 24-Hour Coffee & Tea Station
  • Le Restaurant Pigalle
  • Café Flore
  • Lounge


Cruise Itinerary

DateActivityArriveDepart
12 Sep '21
Paris, France
Embark Joie de Vivre
13 Sep '21
Vernon, France
14 Sep '21
Rouen, France
15 Sep '21
Caudebec, France
16 Sep '21
Rouen, France
17 Sep '21
Versailles, France
18 Sep '21
Paris, France
19 Sep '21
Paris, France
Disembark Joie de Vivre Transfer to Lyon
19 Sep '21
Lyon, France
Embark Catherine
20 Sep '21
Macon, France
21 Sep '21
Lyon, France
22 Sep '21
Tournon, France
23 Sep '21
Viviers, France
24 Sep '21
Avignon, France
25 Sep '21
Tarascon, France
26 Sep '21
Avignon, France
Disembark Catherine

All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

14 Night Cruise sailing from Paris to Avignon aboard Joie de Vivre and Catherine.

Day 1 – Paris
Embark the ship.

Day 2: La Roche-Guyon, Vernon (Giverny)
Today is a celebration of northern France’s natural beauty, with an excursion to a splendid château and gardens situated in an equally grand setting, plus a chance to immerse yourself in the very landscapes that inspired Impressionist master Claude Monet. Visit the hilltop Château de La Roche-Guyon, surrounded by beautiful gardens and offering sweeping views over the Seine. Later, you can visit the home and gardens of Claude Monet. Or take in the beautiful French countryside in a more invigorating way, with a guided bike ride from Vernon to Giverny.

Choice of Château La Roche-Guyon or “Let’s Go” hike on the Crests trail or Monet’s gardens at Giverny or “Let’s Go” bike ride from Vernon to Giverny

This evening, a special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you.

Day 3: Rouen
Walk in the footsteps of greatness in Normandy’s medieval capital, a city with a historic quarter that remains amazingly intact. From the cathedral Monet painted dozens of times to the cross marking the spot where Joan of Arc was martyred, Rouen is a treasure trove for the culturally curious. The roll call of famous people who lived or died in Rouen is long and varied—Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, Gustave Flaubert and Claude Monet are among them.

Featured Excursion:
Rouen walking tour, the Dukes of Normandy’s capital

Day 4: Caudebec-en-Caux (Honfleur or Étretat)
Caudebec-en-Caux, a lovely little town on the right bank of the Seine Estuary, is your base for one of two very different excursions. You could drive through the beautiful Calvados countryside to Honfleur, a delightful seaside harbor and city of painters, or head to the windy cliffs of Étretat for a game of golf.

Choice of Honfleur walking tour or “Let’s Go” golfing in Étretat

Day 5: Rouen (Normandy Beaches)
There are moments when we travel that move us on an otherworldly level—experiences that stir a profound emotional connection. The Normandy beaches certainly have that effect. On your full-day outing, you’ll visit Normandy’s beaches, including Utah Beach and Ste-Mère-Église, with a choice to venture to either the American, British and Australian or Canadian beaches. After, you’ll go to the American cemetery and partake in a private ceremony at the Omaha Beach Memorial—a sentimental remembrance of Operation Overlord.

Choice of Normandy Beaches: highlights of American sites or Normandy Beaches: highlights of British & Australian sites or Normandy Beaches: highlights of Canadian sites

Day 6: Mantes-la-Jolie (Versailles)
How did France’s rulers live over the centuries? Step into the private rooms of the Palace of Versailles, the lavish palace built by the Sun King, to find out.

Choice of Versailles Palace secret apartments or “Versailles Gardens and Queens Hamlet”

A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 7: Paris
Whether you’re a first-time visitor to the “City of Light” or you’ve been here many times before, there’s something for everyone today in Paris. Enjoy a panoramic overview of the city, join a local expert for a walk through two much-loved neighborhoods, or pedal your way along the Left Bank, a fresh and fun way to take in the sights.

Featured Excursion:
“Heart of Paris” Seine River cruise

Choice of Paris city tour or “Do as the Locals Do” ÃŽle de la Cité and Latin Quarter or “Let’s Go” Seine riverbanks bike ride

Day 8: Paris (Disembark), Transfer to Lyon via High-Speed TGV Train (Embark)
You’ll transfer from the magical S.S. Joie de Vivre cruise ship in Paris to the striking S.S. Catherine in Lyon via high-speed, first-class TGV train for the second half of this fabulous grand tour. Once you’ve settled into your new home, you’ll have some time to explore delightful Lyon, which is nestled alongside the Saône River.

Day 9: Mâcon (Beaune)
The pace of life is decidedly more relaxed in Burgundy, where endless rows of grapes hang heavy on the vine. The capital of the region’s wine trade, Beaune is renowned for its history, beauty and highly prized wine, as well as its medieval-era hospital—the Hospices de Beaune.
Choice of Mâcon walking tour or Burgundy landscapes, Beaune and the hospices

A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 10: Lyon
As the epicenter of French gastronomy, Lyon is a city of tantalizing contrasts. There’s much to explore here, from the work of culinary visionaries to silk weavers’ secret passageways. After your choice of excursions, embrace the locals’ favorite mode of transportation with a bike ride—a great way to see the sights.

Choice of Lyon Capital of Gastronomy tour or Silk weavers walking tour or “Let’s Go” Lyon peninsula bike tour

Day 11: Tournon (Tain-l’Hermitage)
If you love fine wine, you’ll love the twin villages of Tournon and Tain-l’Hermitage. Tournon may be a small town, but stirring events took place here: A castle was raised on the hilltop in the 10th century to protect the region, and new fortifications were added over the centuries, including two “new” towers built to defend against Protestant attacks in the 16th century. You’ll see the handsome houses constructed by wealthy merchants and garrison officers when you walk through the Rue de Doux area, and you’ll pass the 14th-century church and the oldest secondary school in France.

Choice of Tournon and Tain-l’Hermitage twin villages stroll with wine tasting or “Let’s Go” Hermitage terrace vineyards hike with wine tasting

Day 12: Viviers, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
An enchanting village where time seems to have stopped centuries ago, Viviers has a long and storied past that goes back more than 1,600 years—and a splendid architectural heritage to match. At one time, Viviers was divided along religious lines—the clergy lived in the upper part of the town, the laity in the lower part. Your exploration of the town will take you through both parts, as you begin at the crest and make your way to the riverbank.

Featured Excursion:
Intimate Viviers “Village Day”

Day 13: Avignon
The walled city of Avignon is one of the most fascinating towns in southern France, with a host of historic gems to explore—including the fortress residence of rebellious popes who broke from Rome and once lived and ruled here. You’ll see the Palace of the Popes and much more today, and also have a chance to kayak under a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct.

Featured Excursion:
“Let’s Go” kayak ride on the Gardon River

Choice of Avignon walking tour with Palace of the Popes or Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct visit

Day 14: Tarascon (Arles)
Explore a sun-drenched Provençal town today with an allure all its own. Known for its remarkable Roman ruins, Arles so inspired Van Gogh that he painted some 200 paintings there. Arles has existed since the sixth century BC, when the ancient Greeks founded it and named it Theline. It was here that the Romans built their first bridge across the Rhône River, creating a vital overland route between Italy and Spain.

Featured Excursion:
Arles walking tour

A special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening.

Day 15: Avignon (Disembark)
Disembark the ship.

vid: 9602 | cfid: 84081-cruise

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