Uniworld Rhône River Cruise Beginning in Avignon

[billrco90278]

We are looking at a Uniworld cruise in October 2022 that starts in Avignon and ends in Lyon. According to the itinerary, the boat does not actually begin to move up the river from Avignon until the third day. Is this the norm for Rhone cruises? 

Edited November 16, 2021 by billrco90278
Remove duplicate word

[Gourmet Gal]

There’s a lot to see in that area so I’m not surprised but I would normally prefer arriving early and touring on my own if it means  ore stops along the way.  Are you finding that the other cruise lines are berthed in Avignon for 2 nights?

[jpalbny]

We did this in the opposite direction, in 2015. At the end there was one day in Avignon, then a day in Tarascon (to visit Arles), then back to Avignon on the last day to disembark.

 

So 3 days in that area was the norm, yes. And I just looked at your itinerary - it says that you also sail to Tarascon on day 2, and you're back in Avignon for Day 3. Is your itinerary changed from this? Maybe they sometimes skip Tarascon, and visit Arles from Avignon?

 

https://www.uniworld.com/us/river-cruise/france/burgundy-and-provence/2022-avignon-to-lyon/day-to-day

 

 

[skinnylegs]

We just did this Uniworld cruise in September but started in Lyon. Loved it! I think it was my favorite cruise over the Seine and the Rhine. Arles was probably our favorite town (hard to choose).  I attached one photo from Arles below the coliseum.

 

The Pont du Gard aqueduct was amazing and although you are docked in Avignon, it is a short bus ride to the aqueduct.

 

We spent several days in Lyon before the cruise. The city is considered the gastronomical capital of France. We really enjoyed Vieux Lyon, exploring the shops, restaurants, traboules, and the Roman amphitheaters. Attached one photo of Vieux Lyon - lit up at night.

[IMNiles]

This does seem to be the norm, yes.  We’re on our second Rhône cruise as we speak (aboard AMAKristina), and have previous sailed aboard Uniworld in the opposite direction. In both cases there were multiple nights spent on both ends of the cruise (Lyon and Avignon).  In some cases, there were scenic “day trips” to nearby ports and excursions, and then the ship returned to the original port for the night.  Unlike on the Rhine or Danube, the distance covered on this itinerary just isn’t that great, and I suspect you’ll find actually that having more time in the “endpoints” allows you to revisit things that you either especially liked or saw in passing.  This definitely does NOT translate into a feeling of “not having seen much” - like most river cruises, it’s pretty much non-stop!  

 

I’m sure you will enjoy your cruise, especially since it’s aboard Uniworld (“No request too large, no detail too small”)…

 

[beesKate]

We did this cruise in 2015, and yes there did seem to be a lot of stopping in Avignon!  Our captain was based in Avignon and we wondered if that influenced it all 🙂  Arrival day was in Avignon.  We arrived on a Sunday and after the drive from Marseille, we had free time to wander around the city on our own.  On day 2, we sailed to Arles where we I believe we spent the morning touring, then sailed back to Avignon.  Day 3 was our official touring day of Avignon in the morning, but in the afternoon we visited the Pont du Gard and visited a tasting room in the Chateauneuf du Pape.  The distances aren't that great in area, and to tell the truth, the south of the Rhone is not very scenic. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

I am surprised that Uniworld doesn't overnight in Arles.  On our AMA Rhone cruise, Lyons was the only place with an overnight [start of cruise – good 'Plan B' for anyone arriving late].  After that we sailed each afternoon, so that we had the evening free to explore the new port (Vienne, Tournon, Viviers, Avignon, Arles).