About the Rhône & Saône
The combined Rhône and Saône itinerary runs the length of Burgundy and Provence — from the gastronomic capital of Lyon down to the Camargue wetlands at the Mediterranean. Highlights include the Roman amphitheatres of Vienne, Orange and Arles, the Palais des Papes in Avignon, and the Côtes du Rhône wine villages of Tournon.
Headline destinations: Lyon, Avignon, Arles, Vienne, Tournon, the Beaujolais vineyards.
The river flows through 2 countries — Switzerland, France. 16 ships from 11 different operators currently sail itineraries here, ranging from week-long classic loops to multi-week extended voyages.
Featured itineraries on the Rhône & Saône
| Itinerary | Length | Sample ports |
|---|---|---|
| Burgundy & Provence | 8 nights | Lyon · Mâcon · Tournon · Viviers · Avignon · Arles · Tarascon |
| Taste of Southern France | 8 nights | Lyon · Beaune · Vienne · Tournon · Avignon · Arles |
Operators sailing the Rhône & Saône
Viking River Cruises
Scandinavian-styled Longships exploring Europe's great waterways.
AmaWaterways
Boutique river ships with twin balconies and onboard bicycles.
Avalon Waterways
Suite Ships with beds that face the river.
Scenic Luxury Cruises
All-inclusive Space-Ships with butler-served suites.
Emerald Cruises
Star-Ships with an indoor pool that converts to a cinema.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Floating boutique hotels with hand-curated antiques.
CroisiEurope
Family-owned French line covering Europe's lesser-known rivers.
Tauck
Family-owned American operator with multi-generational departures.
A-ROSA River Cruises
Lifestyle river cruising for a German-speaking market.
Riviera Travel
British operator with single-supplement cabins on every ship.
Amadeus River Cruises
Family-owned Austrian line with classic European itineraries.
Ships sailing the Rhône & Saône
| Ship | Cruise line | Class | Guests | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-ROSA Stella | A-ROSA River Cruises | A-ROSA Classic | 174 | 2005 |
| AmaCello | AmaWaterways | European | 148 | 2008 |
| Amadeus Provence | Amadeus River Cruises | Amadeus Provence | 140 | 2017 |
| Avalon Poetry II | Avalon Waterways | Suite Ship | 128 | 2014 |
| Emerald Liberte | Emerald Cruises | Star-Ship | 138 | 2017 |
| MS Anne Marie | CroisiEurope | Premier | 84 | 2018 |
| MS Botticelli | CroisiEurope | Classic | 105 | 2004 |
| MS Camargue | CroisiEurope | Classic | 102 | 1995 |
| MS Douce France | CroisiEurope | Classic | 110 | 1997 |
| MS Modigliani | CroisiEurope | Classic | 110 | 2001 |
| MS Oscar Wilde | Riviera Travel | Riviera Standard | 140 | 2018 |
| SS Catherine | Uniworld Boutique River Cruises | Super Ship | 159 | 2014 |
| Scenic Diamond | Scenic Luxury Cruises | Space-Ship | 155 | 2009 |
| Viking Forseti | Viking River Cruises | Longship | 190 | 2013 |
| ms Esprit | Tauck | Inspiration | 98 | 2017 |
| ms Grace | Tauck | Inspiration | 98 | 2017 |