Ultimate France - Bordeaux to Arles

The Ultimate France - Bordeaux to Arles is a 21-night Europe cruise aboard S.S. Joie de Vivre, operated by Uniworld River Cruises. Departing Bordeaux on August 29, 2027, the voyage visits 22 ports. Fares start from $13,499 per person.

Length: 21 nights
Departs: Aug 29, 2027
Returns: Sep 19, 2027
Ports of call: 22
Days at sea: 2

from $13,499

$642 / night per person, incl. taxes & fees

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Itinerary

Day 1 Aug 29, 2027 Bordeaux The name alone conjures images of sun-ripened grapes, splashes of refined flavour, and the joy of clinking glasses. Bordeaux is synonymous with quality and prestige, and the promise of endless opportunities to sample the city’s famous, full-bodied red wines makes a visit to this elegant French port city one to truly savour. Sprinkled with scenic, turret-adorned mansion castles, which stand above soil softened by the Atlantic and winding flow of the Garonne River, the vineyards of Bordeaux consistently produce revered wines, enjoyed right across the globe. Explore France’s largest wine region, walking through vineyards where dusty clumps of grapes hang, before descending into cellars to see the painstaking processes that make this region a global wine centre. The acclaimed, sensory experience of Cité du Vin wine museum lets you put your own nose to the test, learning more about the craft involved in producing world class vintages. Brush up on your wine knowledge, with our blog [insert You’ll Fall in Love with Wine in Bordeaux]. Bordeaux itself is an intoxicating blend of old and new – a fact perfectly illustrated by the Water Mirror. This living art installation has reinvigorated one of the city’s most important historical sites, and it feels as though you’re walking on water, as you step through the cooling mist of Place De La Bourse. The moisture generates a glorious mirrored composition of the 300-year-old elegant palatial architecture in front of you. Water also flows freely from the magnificent Monument aux Girondins statue, where horses rear up to extol the values of the Girondin revolutionaries. Marche des Quais – the city’s lively fish market – is the spot to try this wine capital’s freshest lemon-drizzled oysters and juicy prawns. Bordeaux port guide Search cruises visiting Bordeaux

Bordeaux photo — Day 1 Aug 29, 2027 Bordeaux The name alone conjures images of sun-ripened grapes, splashes of refined flavour, and the joy of clinking glasses. Bordeaux is synonymous with quality and prestige, and the promise of endless opportunities to sample the city’s famous, full-bodied red wines makes a visit to this elegant French port city one to truly savour. Sprinkled with scenic, turret-adorned mansion castles, which stand above soil softened by the Atlantic and winding flow of the Garonne River, the vineyards of Bordeaux consistently produce revered wines, enjoyed right across the globe. Explore France’s largest wine region, walking through vineyards where dusty clumps of grapes hang, before descending into cellars to see the painstaking processes that make this region a global wine centre. The acclaimed, sensory experience of Cité du Vin wine museum lets you put your own nose to the test, learning more about the craft involved in producing world class vintages. Brush up on your wine knowledge, with our blog [insert You’ll Fall in Love with Wine in Bordeaux]. Bordeaux itself is an intoxicating blend of old and new – a fact perfectly illustrated by the Water Mirror. This living art installation has reinvigorated one of the city’s most important historical sites, and it feels as though you’re walking on water, as you step through the cooling mist of Place De La Bourse. The moisture generates a glorious mirrored composition of the 300-year-old elegant palatial architecture in front of you. Water also flows freely from the magnificent Monument aux Girondins statue, where horses rear up to extol the values of the Girondin revolutionaries. Marche des Quais – the city’s lively fish market – is the spot to try this wine capital’s freshest lemon-drizzled oysters and juicy prawns. Bordeaux port guide Search cruises visiting Bordeaux

Day 3 Aug 31, 2027 Libourne Libourne is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the wine-making capital of northern Gironde and lies near Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Libourne port guide Search cruises visiting Libourne

Libourne photo — Day 3 Aug 31, 2027 Libourne Libourne is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the wine-making capital of northern Gironde and lies near Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Libourne port guide Search cruises visiting Libourne

