1. August 10, 2015
Dear Traveler,
As a fellow traveler, you probably know what it’s like to be asked for travel recommendations, as I
often am. Like me, you may suggest a place or experience that really “fits” with your friend’s personality
or interests… or you may gush about a trip that changed your life.
Allow me to let you in on my secret: there’s one Vantage river cruise that will transform your mindset
and engage all your senses, one that I urge you to experience for yourself…
TREASURES OF FRANCE:
A GRAND RIVER JOURNEY FROM NORMANDY TO PROVENCE
Although France is no larger than the state of Texas, it never ceases to amaze me how distinct each
region is — Provence and Normandy are about as similar as Florida and Vermont! Cruising the great
rivers that flow through the country, you’ll glimpse the varied landscapes and climates between the
Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel.
More than that, you’ll get a true sense of the unique culture found in each region you visit —
Provence, Normandy, Burgundy, even Beaujolais... and of course, Paris is a culture unto itself. Here’s a
small sampling of highlights from each region, experiences that will turn into
Memories You’ll Cherish Forever
• Spend a full day touring D-Day sites in Normandy, including Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and the
American Cemetery
• Visit the Hameau du vin for a Beaujolais wine tasting and meet with a goat farmer to taste freshly-
made cheese in Burgundy
• See Paris’s most recognizable monuments, including the Notre-Dame Cathedral, or stroll through
the Marais neighborhood, on your choice of guided tours in the City of Light
• Explore the walled city of Avignon with a guided visit to the Palais des Papes, or get an insider’s view
of life in Provence on a “Secrets of Avignon” walking tour
Many other experiences await you throughout your river cruise — I’ll get to those later in this
letter — and of course, you’ll make discoveries on your own. Perhaps the greatest revelation you’ll have
is how the history of the great river highways, the Seine, Saône, and Rhône Rivers, ties together each
diverse region of France. My favorite part of river cruising is watching the story of France’s past unfold
as my ship retraces ancient waterways through pastoral landscapes and influential cities. As you sail
by, imagine the merchants and dignitaries carrying tales and inventions into each port, paving the way
for French traditions still practiced today. Each peek at the passing scenery left an impression more
intimate than other modes of transportation — with much less traffic.
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2. The ships on this itinerary have been specially designed to navigate France’s riverways; what’s
more, the ms River Venture (on the Seine) and the ms River Discovery II (on the Rhône and Saône) are
state-of-the-art accommodations. Everything you need — from a cozy cabin to a spacious dining room,
from the concierge’s desk to the fitness room — is at your fingertips. Nightly entertainment on board,
such as local musicians and classic French film presentations, are the perfect complement to your
daytime excursions.
Your journey begins when you embark the ms River Discovery II. (You’ll find deck plans on the
included information sheet.) Once you’ve settled into your Deluxe stateroom and sipped your Welcome
Drink, you’ll be free to roam the spacious lounges while your captain and crew prepare for the voyage
ahead. It won’t be long before you...
Fall Under the Spell of Enchanting Provence
Provence may be the most painted, photographed, filmed, written about, and dreamed of region
of France, and you’ll understand why when you first spot the sunbaked clusters of red-tiled roofs and
time-worn bricks of Tarascon. The town’s riverside castle appears to be a movie set, but it’s the real
deal — as are all the sights you’ll see in the days to come.
From Tarascon, you’ll sail to Avignon, where the ruins of the Pont Saint-Bénézet, a bridge
memorialized in song, project out over the Rhône River before ending abruptly. The fortified city walls
rise up along the riverbank, and above them, the Palais des Papes towers above the city. On Day 3, you
may explore Avignon on your own, or ride out to soaring Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard. Evidence
of Roman civilization — especially in juxtaposition with other historical structures and modern
elements — is another reason to love Provence.
In the 14th Century, Avignon enjoyed wealth and prominence as the papal seat, remnants of which
are evident on your guided tour of the city, including entrance into the castle known as the Palais des
Papes (Palace of the Popes). You’ll discover even more if you choose the “Secrets of Avignon” tour
through the twisting and turning side streets — and if you join your Cruise Director for an evening pub
crawl. Fairly quickly, you’ll
Settle into the Laid-Back Provençal Lifestyle
What makes Avignon truly Provençal to me is the main boulevard, the Rue de la République, lined
with subtly elegant shops whose wares fill the air with the perfume of lavender, honey, and freshly
baked bread. The tree-lined square, filled with melodies from the classic carousel, is where everyone
congregates to enjoy an aromatic meal featuring Mediterranean vegetables cooked with savory herbs.
