Travel Seller’s Report: River Cruise in France ‘Truly Memorable’
by John Gawne /After 56 ocean cruises Cruise Inc. franchise owner John Gawne ventured onto Europe’s rivers aboard Uniworld’s River Royale. He sailed through Burgundy and Provence. Last week, he wrote about his first impressions (see article). Here, he presents a closer look at the itinerary and some insider’s tips on selling a river cruise.
We started our cruise in Arles where we had an informative lecture about Van Gogh, who lived there for two years and painted “Starry Night” and others there. On a morning excursion we visited a Roman amphitheater, where they still hold bull fights, and other local sites. In the afternoon we walked around the town again, and stopped at a supermarket to purchase wine to take back aboard. We had a day and a half in Arles.
On Tuesday we stopped in Avignon, a walled city to where the popes had fled from Italy in the 1300’s and built a home for themselves. Our morning walking tour went into the walled city and to the palace. We also visited a room where the wines of the area were available for tasting or purchase and an indoor market where local fruit, fish, meat and cheese were sold.
In the afternoon we went on the optional bus tour to a Roman aqueduct and a wine tasting at a winery in Chateauneuf de Pape.
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Wednesday we visited Viviers, where a morning walking tour through the medieval village ended with an organ recital in St. Vincent Cathedral.
Thursday the ship was berthed in Tain L’Hermitage. On the morning tour, we walked to a local winery for a tour, explanation and wine tasting. We then continued across the river on a pedestrian bridge to Tournon for another guided walking tour. Some of the vineyards on the hillsides here, especially on the L’Hermitage side, were originally planted by the Romans.
Friday we berthed in Lyon, the second largest city in France and a city known for its food. The morning bus tour was a narrated drive through the city with a visit to the basilica, which is Lyon’s hallmark church overlooking the city. After lunch we rode bicycles (free to passengers) back into the town, where we spent several hours.
The ship is required to pass through about 10 or more locks sailing up-river on the Rhone and Saone rivers, at least one of which raises the ship 75 feet.
On Saturday, from Chalon sur Saone, we traveled by bus through the Burgundy countryside to Beaune, a historic, walled city that for centuries has been at the heart of France’s wine trade. It was, and still is, an affluent city.
The land the vineyards are on is very expensive, and the wines produced, some of the best in France, are auctioned here. We had a guided tour through the Hospices de Beaune, a hospital built to serve the indigent centuries ago, which operated until the 1970’s. It is now a museum.
We then had an hour on our own in the Saturday market, where vendors offered samples of cheese, sausage, and other wares. We purchased wine for our coming visit to Paris, including an outstanding local sparkling white wine, a cremant, and a pinot noir. In the afternoon we walked throughout Chalon sur Saone visiting shops, sampling wine and watching two wedding parties.
Unlike on most cruise ships, there is no need to put luggage out the last night. On Sunday, despite our early departure, breakfast was available. They arranged a taxi for us and two other couples that were taking a train, and moved our luggage to the pier for the taxi at 7:45am. The taxi was only 12 euros for 3 couples and all of our luggage.
We look back on this trip as truly memorable. We loved the personal attention on the small ship, berthing in town, walking through the small towns sampling wines and visiting markets. And I learned much more about French wines and wine production requirements there. We’ll do it again, perhaps Paris and Normandy next.
Insider’s Tips
When it comes to selling the ship and itinerary, here are a few tips:
Book early, even a year ahead for the best discounts and cabin selection.
The Captain’s Welcome and Farewell dinners found men wearing shirt and tie – only a few men donned sport coats. Women were in cocktail dresses.
While there is a brief daily program distributed, tell clients to attend the pre-dinner talks by the hotel director and cruise manager. They are the best source of daily information.
There are only six bicycles available. Tell your clients to reserve them early for the ports where they would like to use them.
Tell your clients to book their massages early as there’s only one massage therapist.
Prepare your clients for the fact that gratuities are payable only in cash (USD or Euro) and cannot be charged to the shipboard account.
John Gawne is the owner of a Virginia-based Cruises Inc. He filed this report after a Burgundy & Provence cruise on Uniworld’s River Royale.