Day 6 Sep 3, 2027 Paris Even if you’ve never been to Paris before, you’ll feel like you recognise every corner of the city. Countless films, books, paintings, poems and songs have been set in the city of love. Yet there’s always more to discover. The fashion capital of the world, a mecca of art and culture, an oasis for gourmets and a metropolis for media, education and political and economic power – Paris is all of this and more. Paris is a city whose beauty never fades. The Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Madeleine, Opéra, Louvre, Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, Dôme des Invalides and Centre Pompidou are just some of the sights that exemplify this city’s fame and grandeur. Paris port guide Search cruises visiting Paris

Paris photo — Day 6 Sep 3, 2027 Paris Even if you’ve never been to Paris before, you’ll feel like you recognise every corner of the city. Countless films, books, paintings, poems and songs have been set in the city of love. Yet there’s always more to discover. The fashion capital of the world, a mecca of art and culture, an oasis for gourmets and a metropolis for media, education and political and economic power – Paris is all of this and more. Paris is a city whose beauty never fades. The Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Madeleine, Opéra, Louvre, Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, Dôme des Invalides and Centre Pompidou are just some of the sights that exemplify this city’s fame and grandeur. Paris port guide Search cruises visiting Paris

Day 7 Sep 4, 2027 La Roche Guyon La Roche-Guyon is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located in the Vexin regional nature park. The commune grew around the Château de La Roche-Guyon, upon which historically it depended for its existence. The commune's population in 2015 was 464. La Roche Guyon port guide Search cruises visiting La Roche Guyon

La Roche Guyon photo — Day 7 Sep 4, 2027 La Roche Guyon La Roche-Guyon is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located in the Vexin regional nature park. The commune grew around the Château de La Roche-Guyon, upon which historically it depended for its existence. The commune's population in 2015 was 464. La Roche Guyon port guide Search cruises visiting La Roche Guyon

Day 9 Sep 6, 2027 Honfleur The crammed together, timber-framed houses of Honfleur's delightful waterfront simply beg to be painted, and the waterfront beauty has been immortalised on the canvases of artists like Monet, and Honfleur's celebrated son, Boudin. Located in scenic Normandy, where the Seine opens out into the Channel, this is one of France's - and the world's - most spectacular, historic harbours. Impossibly picturesque, the Vieux Bassin's Norman harbour townhouses are an artist’s dream, reflecting out onto the still water, between bright wooden fishing boats. View less It may be gorgeous, but it’s also a historically important port, and Samuel de Champlain's epic voyage - which resulted in the founding of Quebec - launched from these waters. Take a stroll back in time, as you wander cobbled streets where flowers spill down walls or sit to indulge in Calvados – brandy made from Normandy's famous apples. A museum dedicated to Eugene Boudin, the town's influential impressionist artist, displays visions of the harbour and region, as well as paintings of the town's stunning wooden church. Wander to Eglise St Catherine itself, to see the twisting structure, which is France's largest wooden chapel. Constructed from trees taken from nearby Touques Forest, it replaced the stone church that stood here previously, which was destroyed during the Hundred Years War. Out of Honfleur, The spectacular Pont de Normandie cable-stayed bridge loops up over the Seine's estuary, bringing excursions to Le Havre even closer. The pensive, sombre beaches of the D-Day landings stretch out across Normandy's coastline, while the Bayeux Tapestry unfurls within reach of Honfleur's picturesque scenery. Honfleur port guide Search cruises visiting Honfleur

Honfleur photo — Day 9 Sep 6, 2027 Honfleur The crammed together, timber-framed houses of Honfleur's delightful waterfront simply beg to be painted, and the waterfront beauty has been immortalised on the canvases of artists like Monet, and Honfleur's celebrated son, Boudin. Located in scenic Normandy, where the Seine opens out into the Channel, this is one of France's - and the world's - most spectacular, historic harbours. Impossibly picturesque, the Vieux Bassin's Norman harbour townhouses are an artist’s dream, reflecting out onto the still water, between bright wooden fishing boats. View less It may be gorgeous, but it’s also a historically important port, and Samuel de Champlain's epic voyage - which resulted in the founding of Quebec - launched from these waters. Take a stroll back in time, as you wander cobbled streets where flowers spill down walls or sit to indulge in Calvados – brandy made from Normandy's famous apples. A museum dedicated to Eugene Boudin, the town's influential impressionist artist, displays visions of the harbour and region, as well as paintings of the town's stunning wooden church. Wander to Eglise St Catherine itself, to see the twisting structure, which is France's largest wooden chapel. Constructed from trees taken from nearby Touques Forest, it replaced the stone church that stood here previously, which was destroyed during the Hundred Years War. Out of Honfleur, The spectacular Pont de Normandie cable-stayed bridge loops up over the Seine's estuary, bringing excursions to Le Havre even closer. The pensive, sombre beaches of the D-Day landings stretch out across Normandy's coastline, while the Bayeux Tapestry unfurls within reach of Honfleur's picturesque scenery. Honfleur port guide Search cruises visiting Honfleur