As you sail north along the Rhône on Day 5, learn more about the significant role river travel played
— and continues to play — in a lecture titled “French Waterways.” Viviers, where you’ll dock after
cruising past picturesque cliffs, is another perfect Provençal village. The centerpiece is the Cathedral of
Saint Vincent, a grand edifice for such a tiny town, where you’ll not only hear but feel the thunderous
notes of the organ during a concert. Time appears to have skipped past the blue window shutters
adorning each stone-covered building. Take part in local pastimes yourself, like playing pétanque and
sipping anise-flavored pastis.
More authentic French flavors await you at an onboard wine, cheese, and bread lecture and
tasting on Day 6. You’ll be getting farther away from Provence, so it’ll be time to compare and contrast
Provençal tastes with those farther north. Vienne is the next port, and its amalgam of historic
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3. structures is why I love to visit France. On your city tour, you’ll see a Roman temple and theater, a Gothic
cathedral, and the neoclassical city hall. On the other hand, if you’re up for a more rigorous walk, you’ll
find an unforgettable view of Vienne from a nearby hilltop.
The only problem with visiting Provence is that you may find it very difficult to say goodbye. Like
many visitors before you, you may be tempted to pack all your belongings and relocate to a house in the
countryside. Far be it from me to dissuade you, but first, enjoy the rest of your river cruise! Trust me, you
won’t want to miss what’s up next.
Bridge Provence and Burgundy in Lyon, France’s Culinary Capital
With the grace of Burgundy and the easygoing attitude of Provence, Lyon, France’s third-largest
city, is a delight to explore. Paris typically gets all the attention, but in-the-know travelers head to Lyon
for excellent restaurants, world-class museums and theaters, and gems hidden in every neighborhood.
There’s a Medieval quarter — Vieux Lyon, the old town — with a funicular to the hilltop above… a large
Roman amphitheatre…. the red-roofed bohemian neighborhood of Croix-Rousse… and of course, the
lovely riverside walks.
Straddling the Rhône and Saône Rivers, Lyon has been a center of commerce and craftsmanship for
centuries. The silk artisans of Vieux Lyon carried their delicate textiles through covered passageways,
called traboules, in order to keep them dry. Feel free to scout them on your own when you arrive on
Day 7, but keep in mind you’ll explore their ins and outs during a city tour on Day 8, after which you’ll
learn proper silk painting techniques at a demonstration on board. Another idea for Day 7 is to take an
optional afternoon ride to stunning Pérouges and release your gleeful inner child. The hamlet’s perfectly
preserved stone and half-timbered buildings bear no recognizable trace of modern life, infusing the
atmosphere with fairytale magic.
Back to Day 8! The centerpiece of your city tour is Les Halles de Lyon, the gourmet food market
that serves as a toy store for grown-ups. Cheese wheels in multiple patterns and colors are displayed
like works of art. Appetizing aromas fill the air, from the piquant dried meats to the euphoria-inducing
breads and pastries. To have such fresh, vibrant produce sourced locally is a chef’s dream — so it’s easy
to understand how Lyon’s culinary reputation grew. In fact, the market has been dedicated to legendary
chef Paul Bocuse, whose restaurants helped put Lyon on the map. Plus, it’s close to renowned wine
regions, so it’s only fitting that next, you...
Indulge Your Inner Sommelier in Beaujolais
The Beaujolais is a sub-region of Burgundy, right between Lyon and Beaune, known for bright and
fruity red wines that stand apart from its neighbors. Past travelers rave about the incredible scenery on
the Saône, so be sure to spend some time gazing out from the Peppermint Lounge or your stateroom
window, if not from the open-air Solaris Deck. On Day 9, your ship docks in Mâcon, which serves as the
starting point for an excursion into wine country.
What would a trip through Beaujolais be without a wine tasting? We’ll raise the bar with a trip to the
Hameau du vin, a museum dedicated to viticulture and winemaking, where you’ll taste three popular
types of Beaujolais wines. Unfortunately, you can’t stay there all day, but you can look forward
to delicious wine and cuisine during your meals on board. Plus, you should consider the afternoon
cruise as part of your sojourn in Beaujolais — the scenery on the Saône is one of the reasons I love river
cruising. Daytime sailing allows you to really relish the views of villages and vineyards around the river.