Day 10 Sep 7, 2027 Rouen, France Situated in a natural amphitheater on the Seine River, Rouen's status as a commercial and cultural center reaches as far back as the Middle Ages. As a result of its importance, the city was the target of many sieges. During the English occupation in the Hundred Years' War, Rouen was the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. Other tragedies include the destruction of a major part of the commercial and industrial center during bombing raids in World War II. Today the city presents an interesting mix of medieval and modern architecture. Rouen expanded outward during the 20th century with the development of industries; its increasingly busy port is now the fourth largest in France. The city's greatest attraction is its historic center. Known as the “City of a Hundred Spires,” many of its important edifices are churches. Dominating the large central square is the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture. You may recognize the west façade of the cathedral from a series of studies by Claude Monet, which are now displayed in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Surrounding the square are picturesque half-timbered houses with steeply pointed roofs. The wealth of architectural treasures and the ambiance of Rouen's historic center never fail to impress visitors. Rouen also serves as a gateway to Paris. Driving distance is 2 hours by car or 1.5 hours by train. (Trains arrive in Paris at St. Lazare Station.) Rouen, France port guide Search cruises visiting Rouen, France

Rouen, France photo — Day 10 Sep 7, 2027 Rouen, France Situated in a natural amphitheater on the Seine River, Rouen's status as a commercial and cultural center reaches as far back as the Middle Ages. As a result of its importance, the city was the target of many sieges. During the English occupation in the Hundred Years' War, Rouen was the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. Other tragedies include the destruction of a major part of the commercial and industrial center during bombing raids in World War II. Today the city presents an interesting mix of medieval and modern architecture. Rouen expanded outward during the 20th century with the development of industries; its increasingly busy port is now the fourth largest in France. The city's greatest attraction is its historic center. Known as the “City of a Hundred Spires,” many of its important edifices are churches. Dominating the large central square is the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture. You may recognize the west façade of the cathedral from a series of studies by Claude Monet, which are now displayed in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Surrounding the square are picturesque half-timbered houses with steeply pointed roofs. The wealth of architectural treasures and the ambiance of Rouen's historic center never fail to impress visitors. Rouen also serves as a gateway to Paris. Driving distance is 2 hours by car or 1.5 hours by train. (Trains arrive in Paris at St. Lazare Station.) Rouen, France port guide Search cruises visiting Rouen, France

Day 13 Sep 10, 2027 Lyon Sitting in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, where the Rhône and Saône rivers converge, Lyon boasts a proud 2,000 year history. From its magnificent Roman Amphitheatre of Fourvière, to Renaissance architecture in Lyon’s old town, to the Presqu’ile peninsula, where impressive 19th century buildings house banks, cultural centres, and government buildings, alongside designer stores, independent retailers, restaurants, bars, cafes, and nightclubs. Check out the Vieux area of the city, and its grand houses of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, built by the city’s wealthy silk merchants. Walk the Traboules, underground passageways that linked the weaving houses to the river. Visit the impressive Fourvière Basilica, and Lyon’s gothic cathedral. Seek out the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the largest fine-arts museum outside of Paris. Or choose to relax, stroll the Parc de la Tête d’Or, one of France’s largest botanical gardens, and stop off at a Bouchon, to enjoy some local Lyon cuisine. Lyon port guide Search cruises visiting Lyon

Lyon photo — Day 13 Sep 10, 2027 Lyon Sitting in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, where the Rhône and Saône rivers converge, Lyon boasts a proud 2,000 year history. From its magnificent Roman Amphitheatre of Fourvière, to Renaissance architecture in Lyon’s old town, to the Presqu’ile peninsula, where impressive 19th century buildings house banks, cultural centres, and government buildings, alongside designer stores, independent retailers, restaurants, bars, cafes, and nightclubs. Check out the Vieux area of the city, and its grand houses of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, built by the city’s wealthy silk merchants. Walk the Traboules, underground passageways that linked the weaving houses to the river. Visit the impressive Fourvière Basilica, and Lyon’s gothic cathedral. Seek out the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the largest fine-arts museum outside of Paris. Or choose to relax, stroll the Parc de la Tête d’Or, one of France’s largest botanical gardens, and stop off at a Bouchon, to enjoy some local Lyon cuisine. Lyon port guide Search cruises visiting Lyon