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4. Enhance Your French Wine Expertise in Burgundy
Gently rolling hills covered in lush greenery... little stone huts interrupting rows of vines… austere
stone villages huddled around a leviathan church… and the occasional turreted chateau. When you’re
cruising through Burgundy, you’ll notice that towns and villages — even simple farmhouses — have
a stately air to them. That’s because even though Burgundy is indeed a farming region, it’s one of
incredible wealth, and has been for centuries. If you’re partial to French wines, you likely know that
some of France’s best vintages — some of the best vintages in the world, in fact — hail from Burgundy.
I’ll tell you more about wine in Burgundy in a moment, but first, let me tell you about Day 10 — one
of my favorites. You’ll ride over rolling hills through farmland, surrounded by small villages and stone
walls, when — similar to the approach to the Pont du Gard in Provence — you round the corner and a
magnificent tower stands before you. This is the Cluny Abbey, once the world’s largest church before
Saint Peter’s was built in Rome and home to an unmatchable library. After 1,000 years, numerous wars,
and general decline, this former Benedictine monastery is still beautiful to behold. You can only imagine
how glorious it must have been during its heyday.
After Cluny, ride to a local goat farm and meet the farmer who owns it — he just happens to be the
town mayor. It may be hard to believe, but this is the moment that defines France for me. It’s one thing
to enjoy goat cheese at a restaurant, but it’s another experience to be encircled by a herd of friendly
goats as their owner passes you fresh cheese straight from the cellar. The pride the French take in their
land and their gastronomic traditions is astounding… and certainly all the more reason to sample all
the French food you can.
Travel through seemingly endless vineyards to reach Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy, on Day
11. The most famous monument in the city is the Hôtel-Dieu, easily picked out of the skyline due to its
boldly patterned roof. A charity hospital in the 15th Century, the Hôtel-Dieu received portions of land
— some of the best farmland, to be exact — as gifts from its wealthy patients. To raise money, bottles of
wine were auctioned off… an act that became a tradition that carries on to this day. You may not get to
take part in the auction, but the next-best thing will be a wine tasting in a local cellar. Then, bid adieu to
Burgundy, trading lush landscapes for sophisticated cityscapes as you
Make the Most of a Glorious Day in Paris
At the mid-point of your journey is the switchover from the ms River Discovery II to another
fantastic Vantage river ship, the ms River Venture, docked across the City of Light. Since larger vessels
may not sail through Paris, your ship’s concierge can help you arrange a cruise aboard one of the
bateaux mouches during your leisure time, if you’d like to witness central Paris from the river.
Paris almost needs no introduction, given its status as one of the world’s most beautiful, romantic
cities. By this point, you’ll have learned that Paris isn’t representative of all of France — but that won’t
stop you from enjoying it to the fullest. How you enjoy it on Day 12 depends on your preferences. You
may take a seat on the panoramic city tour and admire iconic structures such as the Eiffel Tower, the
Arc de Triomphe, and the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Recently, I joined our regional expert on a walking
tour of the Marais, and I came away with so much knowledge of Parisian history — from only one
neighborhood. It’s medieval in design, but it’s well-known for the strong Jewish community roots and
modern, artsy boutiques. (The Centre Georges Pompidou is around the corner — you definitely want to
catch an eyeful of the museum’s “inside-out” exterior.)
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5. If you’d rather skip a guided excursion to pursue your own interests, that’s okay, too. Just tell your
tour guide and he or she can arrange a time and place to meet up with you. Your afternoon in Paris is
fully at leisure, and undoubtedly, you’ll find a fun way to pass the time, whether it’s shopping along the
Champs-Élysées or taking us up on one of two optional guided tours, to the Louvre or the Musée de
l’Armée in Les Invalides.
You could spend days exploring Paris — and perhaps you will on a post-trip extension — but the
Seine River beckons. That’s because it’s time to...
Cruise Through Normandy Aboard the Ms River Venture
Where Provence residents tend to be easygoing like people in other Mediterranean countries, the
French in Normandy resemble their more serious neighbors to the north. However, that doesn’t mean
they’re not hospitable! Normandy may not have the warm climate ideal for wine grapes, but apples
are resilient enough — much like their farmers. You’ll find calvados (apple brandy) to be a welcoming
libation, one that pairs delightfully with Normandy’s excellent cheeses, at a tasting on Day 14.
I’m getting ahead of myself. Before the tasting, you’ll choose between two tours. The first is a trip to
Giverny to see the former home and studio of Claude Monet, along with the Museum of Impressionism.
It’s a must-see if you love inserting yourself into the real-life scenes of famous paintings, but you’ll have
other opportunities to learn about Monet’s work if you’d rather see the World War II headquarters
of German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel (aka the “Desert Fox”) in the Chateau de La Roche-Guyon.