Day 17 Sep 14, 2027 Viviers Viviers is a small and sleepy town in south-central France, in the province of Ardeche. This medieval town has retained a lot of its original appeal. A cruise through the city will be significantly different compared to a walk. The cruise trip on the Rhine river will typically run through the evening and will wind through the cobblestone streets of the city. The city has Medieval stone houses which will quickly give you an idea of how life was back in the 15th and 16th centuries. You will also notice that the place is very quiet, having about 3,000 inhabitants at the time. A key attraction you will see in the city is the famous Renaissance Maison des Chevaliers or House of Knights. This Renaissance-style house has a long and interesting history, having originally been the house of a rich merchant known as Noel Alberta. You will also see the famous Cathedral of St. Vincent which is even much older than the House of Knights. The cathedral was constructed in the 12th century and is currently protected as a historical monument. Viviers port guide Search cruises visiting Viviers

Day 19 Sep 16, 2027 Arles If you have a love of Roman history, then Arles should be on the visiting itinerary. Situated on the Rhône River, in Southern France, the city was at one time a provincial capital of ancient Rome. The Roman influence can still be seen to this day in its historical sites. Its semi-circular Roman theatre still stands on a hilltop. Its Amphitheatre, built between the 1st and 2nd century, and capable of accommodating over 20,000 spectators, is used today for plays, festivals and bullfights. While the Alyscamps, or Roman Necropolis, built by the Romans and Greeks, is the most famous burial site in the western world. Another site worthy of mention is the Constantine Thermes, built between the 3rd and 4th centuries during the reign of the Emperor Constantine. Arles is also said to have influenced Van Gough’s paintings, and the contemporary art on show at the Vincent Van Gough Foundation. Arles port guide Search cruises visiting Arles

Pricing

Lowest fare we've tracked over the observed 90-day span: $13,499 · range $13,499–$13,499

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

Not available

Oceanview

from $13,499

$642 / night

Fare rows

Classic

Cabin grade

Available

from $13,499

$642 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony

Not available

Suite

from $28,439

$1,354 / night

Fare rows

Suite

Cabin grade

Available

from $28,439

$1,354 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Prices verified Jun 18, 2026

Prices come from third-party data feeds via Uniworld River Cruises and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works

Price history

30 days

○ = last available date (sold out, or no longer listed).

Cabin grades

Oceanview

Lowest Oceanview $13,499 C Classic $13,499

Suite

Lowest Suite $28,439 S Suite $28,439

Lines step between recorded price changes. Plot up to 6 lines at once.

Show all 23 cabin grades

Name	Supplier code	Type
French Balcony	A	Balcony
French Balcony	B	Balcony
Deluxe Balcony	DB	Balcony
Deluxe French Balcony	DFB	Balcony
Deluxe French Balcony	DLX	Balcony
French Balcony	FB	Balcony
Signature French Balcony	SB	Balcony
Signature French Balcony	SFB	Balcony
Outside Cabin	4	Oceanview
Outside Cabin	5	Oceanview
Classic	C	Oceanview
Deluxe	D	Oceanview
Suite	1	Suite
Grand Suite	2	Suite
Royal Suite	3	Suite
Colonial Suite	CS	Suite
Grand Suite	GS	Suite
Heritage Suite	HS	Suite
Maharaja Suite	MS	Suite
Royal Suite	RS	Suite
Suite	S	Suite
Signature Suite	SS	Suite
Viceroy Suite	VS	Suite

Ship

Your ship S.S. Joie de Vivre 6★ **1,500** GT **128** guests Built **2015** S.S. Joie de Vivre brings the “joy of living” to the rivers of France. Step aboard your floating pied-à-terre in France, featuring handcrafted furniture and fine antiques, original artwork, and signature accents inspired by 20th-century Parisian design from the Golden Twenties to the free-spirited Sixties, all blending seamlessly with modern conveniences. S.S. Joie de Vivre ship guide Search cruises on S.S. Joie de Vivre

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