Before dinner, perhaps you’ll use one of the ship’s complimentary bicycles to explore Vernon on wheels.
Your Concierge can provide recommended routes in most towns along your itinerary.
Normandy is filled with castles, as you’ll soon discover — not necessarily the lavish residences of
the Loire Valley, but actual fortresses where kings like Richard the Lionheart ruled over the land. He
guarded his territory from Château Gaillard, the ruins of which rest above the riverside town of Les
Andelys. Feel free to admire them from afar, or climb up the hill to see them up close, on your choice of
walking tours on Day 15. The next day, you’ll enjoy a tour of the Abbey Trail, a scenic quest to see some
of France’s most poetic monasteries. Some, like Jumièges, are mere ruins, but through their decay you
can better grasp the changing world and passage of time. In contrast, the Abbey of St. Wandrille is still a
working monastery, where devoted monks make candles, honey, cookies, and other goods to sell.
Sailing along the Seine offers insight into the picturesque Norman countryside dappled with
unassuming, half-timbered farmhouses. Fishermen, golden haystacks, and leafy groves inspired artists
in the Impressionist era as they still do today, but they didn’t spend all their time inland. Set your sights
on the English Channel, as you venture forth to
Encounter Moving Monuments to Heroism in Coastal Normandy
The ms River Venture is one of the few ships with the rating needed to cruise out of the mouth of
the Seine to the coastal enclave of Honfleur, whose quaint harbor you’ll explore on Day 17. Honfleur’s
soundtrack is sails flapping in the gentle breeze, while whiffs of fresh seafood and crisp apple tarts flood
the outdoor market. From here, Impressionist artists like Eugene Boudin, Monet, Sisley and others set
out to the cliffs of the Alabaster Coast to capture nature’s grace on canvas.
Coastal Normandy certainly deserves to be the subject of a painting, but of course, Normandy
beaches have a certain magnitude associated with them. You will prepare for the next day’s tour with
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6. an informative onboard lecture about the D-Day Landing. Afterward, a jazz band will join us on board
ship to liven up the night. Day 18 is dedicated to paying your respects at Omaha Beach and Pointe du
Hoc. Our regional expert will help recreate in your imagination the struggle and bravery of the D-Day
Landing, an experience so poignant and moving it can’t fully be described in words. Battle scars, eroded
by time, and the many rows of crosses in the American Cemetery are evidence of a hard-won peace.
Lower Normandy, close to the D-Day beaches, witnessed many notable moments in the past. On
Day 19, you may prefer to spend more time focusing on World War II at the Caen Peace Memorial, with
its superb exhibits on the liberation of France, or wonder at the comic strip-like nature of the Bayeux
Tapestry, which tells the tale of the Norman conquest of England. Centuries of French history come
together on Day 20 in quirky, charming Rouen. The Gothic cathedral made famous by Monet towers
over half-timbered buildings, and inside, you’ll see where stained glass was ruined during the war. Look
out for the astronomical clock as well as the modern church, designed by Le Corbusier, near the site
where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.
By Day 21, you may be peppering your conversations with French vocabulary and rattling off
interesting facts you picked up during your cruise. There’s more to discover, if you take an optional
tour to the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent van Gogh spent his last years. However, like many
travelers, you may wish to simply soak in the sights one last time from the Solaris Deck, savoring each
glimpse of the French countryside before the Parisian skyline comes into view and your river cruise
comes to its conclusion.
I hope I’ve given you a taste of what it’s like to see France from one coast to the other. However,
there’s nothing like seeing it for yourself! Travelers of all interests will find something to love in France,
and it’s all the more enjoyable on our comprehensive, perfectly planned river cruise itinerary.
Claim the Treasures of France for Yourself!
This tour sold out in record time for 2014, and only a few cabins remain for 2015 — so I encourage
you to reserve your spot on a 2015 or 2016 departure as soon as possible, as dates are limited. If you
want to learn more about our Deluxe river ships, watch videos, and discover ways to extend your trip,
simply review the information enclosed and go on our website: www.vantagetravel.com/SXF16. Then,
to secure your spot, simply call Vantage today, toll-free at 1 800 322-6677.
Regards,
Henry R. Lewis
Founder
P.S. The strong position of the dollar has allowed us to provide very attractive offers on this cruise. For a
limited time, take advantage of 2-for-1 cruise pricing and free international airfare!
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90 Canal Street, Boston MA 02114-2031
P1S820 SXF16 8/5/15